Stone Brandy Barrel Smoked Porter

Draft at EBF in 08. Pours a brown body with a tan thin lacing. This was not as good as the original and the smoke was subdued by a vinous alcohol and and vanilla. Still good but i rather the bomber.

Guest tap at Newport Beach Brewing Co...lucky me!!! This beer was a dark mahogany with crimson highlights around the edges. The eggshell head was relatively small and left minimal lacing. Aroma of chocolate, roasted coffee, and vanilla. Flavor has just a hint of brandy, but otherwise not much different than it’s traditional counterpart. I expected more of the oak and brandy to be infused into this one. A bit disappointing.

Thank you egajdzis for sharring this one! Poured a deep brown color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of butter cream, vanilla, wood, chocolate, and brandy. Tastes of vanilla, fruity, lighter wood, and chocolate. Body on the thinner side.

Poured a hazy dark brown / red color with a small, tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma was fruity (from the brandy), vanilla, oak, roasted malts, and cocoa, with a bit of smoke as well. Taste was vanilla, brandy, roasted malts, and chocolate. Creamy mouthfeel, but somewhat thin. Thanks John!

Much thanks to egajdzis for landing this flip top filled at the brewery. Pours a deep brown with a bunch of amber notes and a medium bubbly/creamy tan head that left some lacing. Aroma of vanilla, candied almonds, brandy, light smoke, chocolate and caramel. Flavor of raisins, brandy, vanilla, almonds, light smoke, wood, chocolate, smooth and creamy.

This is what the standard Smoked Porter should actually taste like, and I think it used to. Maybe. A very satisfying but a bit too subtle brandy barrel flavor. Brings out the smokiness and coffee quite nicely. I think it should be aged more - how does one soak a beer in a brandy barrel and not have the ABV go up at all? Commit!!

EBF. NOTB 08. Pours a deep dark brown, almost black- head fades though. Aroma is nutty chocoalte, dry toastiness, some light smoke- but diminshed from the original version. Light brandy flavor- sharp caramel malts and sweetness from the brandy- some wine and grapeskin character, and a toasty dry finihs. Body is very weak- the barrel and the brandy both took a lot away from an otherwise good Smoked Porter.

Almost black with red when held up to the glaring lights at EBF. Chocolate was more prevalent then the brandy, which was also pretty damn tasty. There was a really nice roastiness that I usually dont get from this beer.