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Beer Geek Vanilla Shake
Mikkeller ApS
- From:
- Mikkeller ApS
- Denmark
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #453 - ABV:
- 12%
- Score:
- 96
Ranked #962 - Avg:
- 4.33 | pDev: 8.08%
- Reviews:
- 204
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 26, 2023
- Added:
- Aug 15, 2013
- Wants:
- 249
- Gots:
- 228
Imperial stout with coffee and vanilla.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Tsar_Riga:
Reviewed by Tsar_Riga from Minnesota
4.17/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A - This a glorious looking beer, with a tight tan head and opaque brown-black body. The head fades down to a nice ring, and there is a smidge of lacing as you go.
S - Interesting nose, vanilla is showcased, with boozy heat coming out front, particularly as it warms. There is a subtle sour line, suggesting a milk note.
T - This is a wild one. Open is bright hit of roast, along with vanilla and sweetness, which quickly turns to spiky coffee bitterness, and closes with acidity and a slight milky note. It is an interesting ride. Surprises include the backgrounding of the alcohol. It is a subtle note throughout, and lingers after the close, but after its dominance in the nose, it is interesting it remains more hidden in the taste.
M - Similar to the taste, the fact that this is not a super hot hit of alcohol burn is a major trick. There is some acidity, and the slick oatmeal feel, and a bit of sharpness in the close.
O - This is a huge beer, with a wild mix of flavors. It really does manage to have elements of milk, vanilla, coffee, and beer, along with a major boozy nose that is kept dialed back in both the taste and feel. It is still there, though, and the ABV is sky-high, so drink with care. If I'd knock one thing, it is the acidity is too far forward. Still, creative, and surprisingly drinkable as a moderate sipper.
Dec 27, 2015S - Interesting nose, vanilla is showcased, with boozy heat coming out front, particularly as it warms. There is a subtle sour line, suggesting a milk note.
T - This is a wild one. Open is bright hit of roast, along with vanilla and sweetness, which quickly turns to spiky coffee bitterness, and closes with acidity and a slight milky note. It is an interesting ride. Surprises include the backgrounding of the alcohol. It is a subtle note throughout, and lingers after the close, but after its dominance in the nose, it is interesting it remains more hidden in the taste.
M - Similar to the taste, the fact that this is not a super hot hit of alcohol burn is a major trick. There is some acidity, and the slick oatmeal feel, and a bit of sharpness in the close.
O - This is a huge beer, with a wild mix of flavors. It really does manage to have elements of milk, vanilla, coffee, and beer, along with a major boozy nose that is kept dialed back in both the taste and feel. It is still there, though, and the ABV is sky-high, so drink with care. If I'd knock one thing, it is the acidity is too far forward. Still, creative, and surprisingly drinkable as a moderate sipper.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by 2beerdogs from California
3.77/5 rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This one looked quite nice.
The nose seems a bit strong on the vanilla but I still pick up some cocoa and maybe some roast.
Flavor is definitely dominated by the vanilla. Some cocoa and coffee try to show up but almost get elbowed off the stage. Not bad but definitely a vanilla forward take.
Dec 26, 2023The nose seems a bit strong on the vanilla but I still pick up some cocoa and maybe some roast.
Flavor is definitely dominated by the vanilla. Some cocoa and coffee try to show up but almost get elbowed off the stage. Not bad but definitely a vanilla forward take.
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.25/5 rDev -24.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev -24.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Shared can from Mikkeller San Diego, at Cardinal Mikkeller tasting. Pitch black colour, minimal tan head of poor retention. Sweetish aroma of malt sugar, vanilla and coffee. Very sweet flavour of vanilla and coffee, too sweet and one-dimensional for my taste.
May 09, 2022Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota
4/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle. Likely about 5 or so years old. No head. Thick, oily black color.
Vanilla, fudge, cocoa, chocolate, and coffee. Roasted malts. Caramel. Earthy hops in the finish. Full bodied, thick.
Jan 29, 2021Vanilla, fudge, cocoa, chocolate, and coffee. Roasted malts. Caramel. Earthy hops in the finish. Full bodied, thick.
Reviewed by Guaro from Italy
3.96/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.96/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Black with creamy and persistent brown head. Aroma: chocolate, coffee, vanilla, caramel and a hint of soy sauce that is a bit intrusive. On the palate there is chocolate and lots of vanilla. This sweetness is slightly tempered by coffee, roasting and a light bitter resinous note. Abv present in the drink and in the aftertaste. Massive and oily body and quite velvety. Low carbonation.
Jan 09, 2021Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
4.36/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.36/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
16oz can. Stamped canning date is '11/25/2019'. Something about 10 TailFeather following.
Black body, with tiny mahogany brown back lit edge. Consistent one skinny finger of darker tan head. Scattered tiny spots of lacing.
Aroma is mostly vanilla and chocolate, with a little bit of fudgy coffee.
Taste is a hit of vanilla and chocolate, followed by a big hit of coffee. The aftertaste is mostly the coffee. No bitterness.
Thicker mouth feel. Okay carbonation.
This beer delivers a sweet hit and then a balancing with the coffee. Coating in the mouth allows all flavors to express.
Nov 29, 2020Black body, with tiny mahogany brown back lit edge. Consistent one skinny finger of darker tan head. Scattered tiny spots of lacing.
Aroma is mostly vanilla and chocolate, with a little bit of fudgy coffee.
Taste is a hit of vanilla and chocolate, followed by a big hit of coffee. The aftertaste is mostly the coffee. No bitterness.
Thicker mouth feel. Okay carbonation.
This beer delivers a sweet hit and then a balancing with the coffee. Coating in the mouth allows all flavors to express.
Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania
3.68/5 rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.68/5 rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Gaaahhh, so much vanilla! Disappointed by the lack of coffee flavor, this is just an overwhelming amount of vanilla for my palate. I strongly prefer the barrel aged version which was stellar.
Jun 11, 2020Reviewed by hopley from Massachusetts
3.68/5 rDev -15%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.68/5 rDev -15%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
2017 bottle, drank 03.26.20
Fell pretty far below my expectations. When I took the cap off there was no pop suggesting that the carbonation had been released and the beer had gone bad, but when I poured it, there were definite signs of carbo. Just around the edges and some swirl in the center. Black body otherwise, and an oaty kinda dirty smell. The taste out of the fridge was oaty and roasty, no vanilla. As it warmed, I got a little alcohol, but not much considering the ABV, but still no vanilla. Overall, the first of the Beer Geeks I've tried and can't say I was impressed - I'll get another one eventually and drink it fresh to see if the age may have had something to do with it; cellaring could have had an effect, but it hasn't had an effect on others of similar ages.
Mar 27, 2020Fell pretty far below my expectations. When I took the cap off there was no pop suggesting that the carbonation had been released and the beer had gone bad, but when I poured it, there were definite signs of carbo. Just around the edges and some swirl in the center. Black body otherwise, and an oaty kinda dirty smell. The taste out of the fridge was oaty and roasty, no vanilla. As it warmed, I got a little alcohol, but not much considering the ABV, but still no vanilla. Overall, the first of the Beer Geeks I've tried and can't say I was impressed - I'll get another one eventually and drink it fresh to see if the age may have had something to do with it; cellaring could have had an effect, but it hasn't had an effect on others of similar ages.
Beer Geek Vanilla Shake from Mikkeller ApS
Beer rating:
96 out of
100 with
1122 ratings
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