Harry Porter And The Bourbon Soaked Vanilla Bean
Great Lakes Brewery

Harry Porter And The Bourbon Soaked Vanilla BeanHarry Porter And The Bourbon Soaked Vanilla Bean
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From:
Great Lakes Brewery
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
American Porter
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.89 | pDev: 9%
Reviews:
18
Ratings:
58
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 01, 2020
Added:
Mar 13, 2011
Wants:
  11
Gots:
  5
It’s been said that a great sorcerer with a single magical vanilla bean can infuse the intense depth of flavour and aroma that is found in this ale.

Unfortunately, we are hideously short of such wizards at Great Lakes so instead we simply used 1001 vanilla beans.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by joemcgrath27:
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Rated by joemcgrath27 from Canada (AB)

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

May 31, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.84 by sdm9465 from Canada (NS)

Mar 01, 2020
 
Rated: 4.16 by ahogan877 from Canada (ON)

Mar 02, 2019
 
Rated: 4.5 by boszormeny from Canada (ON)

Nov 20, 2018
 
Rated: 4.03 by Simon212 from Canada (ON)

Dec 10, 2017
 
Rated: 4.84 by StormAles from Canada (ON)

Jun 29, 2017
 
Rated: 4.13 by Electros from Canada (ON)

Nov 14, 2016
 
Rated: 4.57 by ikidunot from Canada (ON)

Aug 23, 2016
Photo of dipso123
Rated by dipso123 from Oregon

3.33/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
An astringency mars this otherwise drinkable beer
Dec 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.41 by ajtegan from Massachusetts

Dec 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3.54 by bigox420 from Canada (ON)

Nov 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.85 by Whatup14 from Canada (QC)

Sep 29, 2015
 
Rated: 4.08 by Coronaeus from Canada (ON)

Apr 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.18 by hoppychick from Canada (ON)

Mar 24, 2015
Photo of ssmack
Reviewed by ssmack from Canada (ON)

3.92/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Tank Ten 650 ml bottle 6.0% abv 18 IBU

Very dark brown colour throughout. Three inches of thick foamy head even though I poured gently. Glimpses of carbonation streams in the inky dark mess. Thick lacing and good retention.

Quite mild but complex aroma. Bourdon and coffee and vanilla and cream.

The taste is a bit more one dimensional. Same as aroma without the creaminess. Combines boudbon, vanilla and coffee into single porter taste. Mild herby bitter aftertaste in the back of the palette.

Medium feel. Lighter than some porters. Great carbonation feel.

I aged this 10 months at home and I think it mellowed this porter nicely taking the edge off the bourbon. GL needs to make this a regular seasonal. Very good.
Jan 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4.06 by valianes from Canada (ON)

Dec 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by kelvarnsen from Canada (ON)

Nov 14, 2014
Photo of Jeffo
Reviewed by Jeffo from Netherlands

3.89/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Another cool brew from Hopsolutely. Cheers!

From a bomber into a snifter
Tank 10 Series
IBU: 18
1001 Vanilla Beans

APPEARANCE: A clearer brown pour yields a 1+ finger, foamy, medium-thinner looking, light tan head with great retention. Bistre brown body with medium levels of carbonation evident. Head slowly fades to a splotchy wisp and ring. A swirly wisp remains until the end and leaves some splotchy lacing down the glass.

SMELL: Vanilla beans, sweet cream, milk chocolate and some light butterscotch aromas as well. Very faint bourbon in the back, but the spirit is restrained. Quite nice really.

TASTE: Vanilla and sweet cream up front, with more creamy sweetness at the swallow. Medium and lingering finish of vanilla beans, sweet cream, milk chocolate, caramel sweetness and some faint hints of bourbon as well. Sweet in general, though everything is balanced out rather nicely.

PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. Begins slightly prickly but smoothens out nicely as it sits, goes down fine and finishes slightly sticky.

OVERALL: Quite an enjoyable brew here. A lot of vanilla porters end up being overdone and overly sweet, but this one is balanced nicely and is an easy drinker. Soaking the vanilla beans in bourbon also added a nice, restrained spirit quality that was well done. Complex and multi-dimensional, this one is definitely worth checking out if you get the chance. Thanks again for the opportunity Hopsolutely! Recommended.
Oct 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by JMBSH from Colorado

Aug 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by ktat from Canada (ON)

Aug 13, 2014
Harry Porter And The Bourbon Soaked Vanilla Bean from Great Lakes Brewery
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 58 ratings