Smoked Porter - Vanilla Bean
Stone Brewing
- From:
- Stone Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- Smoked Porter
Ranked #35 - ABV:
- 5.9%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #22,630 - Avg:
- 3.88 | pDev: 12.37%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 550
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 13, 2026
- Added:
- Aug 31, 2007
- Wants:
- 123
- Gots:
- 351
SCORE
87
Very Good
87
Very Good
In 2006, almost exactly 10 years after we first released Stone Smoked Porter, Stone Small Batch Brewer Laura Ulrich had a brilliant idea: What if she added whole Madagascar vanilla beans to a small batch of the finished beer? And voilà, Stone Smoked Porter w/Vanilla Bean was born! It was an instant hit, as the resulting flavor combinations—rich vanilla melding with the malty, chocolaty, coffee-like characteristics of the beer—were practically made for each other. Originally available only as an occasional growler fill or on tap all-too-briefly at special events or in our restaurant, this exquisite creation was released in a single bottle run for the first time in 2012, much to the delight of its many fans…who instantly began clamoring for more.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan
3.96/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from a 16 oz can dated late ‘25
Tall beige head that leaves copious amounts of lacing.
The taste is all porter with hints of smoke and vanilla. The roasted malts are no longer hard edged, the flavors rather blend together. Interestingly the smoke and vanilla appear distinctly at times.
The feel is light but full. Very quaffable.
OA, it might have been different fresh, but I may never know.
Apr 12, 2026Tall beige head that leaves copious amounts of lacing.
The taste is all porter with hints of smoke and vanilla. The roasted malts are no longer hard edged, the flavors rather blend together. Interestingly the smoke and vanilla appear distinctly at times.
The feel is light but full. Very quaffable.
OA, it might have been different fresh, but I may never know.
Reviewed by RicoShockwave from Pennsylvania
3.43/5 rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.43/5 rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Too acidic and sharp, bitter for my personal tastes, especially from a vanilla bean-described porter. I don't mind the dry finish if it has a certain roundness to the rest of the palate. This one lacks that dimension. The look and aroma are there, but for me everything else misses the mark.
Apr 11, 2026
Rated by roconnor from Maine
3.75/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Hoppy
Feb 27, 2026
Reviewed by RBorsato from Virginia
4.15/5 rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.15/5 rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear dark brown. Decent smoky aroma and flavor with lots of cocoa and roasted malts to balance; not much vanilla character. Nice balance of flavors. Light bodied with a dry roasty and cocoa finish.
Feb 22, 2026
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania
3.64/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.64/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
16oz can into a pint glass. Blurred dating sometime in 2025.
Dark brown body with some copper tints. Foamy tan head leaves a sheet of thick lacing. Aroma is a pleasing vanilla. On tasting, there is an initial smoke and vanilla note. Unfortunately, a strong bitter roast soon chases that away, leaving an unpleasant long lasting finish.
Overall, looks and smells great, but then seems unbalanced. Not for me.
Feb 09, 2026Dark brown body with some copper tints. Foamy tan head leaves a sheet of thick lacing. Aroma is a pleasing vanilla. On tasting, there is an initial smoke and vanilla note. Unfortunately, a strong bitter roast soon chases that away, leaving an unpleasant long lasting finish.
Overall, looks and smells great, but then seems unbalanced. Not for me.
Reviewed by Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania
3.69/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.69/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap at Industry Public House in Lawrenceville and a cold, blustery day after Leah's chiro clinic appointment.
First impressions.... Nothing that I was expecting with this one.... Not impressed. Cheap cigarette ash, vanilla is not present enough for me. Because of the overall bitterness, this reminds me of a Black IPA.
Feb 07, 2026First impressions.... Nothing that I was expecting with this one.... Not impressed. Cheap cigarette ash, vanilla is not present enough for me. Because of the overall bitterness, this reminds me of a Black IPA.
Reviewed by mvanaskie13 from Pennsylvania
4.02/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a wide mouth, grip shaped goblet: color is dark brown with amber edges, head is light tan and presents one plus finger thick, head remains solid with lacing on the glass sides.
Smell is lighter but all qualifying notes - light smoked malt, hint of vanilla, some cocoa and roast.
Taste is quick roast and cocoa, light smoke, back filled with vanilla, more smoke flavor lingers.
Mouthfeel is low/moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, lower bitterness but the smoke provides an acidic dryness.
Overall an interesting variant of the base brew - vanilla is not overpowering but complements the smoked roastiness of the base porter.
Jan 15, 2026Smell is lighter but all qualifying notes - light smoked malt, hint of vanilla, some cocoa and roast.
Taste is quick roast and cocoa, light smoke, back filled with vanilla, more smoke flavor lingers.
Mouthfeel is low/moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, lower bitterness but the smoke provides an acidic dryness.
Overall an interesting variant of the base brew - vanilla is not overpowering but complements the smoked roastiness of the base porter.
Reviewed by Luscious_Malfoy from Illinois
4.19/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 16oz can into a a FFF DLD nonic pint glass. Pours out of the can like cola with see-through light brown edge but gathers in the glass closer to a shiny black (but really more dark brown) with almost two fingers of khaki colored foam head. On the nose this is weird and somewhat off putting. The smoke itself is subtle but it’s there. Hints of chocolate and coffee too. I like the taste more. Less smoky and a touch sweeter, although not sweet. Perhaps more vanilla on the taste. But this is a smoked beer more than a vanilla beer. Both compliment each other well though. Medium-full mouthfeel. Nice carbonation to it. Solid porter.
Jan 13, 2026
Reviewed by Sludgeman from District of Columbia
3.56/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.56/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Westover beer garden in Arlington, VA.
T - Too much vanilla. Sweet. But whims the smoke.
A - Pours reddish brown clear but opaque in the glass
S - Less vanilla in the nose than on the palate.
Jan 13, 2026T - Too much vanilla. Sweet. But whims the smoke.
A - Pours reddish brown clear but opaque in the glass
S - Less vanilla in the nose than on the palate.
Reviewed by beerdedking from Pennsylvania
3.67/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
2025 re-release of this errrr...classic? Not sure if I'd go that far, but I find it a nostalgic brew. First had this when Stone was a craft powerhouse and everything they did was a must try. Tastes just as I remember, and I definitely appreciate it more now than back then as my palate has really grown through the years...
Pours with a fluffy cream white head that dissipates normally leaving a ring of suds around the mug.
Scent is basic molasses and vanilla . No smoke detected here
Drinking gives the expected flavors of cigarette ash, light molasses, and vanilla. Somehow this works making a drinkable beer with perfect carbonation which keeps things lively well after a sip has been taken. The smokiness doesn't scream quality as say a nice Scotch or Rauchbier can do. Still a nice dry woody flavor lingers throughout the experience.
Nice body, perfect carbo as stated above
An eclectic beer that I'm glad to be revisiting which is a nice palate change up
Dec 25, 2025Pours with a fluffy cream white head that dissipates normally leaving a ring of suds around the mug.
Scent is basic molasses and vanilla . No smoke detected here
Drinking gives the expected flavors of cigarette ash, light molasses, and vanilla. Somehow this works making a drinkable beer with perfect carbonation which keeps things lively well after a sip has been taken. The smokiness doesn't scream quality as say a nice Scotch or Rauchbier can do. Still a nice dry woody flavor lingers throughout the experience.
Nice body, perfect carbo as stated above
An eclectic beer that I'm glad to be revisiting which is a nice palate change up
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