Vanilla Big Sound
Cigar City Brewing

 

This is a couple of years old and I brought it out if the cellar. It pours really nicely with a dark color and tan head. You can still taste some vanilla and toffee. It has a smooth finish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a cola brown with a one inch tan head that settles quickly to a ring and left some blotchy lacing. Fair amount of visible carbonation. Getting some booze on the aroma along with some cinnamon and vanilla. Tasting maple, vanilla, cinnamon, light roasted malts and a hint of bourbon. Medium bodied and carbonated, slightly dry finish, smooth mouth feel.

 

 

 

 

 

What better way to while away an evening in a town of 26 people than with a new El Cat 12 oz. can. I love vanilla, Cigar City, & Big Sound, so expectations are 14er high.

The pour is black with a heart of crimson & little liveliness. The nose has been muted somehow by the vanilla – big malts & gentle ‘niller.

Vanilla Big Sound is like Big Sound with the volume turned down to 6. The resounding maltiness that defines the base beer is weirdly quieted, & the vanilla, too, is soft & gentle (I hate soft & gentle, unless I can lay my head on it/them). Mid-palate brings caramel & a harsh, abrasive quality that’s almost hoppy, which fits into the beer like Jason Bourne in a zoo movie. Rough. Half the can would have been just fine.

There is either something wrong with this batch of Big Sound or the vanilla brings out something blech in the beer that wasn’t there on its own. Barely mediocre & a big letdown.