Victory At Sea - Vanilla Beans And Devil's Share Whiskey Oak Chips
Ballast Point Brewing Company

 

This is a delicious beer! Rich coffee flavor. I would say, possibly a desert beer, If you are a fan... a three course meal. Just sit back and enjoy. I haven't yet, however, I'm thinking this would be fantastic with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on a warm summer's day!

 

 

Had a pint @ Ballast Point Old Grove location on 1/21/10

A - Finger width mocha head; it's soft and pillowy. The color is as dark brown as you can get without being black. There was lots of head retention, but I think my glass was wet as it just slid down the sides. My buddy texted me a picture of his glass, and it had perfect rings all the way down, so that's my reference.

S - Mostly coffee flavors. Good amount of vanilla mixed with lots of roast. Lacking on the whiskey/oak smell I was hoping for.

T - Coffee flavors w/ PRONOUNCED vanilla. That vanilla bean comes through! There is a roasty aftertaste but again, lacking the whiskey/oak I was also hoping for. Still delicious.

M - Creamy w/ mild carbonation. The taste just covers the palate from beginning to end. There's a chewy mouthfeel to it too as it is a thick brew.

D - It goes down way too easy for a 10% beer. It's so good, and I easily could have had another, but the cask ran out shortly after I got there.

There wasn't any real whiskey/oak chips, as previously mentioned, but this offering compliments the normal tap offering very nicely.

1/22/2010

Two 4oz tasters transferred into a snifter and consumed at the Old Grove location on cask. Black, with a 2 finger thick and creamy light brown head.

The nose is immediately roasted and robust, with potent vanilla and cocoa. The vanilla beans have certainly afforded an enhanced vanilla presence. The whiskey soaked oak chips impart more oak than whiskey, but the whiskey is pleasant as it fades in and out, adding a welcome nuance. Coffee is the overarching characteristic that stands in contravention to the many subtleties previously listed. It's somewhat overbearing at times, but I suppose that's in line with the standard version.

The flavor opens up with cocoa, vanilla, dark roasted coffee, and roasted malt. The coffee takes the helm midpalate and at this point whiskey can be perceived (I'm only spelling it with an "e" because Ballast Point did so in the newsletter). Alcohol is evident throughout; I don't doubt it's 10%. The finish exhibits an increase in coffee character, an added coffee astringency, and the addition of oak. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy.

This is excellent, though a bit powerful, but it seems perfect on a day like this.