Brandy Barrel Aged Dark Lord With Vanilla Beans
3 Floyds Brewing Co.


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- From:
- 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
- Indiana, United States
- Style:
- Stout - Russian Imperial
- ABV:
- 15%
- Score:
- 100
- Avg:
- 4.65 | pDev: 11.61%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jan 17, 2021
- Added:
- May 05, 2011
- Wants:
- 438
- Gots:
- 34
SCORE
100
World-Class
100
World-Class


Notes:
(AKA Marshmallow Handji)
This is our massive Russian-style Imperial Stout aged for one year in brandy barrel with Madagascar vanilla beans. Thick, smooth, complex, and warming, this rare beer will certainly be remembered.
45 IBU
This is our massive Russian-style Imperial Stout aged for one year in brandy barrel with Madagascar vanilla beans. Thick, smooth, complex, and warming, this rare beer will certainly be remembered.
45 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
4/5 rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by J_mo from California
2011 - Not much carbonation left at all. Stains the glass a little. Brandy and sweet smell. Pours pitch black with just a pitch of red at the bottom. Brandy and malt
Jan 17, 2021
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by J_mo from California
2011 - Not much carbonation left at all. Stains the glass a little. Brandy and sweet smell. Pours pitch black with just a pitch of red at the bottom. Brandy and malt
Jan 17, 2021
5/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by marchoftheclouds from Illinois
This is as good or better than I remember when having it fresh with my oldest son after waiting hours in line to get in to the pub during the 2012 festival. Shared it with him tonight (8/10/2019). It held up just fine for 7 years. It gave a small hiss upon opening the cap and smelled wonderful. Strong coffee and vanilla. Tasted creamy and smooth. It was a wonderful memory shared.
Aug 11, 2019
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by marchoftheclouds from Illinois
This is as good or better than I remember when having it fresh with my oldest son after waiting hours in line to get in to the pub during the 2012 festival. Shared it with him tonight (8/10/2019). It held up just fine for 7 years. It gave a small hiss upon opening the cap and smelled wonderful. Strong coffee and vanilla. Tasted creamy and smooth. It was a wonderful memory shared.
Aug 11, 2019
4.92/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
by brian4beer from Indiana
This and VB assassin are the two best stouts I have had
Sep 15, 2018
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
by brian4beer from Indiana
This and VB assassin are the two best stouts I have had
Sep 15, 2018
4.41 by pwoody11 from Delaware on Jul 18, 2018
5/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by Egotist from Illinois
L: Jet black and thick
S: Brandy dipped marshmallows
T: Brandy dipped marshmallows
F: Thick as motor oil
O: Overall this is the best beer I've ever had. I already love regular Handjee and the brandy barrel gives it this hard to describe brightness and pop that balances out the sweetness of regular Handjee.
Jun 27, 2018
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by Egotist from Illinois
L: Jet black and thick
S: Brandy dipped marshmallows
T: Brandy dipped marshmallows
F: Thick as motor oil
O: Overall this is the best beer I've ever had. I already love regular Handjee and the brandy barrel gives it this hard to describe brightness and pop that balances out the sweetness of regular Handjee.
Jun 27, 2018
4.49 by tommy5 from Michigan on Oct 29, 2017
4.83 by YvesB from Belgium on Sep 04, 2017
4.84 by halo3one from Georgia on Dec 20, 2016
5 by t2grogan from Arizona on Nov 20, 2016
4.96/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
by Onestophopshop from New Jersey
wow, Hugh surprise from my buddies.
Pours dark with little to no head, right away your nose is hit with a caramel, sweet vanilla aroma. The brandy adds such a delicate balance to this beer. Mouthfeel is typical darklord thick, coats your mouth allowing the flavors to linger. The taste is phenomenal! The brandy is has sweeter tones but not at all over the top sweet like bvdl usually is. I thought for sure the vanilla would have faded being an adjunct that falls fast. Not true at all. Vanilla is excellent, and goes so well with the brandy. All in All one of the best stouts ever to touch my lips. Enjoyed this very much.
Aug 07, 2016
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
by Onestophopshop from New Jersey
wow, Hugh surprise from my buddies.
Pours dark with little to no head, right away your nose is hit with a caramel, sweet vanilla aroma. The brandy adds such a delicate balance to this beer. Mouthfeel is typical darklord thick, coats your mouth allowing the flavors to linger. The taste is phenomenal! The brandy is has sweeter tones but not at all over the top sweet like bvdl usually is. I thought for sure the vanilla would have faded being an adjunct that falls fast. Not true at all. Vanilla is excellent, and goes so well with the brandy. All in All one of the best stouts ever to touch my lips. Enjoyed this very much.
Aug 07, 2016
5/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by jstunna24 from New Jersey
Probably the best stout I've ever had! No more to say
Aug 06, 2016
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by jstunna24 from New Jersey
Probably the best stout I've ever had! No more to say
Aug 06, 2016
4.75 by cp45 from New Jersey on Feb 13, 2016
4.46/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by rodbeermunch from Nevada
Brown and black, mostly black. Not much lighter brown head. Warming alcohol, brandy, vanilla waft upward. Already the best DL aroma I've been around.
The amount of vanilla is huge in this. Comes without a big degree of sugars too that typically come with some of the vanilla offerings. Hides the booze.
This is a solid desert beer to enjoy with rich chocolate cake.
Dec 23, 2015
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by rodbeermunch from Nevada
Brown and black, mostly black. Not much lighter brown head. Warming alcohol, brandy, vanilla waft upward. Already the best DL aroma I've been around.
The amount of vanilla is huge in this. Comes without a big degree of sugars too that typically come with some of the vanilla offerings. Hides the booze.
This is a solid desert beer to enjoy with rich chocolate cake.
Dec 23, 2015
4.79/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
by Fux from France
Side by side with other variants from 2011.
This beer was the first one I had added on my wants list here, so thanks a lot Chris for sharing!
A: Dark pour with almost no head to speak of.
S: Vanilla is the most prominent flavor. Other than that, smell is sweet with candies, strawberries, marshmallow and bubble gum. Tons of marzipan also. Nice but a bit artificial (more than the bourbon vanilla, although this one varies a lot from one year to another...). No off-flavors like soy sauce or candy sugar however.
T: Taste is awesome. The best Dark Lord I have had so far in this regard. Vanilla, marzipan, chocolate, dark fruits, prune, soaked plum and cherries mixed together. Deep and complex, balanced. Surprisingly not sweetness nor alcohol to be found on the palate. No artificial flavors either. I would say the taste is even better than the Pappy van Winkle version. Long lasting. Travels back and forth from vanilla to cherries, from chocolate to dark fruits. Subdued apple and brandy as it warms. Amazing!
M: Awesome mouthfeel. The smoothest version of 2011 barrel aged dark lord.
O: Awesome beer. The smell is not really balanced (like the regular Dark Lord or the Brandy version), but apart from that, it is the best variant I have had.
Nov 07, 2015
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
by Fux from France
Side by side with other variants from 2011.
This beer was the first one I had added on my wants list here, so thanks a lot Chris for sharing!
A: Dark pour with almost no head to speak of.
S: Vanilla is the most prominent flavor. Other than that, smell is sweet with candies, strawberries, marshmallow and bubble gum. Tons of marzipan also. Nice but a bit artificial (more than the bourbon vanilla, although this one varies a lot from one year to another...). No off-flavors like soy sauce or candy sugar however.
T: Taste is awesome. The best Dark Lord I have had so far in this regard. Vanilla, marzipan, chocolate, dark fruits, prune, soaked plum and cherries mixed together. Deep and complex, balanced. Surprisingly not sweetness nor alcohol to be found on the palate. No artificial flavors either. I would say the taste is even better than the Pappy van Winkle version. Long lasting. Travels back and forth from vanilla to cherries, from chocolate to dark fruits. Subdued apple and brandy as it warms. Amazing!
M: Awesome mouthfeel. The smoothest version of 2011 barrel aged dark lord.
O: Awesome beer. The smell is not really balanced (like the regular Dark Lord or the Brandy version), but apart from that, it is the best variant I have had.
Nov 07, 2015
5 by HOPSareKey from Illinois on May 04, 2015
4.8 by stogirelli from Illinois on Apr 26, 2015
5/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by OneBeertoRTA from California
Old Review-
Big shoutout to Brett for bringing to DLD 2014. Definitely the highlight of the day that included whale after whale. The smell was that of roasted marshmallows and coffee. The vanilla was so prevalent and the Brandy added a very different flavor than you get with the lesser bourbon aged vanilla counterpart. One of the finest barrel aged stouts I've ever had.
Apr 16, 2015
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by OneBeertoRTA from California
Old Review-
Big shoutout to Brett for bringing to DLD 2014. Definitely the highlight of the day that included whale after whale. The smell was that of roasted marshmallows and coffee. The vanilla was so prevalent and the Brandy added a very different flavor than you get with the lesser bourbon aged vanilla counterpart. One of the finest barrel aged stouts I've ever had.
Apr 16, 2015
4.25 by olradetbalder from Sweden on Dec 08, 2014
5 by zach60614 from Illinois on Nov 11, 2014
4.75 by wethorseblanket from California on Oct 07, 2014
4.81 by Rado from California on Sep 30, 2014
4.75 by SocalKicks from California on Sep 29, 2014
4.65 by drewone from California on Sep 23, 2014
4.75 by akang from California on Sep 22, 2014
4.28 by Cynic-ale from Texas on Sep 21, 2014
4.5 by beast464 from Maryland on Sep 07, 2014
1 by kc4nier from Maryland on Aug 15, 2014
4.5 by zestar from California on Aug 01, 2014
5 by csxcharlie from Kentucky on Jul 13, 2014
5 by BubbaMitchell from Indiana on Jun 22, 2014
5 by sdpaul from California on Jun 19, 2014
5 by bryang002 from Illinois on Jun 16, 2014
4.75 by thegoon55 from Massachusetts on May 06, 2014
4 by eggs from Illinois on Apr 28, 2014
4.5 by CheapBeerBuzz from California on Apr 26, 2014
4.5 by Lare453 from Florida on Mar 09, 2014
4.75 by BUNZILLA from Indiana on Oct 07, 2013
4.75 by BeRanger from Michigan on Sep 20, 2013
4 by sweemzander from Illinois on Sep 16, 2013
4.75 by Hugonaut13 from Illinois on Sep 15, 2013
Brandy Barrel Aged Dark Lord With Vanilla Beans from 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
100 out of
100 with
150 ratings