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

Brandy Barrel Aged Dark Lord With Vanilla BeansBrandy Barrel Aged Dark Lord With Vanilla Beans
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From:
3 Floyds Brewing Co.
 
Indiana, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
15%
Score:
100
Avg:
4.65 | pDev: 11.61%
Reviews:
53
Ratings:
150
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 17, 2021
Added:
May 05, 2011
Wants:
  439
Gots:
  34
(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
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by inlimbo77:
Photo of inlimbo77
Reviewed by inlimbo77 from Delaware

4.42/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
8oz swing top bottle. This was hand tapped at DLD 4/28/12. Literally poured from tasting glass into the bottle by a great BA'er. Poured this one into my Boulevard tulip.

A: Pours a really dark black with reddish hues around the edges of the glass. No head obviously, but surprisingly there was still a touch of carbonation when I gave it a swirl. No lacing but to be expected. It leaves the normal dark film on the glass.

S: Being almost still, the nose is a little tough to get at which is to be expected. Initially I got more dark fruit than anything. Smelled very sweet. Then you really do get some of that delicious vanilla and barrel hints.

T: Luscious vanilla at the front of the tongue. Couple that with dark, rich chocolate. It's incredibly thick. It's fairly sweet, without being cloying. Flat out delicious.

M: Full bodied. A touch more carbonation would do this one wonders, but I liked it as is.
May 11, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of J_mo
Reviewed by J_mo from California

4/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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
Photo of marchoftheclouds
Reviewed by marchoftheclouds from Illinois

5/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
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
Photo of brian4beer
Rated by brian4beer from Indiana

4.92/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
This and VB assassin are the two best stouts I have had
Sep 15, 2018
 
Rated: 4.41 by pwoody11 from Delaware

Jul 18, 2018
Photo of Egotist
Reviewed by Egotist from Illinois

5/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
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
 
Rated: 4.49 by tommy5 from Michigan

Oct 29, 2017
 
Rated: 4.83 by YvesB from Belgium

Sep 04, 2017
 
Rated: 4.84 by halo3one from Georgia

Dec 20, 2016
 
Rated: 5 by t2grogan from Arizona

Nov 20, 2016
Photo of Onestophopshop
Reviewed by Onestophopshop from New Jersey

4.96/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
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
Photo of jstunna24
Rated by jstunna24 from New Jersey

5/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Probably the best stout I've ever had! No more to say
Aug 06, 2016
 
Rated: 4.75 by cp45 from New Jersey

Feb 13, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

4.46/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
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
Photo of Fux
Reviewed by Fux from France

4.79/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
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
 
Rated: 5 by HOPSareKey from Illinois

May 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4.8 by stogirelli from Illinois

Apr 26, 2015
Photo of OneBeertoRTA
Reviewed by OneBeertoRTA from California

5/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
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
 
Rated: 4.25 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Dec 08, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by zach60614 from Illinois

Nov 11, 2014
Brandy Barrel Aged Dark Lord With Vanilla Beans from 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 100 out of 100 with 150 ratings