Brandy Vanilla Dark Lord (2025)
3 Floyds Brewing Co.
- From:
- 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
- Indiana, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Pastry Stout
Ranked #305 - ABV:
- 15%
- Score:
- 94
Ranked #2,180 - Avg:
- 4.4 | pDev: 20.68%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 5
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 25, 2026
- Added:
- Nov 02, 2025
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
94
Outstanding
94
Outstanding
Brandy Barrel Aged Dark Lord with Vanilla Beans. Bottle count: 2,000
1. Dark Lord®
2. Bourbon barrels
3. Brandy barrels
4. Vanilla beans
20 IBU
1. Dark Lord®
2. Bourbon barrels
3. Brandy barrels
4. Vanilla beans
20 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by chippo33 from Vermont
1/5 rDev -77.3%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
1/5 rDev -77.3%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
I may have been sent an off bottle, because this beer wasn’t great (hence my rating). Can’t wait to revisit it again this year!
2025 and 2026 “Brandy Vanilla Dark Lord” is actually BOURBON Brandy vanilla, not the same as the “bvdl” we all know from the past. A cheap move on FFF part. Just call it what it is: Bourbon Brandy Vanilla Dark Lord.
Nov 04, 20252025 and 2026 “Brandy Vanilla Dark Lord” is actually BOURBON Brandy vanilla, not the same as the “bvdl” we all know from the past. A cheap move on FFF part. Just call it what it is: Bourbon Brandy Vanilla Dark Lord.
Reviewed by cdinardo21 from Pennsylvania
4.91/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.91/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
BVDL at DLD 2025. Had a draft the first pour of the festival, so nice clean palate to enjoy this beauty properly. Didn't get a bottle but the draft came through in spades. This was really a treat. A little char, perfect balance of brandy and vanilla - both complimentary, and not overpowering each other. Totally lived up to the hype / expectation.
May 23, 2025
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio
4.9/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
4.9/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
BVDL on draft right as the gates open for DLD 2025? Fuck yeah!
Appearance is void, even angry black with an exceptionally dark tan to brown blanket that quickly disperses to a fine, crackly ring.
Featuring all the vanilla caviar, a little bourbon char contrasts before a hint of floral, musty brandy brings mature heat on the exhale unlike any Dark Lord I've ever had.
Oreo pie crusted vanilla bean creme brulee with a glass of red wine. Decadence and refinement collide.
If I wasn't such a slut for the explosivity of ChemTrailMix, this would have topped the list of my favorite DL variants.
May 22, 2025Appearance is void, even angry black with an exceptionally dark tan to brown blanket that quickly disperses to a fine, crackly ring.
Featuring all the vanilla caviar, a little bourbon char contrasts before a hint of floral, musty brandy brings mature heat on the exhale unlike any Dark Lord I've ever had.
Oreo pie crusted vanilla bean creme brulee with a glass of red wine. Decadence and refinement collide.
If I wasn't such a slut for the explosivity of ChemTrailMix, this would have topped the list of my favorite DL variants.
Reviewed by JohnnyHopps from Indiana
4.85/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.85/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Appearance - Served from the tap, the beer was oily black, clinging to the sides of the glass.
Smell - The vanilla led the way, but brandy and chocolate were also present.
Taste - My first reaction was to think that this is just Hanjee aged in different barrels. Although that may be true, the brandy definitely adds a different character to the profile. The vanilla was quite potent, almost marshmallowy. The brandy notes complimented that nicely without being overly potent. It had a nice sense of balance. Other notes included molasses, chocolate, and tobacco.
Mouthfeel - The thick oily stout covered the tongue nicely and lingered.
Overall - I was not disappointed.
May 19, 2025Smell - The vanilla led the way, but brandy and chocolate were also present.
Taste - My first reaction was to think that this is just Hanjee aged in different barrels. Although that may be true, the brandy definitely adds a different character to the profile. The vanilla was quite potent, almost marshmallowy. The brandy notes complimented that nicely without being overly potent. It had a nice sense of balance. Other notes included molasses, chocolate, and tobacco.
Mouthfeel - The thick oily stout covered the tongue nicely and lingered.
Overall - I was not disappointed.
Reviewed by ovaltine from Indiana
4.6/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.6/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a light swallowing black with a creamy mocha colored head that dissipates over a minute or two.
The nose is the base beer with loads of brandy and some stone fruit and vanilla and that’s where the taste lands, with a rich, chewy mouthfeel providing a great finish.
This is a world class variant, IMHO, one I’d gladly try again.
May 18, 2025The nose is the base beer with loads of brandy and some stone fruit and vanilla and that’s where the taste lands, with a rich, chewy mouthfeel providing a great finish.
This is a world class variant, IMHO, one I’d gladly try again.
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