A Night To End All Dawns (2016) - Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans
Kane Brewing Company

750ml bottle poured into a snifter

A- pours jet black in color with a one-finger foamy khaki head that reduces to a ring around the glass

S- the vanilla bean is immediately noticed on the nose and comes across as a charred marshmallow. Dark chocolate, charred malt, caramel & molasses follow. The bourbon barrel comes through on the backend, adding plenty of oak and enhancing the caramel and vanilla

T- vanilla dominates the taste up front, but comes across as more of a straight vanilla bean rather than a marshmallow. Mid-palate brings out the barrel, adding barrel juice, oak and more vanilla. The finish brings out some charred notes, as well as dark chocolate, brown sugar and molasses. Lingers of vanilla bean and bourbon

M- medium body with low carbonation leads to a slightly foamy mouthfeel that continues into a slick, slightly warming finish

O- Even after 6 years, the vanilla takes center stage with this one, with a great base beer to boot. Only complaint is that the mouthfeel is quite thin

Starkly burning black with a fuzzy, vibrant mocha head dying to a silky smooth surface.

Smell is exceptionally marshmallowy--charred by campfire and even as if melting some milk chocolate underneath.

The vanilla sweetens the deep savory base on the palate, moreso than the other variants. Rich charred oak and cocoa dusted date meet sweet but light marshmallow and Milk Duds. Dark fruits abound, but in measure, as if dark chocolate is drizzled over them.

The body is lighter than other ANTEADs, with a fine carbonation and a medium slick body that goes down easily to a semi-dry finish. The bourbon has a mild tingly sting to it and brings a touch of sassafras and uniquely smoky root beer.

L: pours dark with no head, pitch black in the glass
S: big vanilla, never chocolate and barrel
T: huge chocolate! Nice vanilla and barrel to compliment
F: smooth and coating, very smooth

 

Pours thick with a very dark khaki head that settles in to a ring around the edge of the glass. A good amount of vanilla on the front end of the nose with a nice chocolatey middle and followed by a nice bourbon bite. Woodsy as well. Overall a nice balance of chocolate and vanilla on the nose. The taste is not nearly as vanilla forward as the nose. Much more chocolatey than vanilla but it definitely has a nice and strong vanilla after taste. Feel is silky and moderately thick. Overall this beer is excellent. Nice mix and balance of barrel notes, vanilla accentuation, and base chocolatey stout. The hype is warranted.

750ml bottle, white wax, served in a snifter glass. Dark and opaque black body, one finger mocha head with good retention and not much in way of lacing. Smell is rich and well-integrated bourbon and vanilla, milk chocolate and a bit of cocoa. Straight-forward and appetizing. Flavour is similar, very well-integrated with a fair bit of whiskey and vanillin, although the vanilla bean marshmallow quotient is not anywhere on the level of pastry stout e.g. Fundamental Observation. Mouthfeel is full bodied, creamy with a nice smooth whiskey finish. A more integrated, standard barrel aged vanilla stout than the ones being made these days, take that for what it's worth. Wonderful beer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meets hype. This was very bad ass, my only complaint is that the vanilla was not very strong. It is present, but with stouts this big you really ahve to go big on the vanilla to impart much character. Regardless, The overall base beer is fantastic, thickest stout ive had possibly ever. Great barrel character, and not overly sweet. Absolutely phenomenal