Rusalka Vanilla Stout
Portside Distillery & Brewery

 

 

 

12oz bottle poured into a tulip. Pours black with a fluffy khaki head that sticks around leaving great retention and sticky lacing. There's also some sediment at the bottom of the glass, which might be due to age, but there's no date on the bottle. It looks really good nonetheless. The aromas have lots of cocoa malts. Chocolate notes are there. The vanilla is there, but it's subtle. The flavors seem to follow the nose. Lots of roasted malts. Very solid chocolate notes. The vanilla doesn't seem artificial and doesn't overwhelm. Subtle hints of anise. It's not overly sweet at all with a touch of bitterness. Finishes clean. Alcohol goes unnoticed. Mouthfeel is nice. It's ultimately light, but still has a nice body to it. It's fluffy and creamy with moderate carbonation. Very smooth and easy to drink.

This is a solid stout. It's not bad at all. It doesn't come off as artificial at all either. The vanilla doesn't seem to shine, but it does its job and is noticeable. It might not be "mindblowing", but it's very enjoyable. I really like it, especially for a "small stout".

 

 

this tasted like diet vanilla coke very artificiall tasting, it was bad enough I may buy another bottle just to make sure the one I had wasn't bad.

AWESOME stout. I loved the vanilla flavor. It is subtle yet welcoming

 

 

Pours deep mahogany. Faint cola sweetness in the scent that finishes with burnt toast. A strange artificial sugary taste overpowers the roasted malt hiding in the background. I guess it's vanilla? Mellows a little as it warms, but still doesn't taste very good. Tap water consistency. Overall, it's drinkable but doesn't deliver much vanilla taste or traditional stout flavors.

A fairly basic vanilla stout that offers no complexity or depth, though at its relative price point and availability, would make for a decent seasonal offering.

I was happy to score a bottle from another local brewer that I have yet to visit or get a taste of. I got this and one other from Portside at Heinens. I hope the other fares better.

This opens nice enough - a pretty deep dark brown with a nice little head and on-going fizz. The aroma is the first hint that this is not going to be a great one. There is a nasty sewage smell. Really. Cabbage.

The taste has a light malt taste mixed with a bit of metallic from the vanilla (maybe). It's a pretty sharp taste, and the aftertaste lingers kind of nasty too. This does not work well. I don't think I'll drain pout it, but maybe I will - it's not good and I think my ratings are generous.

I hope the other Portside I bought is better than this one.

 

Pours a dark chocolate color. Has a mild aroma of vanilla and a touch of chocolate. Very smooth drink with a soft vanilla & chocolate flavor. Almost like a session stout. Solid beer overall

 

 

 

Poured from a growler into a pint glass
A: Very dark brown with a lingering head that settles from two to one finger in height
S: Cococa, roasted malt and a bit of brown sugar
T: Chocolate malts, cocoa, fairly bitter with a hint of vanilla
F: Medium-bodied and bitter
O: Given the name I expected more vanilla and overall it's components are not coherent. I usually enjoy local beers and have enjoyed others from Portside but this is not one I'd seek out again