Vanilla Scoop
Southern Tier Brewing Company
- From:
- Southern Tier Brewing Company
- New York, United States
- Style:
- American Strong Ale
Ranked #114 - ABV:
- 8.6%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #11,814 - Avg:
- 4.07 | pDev: 8.85%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 18
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 01, 2025
- Added:
- Mar 27, 2023
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding
Southern Tier is proud to partner with our Western NY neighbor, Perry’s Ice Cream. We used their delicious signature vanilla and milk sugar to deliver a creamy, full-bodied beer unlike anything else.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by deleted_user_1366261
4.4/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Reposting earlier review (account got deleted):
On tap - Smell is...well, vanilla. Pours more of a caramel colour, virtually no head remaining after a few minutes. Taste is predominantly vanilla (think ice cream cone), good carbonation. Just a touch sweeter than I prefer, but for the style, it's excellent.
Nov 01, 2025On tap - Smell is...well, vanilla. Pours more of a caramel colour, virtually no head remaining after a few minutes. Taste is predominantly vanilla (think ice cream cone), good carbonation. Just a touch sweeter than I prefer, but for the style, it's excellent.
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky
3.87/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
When childhood memories of vanilla floats and cream soda swirl around the mind, Southern Tier gets busy swirling these flavors into an imperial cream ale.
Mlldly haze and golden in color, Vanilla Scoop's bubble builds a short-lived froth filled with vanilla, light caramel, pastry crust and a hint of butterscotch.With much the same collection of sugars accumulating on the tongue, early impressions of cream soda come to mind.
As the bubble start to break up the sweetness, the session tries mightily to add peppery spice, grain character and alcohol complexities to the taste but the middle palate stays the course with its cream ale impressions, perhaps spiked with vanilla liquor.
All in all, the ale is a simplistic cream ale with a bold vanilla lead, right down to its aftertaste of vanilla syrup that lingers well beyond the initial taste. A one-trick-pony for sure, but quite a delight for a taste.
Sep 04, 2024Mlldly haze and golden in color, Vanilla Scoop's bubble builds a short-lived froth filled with vanilla, light caramel, pastry crust and a hint of butterscotch.With much the same collection of sugars accumulating on the tongue, early impressions of cream soda come to mind.
As the bubble start to break up the sweetness, the session tries mightily to add peppery spice, grain character and alcohol complexities to the taste but the middle palate stays the course with its cream ale impressions, perhaps spiked with vanilla liquor.
All in all, the ale is a simplistic cream ale with a bold vanilla lead, right down to its aftertaste of vanilla syrup that lingers well beyond the initial taste. A one-trick-pony for sure, but quite a delight for a taste.
Reviewed by AlexK5339 from Wisconsin
4.16/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.16/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Color is pale amber that is fairly clear with a bit of haze. Thin eggshell white head dissipated very quickly.
Nose is true to the name - just a tremendous amount of sweet vanilla, almost like cake frosting. Besides that, there's some very subtle maltiness and caramel notes.
Taste is all vanilla. It's sweet but not cloying. It definitely gives me cream soda vanilla vibes more than the vanilla frosting that I was getting on the nose. Not getting much from the base beer besides some bready malty character up front. Absolutely no bitterness.
Body is on the higher side of medium to lower end of full. It's a bit thick but not syrupy. Decent carbonation. It hides the 8.6% ABV quite well. You feel some of the booziness on the chest but not much.
This is definitely my favorite so far in the Southern Tier set of dessert imperial ales. Was not a fan of the frosted sugar cookie or the french toast - thought they were both excessively sweet. This nailed the vanilla ice cream vibe but IMO it's more reserved in the sweetness. I couldn't drink more than one but would definitely have it again. 4-pack of 12oz bottles was $12.99 so quite reasonably priced.
Apr 30, 2024Nose is true to the name - just a tremendous amount of sweet vanilla, almost like cake frosting. Besides that, there's some very subtle maltiness and caramel notes.
Taste is all vanilla. It's sweet but not cloying. It definitely gives me cream soda vanilla vibes more than the vanilla frosting that I was getting on the nose. Not getting much from the base beer besides some bready malty character up front. Absolutely no bitterness.
Body is on the higher side of medium to lower end of full. It's a bit thick but not syrupy. Decent carbonation. It hides the 8.6% ABV quite well. You feel some of the booziness on the chest but not much.
This is definitely my favorite so far in the Southern Tier set of dessert imperial ales. Was not a fan of the frosted sugar cookie or the french toast - thought they were both excessively sweet. This nailed the vanilla ice cream vibe but IMO it's more reserved in the sweetness. I couldn't drink more than one but would definitely have it again. 4-pack of 12oz bottles was $12.99 so quite reasonably priced.
Rated by PapaGoose03 from Michigan
3.75/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Way too much vanilla and sweetness for me, but it's an interesting beer.
Mar 22, 2024
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut
4.25/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Minimal head production and retention. Body is a clear light amber.
Aroma is quite nice, with strong vanilla notes playing well with caramel and toffee. A touch of honey and bright bark.
Surprising amount of sting right off the bat; very lively beer, although it settles down. Initial taste is fairly mild and almost a neutral amber ale, but around mid sip you're hit with a vanilla-toffee blast. It's more cookie-like than ice cream in flavor profile. Absolutely delicious, and somehow not overly sweet.
Sep 03, 2023Aroma is quite nice, with strong vanilla notes playing well with caramel and toffee. A touch of honey and bright bark.
Surprising amount of sting right off the bat; very lively beer, although it settles down. Initial taste is fairly mild and almost a neutral amber ale, but around mid sip you're hit with a vanilla-toffee blast. It's more cookie-like than ice cream in flavor profile. Absolutely delicious, and somehow not overly sweet.
Reviewed by mvanaskie13 from Pennsylvania
4.03/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a wide mouth grip shaped goblet: color is gold, transparent, head is off white and presents 1/4 inch thick and quickly dissipates to ring on the glass sides.
Smell is light sweetened caramel, vanilla, hint of toasted malt.
Taste is huge vanilla, lactose, and sweetened caramel, like a double cream soda, maybe some light malt but really just an amped up cream soda flavor with limited booziness for the strength.
Mouthfeel is lower carbonation, moderate/strong sweetness, lower bitterness and drying with time.
Overall - for what it is it is well done - big vanilla/caramel/lactose flavor with drying presence that partially compensates the sweetness.
Aug 10, 2023Smell is light sweetened caramel, vanilla, hint of toasted malt.
Taste is huge vanilla, lactose, and sweetened caramel, like a double cream soda, maybe some light malt but really just an amped up cream soda flavor with limited booziness for the strength.
Mouthfeel is lower carbonation, moderate/strong sweetness, lower bitterness and drying with time.
Overall - for what it is it is well done - big vanilla/caramel/lactose flavor with drying presence that partially compensates the sweetness.
Reviewed by Captain69 from Illinois
4.36/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.36/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
another sweet creamy ale from this brewery - from the first sip you think your having a scoop of ice cream unbelievable taste t nice light hop finish these beers should be in a class by themselves
Jul 29, 2023
Reviewed by LifesAnesthesia from Virginia
4.45/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.45/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
L - Golden amber with a small off-white head that dissipates quickly leaving no head of lacing
S - straight up vanilla and lactose.
T - vanilla up front and throughout with hints of caramel, honey, and malt that somewhat mimic an ice cream cone. Slight hints of an alw somewhere in there
F - medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth.
O - For what it is, it's great. One note and definitely a dessert beer, but well done
Jul 03, 2023S - straight up vanilla and lactose.
T - vanilla up front and throughout with hints of caramel, honey, and malt that somewhat mimic an ice cream cone. Slight hints of an alw somewhere in there
F - medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth.
O - For what it is, it's great. One note and definitely a dessert beer, but well done
Reviewed by deleted_user_1239096
4.37/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.37/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap - Smell is...well, vanilla. Pours more of a caramel colour, virtually no head remaining after a few minutes. Taste is predominantly vanilla (think ice cream cone), good carbonation. Just a touch sweeter than I prefer, but for the style, it's excellent.
Jun 07, 2023
Reviewed by MadMadMike from France
3.53/5 rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Fridge cold 12 ounce bottle into a can glass.
Golden brew. No foam. Zero.
Smells like vanilla, for sure.
Tastes like a thick cream soda with a splash of caramel syrup. There’s a center of the tongue hop nip that’s trying to convince me to call it ‘ale’, but no. Syrupy finish, small whisper of alcohol, ugly soda pop burp for finish.
Feel is almost dessert thick, sticky, barely carbonated.
Overall, this is an attempt to fool a beer drinker as to what he’s got. It’s a syrup and milk sugar infused hybrid beer / seltzer / cocktail novelty. I get it, don’t care for it.,. Happy wife enjoyed it. I’d a sink poured it if she didn’t take it.,
May 29, 2023Golden brew. No foam. Zero.
Smells like vanilla, for sure.
Tastes like a thick cream soda with a splash of caramel syrup. There’s a center of the tongue hop nip that’s trying to convince me to call it ‘ale’, but no. Syrupy finish, small whisper of alcohol, ugly soda pop burp for finish.
Feel is almost dessert thick, sticky, barely carbonated.
Overall, this is an attempt to fool a beer drinker as to what he’s got. It’s a syrup and milk sugar infused hybrid beer / seltzer / cocktail novelty. I get it, don’t care for it.,. Happy wife enjoyed it. I’d a sink poured it if she didn’t take it.,
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