Drop The Needle
Mikerphone Brewing

 

Consumed 6/5/21

I’ve always loved a good barrel aged vanilla stout. Mikerphone has delivered before on this and has done it again here. They’re starting to run together a bit but the rye barrel character here is unique. Not that it hasn’t been done before (first with ‘14 Goose Vanilla BCS?) but I’m not tired of it yet apparently. The look, feel, and smell are phenomenal here. The only negative for me is that it’s a bit too sweet. I’m not a pastry stout lover after 8oz. I’m glad I have a 2nd bottle to share with friends. I’ll have to do a comparison vs Vanillaoize and another great BA vanilla stout next time.

 

Pitch black pour with brown edging and ring, noticeable carbonation. Smell smacks of vanilla bomb with rye, chocolate, and bourbon partners, I don't hate it. Taste takes it to the next level though: you truly can taste the two different kinds of vanilla interacting with the two different barrels, with semi-sweet chocolate and a hint of wood. Just stops short of being overly sweet. Feel is cool from the vanilla for a BA stout, barrel character is light, but body is velvet smooth and while heavy and thick it goes down easily. It is a vanilla bomb for sure, but I love vanilla in stouts, dessert in a glass. A little more barrel would take this to even higher heights

This beer is Rich heavy and alot of vanilla forward. But you definetly get the difference in the beans.

Not overly sweet and has a very good mouthfeel.

Pours dark syrupy.

Pours jet black with no noticeable head. Heavy thickness with dominant tobacco, roast, dark chocolate. Needed to be at room temp, though there was a slight vegetal aftertaste on the vanilla that didn’t play well with the rye. Barrel and wood was not much in the mix either. Booze was well hidden with the vanilla

Hate to say it but had higher expectations with the involved breweries and the recent Mikerphone BA stout success. Nice, but not worth the higher price point in the large format.

From bottle, couple of days after release. Pitch black with caramel colored foam which dissipates quickly and only black liquid remains. It’s loads of vanilla in aroma and even more in flavor. Smooth front. Sweet, decadent and rich. Some nice barrel rye spice at the end. Medium-thick feel. This is a good collaboration beer.