Unholy Vanilla
Hydra Beer Co.

Well, at least I got the photo credit for this one. Too bad that it is since retired, but such is the nature of my backlog. Tonight is kinda strange in that I had planned to go to see a movie, but the bus never arrived & I had no interest in walking both ways. 8=( As such, I returned home to see what was in the queue & this popped up. Not a CAN, but one beer closer to emptying out this house of horrors.

From the Bottle: "Vanilla Sweet Stout"; "Brewed & Bottled by Brau Brothers Brewing Co Marshall, MN under the guidelines and requirements of Hydra Beer Company".

I Pop!ped the cap & began a slow, gentle C-Line pour into the awaiting glass. It seemed to be pouring with a good deal of clarity & I was poised to let it run steadily. Suddenly, it began to perform a pseudo-cascade & foam began rushing up to the point that I had to back down & off to let it settle. In the meantime, the vanilla started really filling the air, leaving NO doubt that it was a principal adjunct. I finally wound up with two-plus fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, deep-tan/light-brown head with excellent retention. Color was stygian Black/Opaque (SRM = 44) allowing ZERO light penetration. Leaning in for a sip, the vanilla continued to be at the forefront. Mouthfeel was medium, kinda slick on the tongue. Not bad. The taste was like Baby Bear's English Sweet/Milk Stout - no milk & not to sweet, but just right, IMHO. The vanilla might have been cloying had it not been for a Baker's chocolate bitterness & a slight, general roastiness. This was eminently more drinkable than I had imagined, hence its sitting around until retirement. I just figured that it was going to be too sweet for my taste & eschewed it in favor of more bitter, hoppy AIPAs. Do not misunderstand me - this was clearly a Sweet Stout, but it was far less sweet than many that I have had. Finish landed between sweet & semi-sweet, which was the sweet spot for me. YMMV.

Get to tick off a new State here. Pouring a cellar temp 12 oz bottle into my snifter. The beer pours a rich cola brown color with a fluffy tan colored head that fills my glass quickly even with a gentle pour. THis foam fades slowly leaving windowpane lattice on the sides of my glass and some large craters in the center. Very long time for this fluff to drop down the glass.
The aroma is some brown sugar, milk chocolate and vanilla notes, although the vanilla is a little muted from what I expected. I do get a little bit of roasted note as well, no hops to be found and booze is hidden.
First sip reveals a lighter than hoped for body with very fine and tingly carbonation the prickles my palate with each mouthful. the texture is a little slick and also sticky on the finish.
Flavor is sweet with milk chocolate and some vanilla notes mixing with a bit of roasted malt and a lingering light sweetness after each swallow. Im not sure there are any hops in here as they dont show up on the finish, but this is a sweet malty style. Not boozy and easy to drink. the vanilla isnt very bold on the nose or flavor. I wonder how different this vanilla variant is from the base version.

Hydra Unholy Vanilla Stout, 6.66% ABV. Pours black, with a 5/8 finger brown head. Nose is real nice vanilla, taste follows, plus lactose, sweet, with a slight bitter close. Excellent mouthfeel, overall near outstanding. Perhaps the best vanilla stout I've had.