Bourbon Barrel Vanilla Smoked Porter
Brewery Ommegang
- From:
- Brewery Ommegang
- New York, United States
- Style:
- Smoked Porter
Ranked #5 - ABV:
- 8.9%
- Score:
- 93
Ranked #5,034 - Avg:
- 4.18 | pDev: 6.7%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 37
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Aug 14, 2024
- Added:
- Sep 09, 2018
- Wants:
- 4
- Gots:
- 13
SCORE
93
Outstanding
93
Outstanding
During the summer of 2017, our brewers were developing, and subsequently falling in love with, our Ommegang Smoked Porter. Sampling the first pilot batches, it was clear that this was a beer that was meant for barrel ageing. Thus, when we brewed Smoked Porter to release in the winter of 2017, we also set some aside in bourbon barrels. Each individual barrel then received additions of several whole Madagascar vanilla beans to impart their rich and creamy flavors into the beer as it aged. Now, six months later, it is ready to drink.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Buck_Jones:
Rated by Buck_Jones from Michigan
4.19/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jan 02, 2021
4.19/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jan 02, 2021
More User Ratings:
Rated by WHERESJIMNOW from New Jersey
4.65/5 rDev +11.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
4.65/5 rDev +11.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
The first smoked beer I've ever tried, and it was a home run. So far, nothing else comes close.
Aug 14, 2024
Reviewed by Alieniloquium from Florida
3.68/5 rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.68/5 rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz. bottle. Black body with an smoke khaki head. Smells of bourbon and vanilla. Some chocolate. No smoke to speak of. Tastes of bourbon, oak, and vanilla primarily. The malt definitely has a smoked component, but it serves as a drying component more than a flavor. Some smokey meatiness in the back end. Smooth chocolate maltiness. Medium body. Easy to drink and pretty flavorful.
Feb 25, 2021Rated by howardnss from Pennsylvania
4.17/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Layers of flavor starting with the bourbon barrel and vanilla. Ending with a nice smoky flavor.
Jan 08, 2021
Reviewed by FBarber from Illinois
4.41/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.41/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a dark brown almost black color. Completely opaque. A nice one to two finger velvety mocha colored head forms on top of the beer. It partially dissipates, but never completely. A lovely lingering head remains on top of the beer.
Aroma has notes of vanilla, roasted malts, light smoky notes and a hint of oak soaked bourbon.
Taste follows the nose with a lovely interplay of roasted malts, chocolate, bourbon vanilla and sweet fresh vanilla. Hints of bourbon, oak and barrel must come through but subtly. I am honestly not getting a ton of the smoked malts - I was hoping for more of that character here, but its very subtle. As the beer warms however that smoked flavor does shine through a bit more and thats when its at its best. The smoke, the vanilla, the roasted malts, its just fantastic.
Feel is perhaps my only complaint on this beer. Its a bit thin - and I know its a smoked porter under 9% so perhaps its a bit unfair - but its such a robust flavor profile that I want more in the mouthfeel. Moderate, prickly carbonation. Semi-dry finish.
Overall this is a fantastic beer - its definitely best at room temperature. Everything works together so well to this harmonious delicious beer. Absolutely a must try for anyone who likes barrel aged beers.
Nov 18, 2020Aroma has notes of vanilla, roasted malts, light smoky notes and a hint of oak soaked bourbon.
Taste follows the nose with a lovely interplay of roasted malts, chocolate, bourbon vanilla and sweet fresh vanilla. Hints of bourbon, oak and barrel must come through but subtly. I am honestly not getting a ton of the smoked malts - I was hoping for more of that character here, but its very subtle. As the beer warms however that smoked flavor does shine through a bit more and thats when its at its best. The smoke, the vanilla, the roasted malts, its just fantastic.
Feel is perhaps my only complaint on this beer. Its a bit thin - and I know its a smoked porter under 9% so perhaps its a bit unfair - but its such a robust flavor profile that I want more in the mouthfeel. Moderate, prickly carbonation. Semi-dry finish.
Overall this is a fantastic beer - its definitely best at room temperature. Everything works together so well to this harmonious delicious beer. Absolutely a must try for anyone who likes barrel aged beers.
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania
4.08/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Dark, dark brown pour... nearly black with thick foamy mocha colored head. Great retention and lacing.
S: Sweets and vanilla. Smoke and roast mixed with booze.
T.F: Similar to the smell. Sweet and roasted grains. Strong vanilla... bourbon/booze. The smoke is modest and complimentary which is nice... doesn't overpower. Baked raisin and fig. Smooth and creamy carbonation. Medium bodied.
O: A well done sweet porter. Good bourbon/booze... vanilla as advertised and just a whiff of smoke. Hides its ABV and a nice dessert brew.
Oct 30, 2020L: Dark, dark brown pour... nearly black with thick foamy mocha colored head. Great retention and lacing.
S: Sweets and vanilla. Smoke and roast mixed with booze.
T.F: Similar to the smell. Sweet and roasted grains. Strong vanilla... bourbon/booze. The smoke is modest and complimentary which is nice... doesn't overpower. Baked raisin and fig. Smooth and creamy carbonation. Medium bodied.
O: A well done sweet porter. Good bourbon/booze... vanilla as advertised and just a whiff of smoke. Hides its ABV and a nice dessert brew.
Reviewed by Captain69 from Illinois
5/5 rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
this is one of those beers as soon as you open it the smell infactuates you , pouring more flavors are released - th efirst sip tells you this going to be great - malty - smokey and vanilla
Aug 29, 2020
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado
3.94/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.94/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Near black body; dense and creamy khaki head, creamy. Prominent note of vanilla on the nose with some roasted grain and light cocoa. Fine flavors; some roasted grain char and mildly sweet vanilla; milk chocolate; bourbon sneaks in long into the finish. Generally heavy body; soft and velvety; generally light sweetness to the mouthfeel overall with some alcohol heat sneaking in at the finish.
Overall, the beer drinks nicely for a vanilla porter, but there was no noticeable smoke in the aroma or taste.
Aug 24, 2020Overall, the beer drinks nicely for a vanilla porter, but there was no noticeable smoke in the aroma or taste.
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia
4.21/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle poured into a tulip
A- pours black in color with a one-finger foamy khaki head that reduces to a ring
S- noticeable bourbon barrel up front, adding barrel juice and plenty of oak, followed by equal parts chocolate and vanilla. Undertones of booze soaked raisins, caramel and just a hint of smoked malt and coffee
T- sweet and malty up front with plenty of chocolate and vanilla notes, followed by dark fruit notes of raisins and figs. Mid-palate gives some sherry and port-like notes, followed by barrel notes that add woody oak, bourbon and an enhanced vanilla note. The smoked malt is subtle, but some out at the finish, lingers of chocolate, dark cherries and barrel
M- medium body with medium carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that continues into a slightly tart finish
O- the barrel and vanilla come through well, I could have used a bit more smoke, but that's just personal preference
Jul 18, 2020A- pours black in color with a one-finger foamy khaki head that reduces to a ring
S- noticeable bourbon barrel up front, adding barrel juice and plenty of oak, followed by equal parts chocolate and vanilla. Undertones of booze soaked raisins, caramel and just a hint of smoked malt and coffee
T- sweet and malty up front with plenty of chocolate and vanilla notes, followed by dark fruit notes of raisins and figs. Mid-palate gives some sherry and port-like notes, followed by barrel notes that add woody oak, bourbon and an enhanced vanilla note. The smoked malt is subtle, but some out at the finish, lingers of chocolate, dark cherries and barrel
M- medium body with medium carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that continues into a slightly tart finish
O- the barrel and vanilla come through well, I could have used a bit more smoke, but that's just personal preference
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