Vanilla Bean Porter
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall

True to the style, this beautifully dark porter has a light smell of vanilla, as well as a light taste of it. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied and tacky. The taste is a very mild roast, and overall it is a solid offering if not the best in its class.

January 2022. Bottle of Harpoon Vanilla bean porter at about 45F poured into a half pint nonic glass. Look is excellent with reddish brown body and a dense tan head. Taste is the low point. Vague body with a bit of roasted malt, possibly a vanilla note, and minimal hop bitterness. The impression is too dry for my preference. The aftertaste is not bad, still without a beery assertiveness that I expect.

 

 

 

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours deep red with a fluffy off white head. Smells of creamy chocolate and very slight vanilla. Tastes of creamy vanilla with slight chocolate, very smooth. Beer is light bodied and very easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.

 

A nice dark pour with a creamy head. Good aroma. Silky smooth taste. Vanilla and coffee with a slight sweetness. Not overwhelming or heavy. A nice smooth porter.

Poured from a 12 oz bottle.

Look - dark brown, but still transparent. small head, but some lacing.
Smell - vanilla and coffee, kind of like a vanilla cold brew. some cocoa beans as well.
Taste - nice sweet vanilla initial mouthfeel that lingers into the finish. some other flavors (coffee and smokiness) come out as well. really good tasting beer.
Feel - medium bodied, fairly high carbonation and low ABV.
Overall - I can see why its a party pleaser. The beer has nice detectable flavors without killing it on the booze content, and people can easily have several over the course of a night. (note it is only 5% ABV instead of the 6% listed here)

12 oz bottle. Pours brown with tall, creamy, beige head and nice lacing. Aroma is of herbal hops, toasted malt, vanilla and chocolate. Body is medium and slightly crisp. Taste is of toasted malt, chocolate, vanilla, dark fruit and floral hops. Finish is long and almost dry. Not bad, but nothing special porter.

 

Poured into a grip shaped goblet: color is dark amber/brown, head is light tan, fine bubbles, presents about 1/2 inch thick dissipating to thin top.

Smell is vanilla, hint of cocoa malt.

Taste is vanilla, some chocolate malt, toast, hint of caramel; vanilla is a bit strong, distracting.

Mouthfeel is moderate, pleasant balance.

Overall a vanilla beer with some porter characteristics.

 

 

 

 

I love everything harpoon does, including this beer. As someone who drink mostly ipa's, it's nice to have a darker winter feel beer that hits the spot.

A: Pours a dark cola color with 2 fingers of head that fades down to a thin cap that leaves decent lacing

S: Sweet vanilla, roasted malt, and dark chocolate make up the nose. Not really complex, but right on the mark

T: Follows the nose. Starts off with the roasted malt and vanilla bean. Goes into some dark chocolate and light bitterness. Sweetness and bitterness balance nicely. Finishes with lingering vanilla and roast

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Could be a little thicker

O: A solid vanilla porter that does a great job of balancing the sweet vanilla with the bitterness and roastiness of the malt. Super easy to drink. Worth checking out