BCBS Vanilla Rye (2014) and BCBS Vanilla (2010)

I remember buying the original Bourbon Vanilla weeks (if not months) after its release... it just was there, still available.

This time folks lined up at 4am on Black Friday and bought EVERYTHING out in minutes. Not just Vanilla but Coffee and even regular Bourbon County. It was like rabid teenagers camping out overnight to score front-row tickets for a Britney Spears concert back in 1998. Ridiculous doesn't even begin to describe it.

That said, I tried 2014 Vanilla Rye on tap and thought it paled in comparison with the original Bourbon Vanilla (still one of my favorite beers ever).

Bourbon Coffee is my favorite, bar none.

 

I never got to try BCBVS fresh, but I did have some a little less than a year ago, and I had Vanilla Rye this past weekend. I will preface by saying that vanilla isn't my favorite treatment for stouts, so YMMV and all that. I thought the nose of Vanilla Rye was incredible, better than BCBVS, and probably better than 99% of most stouts I've smelled. It was like stepping into an incredible French bakery, the vanilla rich and sweet, but kept from the edge of being cloying by the lightest snap of rye barrel/roast/etc. I don't think it hit those lofty highs on the palate, though. It was good, but perhaps lacked a little depth (and, again, I'm a bit biased against vanilla-forward stouts like this). BCBVS, on the other hand, at least at the 3+ year mark, was like liquid chocolate chip cookies to me. Incredibly decadent.

For my money, I'd take 2013 Proprietor's over them both in a heartbeat, but as for declaring a winner...I just don't know. For me, palate > nose, so BCBVS probably takes it, but Vanilla Rye is great in its own right. Though I'd prefer a couple four-packs of Coffee and Barleywine over a singular bottle of VR

 

I had 2010 Vanilla BCS both fresh and with 2 years on it. In my opinion it's one of the best beers ever made. I was just getting into craft beer in 2010 and that was the beer the fully converted me, especially with stouts.

Just tried the 2014 and it's not even close to 2010. It's good but maybe the worst BCS variation yet. It tastes like artificial vanilla and a little like creme brûlée (in a bad way). I think it will get better with age but I wouldn't go crazy trying to get it. I don't think the original will ever be replicated again unfortunately.

 

I had the 2010 about 6 months ago and it was amazing. I had the 2014 at FOBAB and was not blown away. I still stood in line to get my bottle though.

 

Dissappointing to hear all the negative reviews. I'm imagining it to be overly sweet mess much like ST crime brûlée was to me. Really hoping its not though.

 

Had a 5oz sample on Black Friday. I do not think you will be disappointed. I've never had BCBVS, but the Vanilla Rye was pretty incredible. It was sweet, but not overly so. I imagine a year on it would make it legendary.

 

thanks for posting this. I believe GI vowed never to make the "original" vanilla again due to the mess it made. I had a feeling this "new" version would be quite different tasting.

 

Could someone tell me what is the difference between the 2010 vanilla compared to this years version? Is the difference this years version was aged in rye whiskey barrels and the 2010 one was not?

 

Agree completely. It tasted very artificial to me, as if it just had vanilla flavoring dumped in it. Though I wish I had bought some since people are offering multiples of what are in my opinion superior variants such as Backyard for it.

 

I'm guessing you're tasting the differnce in vanilla bean varieties. Go to Spice House (or anywhere with whole spices) and sniff the difference between Mexican and Madagascar vanilla.

I had a 2010 Vanilla back in February, and I tried the new Vanilla at FOBAB this year. Very different beasts, from what I tasted. I wasn't a huge fan of Vanilla Rye, but that could be due to dirty glassware/tasting several other beers before getting to the Vanilla.

 

If the Mexican vanilla beans made it taste like artificial flavoring, nobody should ever use those in a beer. Vastly inferior.

 

To be clear, I don't think it tasted artificial. I just think it tasted different than what people expect from whole (Madagascar) vanilla.

 

I for one think that it tastes fantastic and will get much better with at least a year of proper cellaring. I had a 2010 vanilla and while I do remember it tasting different, I wouldn't go as far to say that Vanilla Rye in comparison isn't any good. The way its being talked about here makes it seem like its some bad beer. Honestly, I think all BC variations start off a bit of a mess. Bramble, Backyard and Cherry Rye were all medicinal at first and too sweet. Now people hold them all in high regards. Prop was the only one that was good fresh IMO but it was still a bit hot.

Thinking back when backyard was fresh last year, half the people who drank it said it was too sweet and almost artificial. Now its drinking amazing. I say give Vanilla Rye some time to come together.

 

Had it at the GI tasting on the day of the release, the smell is fucking incredible, as is the taste. I loved it.

 

I have a hard time believing people can really remember the actual taste of a beer they had 4 years ago vs their overall impression of a beer. How many other great beers have come out since then, how have palates changed over time, etc. ? I remember the 2010 being really heavy on the vanilla too out of the gate, very similar to how the 14' is being described, but I personally wouldn't trust my memory enough to make a valid comparison.

 

This is my exact feelings. Well said.

 

I agree with #lotsaswigs, but from what I remember the '10 was really sweet and very cloying in the mouthfeel. This years was fantastic! The nose was magical and the taste followed through. I think the rye was a better approach giving balance to the sweet bean and rye spice. I also imagine the '10 was smaller batch and much more vanilla added. Eitherway they're both winners and can't wait to do the rye next year with the '10 reaching it's 5 year mark!