Vanilla-infused stouts

Maine Beer Co. - Mean Old Tom

 

Came here to say Atwater Vanilla Java Porter - was an early-favorite of mine, although saw someone beat me to it. Also recently tried Tallgrass Vanilla Buffalo Sweat - it was VERY sweet, but had lots of vanilla flavor. I wouldn't call either of these "great" beers, but I do think they hit the mark on your ask and are worth trying if you're looking for something vanilla-heavy.

 

Lakewoods Temptress and BBA Temptress.

 

It's good. And after that I'd recommend Fascist Pig. A very well-balanced red ale with a very pleasant pineapple (yes, pineapple) note. A big beer that doesn't drink like one. Again, I say get it as fresh as you can. (My only knock on Finch's is their lack of dating.)

 

THIS!

 

THIS TOO!

 

Finch's secret stache stout

 

this actually works really well.... though i have only used bourbon to do this, and only let sit for 3 weeks

 

No one has mentioned Prairies Vanilla Noir which is surprising. Doesnt upset because it was waaaaay to sweet for me. The base noir is the best

 

Creme Brulee is definitely a sipper beer or good if you have one to share with. It upset my stomach and was hard to finish a bomber bottle of it.
Atwater Vanilla Java Porter is a good vanilla porter, but not a stout like you asked for.
Leinenkugel's Snowdrift Vanilla Porter is similar to Atwater's, but not as good in my opinion.
New Holland's Dragons Milk, that's aged in bourbon barrels isn't strong with vanilla, but is an excellent beer.

 

This is what I was going to say. Second on the Breckenridge VP.

It is not available, but you are in Illinois so keep an eye out for a vanilla abraxas being poured at the Perennial tap room. I had a snifter pour at their barrel noir night, it was jaw dropping.

EDIT - I'll third the Breckenridge mention

 

Maine Beer Co.'s Mean Old Tom Stout has got some NICE vanilla bean flavor in a 16oz bottle

 

Would this work in larger quantities for a homebrew vanilla/bourbon infusion?

 

Also, +1 for Prairie Vanilla Noir... by far the best vanilla beer. Bomb itself has awesome vanilla flavor too!

 

If it's from El Segundo Brewing, it's named after the sewage treatment plant nearby, which in turn is named for the Greek Titan.

 

The older I get the more I realize everything is borrowed from everything.
Finklesword! Maybe that hasn't been said before, but it probably has.

 

It's not a life changer by any means, but it's not terrible, and I remember it having a pretty serious vanilla to it: Tanilla by Knee Deep.
Also almost certainly more available in the middle where you are, and under similar description: not world beating, but not bad: Tallgrass' Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat

 

If you can get your hands on a bottle (It sold out in less than 2 hours at the brewery release), Kane's A Night to End All Dawns (ANTEAD) - Vanilla is about a good a vanilla stout as you will find. It shouldn't be too hard to trade for one. I've had Vanilla Framinghammer and ANTEA - Vanilla was better.

 

Siren Noire by Heavy Seas is aged on vanilla beans in bourbon barrels.

I'm not sure that any vanilla/vanilla bean is involved in making this brew, but I got a lot of vanilla flavors in the last Blaecorn Unidragon that I had from Clown Shoes.