Vanilla rye

how do you access this podcast? When I search for it in my podcast app nothing comes up.

 

funny how quickly the opinion changes once people start trying it. I guess it is good that threads like this get started after all.

 

I found it linked from Tumblr. I think it's on http://interactive.wbez.org/podcasts/ as well, and on iTunes and Soundcloud.

 

The only gripe I have is there is no one that can remember exact tasting characteristics of a beer they had 4 years ago, so there is no way to truly compare the 2 vanilla's. Same with comparing an aged 2010 Vanilla to Vanilla Rye. Unless they were bottled at the same time it's all just guessing. I say just enjoy your bottle(s) that you have cuz you were damn lucky to find em!

 

I had this on draft Black Friday, and I'll agree that it's a vanilla bomb. But I'll also add that I thoroughly enjoyed a strong vanilla addition to the base. BCBS is easily my favorite 12 oz bourbon barrel aged stout, and this is a great addition to an already great beer. OP I have no doubt that you won't regret drinking this guy fresh, it's so good!

 

has Vanilla Rye really been that hard to come by? i keep hearing people in locations i assume would likely have a decent, or at least better chance than us at getting a couple - but the tone continuously sounds like there's little to none out there.

 

It seemed hard to get. I don't get it in AL. Had all my traders that day try and nobody had luck. No traders in IL, but several close by in IN. It seemed like one of the harder variants to get in recent years. Seemed like Backyard Rye was easier to come by last year.

 

It was almost impossible to find even in Illinois. The Binnys I went to sold out of it within mere minutes of opening. I know, I was standing in line.

 

I tried it on tap, it was great. Still a little boozy and its a vanilla explosion. I think ill wait a year to crack a bottle.

 

that's interesting. i do wonder if any of the on-going reports that there were damage/breakage issues has contributed to that? in the past what you guys are describing has been Cali or my region. this year i found a couple of bottles of Vanilla plus each of the 4pk on a true mom & pop corner store shelf. it could certainly have been the fluke of the century but in practical terms, it gave the impression there must've been a fair share of this in distribution.

<tongue firmly planted in cheek> i was about to take you serious but i looked - there's no Binny's in 'Antarctica'!? lemme guess. the line you were in was to buy bags of ice?

 

ICE? I don't need to buy ice where I'm at . No, I wanted a beer that wouldn't freeze on the boat ride here.

 

I'm tire of people saying "just drink it." The label says it will develop in the bottle for 5 years. I have heard a lot of people saying that there is almost too much vanilla in this, I think it'll be fine in a year.

 

could you describe it a little more? or i'd especially love to hear from someone that's cracked a bottle. mostly concerned about the vanilla flavor. wondering is it akin to say Victory at Sea?

 

Had a pour from the bottle this past Sunday. It was just tons and tons of vanilla. It certainly is as advertised. A bit too sweet and the vanilla just seemed to mask the complexity I really enjoy in regular bourbon county (it's pretty single-noted). I think it could do something nice with a bit of time on it. But, by all means, if you want a vanilla bomb open it now.

 

I had it on tap, not from the bottle.

Victory at seas isn't really on the same level. The mouthfeel is thicker on bcvrs. It tends to be on the sweeter side. Super strong vanilla favor with just the right amount of carb.it has a slightly boozy after taste. I think the vanilla with settle after a year of aging.

Chocolate rain for me would be as close as I can describe it mouthfeel wise.

 

Ive never had victory at sea, but my table cracked 4 bottles open at the beer belly GI event, All of them were vanilla bombs, and I really like vanilla. I honestly think it needs at least 6 months to be great, but probably even longer. I didnt get any flavor depth of complexity, nose was all vanilla, taste was all vanilla on both the front and back end. I traded to get a few bottles of it, but I'm going to try and forget about them for a long while.

 

it's funny you say this. this is exactly what i think may have happened & caused some of the issues we've heard about. i know there were a couple of serious weather sessions recently. freezing would explain a lot of that.

i commented in another thread. what i did notice is all the bottles i managed to get were clean, BUT of what was on the shelf, almost every Vanilla had noticeably sticky necks. the case box had been cut so i didn't get to see the full box, but the 65% or so of the box there looked clean as the board of health, all fill levels were equal & normal - so i doubt it had anything to do with the actual case that was received.

 

thanks. based on what you guys are saying, i doubt i open mine any time soon. i'm not sure if being thicker would do it for me. i try VaS almost every year. it's always 1 bottle or 1 glass on tap. unfortunately, it's just not my thing. every year people & friends talk it up. every year i have serious trouble finishing a standard pour. the vanilla flavor comes off as intensified extract to me. closest thing that comes to mind is French Vanilla Coffemate creamer. i had a similar experience with that last release of Stone's vanilla porter.

since the early reviews & shelf-talk on Vanilla Rye was - "You can really tell they used real vanilla bean" i've been hopeful it will taste more natural for a lack of a better way to describe things.

 

I can confirm they used real beans. one of the goose island barrel guys was at the beer belly event and he had pictures of himself putting the beans in the barrels.