Beer of the Weekend #534: Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat
Despite the marketing blanket at local beer retailers, I have defied the seduction of Tallgrass Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat. It has been a long time since I tried the regular version but I do not remember being impressed. This weekend, though, I had a couple pints of Vanilla Bean downtown and was very impressed. Hopefully it is as good from the can as it is the tap.
The beer tonight is Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat, brewed by the Tallgrass Brewing Company of Manhattan, Kansas.
Serving type: 16-ounce can. No freshness date.
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. (I forgot how sexy my Great River glass is when it is filled with stout.) The color is almost-opaque black. Two fingers of tight, buttery, dark beige head dissipated slowly.
Smell: The vanilla is unmistakable and blends nicely with scents of dark and milk chocolate, caramel, brown sugar, molasses, and a little roasted barley and espresso.
Taste: The mouthfeel is decent: full-bodied and a little dry, but not as velvety as I would expect from the style. (It was much thicker from the tap.) The flavor basically mirrors the smell, though it is a touch fainter. Smooth, but diluted. Vanilla (of course), dark chocolate, molasses, brown sugar, and roasted barley. The taste of espresso lingers on the taste buds. Black licorice appears late.
Drinkability: Tasty stuff and very drinkable. I wish the flavor were little more potent but it is pretty solid. It is much better on tap.
Fun facts about VBBS:
-Style: The brewery calls it “Oatmeal Cream Stout.”
-Price: $8.99/four-pack at the New Pioneer Co-op in Iowa City.
-Alcohol content: 5 percent ABV.
-IBU: 20.
-Description via the beer’s webpage:
-An interesting fact also listed on the webpage: “There are free-roaming buffalo just ten miles from our brewery.”
The Quiet Man’s grade: B.
The beer tonight is Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat, brewed by the Tallgrass Brewing Company of Manhattan, Kansas.
Serving type: 16-ounce can. No freshness date.
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. (I forgot how sexy my Great River glass is when it is filled with stout.) The color is almost-opaque black. Two fingers of tight, buttery, dark beige head dissipated slowly.
Smell: The vanilla is unmistakable and blends nicely with scents of dark and milk chocolate, caramel, brown sugar, molasses, and a little roasted barley and espresso.
Taste: The mouthfeel is decent: full-bodied and a little dry, but not as velvety as I would expect from the style. (It was much thicker from the tap.) The flavor basically mirrors the smell, though it is a touch fainter. Smooth, but diluted. Vanilla (of course), dark chocolate, molasses, brown sugar, and roasted barley. The taste of espresso lingers on the taste buds. Black licorice appears late.
Drinkability: Tasty stuff and very drinkable. I wish the flavor were little more potent but it is pretty solid. It is much better on tap.
Fun facts about VBBS:
-Style: The brewery calls it “Oatmeal Cream Stout.”
-Price: $8.99/four-pack at the New Pioneer Co-op in Iowa City.
-Alcohol content: 5 percent ABV.
-IBU: 20.
-Description via the beer’s webpage:
To create Vanilla Bean Buffalo Sweat we start with our best selling beer, Buffalo Sweat. We carefully infuse this award-winning oatmeal cream stout with whole Ugandan vanilla beans. This enhances the beer's natural dark-roasted flavors of espresso, chocolate, and creamy sweetness. "Liquid chocolate chip espresso cookies" is how one fan described its unique flavor.
-An interesting fact also listed on the webpage: “There are free-roaming buffalo just ten miles from our brewery.”
The Quiet Man’s grade: B.
