Bean to Barstool Podcast | All About Vanilla

Vanilla is a very familiar flavor for most of us. It’s so ubiquitous, in fact, that the word is used as a pejorative for anything that is commonplace and mundane. But that’s not being fair to this fascinating tropical spice, which can display a wide range of expressive aromas and flavors, and can be used in unique ways throughout world cuisine. In North America and Europe, it’s mostly associated with desserts, pastries, and other sweet treats, to the point that vanilla is often taken to be sweet on its own. That assumption is turned upside down in many other global food traditions however, in which vanilla can be used in savory or spicy dishes. Its heady but gentle profile allows it to work in support of a variety of other flavors.

And it’s of interest to this podcast because vanilla is used so extensively in craft chocolate and, often, in craft beer as well.

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Duck-Rabbit | Oh, No Let’s Go! Cacao Milk Stout

One of my earliest craft beer memories is drinking Duck-Rabbit’s Milk Stout. For a fledgling crafty, it was a great way to break into the scene and has stuck with me to this day. Which is perfect, because today we’re taking it up a notch with one of Duck Rabbit’s latest concoctions: Oh, No Let’s Go! Cacao Milk Stout. 

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Strong BA Series | Bottle Logic Fundamental Observation

We all remember the first time we waited in an exceptionally long line for an exceptionally small pour of a notable beer. On a sunny SoCal day in May 2015, at The Bruery’s 7th Anniversary party, a beer from local upstart Bottle Logic Brewing named Fundamental Observation showed up like Lindsay Lohan as the new queen bee of The Plastics. An explosion of vanilla followed by the soft cuddle of high-end bourbon barrels, this beer was a delicious needle in the four hours of unlimited tastings haystack. With the next public release of this beer came a block-spanning line, providing a delicious 8oz reward for an hour of your time, and the first memory of waiting in extended anticipation for a single draught of excellence. Read More

Surly Brewing | Darkness Variants

Surly Brewing Darkness has always been a highly coveted stout come the fall. The Russian imperial stout typically is available in a non barrel-aged version and a barrel-aged version. To change things up, Surly announced three variants, each in a different type of barrel and available only at Darkness Day.

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Lil Beaver Steals the Show at Chicago’s Stout Fest

All the big names were at the Goose Island Brewpub for the return of Stout Fest. While well-known and established breweries like Half Acre, Pipeworks, Goose Island and Revolution were pouring some great stouts, it was a small brewery from Bloomington, Ill. that stole the show.

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Abita Brewing Company | Horchata Turbodog

The world of limited releases is vast, and usually you have a good reason to go after them. Maybe you’re so into the brewery that you post up 12 hours before opening in order to snag it on opening day. Maybe you’re attempting to try every rice beer made in the tri-state area and if you can’t get your hands on this you’ll never be complete. Sometimes, like my trial of Abita‘s Horchata Turbodog, there’s just a beer that looks like your pup at the Mexican grocery store you go to to stock up for a snowstorm. No matter what path you take to find Horchata Turbodog, there’s a cozy dark ale waiting for your taste buds to nestle into it.
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Mikerphone Brewing, Toppling Goliath Talk Beer Releases

Beer releases are a tricky thing. As more and more people take an interest in craft beer, the next release of a hazy NE-IPA, mix culture barrel-aged wild/sour, or big barrel-aged stout are getting more hyped, more complex and trickier for the brewery to manage. There is no such thing as a perfect release, however, breweries today are doing their best to figure out how to get their beer out to their customers.

Whether it’s a smaller/newer brewery like Mikerphone Brewing, or a more established one like Toppling Goliath, the logistics behind releasing highly sought-after beer are nothing simple.

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Vinyl & Beers | Milli Vanilla-i and Other Tales

As with all great vices, we tell ourselves that as long as we are contributing something positive to the world, then we can indulge our heart’s desires. At least that is what I have convinced myself with Vinyl and Beers, that I can drink as much beer and buy as many records as I deem necessary for the sake of beauty. Being fully committed to my art, I pair a record from my collection with every beer I drink at home, and these are their stories. DUN DUN.

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Prairie Artisan Ales | BOMB! Imperial Stout

There comes a point in every hobby where you have to take things to the next level. This usually involves investing more time, energy and, most of all, money. I’m someone whose always resisted that for any hobby. With craft beer, it’s been a specific price point. When I started drinking I set a price I was willing to pay for a single bottle of beer from a store. Surely, I thought, I’ll never actually cross that line. Nothing can be that good. Well Porchdrinkers, Prairie Artisan Ales finally blew me to the next level of craft-dom with BOMB!, its imperial stout.

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Mockery Brewing | Party at the Moontower

ABV: 10.6% | IBU: 16

Winter may be coming, but fall is here and that can only mean one thing: Porter season. Cold weather and dark beers go hand-in-hand like peanut butter and jelly. As the fall colors quickly fade and trees begin to wilt their leaves I think back to my childhood – begrudgingly raking up leaves only to have my little brother jump in the pile and force me to rake them all up again. Needless to say, I live in the city now and raking up leaves is a thing of the past. My fall days now comprise of fall hikes to view the vibrant aspens billowing in the wind, jeering at the pumpkin spice Pringles at the grocery store, and enjoying a tasty porter while I wait for my beard to grow in my flannel shirt and knit cap. Yeah, I’m that guy.
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Wild Woods Brewery | Ponderosa Porter

Average Reading Time: 3 Minutes

Style: American Porter | ABV: 6.7% | IBUs: 45

Picture yourself walking up Mount Sanitas Trailhead in Boulder on a sunny, warm fall day. Your mind is clear and the air is fresh. All of a sudden, you ask yourself, “Am I losing my mind, or do I smell vanilla cupcakes?!”. This is the origin story of Wild Woods Brewery’s Ponderosa Porter as recounted to me by its female co-founder, Erin Evans.

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Lazy Magnolia Brewery | Sweet Potato Cream Stout (Jefferson Stout)

ABV: 4.65% ABV | IBU: 22

Before Kentucky is scheduled to be buried under a foot of snow this week, I watched perplexed as Lexatonians prepare for Snowmageddon by stocking up on a month’s worth of Digiornos and Doritos while congesting every aisle of the grocery store. Rather than loading my cart with six gallons of milk and the last of the bread that just might last me 48 hours, I look for a comforting beverage with a flavor that resonates with the coziness of this bitter season. My eyes fell upon the words “Sweet Potato Cream Stout” and I knew I could ride out any storm with this belly-warming brew.

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Cigar City Brewing/Terrapin Beer Co. Southern Slice

ABV: 10%

IBU: N/A

Pecan pie has long been a staple in the South, and Terrapin and Cigar City have joined forces to pay homage to the timeless dessert (and sometimes breakfast). Brewed with vanilla beans and pecans, the Southern Slice is a Munich lager that pours an opaque dark brown to black, with a beige colored, lacey head that dissipates quickly. The nose is primarily pecan, with a grainy malt background. Read More

Leinenkugel’s Snowdrift Vanilla Porter

Most Midwesterns are familiar with Leinenkugel Brewing Company. They’re the pride of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and brew some pretty unique beers.

Leinenkugel is out with a new winter porter with a slight twist – vanilla. Read More

Tripel Horse Belgian-Style Tripel Ale

ABV – 10%
A Confession: As your faithful Northeast correspondent, my beer selection has been decidedly New York-centric.
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One Minute Beer Review: Southern Tier – Imperial Creme Brulee Stout

ABV: 9.6%

Take a moment and just take a big whiff of this beer before you actually drink this creme brulee stout. Goodness that’s heavenly. This brew treads that line … Read More

One Minute Beer Review: Great Divide Brewing- Rumble

ABV: 7.1%

One of my favorite things about Rumble is the fact that you can enter any room with a six pack and unabashedly exclaim “LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE” without … Read More

One Minute Beer Review: Widmer Brothers-Barrel Aged Brrrbon 11′

Barrel Aged Brrrbon 11’ – Widmer Brothers Brewing, Portland, OR

ABV: 9.5%

IBU: 40

As part of our late night porch drinking session, Chase and I decided to crack open … Read More