Judge's Review: 95 Rating - Brewery Lane Series: Imperial Vanilla Porter Aged in Rum Barrels by Breckenridge Brewery

Brewery Lane Series: Imperial Vanilla Porter Aged in Rum Barrels by Breckenridge Brewery is a Imperial Porter with vanilla aged in rum barrels and is being evaluated as a Wood Aged Beer (category 33A in the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines). Wood aged beers typically display a harmony between the wood and the base style, optionally flavored with spirits from the previous contents of the wood. This beer is a higher gravity version of Breckenridge Brewery's Vanilla Porter and was aged in rum barrels for 55 days.

This porter pours black, clear but almost opaque, with a medium light brown head. The aroma is of moderately strong chocolate and coffee with lighter smoke, vanilla and alcohol. The body is medium-full with a smooth and creamy mouthfeel and a light warmth. The flavor is very rich and complex with flavors of chocolate, smoke, vanilla, toasted oak, dark rum, toffee, caramel and coffee. The beer finishes with a light bitterness leaving a rich and complex finish of sweet chocolate, caramel, vanilla and toasted oak.

Rich, complex and strong, this beer is every bit as good as advertised on the label. Definitely seek this one out!