Avery Vanilla Bean Stout 22OZ

Avery Vanilla Bean Stout 22OZ is a bourbon barrel-aged American imperial stout from Avery Brewing Company, bottled at approximately 10.8% ABV in a 22-ounce bomber format. Scored 93 points by Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine in a blind BJCP judging panel and awarded 92 points by Wine Enthusiast, this release stands among the most decorated vanilla stouts in American craft beer.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~10.8%  |  Origin: Boulder, Colorado, USA  |  Style: American Imperial Stout  |  Brewery: Avery Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Avery Brewing Company, founded in 1993 in Boulder, Colorado, built its reputation on bold, boundary-pushing ales. Vanilla Bean Stout begins as a blend of two house imperial stouts — Czar Imperial Stout and Out of Bounds Stout — which is then aged for three months in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels. After barrel aging, the beer is blended with whole vanilla beans sourced from three distinct origins: Mexico (known for rich, creamy character), Uganda (contributing earthy depth and cocoa undertones), and Tonga (adding aromatic spice complexity). This triple-origin vanilla approach, combined with genuine bourbon barrel contact, separates it from stouts that rely on extract or a single vanilla source.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh vanilla leads immediately, followed by bourbon-soaked oak and peppery woodspice. Underneath, darker notes of roasted malt and faint cocoa emerge as the beer warms in the glass.

Taste: The entry is dominated by dark chocolate, vanilla, and hints of roast coffee. The mid-palate broadens into toasted coconut, malted milk ball, and caramelized brown sugar, with plum and cherry fruit lurking beneath the sweetness. A measured char from the barrel aging keeps the richness in check, preventing it from tipping into cloying territory.

Finish: Medium-long with sweet smoke, soft warming spice, and lingering vanilla-spiked dark fruit. The bourbon barrel influence carries through to the close, leaving a dry oak and gentle heat on the tongue.

How to Drink Vanilla Bean Stout

Pour into a snifter or tulip glass at 50–55°F to let the vanilla aromatics fully express without muting the barrel character. This beer rewards patient sipping — avoid serving ice cold. For a decadent Stout Float, pair it with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, where the bourbon barrel notes contrast the frozen dairy. It works beautifully in a Black Velvet variation, split with dry sparkling cider for a rich yet effervescent combination. A Stout Shandy with cold-brew coffee concentrate and a dash of maple syrup highlights the existing roast and caramel profile.

Best For

• Sharing after a winter dinner party as a dessert course replacement
• Gifting to a craft beer collector who prizes barrel-aged releases
• Cellaring for 1–2 years to observe how the vanilla and barrel character evolve
• Side-by-side tasting nights comparing bourbon barrel-aged imperial stouts

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Avery Vanilla Bean Stout taste like? It leads with dark chocolate and authentic vanilla, followed by toasted coconut, caramelized brown sugar, and bourbon-soaked oak. The overall impression is rich and warming but balanced by roast bitterness and barrel-derived char.

How does Vanilla Bean Stout compare to Goose Island Bourbon County Stout? Both are bourbon barrel-aged imperial stouts, but Avery's expression leans heavily into its triple-origin vanilla bean infusion, producing a sweeter, more dessert-forward profile. Bourbon County Stout tends to emphasize raw barrel character, dried fruit, and deeper oxidative complexity without a pronounced vanilla focus.

Is Vanilla Bean Stout good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its 10.8% ABV, layered vanilla aromatics, and barrel complexity reward slow, contemplative drinking from a snifter at cellar temperature.

Where is Vanilla Bean Stout made? It is brewed by Avery Brewing Company in Boulder, Colorado, a brewery founded in 1993 that is widely recognized for its barrel-aged and high-gravity specialty ales.

What foods pair well with Vanilla Bean Stout? Dark chocolate truffles mirror its cocoa and vanilla notes. Smoked brisket complements the bourbon barrel char. Crème brûlée echoes the caramelized sugar sweetness. Blue cheese provides sharp contrast to the malt richness. Pecan pie matches the toasted nut and brown sugar character.

What sizes does Vanilla Bean Stout come in? The standard release is a 22-ounce bomber bottle, which is the traditional format for Avery's barrel-aged specialty series.

Is Vanilla Bean Stout worth the price? It positions as a premium limited-release barrel-aged stout, and its 93-point score from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine and 92-point Wine Enthusiast rating place it among the top-valued entries in the bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout category.

Why Vanilla Bean Stout?

The defining differentiator here is the triple-origin vanilla bean program — sourcing whole beans from Mexico, Uganda, and Tonga creates a layered vanilla character that single-source stouts simply cannot replicate. Three months in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels adds genuine whiskey provenance rather than generic oak flavor. Dual verified critical scores — 93 from Craft Beer & Brewing and 92 from Wine Enthusiast — confirm that the complexity translates beyond marketing into the glass. For drinkers seeking a barrel-aged imperial stout where vanilla is a structural element rather than an afterthought, this remains one of the most thoughtfully constructed examples in American craft beer.