Samuel Adams Oaked Vanilla Porter

Review Date 12/10/23  By John Staradumsky

  Style: Spiced   Brewery: Boston Beer   Country: USA   State: Massachusetts   $ Per OZ: $.11 (B)   ABV: 5.8%

Is it winter yet? Technically, no, it’s still fall. Winter doesn’t start until December 21^st. Still, it’s December, and it’s the holiday season, and that is close enough to winter for me, so I broke out a beer from the 2023 Samuel Adams Beers for Cheers collection: Samuel Adams Oaked Vanilla Porter. You get two bottles of this beer in the 12-pack, and two bottles each of:

Samuel Adams Boston Lager Refreshed

Samuel Adams Winter Lager

Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig

Samuel Adams Cold IPA

Samuel Adams Holiday White Ale

I was excited that Old Fezziwig was available in six-packs this year but, sadly, none came to Georgia. That happened last year with Chocolate Bock, too, another beer I really enjoy. I’ll have to make do, it seems, with the two bottles of Fezziwig I got here.

And, of course, a new beer for me, Samuel Adams Oaked Vanilla Porter. This is not, however, a totally new beer, as it has apparently been sold before at the Boston brewery.

Sam says on the bottle label:

Complex and malty with a hearty warming character, this porter features notes of vanilla and oak, hints of coffee and a touch of sweetness. “OVP” just might be your holiday party’s new M.V.P.

Samuel Adams Oaked Vanilla Porter has an alcohol content of 5.8% by volume with 35 IBUs. I paid $15.49 for my 12-pack sampler from Total Wine. That's under $8 a six-pack, and these days, that's a great price. My bottle is notched enjoy before May of 2023.

Samuel Adams Oaked Vanilla Porter pours to a jet-black color with a thick creamy tan head and a nose of soft chocolate underlined with vanilla. Taking a sip, the beer is light to medium in body, a tad thinner than I like for the style. It is not light on flavor, however, and immediately jumps at you with notes of chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and toasty woody oak. It finishes gently balanced with roasty notes and is indeed eminently drinkable.

I like it well enough, but the thin body keeps it from being a great beer. Still, I would buy it again, especially if I saw it on tap at Taco Mac.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??