Style: Stout (Barrel-aged, Flavored)

ABV: 13.7 IBU: 60.0

93/100

Aroma:	11
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	19
Mouthfeel:	5

Cinderlands Beer Co. Douse: Bourbon Vanilla

What the brewers say

“Imperial stout aged in bourbon casks, blended with a double-oaked stout, then drenched in vanilla bean.”

What our panel thought

“Rich aroma features barrel character front and center with vanilla, coconut, oak, and cherry. Flavor bomb of richness: brown bread, deep rich chocolate, espresso. Lovely complexity of vanilla, buttery oak, and sweet cherry without being too bourbon-forward. Finishes sweet but not cloying.”

What our editors thought

“Younger bourbon note in the aroma, lively with fresher oak and a bit of vanilla. Firm chocolate and caramel notes in the sip with a bit of tannic berry skin.”

Review printed in: The Expanding Maltiverse (Spring 2025) (View All Issues)

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REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Cinderlands Beer Co. Douse: Rye

“Devil’s food chocolate cake on the nose, with rye spiciness. Some cherry and liqueur-filled chocolate flavors with more rye spiciness and barrel tannins. A little on the bitter side. A bit hot and unbalanced.”

Lift Bridge Brewery Silhouette with Vanilla

“Moderate oak and vanilla notes lead the charge and control the aroma. The flavor brings in dark malt character featuring Hershey’s chocolate syrup and roast. Rich and thick with a lingering sweetness and hints of oak. The vanilla rounds out all the rough edges without being out of balance.”

Wiley Roots Brewing Co Vanilla Homonym

“Strong oak stars in the fudgy, boozy aroma with moderate vanilla notes. Black as midnight, with no head at all. Coats the glass and stays there. Thick, rich body with dark-malt chocolate and light-roast flavors. Cocoa, fudge, Hershey’s Syrup. Sweet, to be sure, but the bitterness balances. Vanilla enhances the oak character without overpowering. Warming with a sneaky touch of alcohol heat balanced by strong but not cloying sweetness, that’s in turn balanced by firm bitterness.”

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