Breckenridge Head Brewer Carl Heinz and Barrel Master Eddie Varela Talk Imperial Vanilla Porter Aged in Rum Barrels

We spoke with Breckenridge Brewery Head Brewer Carl Heinz and Barrel Master Eddie Varela about Brewery Lane Series: Imperial Vanilla Porter aged in Rum Barrels.

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
This recipe, like all of our Brewery Lane Series recipes, is totally a joint project that includes input from management, brew staff, and cellar staff. The series is all about crazy good ingredients and treatments, and it’s always interesting to collaborate internally on these recipes.

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
The complexity of the flavor is our favorite aspect – it’s robust with real, natural vanilla taste and notes of molasses, brown sugar, raisin, tobacco and coffee. It has a full mouthfeel and big ABV, but with a small bite.

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
The Brewery Lane Series is made up of 3 special releases a year. We started the series after we opened our new brewery in Littleton, CO at 2920 Brewery Lane. Vanilla Porter is one of our year-round, mainline beers. For this release we brewed an imperial version of Vanilla Porter, then we aged it in rum barrels with bundles of fresh, wet vanilla beans in each barrel.

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Complex with voluptuous body and a full, sweet, warming finish.

BC: What's a good food pairing for this beer?
S’mores by the campfire. Crème Brulee. Fine chocolate.

Read Review