ray m
12-31-2003, 03:41 AM
Since I am a fan of Bell's products (at least the ones I have tried), I've been intrigued, on my last couple of visits to the paint store, of the Java Stout in prominent display. So I decided to pick up a 6 pack for $9.79 a couple days ago.
Upon first opening the bottle, there is a very strong, albeit good-smelling, aroma of freshly brewed coffee. That is all I smelled. So far so good, though. Poured very black, with a hint of ruby at the bottom of the glass. Head was mocha colored and stayed about 1/3 of the way into drinking it.
The taste is, at first, very different, but very good. COFFEE!!!!!! Then some hints of dark roasted malts conspicuously blended in. I did not taste any hop flavor---I think the coffee takes care of the bitterness itself. I smelled nothing but coffee every time I stuck my snoot into the glass for another sip. By the time I was @ 2/3 of the way into drinking it, I kind of had enough. The brew is fairly bitter (coffee-wise), and I think that the damn near overwhelming coffee flavor just gets to be a little too much towards the end. This, in my opinion, is a beer that one has to REALLY be in the mood for---definitely not an everyday drink.
Don't get me wrong, I think it's a good stout, for about the first 8 oz. If ya love coffee black, you'll love this beer. Bell's just needs to back off a few pounds on the Columbian Supremo next time. I am cellaring 3 of these until next decade
:p
Upon first opening the bottle, there is a very strong, albeit good-smelling, aroma of freshly brewed coffee. That is all I smelled. So far so good, though. Poured very black, with a hint of ruby at the bottom of the glass. Head was mocha colored and stayed about 1/3 of the way into drinking it.
The taste is, at first, very different, but very good. COFFEE!!!!!! Then some hints of dark roasted malts conspicuously blended in. I did not taste any hop flavor---I think the coffee takes care of the bitterness itself. I smelled nothing but coffee every time I stuck my snoot into the glass for another sip. By the time I was @ 2/3 of the way into drinking it, I kind of had enough. The brew is fairly bitter (coffee-wise), and I think that the damn near overwhelming coffee flavor just gets to be a little too much towards the end. This, in my opinion, is a beer that one has to REALLY be in the mood for---definitely not an everyday drink.
Don't get me wrong, I think it's a good stout, for about the first 8 oz. If ya love coffee black, you'll love this beer. Bell's just needs to back off a few pounds on the Columbian Supremo next time. I am cellaring 3 of these until next decade
:p