Atwater Vanilla Java Porter - Atwater Block Brewery

wac9

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +15%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

what a wonderful beer the vanilla is there proably the best tasting vanilla i ever tasted loving it , i dont taste much coffee run and horde this beer pour black a wonderful black great taste great beer if you ever had winter bourban cask ale and loved it try this

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 01:43:15 | More by wac9

swingdjted

Ohio

2.34/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: The name of the beer and its label made it an attractive and intriguing buy. The pour yielded a surprisingly late dark-tan or light brown head, which quickly turned into nothing but a ring, leaving no lace except the path where the beer came to my mouth. Black in color like cola, it allows almost no light to pass through when held up to the light.

Smell: cheap porter with vanilla extract, but also has a hint of chocolate stout aroma such as Young's Double Chocolate Stout or Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout.

Taste: It really does taste like someone took a cheap porter and tossed vanilla extract in after brewing, except with a thicker, smoother mouthfeel. Very sweet, and the coffee ("java") doesn't really shine through. Light carbonation. Somewhat curdled milk aftertaste, which means I have to eat and/or drink something else to get rid of it.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and silky; this and appearance are the beer's (relatively at least) strong suits.

It's just not that good. Buying was fun. Drinking was tolerable and inoffensive (at least not a drainer). That aftertaste though... no good, leaves me needing to replace the aftertaste with something else. I won't be buying more, but I'm still ok knowing I at least tried it, and I don't feel that I wasted money when buying this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 23:24:11 | More by swingdjted

vitrael

Wisconsin

2.84/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 1 | overall: 2.5

A: Clear, dark brown with an off-white head. Not much retention or lacing.

S: Faint vanilla and coffee aroma. Not much else.

T: Pretty assertive vanilla flavor; the rest of the beer takes a back seat to it. Not a lot of coffee going on. Very mild malt and hop profiles resulting in extremely low bitterness. Sessionable but not delicious.

M: Thin, weak, dissatisfying. I expected a lot more from this.

Would not buy again.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 23:08:58 | More by vitrael

mjwierzgac

Michigan

5/5  rDev +53.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A very delicious beer! Very smooth taste, no bitterness. Almost like drinking an actual java. A little filling, but that's to be expected from a porter.A nice social beer or during meal beer. Great work Atwater!!! I look forward to trying more of your craft beers.

Serving type: on-tap

04-10-2013 16:51:30 | More by mjwierzgac

bcostner1

Tennessee

1.7/5  rDev -47.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.75

A: dark brown, thin fizzy head. Transmits light.

S: sweet vanilla cake batter/frosting. Nothing else.

T: bad. Super sweet, sugary cloying vanilla. No coffee whatsoever. Tastes really artificial. Like a rubber band dipped in vanilla and sugar.

M: thin, watery, not satisfying at all.

Bad beer. Would never have again. Too bad...a vanilla java porter done correctly would have really been a great brew to try.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 13:35:18 | More by bcostner1

MidwestMaverick

Minnesota

2.15/5  rDev -34%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

I don't know how they did it but they snuck 6% alcohol into something that tastes more like soda pop than beer. Which in itself isn't such a turnoff, but the flavors seem so fake and off. So much promise in the name, so little delivery. Though my wife (who doesn't really drink beer) loves it, so that's a plus.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 21:53:14 | More by MidwestMaverick

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Ah, one of the first bottles I ever bought at a Total Wine during my NoVa days has come here to the Midwest for me to try again. Let's do this shit: It pours a clear midnight sienna topped by a finger of khaki foam. The nose comprises vanilla, light buttercream, light toasted caramel, and a hint of marshmallow. It's not that things smell off, they just smell somewhat artificial, somewhat ill-fitting. I dunno. The taste holds notes of light roasted malts, fake vanilla, light vinyl, and a twinge of toasted marshmallow. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a thinly fluid feel. Overall, this stuff has definitely gone downhill since I first tried it those few years ago. It's overly thin, thoroughly artificial, and even a bit plastic-y. Quite a downer, folks...

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 06:42:40 | More by TMoney2591

Lemke10

Wisconsin

2.84/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

This pours a dark brown color with a slight, beige head. The scent is not very strong but contains hints of coffee, caramel malts, and vanilla. The taste and texture are much weaker than I would expect from this porter. There are some robust flavors, roasted malts, and vanilla in the taste but they are fairly weak. Not bad tasting at all, the taste just needs to be beefed up and give off stronger flavors in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 06:30:24 | More by Lemke10

cet128

Indiana

4.85/5  rDev +48.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

This beer is one of my top rated Porters. Some will love it because of the vanilla flavor and others will hate it for the same reason.

I don't enjoy a beer with a strong hops flavor. This beer is low on my hops scale so it is easy for me to enjoy.

On my grade scale, I rate this as a beer I would buy anytime.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 13:20:54 | More by cet128

Ryanm1

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Drank straight out of the bottle poured a little out to check out color and appearance. Pours black with a slight amount of white, with a tint of brown, lacing. Dissipates quickly. Not many bubbles appearing in the actual body of the beer. Smell is overpoweringly vanilla. I can't pick up much of anything else. A coffee flavor fills the back out the throat when drinking then just like the smell an overpowering vanilla taste, probably because "vanilla extract" is used according to the bottle. It taste like just that, someone poured a bit of vanilla extract in the beer. Slight amount of malts, no real appearance of bitterness.

As a side note I let this beer sit for a couple of minutes after opening and the carbonation was almost completely gone.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 00:15:03 | More by Ryanm1

Calypso

2.28/5  rDev -30.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A: Thick, creamy tan head that lingers. Opaque black in color.
S: Sweet vanilla and burnt sugar. High in dark malt aroma.
T: Overwhelming vanilla flavor followed by dark coffee. Vanilla is strong and distracting, like when I spilled too much vanilla in my oatmeal. There are probably malt flavors hidden back there somewhere.
* M: Good texture, medium body with appropriate (low) carbonation.
* O: No secondary characteristics worth mentioning. A one-trick pony. Would not order again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2012 18:39:04 | More by Calypso

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a deep brown pour with minimal amount of head which quickly dissipated. smells of toasted grains, wine barrel, coffee, cocoa. a very sweet chocolate flavor overall with notes of roasted grains balance the flavor perfectly with the right amount of bitterness.
medium body, low carbonation, chalky finish.

a decent porter, nice and flavorful, sweet but well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 01:19:02 | More by facundoCNB

SouljaSaia17

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is my first beer from Atwater brewing and got this in a mix a six.

A: This beer pours a very dark, roasted color with a thin creamy, off white head that leaves some significant lacing.

S: I get a blend of vanilla bean and espresso initially, and also some hints of creamy milk chocolate.

T: Milk chocolate and vanilla bean at the fore front of the taste. Then I get some roasted malts and a dry bread-type finish.

M: Rich and creamy, very drinkable at 6% ABV. Very similar to a stout without the tang of plum or raisin.

O: Very good beer, I love vanilla porters. Kind of reminds me of the snowdrift Vanilla porter from Leinenkugel's, but with a much richer flavor and texture. I highly recommend trying this brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 04:54:48 | More by SouljaSaia17

McNealc31

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Color is as expected for a porter. Head might be a little on the thin side. The aroma is full of chocolate, which was a little surprising given the title. Quite tasty. Chocolate dominates the flavor, as well, but the vanilla and coffee are definitely there. The body is on the light side and the carbonation is surprisingly high.

I like it, and will very likely get it again, but I would like to see better balance. Less chocolate (can't believe I'm saying that), more vanilla and coffee.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 02:28:49 | More by McNealc31

gcamparone

Rhode Island

3.55/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Samuel Adams pint glass. Purchased at Nikki's Liquors in North Providence, Rhode Island.

A- Pours a super dark, borderline black body with amber highlights. Light mocha smallish head that reduces to a small ring. Little lacing.

S- Toasted malt, slight vanilla, coffee beans. Just as described on the label. Taste probably matches..

T- Starts off with a big cocoa flavor, ending with subtle vanilla and coffee notes.

M- Thin for a porter. Medium carbonation.

Overall a highly drinkable, tasty porter. Could have used a little more body and a little less in-your-face vanilla.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 19:44:11 | More by gcamparone

Bubba569

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Serving: Ice Cold Bottle.
Appearance: Dark coffee carmel color, with very little head. About 1/2" rich tan color.
Smell: Strong sweet coffee aroma with a slight hint of vanilla.
Taste: Very strong taste of coffee with a sweet vanilla flavor following, finishes with a overpwering taste of coffee stuck to the palate.
Mouthfeel: Love the coffee flavor, but wish it had more of a vanilla taste, it has an overpowering coffee flavor that sticks to the palate causeing morning coffee breath.
I would recommend this beer, especially if you enjoy the flavor of coffee!!

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 03:26:17 | More by Bubba569

mattsdenney

Tennessee

3.3/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours oily black with a thin brown head. No retention at all.

Smells sweet. Hints of vanilla, burnt sugar, and toasted grains.

Taste hits up front with vanilla beans, and some hints of chocolate. Boozy coffee aftertaste. The flavor is good but not overly strong nor is it typical of an American porter.

Mouthfeel is oily, slick, and light. A moderate amount of carbonation.

Overall tasty and drinkable if you're craving vanilla. Could have used more chocolate malt balance.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 03:55:17 | More by mattsdenney

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +25.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Pours very dark, block, some brown hints. Some brown foam. French vanilla coffee nose. Espresso roasted. Rich chocolately malt taste with vanilla laced throughout. Mild bitter hop at the end. Creamy mouthfeel. A little boozy. Really tasty.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 11:34:10 | More by KTCamm

ruckus232

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 Ounce brown bottle poured into a pint glass

Appearance: Dark brown in color with not a lot of head or lacing.

Smell: There is a coffee smell, like when you walk into a coffee shop more then the actual glass of coffee. There is also a just a subtle hint of vanilla, like the name would imply.

Taste: Based on the smell I had high hopes for how this would taste but I was a little disappointed. It wasn't bad it just wasn't great. It has a little bit of a roasted coffee taste and it is a little sweeter then I expected.

Note: I love the smell of coffee but I really do not like the taste of coffee. I don't think that influenced me too much but it may have played a little part.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 00:33:22 | More by ruckus232

Mavigo

Michigan

3.35/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Being from the metro area, this wouldnt be the first time ive tried this, its a pretty ok brew
Poured in a pint.

A: the standard black-brown color, with a thin white head that dissipated quickly with not much lacing.

S: Chocolate, coffee, vanilla, wood, reminds me of pudding

T: tastes smoky, chocolatey, coffee, not much vanilla though

M: Overly carbonated, little to much for me, especially for a porter, kills the complexion it should have

O: A decent beer from the home town, its worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 06:21:01 | More by Mavigo

Alextricity

Michigan

3.48/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Looks like your typical porter. Pitch black in color. A decent tan head that gets small really quickly. Surprisingly nice lacing.

Smell: I can get some of the vanilla in there, but then there's this off-smell. I'm not quite sure what it is, but it almost makes the pleasant vanilla aroma mean nothing.

Taste/feel: This is a pretty decent beer, as it's a nice change from the typical coffee/chocolate powered porters out there. The feel is a bit of a let down as it's a little watery, but the taste is surprisingly decent. I do get some traces of espresso and coffee, but it's not super strong, and it's balanced pretty well with the vanilla in there. A solid porter from Atwater.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 04:48:33 | More by Alextricity

Beer_Runner

3.4/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled in August of 2012 (opened in late September of 2012).

A: A slow pour into a standard pint glass resulted in a huge head of more than four fingers. This head was thick and clumpy, and it was the color of frothy mocha. It was a fairly long-lasting head, but over time it dissipated to a single layer of bubbles and an edge ring. The brew was very dark brown and opaque.

S: The aroma was very, very mild. It consisted of a little bit of dark roasted malt and some coffee.

T: The taste consisted of dark roasted malt earthiness and a bit of malt sweetness along with a little bit of coffee and a big vanilla rush.

M: The body was about medium in weight and there is not much carbonation, which is appropriate for the style (and, a good thing for the beer, because any more carbonation might have made it seem like soda pop because of all the vanilla). It is also fairly smooth.

O: This beer certainly lived up to its name: It had a very strong vanilla flavor. So it get a few bonus points for being a little of the beaten path, but not too far. Overall, it is an interesting variation on the porter style. Not quite a must try, but still pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 00:12:34 | More by Beer_Runner

tectactoe

Michigan

3.4/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bought a six-pack on sale at my local Meijer store. The beer is very dark, looks black in a dim room, however when placed under light, it shows a bit of brown. Faint tan head that doesn't hang around for very long and leaves little to no lacing on the glass. The beer looks "thin" - I've certainly seen better looking porters. The smell is nice, however it isn't very powerful. Caramel and vanilla are the main things that hit the nose when you finally do get a nice whiff. Vanilla takes over most of the taste. You can sit there and probably pick out some grains and malts and maybe even a touch of coffee, but vanilla is mostly what you're tasting. Not complex at all, and I feel like more flavors SHOULD be here, but they went a little too far on the vanilla profile. The beer felt as thin as it looked and had quite a bit of carbonation (almost too much) that was a little bit distracting.

Overall, one of the better Atwater brew's I've had. Definitely worth a try at least one time, but there are certainly better vanilla flavored porters out there.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 11:47:34 | More by tectactoe

Analog_kid

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've been wanting to try this beer since I got the opportunity to smell it a couple of months ago. I'm reviewing this as I drink.

Appearance: Poured into a pint glass, dark coloration, can barely see light as I hold it up high. Thin, cream-colored head that disappears within two minutes.

Smell: The smell is just lovely! Freshly ground coffee with vanilla and hints of chocolate.

Taste: Just as the smell suggests, tasting coffee, but more chocolate than vanilla.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied porter, smooth from beginning to end.

Overall: Pleased with this beer as I thought I would be. A nice switch from lagers if you're looking for something different.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 03:34:58 | More by Analog_kid

areich6

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a very dark brown with a small amount of tannish head. No lacing.

S: Somewhat faint but very pleasant smell of caramel and vanilla. If it was a little stronger it would be fantastic.

T: Just like the smell but a little worse. It tastes as though the java and vanilla are struggling come out but what is there is nice. Hints of vanilla, caramel, chocolate and coffee. It just needs to be more intense.

M: Not a bad feel. Somewhat creamy and little bit of carbonation.

O: Not a bad porter at all, certainly better then the current average in my opinion. If everything about was a little more pronounced then it would definitely be a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 00:27:28 | More by areich6