Atwater VJ Black - Atwater Block Brewery

wrightst

Maryland

4.53/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I've had sevaral of Atwater beers, and most seem to target the medium range. This one aims for the smaller, center of the target, which of course, is more rewarding.

It pours very dark brown, nearly black with a tan head. As appealing as that is, surprisingly, I did not drink in the appearance.

The smell was a strong presence of vanilla, which really surprised me, as I was expecting what the label told me to expect, a Russian Imperial Stout. It lead me to do some digging and right here, two reviews down from mine, is the answer - it's a vanilla porter, repurposed as a RIS. If you'd asked me ahead of time, I'd have said two things: I don't think it will work, and try it anyway. I love brewers that will go out on a limb like this.

The flavor was similar, but the vanilla was much less intense. Common for beers with vanilla. The taste was much more in line with an imperial stout, but the vanilla continues to linger. This is one of those high gravity beers (11%) that does not taste it. A feature I like.

It is robust in mouthfeel, but not as hearty as some imperial stouts, and not close to say, triple abbeys or double bocks.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 00:52:49 | More by wrightst

Roman5150

Michigan

4.19/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

bottle into tulip glass

appearance: black with white foamy head 1 finger thick

smell: maybe i'm crazy but I get a huge hint of powdered hot cocoa packets, not quite espresso or coffee but very similar. also some milk chocolate and earthy, resiny hops in the mix.

taste: dark chocolate and espresso forward. heavy on the roasted malt, follows the nose and has a hint of bitter hot cocoa. very unique chocolatey taste.

mouthfeel: not too carbonated, sort of thin body

overall: A very good coffee forward stout, and my favorite beer from Atwater, and otherwise average brewery that i've tried so hard to like. This is their best offering, had side by side with 6-month old Expedition Stout, and while it was inferior it stood it's ground in flavor complexity and drinkabilty. This is a well balanced beer, a little on the bitter side for a stout, but highly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 05:19:20 | More by Roman5150

MI_gal616

Michigan

4.55/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The VJ black is Atwater's Vanilla Java Porter made into an Imperial Stout (more, more, more of everything).

This poured like a beauty into the glass. Small, tan head with great legs on a super robust dark brown, almost black beer.

The smell is what blew me away. Like vanilla extract, super sweet. Normally not what i'd be looking for in a beer, but it smelled so good!

The flavor was rich with roasted coffee, smooth roasted malts, and not nearly as sweet as the nose would suggest. In fact, there was a rather pleasant hop bitterness in the aftertaste that was not present in the initial flavor.

The mouthfeel was medium to full body. Definitely more robust than I expected after reading some reviews of this beer and having a rather watery Vanilla Java Porter earlier this year.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 05:01:13 | More by MI_gal616

GRPunk

Michigan

3.79/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

I've heard of a ZJ, I guess it's time to see what this VJ is all about.

Bottle notched J 13, poured into a Duvel tulip.

A- A normal pour created a 1-finger, brown head that settles down to a thin film and leaves really nice webs about the glass. The body is a dark brown that suggests near black through the middle of a full glass.

S- There's an initial waft of dried or stewed fruits, mostly raisin. Lighter chocolate and coffee at first. Roasted, toasty grains become almost charred at points. The char and chocolate increases. Vanilla sneaks in much later with some warmth.

T- Complex. 1st sip had that initial rush of raisin followed by a significant dose of milk chocolate. Chocolate really seems to be the major player here. I'm good with that. An injection of vanilla compliments nicely and increases as I drink. Hopping is present, though difficult to describe.

M- Full bodied as expected at 11%. Kind of a sticky sweetness. Fairly creamy.

O- What an odd beer. Not bad. Different. Similarities to Vanilla Java Porter. Vanilla is a nice touch. I like the way it compliments the chocolate aspects. Aroma doesn't really match the flavor. Good sipper. Maybe not my "favorite" RIS, but not a bad beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 21:16:26 | More by GRPunk

martyl1000

Wisconsin

4.35/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Brown-black with a thin off-white head. Not much lacing on the glass of my snifter.

The aroma is surprisingly bright and biscuity, without the bigger aromas of the style. Really more like a much smaller beer, like a mildly spiced winter warmer in the nose, with sweet malt and no alcohol.

Speaking of alcohol, it's hard to believe this is 11% abv. There's hardly a trace of it in the mouth. The other flavors of the style ate also very quiet: unsweetened coco, burnt coffee, vanilla.

Surprisingly thin mouthfeel, yet with an overall creaminess that creates a mysterious sensation--a richness born of something other than mouthfeel.

While it's not what I look for in the style, I will remember this for guests who want to drink nonetheless big boys but who are overwhelmed by true big beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 03:13:05 | More by martyl1000

ThickNStout

Georgia

2.2/5  rDev -44%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

12oz botlle from Beer Baron (Detroit, MI). 3.69. Bottled 03/2012. Served in a Red Brick snifter.

Pour deep brown with ruddy hues around the edges. Less than a quarter finger pale tan head that fades quickly and leaves very little in the way of lacing.

Aromas of roast malts, dark chocolate and cocoa powder.

Tastes of hot chocolate powder, burnt cheap coffee, sugar and grape cough syrup. The alcohol is pretty well hidden but I don't much care for what it is hiding behind.

Medium thin feel with sharp carbonation. Long artificial cocoa finish.

Between this and their Coffee Vanilla Porter, I'll gave to concede that Atwater's head brewer and I have strongly different tastes. I'm fairly sure that I'm getting only cheap adjuncts and no barley, hops or yeast. Where's the beer? Pass on this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 06:06:41 | More by ThickNStout

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: bottle from [I think] Capone's, Norristown, PA

Poured into a goblet, seemingly dark brown-black appearance, though it was tough to get the full effect as I was outside and it was nighttime. A small but creamy brown head topped off the glass, displaying moderate retention and lacing. Aroma is expectedly malty, with big notes of vanilla, and traces of coffee and chocolate. Similarly in the taste, a big hit of sweet vanilla, a smooth blend of oaked bourbon, toffee, dark chocolate, roasty dark malts and coffee took the edge off the sweetness a bit, more so than in the non-imperialized Vanilla Java Porter. Body is full, mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, alcohol is felt more than tasted. Nice beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 05:00:49 | More by Rifugium

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Hey now. This may as well be labeled a chocolate stout as far as I'm concerned. The cocoa peeked through on the nose. But it really popped through when I took my first sip. Even though those tones keep it one dimensional, it still provides for a nice flavor ride. I'm still early in on this one, but it seems like the higher alcohol content may be starting to show a bit too much, so we'll have to see how that works out. Doesn't seem to be too much of an impedement at the moment though. For now, this seems like a nice enough stout. The alcohol is pretty high, and if it were lower on such a nice chocolate stout, this might be easier to drink (a lot more of). All of that aside, this is a pretty nice beer, I have to say. Especially considering that Atwater has never really impressed me that much with anything they've done.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2012 03:44:16 | More by RblWthACoz

sinstaineddemon

Connecticut

4.13/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - running out of ways to describe the typical IRS black color, but this is it. Motor oil black with half a finger of tan head that doesn't fade away

S - roasted malts lay the expected base for this stout, layered above that are magnificent bourbon, chocolate, and slight coffee aromas

T - the taste is as layered and complex, chocolate is big and bold with some follow-up from coffee and bourbon, some lactic sweetness that is kind of creamy giving it a milk stout like flavor, then the rich malts return for a velvety finish

M&D - smooth and thick, more flavor than I expected, a pleasant surprise, love stouts with more than two flavor elements, nice brew!

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 01:22:06 | More by sinstaineddemon

chefdaddy18042

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Oh yeah! Finally an RIS that has the vanilla side of the category. I really enjoyed this brew. Little booziness, lots of vanilla present that completely hits the tongue and matches great with the dark malt flavorings. Had the 2010 batch with I felt was far superior to the 2011 batch. I would say let this one age one year before cracking, the vanilla takes a step back and comes into harmony with the roasted malts that create a beautiful beverage. Definitely case worthy!

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 19:10:51 | More by chefdaddy18042

n2185

North Carolina

3.05/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours black with half a finger of tan head that vanishes completely with no lacing.

S: Roasted malts with lots of sweet chocolates, licorice, and raisiny dark fruit aromas. There are some slight smokey notes toward the finish.

T: Light roasted malt flavors up front followed by a strong licorice and dark fruit flavor. The finish is sweet and charred tasting.

M: Thick body with lowish carbonation, this beer is not as creamy as I'd like.

O: An alright stout, overall, though a bit too sweet and licorice-y for me.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 00:51:41 | More by n2185

Brad007

Vermont

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Ooh, a fancy name. I think it would be better suited to a distilled product.

Blacker than black metal with a thin head. Yep. Looks like an imperial stout folks!

Cherry, cream and roasted coffee peek out in the nose. It's very mellow too.

There's certainly plenty of roasted malt with cocoa, vanilla and cream. Alcohol too, which isn't a welcome guest.

Body is lacking big time. Drinks more like a belgian dark than imperial stout. The only consolation is that it finishes clean.

Started out with promise but didn't quite deliver. Worth a try for the adventurous.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 04:54:50 | More by Brad007

57md

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours solid black with only half a finger of head that quickly dissipated and left little lacing. Cherries are distinctly present in the nose. Taste is dominated by sweet chocolate and malt. Mild bitterness on the finish. This offering is quite tasty, but it lacks any hint of a roast profile (something that I see as a minimum standard for stouts).

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 08:54:31 | More by 57md

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into snifter. Label is notched MAR12

A- Pitch black pour with hazelnut brown around the edges. Finger width, short lived off white head. Lacing is spotty.

S- Dark coffee, loads of char and leather, a touch of vanilla, brown sugar and licorice. Bitter dark chocolate.

T- Vanilla right up front, sweet brown sugar and black strap molasses. Dark chocolate and dark roasted coffee.

M- Medium to full bodied, creamy with a touch of carbonation. Alcohol is at a 0 with this. Well hidden.

O- I love vanilla in my beers, especially if it's done properly. Atwater Vanilla Java Porter is very good and this is just as good if not better.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 01:49:52 | More by korguy123

mactrail

California

3.03/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Yipes! huge dark chocolate and vanilla. Near black in the tall tulip. Modest foam with some decent lacing along the glass.

Brewery says it's based on their Vanilla-Java Porter, which would explain everything. Full of malt but not too sweet. Charred flavors dominate. Sugar cookie taste along with a deep flavor of French roast coffee. Bitter as sin after the sweet ice cream flavors. Raspy and harsh.

One has to ask, "why?" Personally I think vanilla is not a good beer additive, though it's quite beery if you can get over the taste. From the 12 oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 04:19:09 | More by mactrail

superspak

Michigan

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle into snifter, bottled Feb 2012. Pours pitch black color with a nice 1 finger dense khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Some nice soapy lacing on the glass. Aromas of chocolate, vanilla, roasted malt, coffee, cola, earth, cream, dark fruit, and light smoke. Some nice aromas with good strength and balance. Taste of big milk chocolate, roasted malt, vanilla, cream, coffee, slight fruit, earth, and light smoke. Very small roasted bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of milk chocolate, vanilla, cream, coffee, and roasted malt on the finish for a good bit. Big malty flavors with good balance; and no cloying sweetness. Medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a very creamy, slick, and thick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming present on the finish. Extremely smooth to sip on. Overall this is a damn nice and very unique imperial stout. A ton of chocolate flavors with good balance; and extremely smooth for being 11%. Really well done effort.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 02:16:32 | More by superspak

jondeelee

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

VJ Black opens with a whiff of yeasty dough and malt, much like rising bread, which clears away and opens into a deeper, darker series of aromas that include heavy kola nut and caramel, a distinct almost Dr. Pepper-like spice and sugar blend, and more subtle layers of tobacco, anise, and black malt. For an Imperial Stout, the nose is heavily sweet and spicy, overflowing with molasses and brown sugar, pepper, and an almost smoky nutmeg or allspice spike. The aromas are certainly intriguing, but do bear more than a passing resemblance to a soft drink or a sugary root beer, and thus throw the nose off. It’s only the subtle dark ash and anise undertones that reveal the beer’s stout base, and these can be easily lost.

On the tongue, the beer continues to bear a good resemblance to a soft drink or root beer, with sugary spice flavors predominant, backed by dark ashy notes. Kola nut, sarsaparilla, cane sugar, vanilla, and a near-burnt allspice seem to make up most of the spice profile, and when joined with brown sugar and molasses, create a very non-Imperial-Stout-like flavor profile. One has to dig a bit deep to find coffee, ash, and black malt—but again, these can be easily lost. So sweet is the beer that it actually becomes almost sucralose (i.e. Splenda)-like around the edges, leaving a strange super-sweet rim that doesn’t quite mesh with the ash and coffee. The aftertaste is more of the same, though a touch more ash and coffee come through, the entire profile lingering on the tongue (along with the sucralose bite) for a long time. Mouthfeel is a slightly watery medium-light, and carbonation is medium.

Overall, this is definitely one of the more strange Imperial Stouts on the market, and one where the flavors don’t quite seem to mesh well together and provide a nice balance. On a good note, the beer’s 11% ABV is very nicely hidden beneath these flavors, detectable only late in the aftertaste as the vapors rise from the tongue. But the beer itself feels like it’s suffering from an identity crisis, not quite sure what direction it needs to go in.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 23:08:43 | More by jondeelee

cvm4

Mississippi

3.53/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours black with a creamy 1 finger head. Minimal lacing.

S - Malt and coffee dominates for me.

T - Vanilla, brown sugar, dark chocolate. All sweet elements.

M - Lighter body than most imperial stouts I've tried. High carbonation.

O - It's not bad if you enjoy sweeter stouts that don't coat your mouth.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 01:56:11 | More by cvm4

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks, Bob! 12 oz. bottle poured into Weyerbacher cuvee glass. Bottled February 2012.

A - Pours black with a one finger cream colored head. Good retention and the lacing paints the entire glass a solid

S - Toasted oak, malt, nuttiness, black coffee.

T - Sweeter than the smell indicated. Some vanilla, roasted malt, espresso, and oats. The high alcohol content isn't at all apparent.

M - Creamy feel with mild carbonation. Sweet moist finish.

O - It was different from most RIS I have had. It was a bit sweeter and didn't have that charred or hoppy bite I associate with the style. It was very smooth and drinkable for an 11%er. I really enjoyed this beer and would get it again if I had access.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 04:00:56 | More by NoLeafClover44

Mitchster

Michigan

2/5  rDev -49.1%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

$2.69 for a 12oz bottle @ BevCo. "Brewed with 6 different malts and Barley flakes and Magnum Hops", as well as presumably vanilla and coffee. OG=21d Plato, 24 IBU's and 11% ABV. Label notched for March 2012.

Clear, near black, forming a small light tan head with poor retention and sparse lacing, mild carbonation. The aroma opens with fresh vanilla, sour milk, and carob with some leafy green hops in the mix. The mouthfeel is REALLY thin for an 11% beer. I don't buy this AT ALL and would be very interested in analyzing this. I'm a homebrewer and have had hundreds of 11% ABV beers and this is definitely not one. Judging by other reviews, I'm not the only one to notice this. The taste opens with green leafy hops followed by leather and burnt wood. Very herbal with an odd sourness I don't get any coffee, just burnt malts, vanilla, sour and green leaves. Hrmm. Bitterness is moderate, with a burnt astringency as well.

Not digging this at all. Completely out of balance, sour, grassy and weird tasting. This is definitely not an Imperial Stout. Do not recommend this mess of a beer. Awful.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 02:47:38 | More by Mitchster

jktedder12

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle, rich black in color with slight chocolate brown coloring at the head and base of glass. Quarter inch head with moderate lacing lingered for a few minutes. Smells extremely sweet, milk chocolaty with some roasted malts. Taste- also strong milk chocolate with a sight bitter aftertaste. Alcohol taste present in the flavor. Mouthfeel is slightly smoother/lighter for a stout. Overall, excellent imperial stout. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 22:47:11 | More by jktedder12

CaptDavyJones

New York

3.63/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a dark mahogany brown color from a 12 oz bottle.
Almost pitch black in the glass, with some light penetration. Becomes more and more translucent with every sip. For a RIS with 11% ABV I was expecting more darkness in the color.
One finger off-white head that dissipated fairly quickly.
Aroma is of chocolate malt balls with hints of coffee. One dimensional aroma to be honest.
Taste is likewise, there is a blast of coffee upfront that basically stays till the end. Hints of bitterness towards the finish. Slightly dry finish to this RIS. Pretty much a one-dimensional RIS when it comes to taste too.
Mouthfeel is a tad watery, which is not something I expected in a RIS. Makes me wonder if aging would add more to the character of this beer.
Overall, this is a decent RIS. Not sure if I would recommend this.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 19:43:23 | More by CaptDavyJones

d_rek

4.18/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled poured into a pint glass

A - Pours a deep, oily black that light doesn't penetrate and leaves about 1 1/2 fingers of bubbly, frothy foam. Head maintains it's integrity for a goodly amount of time, leaving some solid lacing.

S - A creamy sweetness and also getting some dark chocolate and berry notes. Smelling very fine right now.

T - Unexpectedly sweet compared to other Imperial Stouts i've had - but not in a bad way! A cola-like sweetness complemented by malts and touches of dark chocolate. A slight heat can be felt as air hits the mouth after you swallow but does nothing to give away it's high ABV (11%).

M - Oily with a heavy carbonation that gives the brew a lighter body than most imperial stouts.

O - A very enjoyable Imperial Stout that defies the 'motor oil' characteristics i've come to expect of most imperial stouts. Also uncharacteristically sweet, which may turn some people off, but I find it rather refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 01:36:41 | More by d_rek

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks Kyle!

Pours black with an off white head.

Smell is so sweet. Chocolate milk comes to mind, where your mom wants to skimp on the Hershey's syrup. no bitterness to speak of.

The taste is soooo sweet. Super loaded with chocolate, kind of like Choklat. light body, but thats from all the chocolate. I actually really like this, since its in the realm of Choklat and Blackout Stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 00:13:37 | More by VncentLIFE

DannyDan

Michigan

4.3/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours out a black hue with a tan head that has nice retention and really good lacing on the glass. The beer has a pleasant chocolate and vanilla aroma with hints of cola and coffee. The taste consists of coffee, vanilla and sweet malts along with some chocolate and a hint of hops at the end of the drink. A very smooth and creamy mouthfeel that makes this a pleasure to drink.
This is one of the best beers I have had from Atwater Block Brewery and is worthy of comparison to Old Rasputin and Siberian Nights. Great job Atwater.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 04:40:19 | More by DannyDan