Imperial Java Stout - Santa Fe Brewing Company

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

4.93/5  rDev +24.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured into a standard pint glass from a can.

Look: The beer is an espresso bean black with a faint ruby hue on the edges through the light. An oatmeal colored head dissipates quickly to a wisp of bubbles. A good amount of webbed lacing sticks to the glass, despite the high ABV.

Smell: Delicious burnt malt aromas abound here, with bitter chocolate and some dark roasted coffee.

Taste: I'm really impressed with this. A nice bitter chocolate dominates this beer, and it blends well with the malts. It's just so dark and rich tasting, with a drier espresso coffee finish. Not cloying, and not even a dessert beer in my opinion.

Mouthfeel: Velvety smooth, rich, and on the thicker side. Dry.

Overall: Really delicious, and the alcohol is hidden rather well. Oh, you can feel it, believe me, but you can hardly smell it or taste it. Dangerous beer, as it tastes so good.

Serving type: can

08-01-2012 14:32:33 | More by JuicesFlowing

wlevando

Colorado

4.54/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Can into a pint glass (for the 30th time in the past 12 months).
Caveat 1: This is one of my favorite beers. It is the first "real" beer that my wife came to appreciate, and since good, dark, complex draughts have been something that we've enjoyed together.

Caveat 2: This review is written while dinner is cooking. The subtleties are not tempered by a quick chew between draughts.

Eyes: Nearly opaque with red-brown tinges. Exciting, foamy head, especially in my wife's "dizzy" glass (indented-bottom tight-lipped snifter)

Nose: Strongly caramel and vanilla espresso with something (dry? spicy? hot? ) replacing the milk for an after-work latte. Not overwhelming or inspiring, but it is still inviting.

Tongue: A complex beer (see caveat 2 and my take). Quick hit of vanilla and lasting sweetness yields to chipotle. Spice fades over ~10 seconds, leaving pleasant coffee bitterness, roasty and sweet. Nice balance of malt (first time any beer characteristic needs be invoked).

Face: Dry, but lasting warmth. Nice, but fleeting (very few 10s seconds) lubrication leaves no dryness or desire.

My take: One of the very best beers ever commercially released (though see caveat 1). NOT A SESSION BEER. The 8% ABV notwithstanding, the subtleties invite contemplation. Great, instead, with light snacks and the best damned friends one's got. I cannot put it better than my cousin, leaning in for a group hug, "This beer makes me happy."

Serving type: can

02-06-2013 03:01:04 | More by wlevando

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Another incredible CAN from Blargimus in support of The CANQuest (TM)! It really pays to advertise and my ISO post caused a lot of people to offer up all kinds of new CANs. I am so excited that I am downright giddy ...

From the CAN: "before noon [coffee cup and saucer depicted] not for use with donuts."; "after noon [beer mug depicted] ale with coffee beans." The best part was that the opening was aligned with the "after noon" side of the CAN.

The Crack revealed another nearly brimful CAN and the inverted Glug had both a cascading quality as well as producing two fingers of dense, deep-tan head with excellent retention. Color was a deep, dark-brown with limited light penetration and ruby highlights at the edges. As the head finally dissipated, I was ready! Nose had a heady coffee roastiness and I began to wonder how it might actually work with donuts. Mouthfeel was thick, full and creamy with a bitter coffee flavor not much behind what I brew up every morning. I am a retired US Navy sailor and not only do I like my java hot and black, but it should also have the consistency of mud. Man, but this was like a jolt to the CNS at 2023 (EDT)! Finish was equally bitter and I was contemplating trying to score a donut somewhere just to test the theory. My heart began banging against my breastbone and I knew I was alive. Not many beers will do that to me. My my my. YMMV.

Serving type: can

08-30-2012 00:26:21 | More by woodychandler

seeswo

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Cheer to Evan (Optimator13) for hooking this up during our giant, 2 case in person trade. Drank out of the can because I can. The can looks fantastic - cool logo and all. The smell is intoxicating - like a crazy, rich starbucks coffee drink. The taste is similar. Picture one of the cold starbucks drinks you can buy at the grocery store, like mocha coffee novelty whatever - this tastes like the beer interpretation of that in all of the best ways. Huge, rich coffee flavor carries all the way through. Serious yum. Mouthfeel seems right on - good carbonation and a medium body. Overall this was fantastic. Passed around the room of novice craft brew drinkers and they all gave it a wow. ISO

Serving type: can

04-09-2011 23:34:38 | More by seeswo

calcio360jrd

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had both can and draft here in Santa fe, first one was a can so i'll go with that.

This is a great coffee stout from Santa fe brewery. Has that rich dark brown color that stays away from the motor oil color that seems to be the rage now. What a nose on this one! As a big coffee drinker, 3 cups a day, the coffee smell on this is utterly fantastic. Not to heavy on the pallette, I was surprised when I saw this was 8%, this drinks incredibly smooth. Packing some of this up and shipping it to myself in florida!

Jason D

Serving type: can

06-07-2011 13:40:42 | More by calcio360jrd

hopfacebrew

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from brown undated can to a pint glass. Picked up a sixer after numerous recommendations from several friends. I had seen this but never bought as I wasn't really wowed by the packaging - rather foolish but it's the only reason I hadn't tried it.

A - The beer pours a deep deep brown color that's nearly black with dark mahogany brown edges in the light. Looks thick with a huge 2.5 finger mocha color head. Excellent retention and lacing throughout.

S - Huge coffee/espresso aroma! Absolutely dominates the nose. There are notes of roasted barley but it's hard to decipher through the coffee.

T - Very similar to the nose in that the first flavor is the huge coffee/espresso flavors. It's more complex than the nose in that there are hints of chocolate, vanilla, black roasted barley, toast, and a medium bitterness. Hides the alcohol extremely well. I am not a huge coffee guy and don't normally appreciate coffee beers but this is a good beer.

M - Creamy and smooth. Full bodied.

O - Very impressed and worthy of the praise.

Note: This review was a re-post from my former account, jmkratt, which was hacked and I lost all my reviews...sorry for the redundancy.
Serving type: can

Reviewed on: 04-12-2011 14:44:51

Serving type: can

01-23-2012 18:10:21 | More by hopfacebrew

dcloeren

Texas

4.48/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured black with light brown edges when held to the light. Produced maybe a finger of foamy tan head.

The aroma on this beer is fantastic for a breakfast stout. Rich and robust coffee dominates the nose with dark chocolate and cream rounding it off.

Taste follows the nose. Rich coffee, dark chocolate and a little bit of cream. I love this brew because its coffee forward and it tastes like a proper cup should.... very flavorful and not overly bitter.

Medium to full in body, light in carbonation and an excellent drying coffee aftertaste. This beer goes down very easy... Might have to get a refill.

Overall, this beer is great in my opinion. It says to drink before noon and I plan on doing so! Perfect brew for teeing off on a saturday morning. Drink up!

Serving type: can

05-31-2012 18:36:29 | More by dcloeren

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.45/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz can Inflatablechair brought over tonight after a very long shift ... Thanks a ton Sam, this was awesome!!

Pours with a descent dark brown head.... the brew is clear deeep brown/verging on black... a bit of dark ruby shows toward the stem end of my glass... Not much for the way of retention, but it isn't bad.

Great fresh bean coffee combines very well with all the traditional expected RIS flavors... what IMO is setting this one into the top tier is a little bit of maltiness in the aroma that helps bring the nose up and out of the glass... even make it lingering.

Flavor mirrors the nose... fantastic coffee components.. still there are good roasty elements.. again a nice sweetness is a big tie that binds everything together.. solid medium body... almost creamy carbonation.. wonderful.

I am damn surprised I enjoyed this one as much as I did.. This brew is an unknown marvel.... tastes very fresh and the body and combined complexities make for a great package.... and... it is in a can.

3.5/4.5/4.5/4.5/4.5

Edit... Holy shit.. big boy review for me... I am gonna stand by it... thank again Sammy.

Serving type: can

02-24-2011 05:56:21 | More by JohnGalt1

Beaver13

Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz can. Pours a dark brown with a medium creamy tan head that quickly goes to a collar that laces the glass.

The aroma is sweet chocolate malts and lots of roasted coffee.

The flavor is sweet chocolate with a lot of nice coffee and some bitter roast in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low but smooth carbonation.

Overall, not very complex (all about the coffee), but a great beer for coffee lovers. One of the best coffee beers I've had...yum!

Serving type: can

01-15-2011 01:18:45 | More by Beaver13

JM03

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz can sent from optimator13. Thanks bro!

Pours the darkest of browns. A small milk chocolate color head that retained for a good amount of time.

Aromas of aahh yes.. coffee. Just what I was hoping for. Some roasted malts and a hint of sweetness, but most about the coffee.

Tastes follow the nose and are again mostly about the java. Some roasted maltiness. The touch of sweetness and the bitter coffee work well together.

I wouldn't have guessed it was an RIS though.. More along the lines of an Imperial Stout. But I'm not complaining. I liked this one alot. Thanks again Evan for getting this one out to me. I hope to have it again.

Serving type: can

03-04-2011 14:40:38 | More by JM03

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Received as an extra in a trade and poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Pours a very nice deep, rich dark brown nearly black. There was a good one finger mocha head that faded to leave almost no side lacing but did have nice retention/haloing.

S - Aroma pops with coffee and chocolate. Its almost, almost up there with the likes of other stellar coffee beers, thats how much it jumps out when you breathe deep. Its just doesnt explode in the surrounding air like some of those others do. Still, damn good.

T - Wow, this might be my favourite canned stout...Excellent coffee flavors along with light chocolate. Great black coffee. No joke, this is almost drinking like a poor mans FBS so to speak.

M - Mouthfeel is almost excellent. Stuff drinks like a mug of cold ice coffee. Goes down super easy. Just delicious.

O - Overall this is a shocking beer from New Mexico. Really, really enjoyed this one. In full agreement with WoodyChandler here, this is something special and I wish I had a donut.

Serving type: can

09-07-2012 20:53:30 | More by rudzud

BigBarley

Texas

4.38/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - Poured hard it brings up about 1.5 fingers of tan/brown head. Extremely dark brown, though a little lighter than most imperial stouts.

S - Coffee all over. Seriously, first smell lets you know this is a coffee bomb of a beer. Mild notes of chocolate and smoke just below, but predominantly a coffee smell.

T - Did I say coffee? This beer takes the Java aspect to a whole new level. Knowing of this beers existence I'll never need to buy coffee again, it fills that niche so well. 100% Dark coffee with mild malty undertone that comes to a dry but sweet finish. Very satisfying flavor, assuming you bought this with the Java in mind.

M - Not really as thick as a standard imperial stout, but thick enough. Very smooth drinking, hides the 8% extremely well. Creamy when swished, just enough carbonation to compliment the flavor, refreshing and fullbodied.

O - If you like coffee but wanna feel that alkie warmth, keep some of these on hand. Great, standup flavor that embraces the coffee quality and delivers what the name promises

Serving type: can

02-07-2013 19:00:06 | More by BigBarley

claytong

Vermont

4.35/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A light coffee beer especially for 8 percent. Great for nights where you want to stay up and alert and drink beer. A great buy for me at 8 bucks a 6 pack. Coffee dominates, a bit simple of a beer but very enjoyable. Not a dinner beer unless you enjoy coffee for dinner.

Serving type: can

04-05-2011 23:01:23 | More by claytong

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.35/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

love it! pours a deep dark brown color with a jovial white head several inches tall. smells like a cup of fine hawaiian coffee, rich, somewhat tropical in its essence, heavy, bold. taste is really really coffee, so unlike any other coffee brew, this is more like coffee than beer... in a good way. theres some hint of a fine stout behind the coffee, but youve got to dig for it. if you like this kind of beer, youll love this one, if not, youll hate it. for me it was the perfect pick-me-up this afternoon. at 8% its quite serious, but the mouthfeel is so groovy you just want to pump them. not acidic at all, which is really nice, and just full of flavor. this is a really excellent beer, much to my surprise after how lame their oktoberfest was... perfect execution in a style that is usually nothing special

Serving type: can

01-07-2012 06:31:37 | More by StonedTrippin

elNopalero

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

This pours a rich, thick, coffee-colored mocha black with a light foam ring. The aroma is reminiscent of a coffee roast, with a flavor that’s big, bright, and full of java. Great coffee flavor profile with a crisp body and a nice kick at the end. I enjoyed this one tremendously.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2013 07:10:00 | More by elNopalero

brewerburgundy

California

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz can, Boulevard tulip, no freshness dating.

An impeccably dark beer with just a smidge of red glowing near the bottom and a tall, proud cappuccino head, this coffee stout looks the part.

One whiff immediately puts me in mind of my favorite coffee beer, Coffee Bender. The nose is essentially all coffee, slightly sweet espresso and oily dark roast beans. A hint of bitterness. It is like a cup of very fresh iced coffee that may or may not have cream in it.

Bitter, slightly sweet espresso defines this beer. There may be bitter roast behind this bitter coffee, it is nearly impossible to tell. A layer of dark fruit resides behind all the coffee and slight minty alcohol too. I'd almost swear this was coffee most of the time. It is clearly beer, malty and coffee infused beer.

The carbonation is very active, but seems to work well.

I've found my second favorite coffee beer. Coffee is the main feature, rather than an enhancement, and that may be why some write it off. If you love coffee you will at least like this beer.

Serving type: can

01-18-2011 00:41:31 | More by brewerburgundy

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

nice extra from daniloknezic! Thanks

I followed the directions on the can that say enjoy before noon; so i am drinking this beer at 8am central standard time!

poured into a snifter glass.

Appearance: Black body with a mocha colored head. Nice sticky lacing on the side of the glass. Head faded down into a ring capping the top of the beer.

Smell: Massive roasty coffee note. Malt and a mild astringency noted to the nose.

Taste: Nice coffee flavor its just so roasty, fresh, clean, and crisp taste. Its even got a refreshing quality to it. No bitterness from the coffee its all the perfect amount of roastiness that just remains during entire tasting experience. WOW! Almost reminds you of a cold and carbonated expresso.

Mouthfeel: Medium body that drink like a light bodied beer. This beer is really carbonated well for an Imperial Stout. It has more carbonation than one would expect, but this brewery just nailed it on this beer.

Overall: Fantastic. Must try, if you love good coffee stouts. This is the real deal!

Serving type: can

06-07-2011 13:13:59 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

chugalug06

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - As dark as burnt oil. Super black with a poured original saddle colored "super" head... head mellows to a thin tan

S - Coffee and Espresso scented... Side of malt too. Perhaps there's a little chocolate and mango buried somewhere...

T - Amazingly smooth, like drinking a cold "hot" chocolate. make for an amazing afternoon or drive home. I've had this brew a few times post skiing always make me enjoy the drive home a little more...

M - Super smooth and perfectly sweet, not over done like many java stouts. coffee is prevalent, but not over bearing

D - Drinkability is high! hard to put down and let sit. I look forward to the next sip, each and every time.

I want to give A CAN to everyone so they too can experience the goods coming out of SFB!!!!

Cheers!

Serving type: can

03-26-2011 03:51:28 | More by chugalug06

starkmarvelo

Texas

4.3/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Santa Fe Imperial Java Stout

A- Pours dark brown with a thick light brown 3 finger head.

S- earthy, fresh ground coffee and dark chocolate.

T- follows the nose very well. The earthy coffee flavor hits the palate first followed by chocolate flavors and slight hop bitterness to round out the finish.

M- medium mouthfeel with a moderate amount of carbonation. Not much in the aftertaste.

O- this is an excellent coffee stout. I like the dirty/earthy flavors of the coffee. It's definitely on the lower end of the Imperial ABV, but it makes it more drinkable. The price point is also excellent, $9-$11 for a six pack.

Serving type: can

10-15-2012 02:29:14 | More by starkmarvelo

emmasdad

Colorado

4.28/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a six pack of cans of this one today for less than 8 bucks. An incredible deal for an above average coffee imperial stout. Pours a rich, opaque black color, with a huge fluffy tan head. Aromas of freshly roasted coffee beans, espresso and roasted malt. On the palate, smooth and flavorful, with loads of coffee, slightly burnt, chocolate and a hint of hops on the finish. Very good.

Serving type: can

01-07-2011 04:25:00 | More by emmasdad

Koufax21

New Mexico

4.28/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a can into a snifter. The beer pours a deep dark brown and settles to black with ruby red edges when held to the light. A nice tan head sits on top and laces the glass well. The smell is coffee, big coffee. It tastes very similar to founders breakfast stout. Some bitter chocolate flavors and a solid roasted malt backbone. This is somewhat light in body for an imperial stout, but at 8% it seems to fit the bill. This could be the easiest drinking imperial stout I've ever had. Great carbonation and medium bodied. Another great beer from a solid brewery.

Serving type: can

12-29-2011 01:51:16 | More by Koufax21

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.28/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours ebony with 3 fingers of mocha colored head. Good head retention & lacing

S: Coffee & faint cocoa, roasty grain

T: Much coffee & roasted grain up front, slight mocha sweetness as well. Charred grain & roasty bitterness as this warms, along with some cocoa bittereness. Finishes roasty, slight latte sweetness & a bit of booze bite

Medium bodied, firm carbonation, a bit of warming booze

I really like this take on a coffee stout that has some latte sweetness. Well done Santa Fe!

Serving type: can

04-24-2012 13:43:30 | More by russpowell

yamar68

Minnesota

4.28/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to 4balance for this one!

Poured from can to pint glass:

Certainly pours like java... ominous black body with barely a hint of copper clarity around the edge of the glass, capped off by a healthy dose of mocha colored dense head. Solid lacing and unknown beading.

Massive nose on this one. I worked at Caribou Coffee for a few years and this reminds me of the smell of my uniform after work. Milky, roasty coffee. A dash of oats, some malted grains, very subtle chocolate bits.

Smoooth on the tongue. I can definitely see myself pairing this one up with some pancakes and lingonberries. Fresh coffee notes, soft chocolate... it's hard to even examine the flavor without mentioning the velvet perfection of the mouthfeel. This could be non-alcoholic for all I knew. Bravo.

It's great to see breweries cramming this much flavor into a can. It really is the superior beer vessel. Highly recommended.

Serving type: can

05-09-2012 01:21:30 | More by yamar68

amcmaho1

New Mexico

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

Straight from a can to a glass. The moment the can is opened, the smell of coffee fills the room.

Appearance: Incredibly dark, and completely opaque. Huge light brown head which sticks around forever, with lots of lacing. All the appearance aspects exude coffee.

Smell: Imperial JAVA Stout, the most emphasis on the JAVA. Great notes of coffee, coffee dominated malt, coffee dominated chocolate and roasted/burnt coffee bean smell as well.

Taste: There is again the inescapable coffee factor which could steer some people away. Imagine a day old cup of black coffee, with carbonation and a bit of hops and malt (but imagine it in a good way). As it warms, the taste of burnt coffee begins to become the predominant flavor. As a fan of strong black coffee, this beer definitely captures the nuances of those great flavors; but a non-coffee drinker could be quite put off from the coffee emphasis.

Mouthfeel: Mild carbonation and relative thinness make the mouthfeel very enjoyable. For being an 8%ABV beer, there's virtually no sign of any alcohol, instead just a smooth ol' cup o' stout.

Drinkability: This is a really great COFFEE/JAVA stout, again with all the focus on coffee and java. It's a big tasting beer, which may put a slight damper on it's drinkability, without taking away from the fact that it's a really exceptional coffee stout. Possibly the southwest's breakfast stout?...no, unless you're like me and usually just have coffee for breakfast. So to my fellow coffee drinking cohorts, i highly recommended this beer.

Serving type: can

12-18-2010 01:03:29 | More by amcmaho1

JoeAmerican77

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Purs the color of your favorite morning Joe. A fat and beefy beige cream topper of two and a half fingers. Love that head...

Smells of roasted malts, some bean grounds ands cocoa.

Sweet grounds and toffee meet your face straight on. A thick wall of coffee in this one, matched with brown sugar and cream. Almost a hop touch in the back, however definitely a malt monster. This has the best coffee flavor I believe I've ever tasted in a coffee stout.

Mouthfeel is creamy, smooth, and lends a heavy bodied beverage with thick voluptuous small bubble carbonation which carpets the tongue

Overall this is the best coffee beer I have ever put to my lips. Buy some and enjoy it. A dessert, an sweet treat to be enjoyed, and considering six for ten bucks, wow!

Serving type: can

03-20-2011 02:14:07 | More by JoeAmerican77