Bell's Java Stout - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

nhindian

Pennsylvania

1.95/5  rDev -50.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1

12oz bottle poured into a globe.

Batch 9462, bottled on November 19, 2009. Much older than I would like and judging by some research this is a bad batch. Oh boy...

A - To start with, it's looks very solid. Almost pitch black body mixed with a dark khaki-colored head, 2-fingers in height with good retention. The lacing is solid as well, leaving generous coatings of foam behind.

S - The smell is where this beer starts to falter a bit. Although not completely off, and the impact of the age certainly doesn't help, this beer's aroma is a little skewed. The coffee is there, if not faint, and it smells delicious. There's also some slight baker's chocolate to really sweeten the pot. However, soon a rush of metallic, sour cherries assault the nose and it's all downhill from there.

T - Much like the nose but with less coffee and chocolate and more band-aids and metal. The cherries aren't awful as I love me some cherry chocolate stouts, but the metal and sour in this makes it almost unpalatable. Disgusting, to say the least, but still better than the two Short's beers I've had that were infected!

M - Mouthfeel is thin with moderately low carbonation. Leaves a metallic taste in the mouth, like licking a battery.

D - Drinkability is low. Unfortunately for the look and (first half of) the smell, the taste and infection just destroy this. Didn't even get halfway through before throwing in the towel. I will be looking out for a fresh batch of this, though, as it does seem to have promise.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2011 17:31:11 | More by nhindian

ShreddedThumb

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

06-15-2013 16:03:42 | More by ShreddedThumb

djre4orm

Virginia

2.5/5  rDev -36.5%

06-13-2013 20:32:30 | More by djre4orm

Farnswurth

France

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

06-13-2013 04:05:30 | More by Farnswurth

I_BYE_MI_BEER

Michigan

4/5  rDev +1.5%

06-11-2013 17:25:59 | More by I_BYE_MI_BEER

goblin7704

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

06-11-2013 16:31:40 | More by goblin7704

brez8791

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.5%

06-10-2013 20:40:54 | More by brez8791

bobbyr5

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +20.6%

06-08-2013 16:17:33 | More by bobbyr5

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +1.5%

06-08-2013 10:14:42 | More by peensteen

HardyA

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

06-08-2013 00:13:39 | More by HardyA

csparace

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1.5%

06-07-2013 02:09:38 | More by csparace

savagepm

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

06-06-2013 00:52:08 | More by savagepm

SHODriver

California

3.83/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: poured black into a pint glass with a small dark tan head that was quick to fade to a collar
S: smells of coffee, bitter dark chocolate and roast malt
T: tastes of coffee, roasty malt, and dark chocolate. swallow is more coffee and roasted malt
M: medium mouthfeel with soft carbonation and a slightly drying finish
O: overall, pretty solid. drinks easy enough with good flavors and nothing offensive about it. good coffee flavor but probably a bit one sided

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2013 05:11:44 | More by SHODriver

bigbeerfan

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +20.6%

06-04-2013 03:07:58 | More by bigbeerfan

Rihup

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1.5%

06-03-2013 02:12:07 | More by Rihup

switzer

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

06-02-2013 15:53:57 | More by switzer

GrindFatherBob

New York

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

06-02-2013 15:42:03 | More by GrindFatherBob

ohiobeer29

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

06-02-2013 05:32:38 | More by ohiobeer29

maq89

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

06-01-2013 02:36:32 | More by maq89

Woodman70

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +1.5%

06-01-2013 01:57:56 | More by Woodman70

Jas45678

Michigan

4/5  rDev +1.5%

06-01-2013 01:00:08 | More by Jas45678

craftbeerasian

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-30-2013 16:08:45 | More by craftbeerasian

Plonk

Alabama

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

05-29-2013 17:59:59 | More by Plonk

Fcolle2

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours dark black and slightly thick with a 2 finger tan head with great retention and lots of lacing all around the glass.

S: lots of dark roasted malt with toffee undertones. Hint of coffee are defiantly present on the front end.

T: loads of coffee upfront that persists into the bite from the roasted malt. The roasted character is really dominant in both the malt and coffee flavors however not overbearing. Lots of nice bitterness from the hops.

M: decently thick. Carbonation is there but very faint.

O: really good stout dominated by roast coffee characters. Great if you like strong coffee.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 02:34:58 | More by Fcolle2

JVoyager

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-29-2013 00:35:36 | More by JVoyager