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

tectactoe

Michigan

3.91/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours a soft, velvety black color with a tan colored head that appears to get darker and darker as the beer continues. Head is big, fluffy, and lasts forever, however it leaves little lacing to speak of. Aroma is thick and can be noticed as soon as you pop the cap off of this one - concentrated with sweet and creamy coffee beans, roasted malts, and some deep, dark espresso at the tail end. Taste is more of the same; huge roasted malt body infused with roasted coffee. Starts off light, creamy, and sweet, then transitions into a darker, slightly bitter version of its former self. Toasted and roasty, up and down with some slight alcohol warmth hitting the very back of my tongue. Hints of black licorice become more and more prominent the more I drink. Hops don't make their appearance until the very end, but they are surely there; leafy and a bit ashy in character, they leave a nice trail of bitterness in the aftertaste that fades out with the sweetness in great harmony. Medium, silky body with an overall pretty low amount of carbonation.

I had this on tap at Bell's a while ago. The bottled version is not quite as good, but it's still a decent brew when all is said and done. Little pricey for what you're getting, though.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 12:37:48 | More by tectactoe

Alextricity

Michigan

3.95/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Oh boy does this beer look nice. Pitch black with a very nice and creamy tan head. Lacing is patchy but very nice as well.

Smell: Actually the lowest point of this beer ... I figured it'd smell awesome, but it's basically average. It has a very faint coffee aroma, but malts are the primary smell here.

Taste/feel: I can say this is one of the best "feeling" beers ever. So smooth, and the slickness left at the end of each sip that not even Founder's Breakfast Stout can replicate. Is this a better stout than that one? I don't think so, though it's VERY close, in my opinion. FBS seems to have more layers of flavor, but Java Stout isn't too shabby, and like I said, the feel is phenomenal.

Like any other stout, I personally wouldn't drink this one too often, but it's a great every-now-and-then beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 01:28:03 | More by Alextricity

ddedhed

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nice black with with a brown, mahogany tint. Smells like a cup of joe with roasted malts. Taste really coffee like, but not sharp or crisp on the coffee. Bitter and roasted finish. Mouthfeel is nice with a soft carbonation. Overall a nice coffee stout, but definitely not the best. I would recommend, but not ahead of some greater brews.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 02:00:58 | More by ddedhed

rlee1390

Indiana

3.9/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-Black in the glass, clear ruby brown around the edges, one finger brown head.

S-Lots of rich coffee, some roasted malt. But the coffee, although nice, dominates.

T-Starts with a lot of coffee, not much else. Some roasted malt. A lot of coffee, but the coffee is spot on.

M-Medium bodied with a good deal of carbonation.

O-The coffee was nice, but at the end of the day, too much of it. Poor balance.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 01:44:28 | More by rlee1390

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass at cellar temperature.

L – Black color with a 1.5-finger tan frothy head. Good retention with some lacing.

S – Lots of coffee, some cream, vanilla, and roasted malts.

T – Starts off sweet with a little bit of chocolate, cream, vanilla, and molasses and gets bitter fast with lots of roasted coffee. Really tasty.

F – Medium-bodied with good carbonation, a creamy mouthfeel, and a building bitter and dry finish. Bitter roasted coffee builds and lingers for a nice amount of time. There’s a little bit of a warming sensation, as well.

O – This is a good stout, especially if you like coffee. It only has a little bit of the sweet chocolate and vanilla flavors that can be found in stouts, but it has a ton of roasted malts and coffee. What can you expect from a beer that’s called Java Stout? It’s a little thin for my taste in stouts, but it still has a nice creamy mouthfeel. Another drinkable and tasty beer from Bell’s.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 01:38:29 | More by BlackBelt5112203

kojevergas

California

3.73/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled 10/15/12. 7.50% ABV confirmed. Acquired at Four Firkins for $3.59. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a Bell's pilsner glass in me sister's gaff in low altitude Minneapolis, Minnesota. Expectations are high given the reputation of the brewery and my love for their Kalamazoo stout - though I found Expedition underwhelming.

Served after a substantial period of rest once removed from the refrigerator. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Paired with pizza.

A: Pours a gorgeous one finger tan colour head of nice cream and thickness, and good retention considering the relatively high ABV. Colour is a solid opaque nontransparent black. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Great evocative java/coffee. Roasty and chocolatey. Cream. Dark malts. The makings of a great stout. A subtle and complex aroma. Average to mild in strength.

T: Cream, subtle java/coffee, subtle chocolate, a dark malt foundation, subtle roasted barley, and a creamy finish. Excellently balanced. A well built stout. No yeast or alcohol comes through. I really like it. A flavorful stout. Predictably, coffee is dominant. Subtle and nicely complex.

Mf: Too smooth and wet for the style, but more importantly it does suit the flavour profile. Nicely creamy - one of its best attributes. Good carbonation and thickness.

Dr: Very drinkable. A great all around stout. I'd love to try this on-draught. I liked their Kalamazoo stout better, but this is also a very solid offering - and it's excellent at this price point as an import. Bell's disappointed me with their Expedition Stout, but these other beers are rapidly rebuilding expectations. Definitely worth trying. Could use more roast.

High B

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 23:04:19 | More by kojevergas

Dave1999

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours pitch black with a small tan colored head.

The smell is milky coffee and roasted malts.

The taste is similar to the smell sweet milky coffee.

The mouthfeel is creamy and full bodied with a nice dry finish and medium carbonation.

This is a very tasty coffee flavored stout, smooth with high drinkability and hides its abv very well.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 23:56:17 | More by Dave1999

superspak

Michigan

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

12 ounce bottle into signature pint glass, bottled on 9/10/2012. Pours lightly hazy extremely dark brown color with a nice 1-2 finger dense tan head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass. Aromas of big roasted coffee beans, espresso, dark chocolate, roasted malt, light char, caramel, and light herbal. Damn nice aromas with big coffee presence and nice background malt balance. Taste of big roasted coffee, dark chocolate, espresso, roasted malt, light char, toffee, caramel, and light herbal hops. Light coffee bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of coffee, dark chocolate, roasted malt, light char, caramel, and herbal on the finish for a good bit. Nice flavor balance and complexity with plenty of coffee flavor; very nice malt/bitterness balance; zero cloying flavors noticed after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a creamy and slick mouthfeel that is very nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an excellent coffee stout! Plenty of coffee flavor with nice malt flavor balance; very smooth to drink. Really enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 05:23:49 | More by superspak

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I always see old bottles of this stuff, but I never want to buy something past its prime – especially a coffee beer. Needless to say, it’s good to have a pretty fresh bottle here. Cheers!

Brewed one month before the date of this tasting, to the day (“PKGD 10/15/12”).

A: Pours a dark brown with clay-red hues and a very slightly transparent body. The head is all fizz, hovering microbubbled and sparse over the body before dissipating nearly completely. Shiny, stringy lacing wraps around the glass.

S: Hefty roasted coffee over a bed of creamy butterscotch and caramel malts, wonderfully balanced (though slightly toward the java). I can’t help but think of some dessert made with coffee, or chocolate-covered espresso beans. Now, the coffee isn’t deep and full, like a big imperial stout brewed with the stuff, but, rather, spicy and pungent – it sets the stage nicely for some cocoa, juicy blueberry, herbal chicory, and bright cherry notes. Great aroma.

T: Acrid coffee and a hop resins smack you in the face as soon as this beer hits the lips; it’s a powerful one. It dries out the palate with all the energy of a fresh cup of coffee, leaving a full set of tongue-smacking flavor in its wake: burnt toast, sweet plum and dried cherry, salty pine nut, and creamy chocolate-covered caramel. It stings with bitters, sears with smoke, and lays smooth with taut fruit tones – this beer really does have a lot going on. Included, as well, is a metallic soda character, likely a result of the enthusiastic use of this acidic coffee. Finishes dry and a tad smoky, thin coffee notes just barely hanging on.

M: Give this a fast pour; otherwise its fizzy texture will have you thinking soda water for the entirety of the drink. I ended up pouring it into another glass just to dissipate the carbonation a little more. With that, it showed a slight, watery thinness, drinking more like a Samuel Smith stout than a Founders one (not inherently a good or bad thing, but I like the uniqueness).

O: An interesting take on the coffee stout, owing its acidic, almost sweet coffee flavor to a “custom blend” of beans. Whatever’s in that blend, I like it, and Bell’s knows how to show off its flavor. Nothing like a flavorful coffee beer that goes down crisp instead of thick – even if the end product is a little one-dimensional.

Note: I had a beer like this last night, Dark Horse’s Perkulator dopplebock. The two were very similar in their presentation of coffee, but I must say, Dark Horse wins this one. I’m not sure I’ll buy Java Stout again.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 03:55:50 | More by BarryMFBurton

tdm168

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - pitch black with a soft, brown head thas has decent retention

S - a bit faint; some coffee and roasted malts

T - chocolate, coffee, mildly bitter, rich roasted malts

M - medium to full bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This is simply a straight forward coffee stout. It has solid flavor and great drinkability. Ultimately, there is little beyond balance that separates this beer from the other coffee stouts out there, but for anyone who likes the style, this is a must try.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 01:08:49 | More by tdm168

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Dark red-brown with two-finger, tan, creamy head that lasted several minutes and left a nice film. Great lacing.

S: Strong coffee and espresso aromas.

T: Light to moderate sweetness and moderate bitterness. Matches the nose. Very strong coffee flavors.

M: Medium bodied with lively carbonation.

O: I'm not a huge coffee person, but I tried to review this objectively anyway. I think it is really good for a coffee stout. It has a vivid coffee aroma and taste. The beer also looks wonderful in the glass. I was disappointed in the mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 03:11:25 | More by SolipsismalCat

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bells Java Stout

Pours a rich blackish brown color, with an off white light tan head. Strong nose of perfumy alcohol, roasted malts, and just a touch of coffee. Smells like an aged Russian imperial stout. In the flavor, roasted malts, black acidic coffee and a touch of dark soy sauce. As it warms some vanilla notes come out and the firm maltyness takes over. Cocoa nibs, black coffee , smoky malts and alcohol make up the flavor profile. Mouthfeel is full bodied, well carbonated and smooth. Overall, this coffee stout is pretty good at about a year old, but since its coffee bill is so strong I recommend consuming it fresh , the flavors don't really improve with age.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 19:43:54 | More by Stinkypuss

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into taster

Pours a deep chestnut brown color with a crop of beige head. Fades into a slick film of retention with some spotty lacing on the glass.

The nose is a complete coffee bonanza - tons of roasted beans and warm toasted scents. Rich malty notes with a touch of cocoa and chocolate.

Coffee beans, espresso and toasted bread up front. Rich backbone with chocolate and cocoa. Lightly sweet, but definitely dominated by the coffee profile. Finishes a little bitter and sweet.

Medium body, decent carbonation, chewy and lingering on the tongue. Definitely a quality coffee beer that doesn't become too sweet or too bitter. I'd definitely drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 16:03:06 | More by xnicknj

Kenye

2.68/5  rDev -32%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 Ounce bottle packaged on 10/15/12. Poured into pint glass.

Appearance - Nothing special for a stout. Dark black with an average sized head, and average retention. Almost no lacing.

Smell - This is where it all starts to go down for me. It smells like old stale coffee.

Taste - Follows the smell. There is a lot of coffee in this beer. Sadly, it's overpowering. I personally can't taste anything besides the coffee. It's very bitter. I feel like there needs to be something sweet to balance all that bitter coffee. Again, it tastes like I'm drinking old cold coffee, not a stout. The 7.5% ABV is well hidden.

Mouthfeel - Another average. Nothing really to write home about.

Overall - I'm very disappointed with this. I expected a lot more. There is no balance. If you like your coffee black and cold you might like this. I'm having trouble finishing it, it's that bitter.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 00:43:21 | More by Kenye

JohnnyMc

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My first Bell's beer in awhile.

Pours out completely black with a nice and thick mocha/tan head.

The aroma is coffee, coffee and more coffee. A lot of espresso notes, fresh coffee beans, dark roasted malt and some dark chocolate.

Same as the aroma, a ton of coffee in the flavor. Huge notes of espresso, coffee beans, fresh brewed coffee, roasted malt and dark chocolate. Very one sided, but in a good way. A pretty bitter beer with no sweetness. Hides the alcohol very well.

The mouthfeel is rich and smooth and the body is medium-full. A bit of a thicker body would have been nice.

Overall, another great beer from Bell's.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 21:59:28 | More by JohnnyMc

secondtooth

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an impenetrable black, with a big, thick head of tan bubbles. Lovely lace.

Aroma is a deliciously roasty coffee. Maybe a slight tinge of mocha, but really it's coffee, which I dig.

Flavor is more roasty coffee beans, with a mild hint of chocolate and a bit of booziness at the finish. Overall, a perfectly tasty blend of coffee and dark stout, and possibly the best melding of the two I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 23:59:39 | More by secondtooth

jtd1969

North Carolina

4.48/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Dark Black color with light tannish head that is well carbonated and great lacing

S - Coffee and sweet malt

T - Coffee, chocolate, roasty, some creaminess Excellent hop character

M - Heavy Medium bodied with higher than normal carbonation for style. However it works perfectly.

O - Now this is coffee stout! To me, It is better than the Expedition and Double Cream. All three are good, but this one stands alone... This is what I want in a coffee stout

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 02:47:46 | More by jtd1969

Mojo

Alabama

4.35/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a pretty good beer. It pours black as ebony with no head, but some residual lacing. Smell is overwhelming coffee. Mouthfeel is great with a surprising amount of carbonation for a beer of this type. Taste is what a stout should be. I love that strong black coffee taste as it is the dominant flavor. I highly recommend this one if you are a fan of stouts!!

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 02:52:09 | More by Mojo

The_1084

4.23/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a dark black with some mild transparency that allows carbonation activity to be faintly visible; very little head; nice, sticky lacing.

S - Strong aroma of coffee beans.

T - This follows the smell; strong coffee taste with a mild hint of dark chocolate in the aftertaste.

M - Full-bodied, but not overly thick; medium carbonation.

O - Bell's has yet to disappoint and this is no exception; a nice American Stout that lives up to its name.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 03:14:39 | More by The_1084

GR_Rick

Michigan

3.58/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at the cafe in Kalamazoo.

A: Pours a nice dark, coffee color - very little head in the pour I got. Looked like a coffee in the glass.

S: Strong, bitter, cold coffee. Smells pretty good overall.

T: Tasted like it smelled, strong, bitter (but not overly so) cold coffee. Better than drinking a cold coffee, of course, and definitely caught my taste buds at first, but didn't keep my interest. A little more roasty malts and a little less coffee actually would've been a good thing for this beer, I think.

M: A little thin for my liking for a stout.

O: A pretty good beer, strong, simple flavor. The problem for me (not being a huge black coffee lover) is that the coffee flavor was too strong and,while the first couple of sips were really good, it didn't have enough interest to keep me wanting to drink the entire glass.

Serving type: on-tap

07-19-2012 22:18:17 | More by GR_Rick

davey101

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled on 9/14/11, so....its basically a ten month old coffee stout. 12 Oz bottle poured into a clear plastic hotel cup. Dark black body with an ugly greyish mocha head. Solid lacing and retention. Smell is roasted malt and black coffee. Taste is roasted malts, light salty smoke and smooth coffee. Its not a dark roast, or an espresso. Its just a basic, run of the mill black coffee. Very light bitterness, finishes cleanly with lingering coffee notes. Its simplistic, but very effective. Mouthfeel is silky and smooth. Even aged, this beer has a solid coffee presence. Damn tasty!

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 02:10:10 | More by davey101

BostonHops

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle served in a pint glass.

pours a deep mahogany tone while yielding a foamy / frothy 1" tan head. middling retention and lacing. no shocker, the nose is headlined by a strong roasted coffee presence. which is enticing, even if a bit one-dimensional in that regard.

flavor follows the nose with coffee notes in spades. there are some secondary notes of roasted malt and, to a lesser degree, chocolate. very muted though, clearly the coffee is front and center with this beer. medium bodied mouthfeel with average carbonation.

overall, a very enjoyable stout - more so, obviously, if you love coffee. not the best i've had but i would certainly not be averse to more.

(originally reviewed: 02-02-2012)

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 04:24:22 | More by BostonHops

acevenom

Louisiana

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to EgadBananas for this bottle. Poured into a pint glass. Pours dark brown with a two finger length, creamy tan head that dissipates slowly. Some ruby red can be seen along the edges of the glass. Some sticky lacing is left on the side of the glass as the head dissipates. There are aromas of dark roasted barley malt, strong coffee, and mild chocolate. It smells sweet. The taste follows the nose. There are strong flavors of coffee and roasted barley malt. There's chocolate and molasses. The flavors are full and robust. The alcohol is not present in the flavor. The body is medium to full with adequate carbonation. The beer is smooth and creamy. The drinkability is high. This is an excellent beer. While the body is on the lower end for imperial stouts, this is by no means a point against this beer. Try this one if you can find it.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 19:58:35 | More by acevenom

Danny1217

Florida

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

Pours almost black, letting just a bit of light through, with a brown head that stays for a bit. Good lacing as well.
Smells like roasted coffee and a hint of smoke.
The taste is mostly roasted coffee. Sweet and bitter flavors collide like a strong coffee with just a bit of sugar. Robust is a good word for this.
Rich and creamy mouthfeel with slightly less than medium carbonation.

I'll just say it: this is not an imperial stout. It kind of approaches territory of an imperial stout, but it doesn't entirely fit the bill. If you go into drinking this thinking that it is going to be a heavy imperial stout, you will be disappointed. If you're expecting a regular American stout with a strong coffee flavor, you'll won't be disappointed. This beer is actually quite sessionable. I sessioned it last night, as a matter of fact.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 19:39:36 | More by Danny1217

bum732

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

S: Coffee grounds, roastiness, some dark chocolate, some tobacco.

L: Very dark brown, light tan creamy head that dissipates.

T: Very coffee forward with some roastiness. Medium low bitterness leading to a quite dry finish with lingering roastiness. Overally on the drier side. Coffee dominates throughout. Some dark chocolate as it warms.

M: Slight alcohol present, medium bodied, medium low carbonation.

Pretty good, almost on par with FBS. Not sure why FBS gets so much hype compared to this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 03:17:15 | More by bum732