Coffee Stout - New Glarus Brewing Company

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

2.1/5  rDev -46.2%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 1 | overall: 2

A very disappointing beer from New Glarus. I really want to like this. I wanted to like it the last time it was released. I’ve tried it over and over again but to no avail. I just have to admit that this beer is simply no good.

Darkish brown with a bubbly but short lasting brown head that dissipates to nothing in a less than a minute. Thin looking. Aroma of iron, stale weak coffee, oats and malt. Front is a blast of stale coffee, middle has some weak roasted malts that seem a bit off, finish is metallic and down right nasty. Light bodied and watery. If this had been released in July as some sort of Summertime stout, that would have been one thing but now? When it’s 35 below (It really was yesterday) I don’t want to be drinking a watery stout, especially one that tastes somewhat nasty.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2007 17:25:22 | More by DaPeculierDane

BobLuvBeer

Illinois

2.55/5  rDev -34.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Pours to an extremely dark, deep black color. Thick head, which is lasting. Lace is present through out the glass. Flavor is heavy on malt. There is a coffee aroma and flavor which is also present, but it is the roasted malt which dominates this drink. This beer is very on the palate, as you would expect from this style and its appearance.
No Freshness date on bottle.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2003 06:24:34 | More by BobLuvBeer

ZAP

Minnesota

2.63/5  rDev -32.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Pretty thin for a stout...not a strong coffee flavor....pours black with a little to no head...some darker malt scents on the nose...taste is more like a dry stout (a thin one)..Personally, I'm not a big fan of overpowering coffee taste in the coffee stouts but this one is a little too soft...and I can't get past the watery mouthfeel...It feels more like a Stout Light...with that said, it is a bad beer by any means but just doesn't have the qualities I expected...

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2002 12:02:10 | More by ZAP

schellsbeer

Minnesota

2.63/5  rDev -32.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Thanks to my good friend KeefD for a chance to try this beer from a great Wisconsin Brewery.

Here is the review....somewhat excited here on St. Pats Day to drink only stouts...Yeah!

A - Very nice. Dark Brown to almost Black. Appears thinner than most stouts but the taste will tell for sure. Small white bubbles with some lacing present. Overall, very good.

S - Mmmm Dark black coffee present. Very clean. Smells like quality coffee was used in brewing this beer. Reminds me of a Surly coffee bender in smell only. Very different looking though than the coffee bender. Rich malt with little hops present. I like it.

T - And now for the all important taste. Bitter...very Bitter taste. Sort of like a burnt coffee flavor. Not as mellow as the Bells Java Stout. It is hard to place but...really not my favorite. I am very surprised at what this coffee tastes like compared to the smell that was noticed. I was expecting something completely different. Sort of 1 dimentional. Not complex at all for a stout. And I was right....very thin tasting. Not thick. Somewhat disappointed.

M - For a stout, thin in appearance and taste. Coats....no not really. Chewey...no again. Did I mention that this stout is thin? Yes I did. Again, not impressed. Sorry New Glarus.

D - If I was going on the smell alone, I would purchase and drink by the case load but the taste counts and this will not be purchased again. For around the same price, give me a Sierra Nevada Stout any day!!!

And I thought I had a winner here. Just not meant to be. Sorry.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2009 01:36:37 | More by schellsbeer

klewis

Ohio

2.73/5  rDev -30%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Extra thanks to ThomasHardy for providing this extra.

A: Pours a deep black with ruby highlights. A bubbly and porous foamy head is gradually eaten by lots of carbonation. Moderate lacing.

S: Strange vegetal/corn smell that just isn't right for a stout. Hints of chocolate.

T: Light taste with earthy notes and flavors of chocolate, coffee, and lactose.

M: Thin and watery with light carbonation - surprising given the activity from the pour.

D: Decent, and perhaps a good session stout, but I'm less than impressed.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2007 20:07:26 | More by klewis

NSK79

Illinois

2.79/5  rDev -28.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a bottle to a snifter.

A - Poured a jet black with a beautiful creamy head, nice residual lacing.

S - Light toasted notes, vanilla, and coffee

T - The coffee flavor was very hidden and underwhelming, I thought it might improve as the beer warmed up but I only got more vanilla as the beer warmed.

M - Very thin for a stout, I almost felt that I was drinking a Porter.

O - If this beer was billed as a Vanilla Porter, I would have given it better marks, but instead I ended up being very disappointed, and sad to say this was the first craft beer I poured down the drain. Coffee stouts are one of my favorite styles and unfortunately this beer fell flat for me. I have great respect for NG, especially their fruit beers, maybe this was a bad bottle and a second try will be better.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 03:18:21 | More by NSK79

sholland119

Pennsylvania

2.8/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A-Pours a medium brown with a thin tan head. No real lacing and a bit light in color for my liking.

S-Roasted mild coffee and a bit of chocolate. A bit light in the nose.

T-Sweet malt, light milk chocolate notes and little to no coffee. Disappointing.

M-Thin and a bit watery.

D-Nothing special. My first loser from NG.

HV

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2009 00:46:23 | More by sholland119

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

2.8/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass

A- pours pitch black with a HUGE three finger tan head. WOW. Lacing looks pretty good from here, nice spiderweb effect going

S- it almost smells like a brown ale...hints of coffee and chocolate, but I'm primarily getting a nose of cola out of it. Huh?

T- really...sweet. But not really chocolate sweet...cola sweet. It tastes really artificial...not at all what I expected

M- a little thin. Blah

D- I think I got an old bottle here. It doesn't taste at all like a stout...reminds me more of a brown ale. I need to hunt down another bottle

NOTE FROM 2/8: tried another bottle. Either I got another bad one, or this beer just isn't too good. Real disappointing

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2011 02:18:11 | More by bigfnjoe

CuriousMonk

Virginia

2.85/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to pitmonkey for the extra. Unfortunately, I am not a coffee drinker and not a big fan of it either hence the lower ranking. Poured from bottle into a tulip glass. The pour is a dark brown color with a rather thin tan colored head. The nose offers up a decent stout aroma with notes of sweet caramel and roasted malts with a slight acidity. Picks up some coffee. There’s some nice roast and nutty qualities to the flavor with the same caramel sweetness. The body is the usual medium (maybe a touch on the thin side) with a moderate level of carbonation. Surprisingly easy to drink but not my style.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2011 16:59:09 | More by CuriousMonk

Sixpack595

Michigan

2.88/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Hmmm, smells like cold coffee, tastes like cold coffee, but is a bit thinner than cold coffee. On the bright side it has alcohol in it. Ok, that may be a bit harsh. It does taste like coffee, so they did a good job of that. Roasted malt and a bit of sweetness make it a fair beer. Could use a bit more head, and alot more mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2003 07:33:19 | More by Sixpack595

zodiacv1

Illinois

2.88/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I was a bit upset with this beer. Compared to other New Glarus brews this one is a dissapointment. It pours dark brown with a good 1/2" tan head that fades fast, and so does the rest of the experience. Only small hints of coffee were detectable in both the taste and smell, and for a stout it was awfully thin in the mouth. The one redeaming quility was how easily it went down. I will give it this though, it tasted more like coffee than the dark brown water I got at the local filling station the next morning.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2004 17:45:06 | More by zodiacv1

FtownThrowDown

Ohio

2.93/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a very dark brown with a nice quarter inch head that quickly recedes back into the beer.
Nose is coffee and all coffee. Not some pleasant smelling espresso or mocha, but pure black coffee. It smells just like a cold cup of coffee left out overnight.
Taste is pretty much the same. However at this point I can tell the coffee is deeply roasted or burnt.
Mouthfeel is very thin. I would not call this a stout by any means. This is at most a coffee porter. That I can live with.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2007 00:00:47 | More by FtownThrowDown

ktrillionaire

Florida

2.93/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Review from backlog

A - Pours a surprisingly thin opaque brown-black hue, and is capped with a filmy off-white head. Though it does not look bad, nothing about this beer, aside from color, suggests Stout to me.

S - The nose has a bit of coffee, and perhaps some mineral-y malt underlying. I do not get any significant roast, or much of anything at all; the coffe is even very subdued for my palate. There are a number of Stouts that have almost no aroma (Guinness draft, for one...) so I am not terribly distressed by the mildness.

T - The taste is a little closer to disappointing; it really tastes okay, but it does not taste as advertised by its moniker. There is coffee, sure, a bit of it, but it is quite mild. Stout? Where? I am not really getting Stout here. The body isn't there, nor the roast, or the depth either. If this were called 'Coffee Brown Ale' I'd be much happier with it. In fact, now that I think about it, this tastes like Fat Squirrel with coffee added.

M - Too thin to be called Stout.

O - I am hung up on this misnomer, but the brew is decent, though quite underwhelming.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2011 06:03:24 | More by ktrillionaire

deadbody

Minnesota

2.98/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Bottle poured into a New Glarus pint glass. Appearance was good, dark with a caramel color head that didn't recede quickly. Had a sort of off-putting smell. Not quite coffee, not quite beer, not at all stout. Taste was interesting, strong coffee, but not much stout. Mouthfeel was poor, super thin with way too much carbonation.

Drinkability was average, I don't know that I would drink it again, but I know some people would like it.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2011 00:10:46 | More by deadbody

GbVDave

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a 20oz imperial pint.

A: Pours a thin looking black that lets a bit of light through. Ruby highlights towards the bottom and sides of the glass. Khaki colored, one finger head that leaves a little bit of lace.

S: Roasted malt and chocolate with virtually no aroma of coffee.

T: Big roasted malt flavors that, I'm afraid, overshadows most of the coffee in this. Nice flavors of chocolate with a pinch of spicy plum.

M: Rather thin for a stout. Mouthfeel is bitter and slight.

D: Inoffensive and, sadly, not very bold for a coffee stout. I was underwhelmed.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2007 22:43:46 | More by GbVDave

sugit

California

3.03/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Dark brown / black pour. Big head, but vanish to nothing quickly.

S: Not the strongest of noses. Very faint coffee. Very bitter smell as well.

T: THe taste is of old coffee sitting around from the day before. The coffee is present a bit, but just not an enjoyable flavor. Dry roasted malty for the most part with bitter coffee.

M: Too thin for a stout.

O: A bit dissapointed by this one. Since it's not a double stout, I wasn't expecting the massive flavor profile for some others, but this just came up a bit short in all areas.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 23:30:33 | More by sugit

harrymel

Washington

3.05/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bottled: unk

A: Pours a dark, near black stout. Light toasted cream, single finger head falls quickly to a thin sheet of the same. Spotty lacing. difficult to asses clarity.

S: cocoa more than anything. Quite lightly creamy. Coffee and roasted malts come thru. Hints of soil.

T: Overly roasted IMO. Very strong toasty flavor. Some hints of dark fruits. Woody hints. The coffee flavors are burnt and dry with nutty tones.

M: Medium to light body with high carbonation for the genre. Dry. Out of line for style IMO.

O: A little too dry, light, bubbly. Coffee is subdued and burnt.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2011 10:36:26 | More by harrymel

bashiba

Iowa

3.08/5  rDev -21%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured a deep dark black with no highlights, a light tan soap ring head. Just a touch of lacing.

Has a big chocolate malt and roasted barley smell, no real coffee notes here.

The flavor is mild with some roasty and smoked malt notes along with hints of chocolate, any coffee flavors are fairly subdued by the black malts.

The mouthfeel is where I really get the coffee, it really seems to thin the mouthfeel and viscosity of stouts in which its added and really seems to be the case here in a bit of a negative way. The mouthfeel is very thin and oily.

Overall its a pretty average stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2011 00:38:14 | More by bashiba

Skidz

Wisconsin

3.1/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours out dark brown, finished black with deep mahogony shining throgh the sides. Smells of coffee and roast grains, maybe something sweet in there too.

Tastes like coffee. Carbonated coffee. Slightly tangy, little bit of bitterness at the end too, but nothing much. Flavor really is...coffee, thats pretty much it.

The one thing this has going for it is its rich, smooth, full body. I could see drinking these pretty easily, if it weren't for the fact that its just so plain. Hoping for something a bit more complex.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2004 03:40:22 | More by Skidz

emmasdad

Colorado

3.13/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Dark brown with a thin mocha head. Aromas of coffee, roasted malt. Mouthfeel on this one is somewhat thin, and the flavors are somewhat muted. Some roasted coffee flavors, and a bit of chocolate. Overall this one was a bit lacking and somewhat disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2010 04:52:36 | More by emmasdad

morimech

Minnesota

3.13/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Black color with a massive head that had good retention before settling to a thick cap. Moderate amount of lacing is left down the glass.

Underwhelming aroma for a stout, let alone a coffee stout. Mild roasted malt with a hint of smoke and cocoa. No sign of coffee.

Faintest of coffee flavor. Smoke is the main contributor to the flavor with cocoa coming in near the finish. Mild roasted bitterness.

Not a big body but it is not a big beer. Feels a little thin but is nicely carbonated. Soft and smooth. Too bad the flavors are not there for it to compliment.

Probably New Glarus's least impressive beer. Just does not deliver the coffee and the base stout is not that impressive either.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 17:17:58 | More by morimech

Stigs

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz bottle, served in a DFH signature glass

A - poured with about a half in of bubbly and frothy khaki colored foam. the beer is a very deep brunt ruby color..bordering black. the head eventually settles to a very thin flim and ring around the edges.

S - a bit of toasted malts, a bit metallic. coffee is very well hidden here, just barely noticeable through the late second half...smells a bit stale. other notes of chocolate and grain.

T - kicks off with some strong toasted malts, caramel (actually very reminiscent of cracker jacks), and some dark fruits (raisins). coffee finally makes an appearance in the last quarter, coming in as very sweetened and creamed. overall this is more sweet than roasty.

M - a tad thinnish body, carbonation is mild but very active. leaves your mouth feeling a bit syrupy, sticky. finishes clean with some lingering sweetness.

D - honestly a bit disappointed with this one, after being very impressed with every other New Glarus beer i've had until now. being a big fan of strong and bitter coffee, this is just too sweet and subdued, drinks more like an American Porter with some coffee notes.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2010 16:55:10 | More by Stigs

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.18/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The label recommends consumption at room temperature, which I have done, and I wonder if it suffered from that. Other things on this label are less than true, but we'll get to that later.
I like this brewery, I've liked the other beers I've had, but I also love stouts, and live for coffee stouts. I'm pretty demanding that way. It had better be coffee, or someone's gonna be sorry!(Probably me)
Color is a dark brown/black, with a big tan head atop that soon crumbles into nothingness. Nose: sweet,..and dry...and bitter. But nothing else. Coffee's there, a little, but none too pronounced. Mild, if any, hops, big, full malt, full body, but as for texture and taste, I'm left searching. It drinks down fine, it stands in nicely as a run-of-the-mill stout, but as a coffee stout, it's a rather weak example. A decent drink, but there is no "spectrum of extravagant flavor" as the label boasts, nor are there any really "deep coffee flavors." Sorry, New Glarus!
I'm having a Lakefront coffee stout next (thanks, jeffboo!) and if that fails, there's still my cache of Bell's Java Stout!

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2003 21:01:31 | More by feloniousmonk

beerdown77

North Carolina

3.18/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I didn't take down any notes while having this one, so I will be going off memory...which I realize is slightly unfair. However, I wouldn't have a lot to say about this even if I did have notes. There wasn't anything wrong with it, but I just do not prefer coffee stout. It poured black and had a coffee and chocolate smell and taste. I remember that it took me a while to get it down, so I wasn't loving it. It was more bitter than sweet. I think this needs to be consumed with some sort of dessert to really appreciate it.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2011 22:25:39 | More by beerdown77

terrabyte

Wisconsin

3.2/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours black with a medium-sized, very carbonated head. Lacing starts as the head dies, but disappears quickly.

Aroma has tell-tale chocolate smell, but there is something else odd in there. Another reviewer says corn, but for me it's like fake cookies.

Flavor seems pretty rote. Typical attempt at chocolate and coffee flavors that leave a powdered cocoa aftertaste. There is also a milk stout lactose flavor and feel.

Mouthfeel is thin and watery. Quite disappointing.

Drinkability is fine, but it's only average. This was only expounded by having it side by side with Lake Louie's Mr. Mephisto. Bring back Road Slush!

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2007 02:24:22 | More by terrabyte