Tröegs Java Head Stout - Tröegs Brewing Company

mikejseal

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Hard pour from a 12 oz bottle after I gave it a little shake

A: Nice, blackish-brown color almost opaque with a creamy head that faded fairly quickly

S: Bittersweet chocolate, slightly earthy- the coffee scent is fairly subdued

T:Earthy, spicy, slightly bittersweet in between a chocolate stout and a milk stout

M: Very smooth, moderate carbonation, not to filling

O: Very good, The actual coffee taste was well balanced, not overly bitter

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 16:38:20 | More by mikejseal

keith_wayne

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12 oz. bottle poured aggressively into a pint glass.

A. Black with a 1 to 2 finger head that dissipates rather quickly.

S. Coffee, little chocolate and hints of molasses.

T. Coffee/mocha flavors dominate. Reminds me of bitter/sweet chocolate with coffee infused in the taste. Very good. The malts and coffee total hind the alcohol as I get no alcohol taste in this brew.

M. Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Fairly dry overall.

O. I really did not know what to expect. I am a big fan of Founders Breakfast Stout. This stands up pretty well to Founders, although different. I would recommend this to any stout or beer lover that likes coffee.
Funny thing is that I am not a coffee drinker because I don't like hot drinks, but coffee stouts are among my favorite styles.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 01:04:20 | More by keith_wayne

stooge

Michigan

3.56/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- dark brown with a healthy light brown, lacy head

S- pleasant nose, hints of coffee, vanilla, and roasted malt present

T- smooth with mild vanilla and toffee flavors at first, followed by intense bitter roasted coffee and chocolate flavors on the back end. Pleasant while on the tongue, but overwhelmed by the bitter aftertaste, which reminds me of bittersweet chocolate.

M- Very dry, a bit thin for a stout, but a nice balance and appropriate low carbonation for the style

O- Solid but unspectacular, tastes wonderful until the bitter chocolate aftertaste overpowers the initial flavors. A bit disappointing, as I prefer stouts and porters. This is very dry and bitter. I enjoyed it, but it fell short of my expectations.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 04:46:59 | More by stooge

NODAK

Tennessee

2.7/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5

Aroma is a fairly aggressive mix of roasted and burnt malts with perhaps just a hint of coffee. But for a coffee stout, definitely not too heavy on the coffee. More like a dry stout.

Taste has quite a roasted malt character to it, a bit burnt perhaps with a small bitterness on the finish. Coffee is very light. Most coffee stouts that I've had pack way more of a coffee punch than this. As it is, it comes across more like an ordinary stout to me. Those aren't really my favorite style so that's a letdown to me.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 02:45:14 | More by NODAK

Sludgeman

District of Columbia

2.98/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Bottled on 1/15/13. Poured into a pint glass.

A - Pours slightly viscous black and opaque with a one-finger rocky brown/khaki head. Nice lacing.

A - Coffee is predominant. Slight sweetness. Could not pick-up the citrus notes the brewer calls out on the label.

T - Coffee, some burnt bitterness and some hop bitterness upfront, in the middle and in the finish.

MF - Astringent, sharp, not smooth like a typical oatmeal stout.

O - Not sure I would classify this as an oatmeal stout as it is missing some of the sweetness and all of the smoothness expected from the style. I guess the whole flower hops really alter the typical taste profile. The burnt bitterness and the hoppy bitterness do not work for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 01:33:12 | More by Sludgeman

csrbv

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bought a #3 Troegs Anthology Sampler Case with Java Head in it. Poured into a Corsendonk Tulip Glass.
A--Appears an opaque deep brown color with over an inch of dense, creamy dark foam.
S--Freshly roasted coffee beans, molasses,
T--Coffee, the molasses, hops, bittersweet chocolate, nice roastiness, some dark bread notes and a sweet citrus. The more I think about it, it tastes like a melted dark chocolate orange (that are around for the holidays) over oatmeal with a coffee chaser--Delicious!
M--the stout has just about a nice medium body and is amply carbonated.

My brother has been raving about this one for some time and I am very surprised about how good this stout is. I guess I should listen to my brother more (at least about beer). Another great beer from Troegs!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 12:50:25 | More by csrbv

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Got this from Stormking47, cheers Josh!

Pours mahogany with 3 fingers of mocha colored head. Super head retention & good lacing

S: Ever so faint roastyness, & some mocha

T: Roasty, coffee & chocolate up front. More roastyness as this warms, then coffee, dryness & a touch of woody hops, slight booze warming & a touch of baker's chocolate. Finishes dry, roasty with cocoa

MF: Fairly thick with slight carbonation, grew warming as it warmed up

No much nose to this, but otherwise a solid coffee stout

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 04:25:37 | More by russpowell

neophilus

Massachusetts

2.68/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Nice dark brew with a thick tan head. Hop aroma up front, lots of fruit and maybe a little bit of pine. Malt leans to the sweeter side, not much roast - more like chocolate.

First sip brings lots of hop flavor. Big dose of fruit goes down hard against the backdrop of roasted grains. Hop bitterness mixes with roasted grain bitterness. Flavors clash. Can't find the coffee in here either.

Body has too much carbonation by far, almost spritzy with carbonic acid aftertaste. Finishes with a nice dryness that stretches out the roasted grain flavor, still carries fruitiness on the palate though.

Not very good balance in this beer. I don't understand the fruitiness - whether from yeast esters or aggressive american hops it just doesn't belong in my coffee oatmeal stout. Too much carbonation as well makes the aftertaste unpleasant and punishes each sip instead of inviting another.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 15:59:41 | More by neophilus

rawfish

California

3.91/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours stark black with a frothy mocha head. Two fingers high with good retention. Nice rings of lacing.

Coffee forward some roast and charcoal. Hops of this one are prevalent and floral with some uplifting citrus. Sweetness balances perfectly with the floral and bright nature of the hops.

Charred malt that leaves a slight acidic quality. Coffee grounds and a mild toffee sweetness with dark pitted fruit. Hops are dank and earthy with a creeping bitterness.

Average body with a creamy texture that is still well carbonated. Bitterness allows this beer to dry very well once the acidity of the charred malt begins to fade. Alcohol is well hidden too.

This beer grows on you. Well balanced stout, equally displays hops with coffee, good complexity. Could use less roasted malt and more crystal malt sweetness. Overall very pleasant and one of the better oatmeal stouts out there.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 02:11:58 | More by rawfish

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.28/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a near pitch black with 1.5 fingers of tan head that has very nice retention and good lacing

S: Roasted malts, coffee, anise, dark chocolate, and earthy hops

T: Follows the nose. Very roasty and coffee forward, with good hints of cocoa, earthy hops, and anise. Alcohol not noticeable

M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Very smooth and creamy

O: A great oatmeal stout with a very coffee-forward approach. I'd say this one stands up there with the better coffee oatmeal stouts such as FBS or WnB. Definitely an underdog in the category, most likely due to the fact that it isn't labeled as an Imperial

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 04:05:19 | More by BEERMILER12

Flounder57

Massachusetts

3.81/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle was poured into a nonic pont glass.

Appearance: This beer poured a two finger mocha head that reduced to a thon layer and left super awesome lacing on the glass. It is a pitch black color with no clarity or bubbles coming up through the glass.

Smell: roasted coffee, chocolate, sweet and bready oats, and vanilla.

Taste: roasted coffee and bitterness dominate all the other flavors mentioned in the aroma.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, full bodied, medium carbonation, easy to drink, and a little bit of lingering bitterness.

Overall: Pretty standard oatmeal stout. The oats seemed to have gotten lost in the roasted notes. Still a good beer though.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 07:39:25 | More by Flounder57

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

3.91/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Java Head Stout pours black into the glass with a medium sized, creamy tan head on top. The foam dissolves slowly leaving behind a coating of lace on the glass.

The aroma has nice notes of roasted malt, chocolate, coffee, some dark fruit and a touch of pine.

Each sip of this medium bodied beer is smooth and a little oily with light carbonation. The flavor has lots of roasted malt, chocolate, coffee, nuts, and a little pine at the end. It finishes dry and once gone the chocolate and coffee lingers on the palate.

The flavor comes out as the beer warms, especially the coffee. It's a tasty stout with a lot of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 02:20:01 | More by WanderingFool

smiga

New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

I am a fan of stouts. This one is too done up - between flowers, coffee, and spring earth - too much going on for more than 1 in a row. A little cloying. I drink unsweetened espresso. Still a great way to finish the evening, and I'd enjoy it again as a singleton. complex.

ALSO - I have found this stout makes a great "black and tan" when poured over a pale or red ale.

A- dark black roast body with a thick tan large head, with nice lacing. Excellent looking.

S- roasted coffee, malty and chocolate, spring earth, flowers, hops, earthy, piney. Mostly spring earth. smell is matched with appearance

T- approachable, nice first impression, roasted java dominant, earthy hop finish.
A bit too sweet for me after.

M- medium body, medium dry finish, a little warming. Needs some cheese or cookies to go with it. Too much burnt earth to invite another.

O- a decent coffee stout, good hop & earthiness, not overwhelming coffee malt, pleasantly surprised at its approachability, but still too cloying for two in a row.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 23:25:23 | More by smiga

gr0g

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2/1/2013.
12oz bottle.
Overall rating 8/10.

A dark, opaque beer with a tan head. Head retention is good, as is lace formation. Coffee is present in the aroma though not especially prominent. The bulk of the aroma is toasted malt and dark, bittersweet chocolate.

Taste is moderately dry from start to finish. Strong hints of coffee but nothing overt, as with the aroma. A bit of sweetness upfront that quickly subsides. Some light bitterness from the hops amidst a current of roasted malt. Use of oats yields a signature soft, smooth mouthfeel, but it could stand to be heavier. Nonetheless, it's very quaffable for 7.5%.

Having had Java Head several times now, I've found it to be a very well-balanced coffee stout. More coffee and more viscosity would be nice, but as it stands, it's a great stout that I keep coming back to.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 01:45:37 | More by gr0g

ThirstyBehr

Maryland

3.51/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A- dark black roasted body with a thick mocha head.

S- roasted malt coffee and chocolate, good hop presence earthy and piney.

T- roasted java dominant, earthy dry hop finish.

M- medium body, dry finish, a little warming.

O- a good coffee stout, good hop balance, I expected to get smacked with burnt coffee malt but was pleasantly surprised at its drink-ability.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 17:30:12 | More by ThirstyBehr

kylehay2004

Florida

3.54/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: half finger tan head with good lacing on a deep amber brown body.

S: vanilla, roasted malts, dark chocolate

T: dark chocolate, mild roasted malt, hint of coffee, citrus is there but generic. Where is the coffee?

M: smooth and almost seems like no carbonation. Finishes with moderate carbonation though. Medium body.

Overall: where is the coffee here? Basically a decent base beer but definitely is lacking a memorable quality.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 05:25:54 | More by kylehay2004

nickfl

Florida

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A - Poured with a small head of light tan foam on top of a black body. The head settles quickly and leaves little lace.

S - Caramel and a bit of chocolate with some nutty notes.

T - Caramel malt and some light roast up front. Smoke and milk chocolate in the middle with a finish of caramel, smoke and weak coffee.

M - Medium-thick body, moderate carbonation, and a dry finish.

D - Nicely done, but I don't get a great deal of coffee in either the flavor or aroma. There is significant chocolate in the flavor profile, but it is more or less a slightly sweeter than average American stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 05:21:47 | More by nickfl

thlayli87

New Jersey

4.14/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - Black with one finger tan head that recedes into a thin cap which lasts for the duration. Decent lacing.

S - Roasted malt, strong coffee.

T - Dominated by bitter roasty coffee flavors, maybe a hint of chocolate. Bitter roasty flavors linger long afterwards. Probably the most intense coffee flavor I've had in a beer to date. Coffee drinkers will love this.

M/O - Full bodied, intense, and somewhat dry. This is a great brew all around. Will definitely pick this up again.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 18:40:26 | More by thlayli87

brureview

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a snifter. As suggested on Beer Advocate, this beer is better at higher temps.
I got the best flavor at about 57F.

The color was excellent: very deep chocolate with a one finger head.

Lemon-vanilla, coffee, oatmeal aroma- moderate and lasting with the warming.

The mouth feel was not carbonated, and was very smooth at the higher temp.

At first, the taste was bitter coffee with lemon- as the beer warmed up, the strong bitterness subsided and the taste was relatively smooth with a strong coffee accent.

Overall, a very good beer and worth trying. Serving temp and glassware are key.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 02:43:30 | More by brureview

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Coffee black with a tan head. Very nice lacing. Great look.

Floral and piney aromas from fresh hops and sturdy black coffee. Sweet, but with bright complementing hops and roast bitterness. Hints of raisin and licorice. Almost smells like a coffee black IPA.

Very hoppy and decently bitter. Robust malts and black coffee balance out wily floral hops. Backdrop stout-y flavors release flavors of cocoa nibs and burnt cereal. Finishes with citrus notes and lingering hoppiness. Such bright contrasting flavors.

Feels alright. Feels bright in the mouth. Loose and low carbonation. Medium to medium-light body. Not difficult to gulp.

I love the brash hoppiness versus the sweeter coffee notes. An experiment gone right. Excellently different. Unique and easy to revisit.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 04:30:43 | More by thecheapies

SaisonRichBiere

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Special thanks to ThePorterSorter for sharing this one.

Poured into a 12oz. mug from a bottle.

Appearance- Ebony with a dark amber tinge. Appears quite red as it pours. Thin looking at first glance, settling to a nice darkness with a huge bubbly head that slowly falls. Nice looking in the glass.

Smell- Roasty cocoa with slightly burnt coffee aromas. Sweet milk chocolate hints with oatmeal tartness. There's also a slight chemical smell. Strange.

Taste- Bold smoky coffee, slight sugar creaminess, full flavor cigar tobacco, raisins, dark chocolate. Finishes slightly off, perhaps related to the strange smell. Strong bitter espresso aftertaste in the back of the mouth.

Mouthfeel- The strong suit here. Smooth and creamy start to finish. Extra nice with a gulp full of the creamy head.

Overall- A solid easy drinking coffee stout. Alcohol hid very nicely in the flavor. A bit lighter and thinner than most oatmeal stouts, but flavorful and smooth. Would definitely drink again, if I can get some more. I would really like to try a draught offering.

Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 02:30:33 | More by SaisonRichBiere

RunningFox

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours into a black hole - no light escapes the glass. The head is a buffy tan and holds for a few minutes, then gradually becomes a skim of seafoam.

S: The aroma of barnyard hit me at the beginning, which was off-putting for me initially - but then that disappeared after a minute, giving way to toasted malt and coffee.

T: The taste was a very intense mocha with a good share of coffee flavor. Hops showed up in the swallow along with some bitter coffee.

M: The mouthfeel was smooth and silky - could have been a bit more substantial. Carbonation was forward throughout the tasting.

O: I enjoyed this with a melt-in-your-mouth pan-seared coffee rubbed NY sirloin with a demi glace made from the beer. The pairing was heavenly. Having a flashback (good one) right now. Will have to try this again all by itself.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 00:34:45 | More by RunningFox

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours black with little or no light. Of white colored head - a finge or two at pour and disappates nicely to a layer on top of the beer. Lots of spotted lacing. Smells of dark malts and coffee. Taste brings the same but adds some chocolate notes. Overall good taste but also pulling in some vibrancy from maybe fruits & hops.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 01:29:11 | More by Oakenator

mooseo

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into snifter.

A - Black as night with a creamy tan head.

S - Roasted malt, black coffee, hints of citrus.

T - Loads of black coffee bitterness on the palate mixed with earthy roast and fresh citrus. There is some sweetness throughout to balance the hops and bitter coffee.

M - Medium body, creamy and silky. Average carbonation with a dry finish.

O - A very tasty coffee stout with a surprising citrus element that blends perfectly with the coffee. The alcohol is hidden well making this a very drinkable ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 05:54:59 | More by mooseo

denver10

Colorado

2.98/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours black with a light brown head that recedes to the edges. Aroma seems rather underwhelming to for what I was expecting. I am not really getting much coffee, seems like I am getting some hops though offering a line pine, some licorice? on top of a roasted malt base. Flavor is as underwhelming as the aroma, and slightly off putting. Really crappy coffee, licorice?, some sugars from the oats, roasted malts, and a slightly bitter hoppy finish. Mouthfeel is nice, fuller bodied and creamy. Overall, what a disapointment. Perhaps, however, this was my fault for drinking a Breakfast Stout right before this, if the opportunity presents itself I will have to give this another (and maybe more fair) chance.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 02:08:12 | More by denver10