Tröegs Java Head Stout - Tröegs Brewing Company

russwbeck

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I enjoyed this beer at Troegs' new brewery, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream added.

Appearance
The ice cream takes this beer from black to a coffee brown with a huge brown head. The crazy mix of melting ice cream and head build a shield on the glass and lace beautifully. Ice cold to the touch. The head retention is unlike any other, and honestly is part of the treat.

Aroma
The smell is crazy sweet with a really nice added amount of coffee roast. The ice cream really dominates the aroma, but I love it.

Taste
Again the taste has been dominated by the ice cream, but what I have in my hand is delicious. Coffee and roast remain from the Java Head but the sweetness and vanilla from the ice cream add a really decadent character. The head can even be assessed in this category, as it acted like a thick sort of syrup atop the beer.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability
The beer is thick--like a dessert get it? The huge sweetness does hurt the drinkability a tad, but I'm not complaining. The beer stays really cold forever.

Value
$7 for a pint is pretty high for PA, but I'd say if you're at the brewery you have to try it. I also recommend you tweak it at home to your preference and save a few bucks.

Overall
Overall a phenomenal new experience. As the ice cream melts it blends even more with the beer. It's unreal. I really hope they do a big chocolate stout, the float of that would be amazing.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2012 01:10:39 | More by russwbeck

Arborescence

Finland

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Black, pours a nice brownish head.

Aroma: Toast and roasted coffee.

Taste: Dry and toasty with roasted malt; not a very strong coffee flavour.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body, smooth and creamy.

Overall: Solid dry stout, rather tasty. Coffee isn't very strongly present though.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2012 01:03:40 | More by Arborescence

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at O'Reilly's Taproom, Harrisburg, PA on 9/15/11.

A - Deep, roasted walnut brown liquid with two fingers of dense mocha-colored foam on top that reduced to a bubbly patch and yielded plenty of thick lacing around the glass.

S - I've had plenty of these before, and the nose just doesn't scream coffee like so many other coffee stouts. That said, the aroma is rich with cocoa and toasted nuts, as well as flaked oats, giving a bit more depth than you average coffee stout. Hop presence is fairly tame, with some earthy notes opening up as the liquid warmed. The nose leads me to the conclusion that this would be a milk stout if I didn't know any better.

T - Initial flavor boasts a bitter chocolate and cocoa character accompanied by a moderate coffee roast. Oatmeal malt and vanilla sweetness add a bit of contrast in the middle through the backend. However, the finish is quite bitter, with leafy greens and earthy notes paired with a small dose of nutty astringency.

M - Medium bodied and straddling the line between creamy and oily, JavaHead is quite smooth up front with a bold bitterness in the backend that lasts well into the finish, leaving a lingering hop bite on the palate.

D - Overall, this is a fine addition to the Troegs line-up, although I still prefer the original Oatmeal Stout. In the grand scheme of things, while it is not one of my top five coffee beers, it is still a great go-to local offering when I need a dark beer fix.

D -

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2011 00:33:12 | More by ffejherb

MONKandTUCK

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Enjoyed at the Troeg's tasting room in Harrisburg. Interestingly, this beer's base malts are Continental. No Pale Malt reportedly used.

A - Pours opaque and "wet" into a small snifter. Looks like pen ink w/ the thin white film on top. Really missing the head on this one, and begin to detect a thinner body that I'm used to from this style w/ this ABV.

A - Roasted malt. Some baking cocoa, some indiscernible coffee. Some vanilla and hops.

T- cold coffee, a little bitter-sweet chocolate mixing twang w/ sweet. Kinda roasty bite in the finish, but not over-bearing. Not especially complex, but no chance in questioning this is a coffee-porter/stout. Balanced. Some oat shines, though, but it doesn't stand out the way the other features do. base malts come through, too, if you know what you're looking for.

Suitable hopping, though more bitter than initial sips let on.

The oatmeal was wasted.

M- Too thin. I'm sure this has it's time and place, but I'd prefer they provided this thin mouthfeel for a Porter. Hell, even do a big RIS with thinner than average mouthfeel. It just seems out of place here. It doesn't help the drinkability at all because you are forced to notice how one-dimensional this beer is before finishing with that roasted bite.

O- Not mind-blowing, but a serviceable beer. They were probably aiming at satisfying those who find Stouts too heavy and too roasty. If I want coffee, I know where to get good Colombian and Sumatran roasts, I won't look for it in beer.

If you are unfamiliar w/ Porters and Stouts, it doesn't hurt to start here; you might find yourself a new favorite beer. However, if you've tasted big leaguers: Fullers, SN, Founders, Youngs, Anchor or Rogue, you very well may be quite disappointed.

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2011 03:58:07 | More by MONKandTUCK

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Troegs Javahead Stout

Poured ontap into a pint glass, dark brown in color with a khaki colored head. Aroma of roasted malt and a bit of coffee. In the flavor, a nice roasted presence with some mild dark roast coffee presence. A kiss of earthy hops is noted in the finish. Medium to full bodied feel. Overall, a nice roasted presence, some coffee and hops mix well. A pretty decent stout.

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2011 23:23:47 | More by Stinkypuss

ferrari29

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Beer served in a Snifter shaped glass at Churchkey (DC)

A - Beer was served with less than one finger sized coffee colored head; dissipated rather quickly and didn't hold well; beer had a dark brown silky body

S - High alcohol notes come up rather quickly; soft roasted malt nose; some chocolate; hints dark fruit like dry fig or dates

T - Smokey malt back-end; semi-sweet dark chocolate notes upfront; deep coffee taste

M - Silky smooth; some bitter chocolate aftertaste; mildly effervescent; full body feel

D - Great drink to top off the evening; nice burnt coffee and taste and smell; great combination of conventional stout flavors

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2011 01:45:45 | More by ferrari29

vandemonian

Maryland

3.78/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Tröegs Java Head Stout is a bitter coffee stout. It's pretty nice, but I don't love it.

A: Black colour and a 5 mm head that fades to good lacing. 4

S: Coffee with some sweetness too. Is that hops? 4.5

T: I taste sharp, bitter coffee with some burnt flavours at the finish. It's nice, but not the best coffee stout I've had. 3.5

M: Reasonably foamy. 4

O: SLightly too bitter, imo. 3.5

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2011 02:37:22 | More by vandemonian

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On-tap at the brewery.

A: Slick black body, dark brown highlights. Thin light-brown head that quickly recedes into a ring and leave a couple spots of lace. Ok.

S: Smooth, lightly sweet coffee. Nothing else, and that's fine by me.

T: Coffee jumps out, followed by dark chocolate, earthy hops, and more coffee. Clean, roasty finish. Smooth, balanced, and tasty.

M: A little thin and prickly, but not bad.

O: This beer caught me off guard, as I wasn't expecting too much out of it. The coffee was strong enough to dominate the aroma to dramatic effect, and yet soft enough to blend well with the sweet roasted malts backing it up. Quite good, but it could have been better still with a more substantial body.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2011 16:05:53 | More by woosterbill

knephews

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I first tasted this brew at a bar near New Cumberland, PA while away on business and I had been thinking about it ever since.
The beer has a dark, black as midnight color and pours with a frothy brown head that slowly fades to lacing around the glass.
The taste boasts of roasted coffee, malts, and hops. The hops aren't overpowering but you know they're there. It finishes nicely and begs you to drink another but be careful, at 7.5% ABV, it catches up to you quickly. It is without a doubt, my favorite stout and one of my favorite beers.

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2011 22:32:30 | More by knephews

Landfill21

Ohio

3.8/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Had this beverage at the local beerfest last weekend. Has a nice color and a nice jave infused smell with hints of chocolate and caramel. Also has some hoppiness that many other stouts do not have. Has a nice medium mouthfeel and a medium drinkibility.

I enjoyed this beverage. Very good for coffee/java stouts. I would recommend this beer for stout lovers.

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2011 02:54:36 | More by Landfill21

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I stopped by the Tröegs tasting room a couple of times during the last week, and managed to try some new biers. This was my first...

'Twas a deep, dark brown, opaque all the way, with a thin, fine tan head. Nice lacing topped things off. Aroma was roasty and lightly bitter, with good choco coming through as well. Had a solid, medium body, with little carbo to roughen up the tongue.

Roasty all the way, dark choco and bitter coffee were plentiful. Dry from the start, it also had some cocoa powder, and some subtle floral notes in the dry, bitter finish. Not a killer, but solid nonetheless. Prosit!

4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

1305

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2011 16:05:22 | More by Bierman9

Chincino

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this beer on-tap as part of a sampler at the Troegs Brewing Company in Harrisburg, PA on a recent trip there.

It was poured into a sampler glass and was very dark in color, almost black. The aroma was of chocolate, oat and of course coffee. The taste was rich in coffee flavor.

I definitely wish I'd gotten a bottle or two of this beer to go.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2011 13:38:35 | More by Chincino

JunkYardJake

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at John J. Jeffries in Lancaster.
Served to me with a two finger off-white/tan head. Black as the night with very little light passing through. Smell is of chocolate malts, roasted malts and a little coffee. Taste follows suite with a heavy dose of roasted malts and some chocolate and coffee. The coffee element is very muted considering the use of coffee in the brewing process. I like the subtle coffee flavors but it doesn't fit the name. Finishes clean with a healthy dose of bitterness. Full bodied mouthfeel with a semi-fluid feel on the tongue. Nice, drinkable stout overall. It just needs a properly fitted name.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2010 11:44:26 | More by JunkYardJake

Spider889

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Bodega.

Honestly this is probably the best coffee stout I have had to date that wasn't Founders (that has fairly regular production).

Nice dark stout, light bodied and thinner but not watery at all. Had a light sandy head, fairly delicate and fluffy for such a robust beer.

Smells of freshly ground coffee beans. It is thick and pungent, overpowering the sweeter caramel and chocolate malts. I prefer it that way...

Nice roasted coffee flavor. I was actually very impressed here. For some reason I was expecting less body and flavor out of this beer. Sweet dark chocolate rounds out the roasty and slightly bitter coffee profile.

Medium carbonation, enough to facilitate better aroma and depth on the palate without becoming a nuisance.

I will always take a breakfast stout over this, but I would be very happy as this beer for my second or third choice.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2010 17:25:56 | More by Spider889

StormKing47

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed at one of my local establishments. Reviewed from my trusty napkin notes. I know it's awkward, but I can't always have a notebook handy, I'm also saving paper...

A- A deep black color that is not completely dark there are some reddish brown/mahogany glimpses that allow in a little light. Has a thin brown head that works well with the dark color of this one. Another scratch beer upgraded to a year round, thank you Troegner brothers.

S- My, my, my a nice simple coffee bitterness with some burnt roasty malt notes. Very enjoyable to smell and as it warms the roastiness comes out a little more and has brought a licorice sweetness to the nose. Very pleasant smelling beer that I can't wait to taste.

T- Right away a great helping of bitter coffee flavor. Not too overpowering has a bit of a sweetness and almost a lactose sweetness. The burnt roasty malt flavors stay in great balance with the very subtle hoppiness hiding in the background. Throughout the sipping I can pick up a little bit of the licorice burn and sweetness that make it very enjoyable.

M- Not watery, but a little thinner than I would've liked. It's not as hearty and full bodied as I would have liked, but it has some nice coating and chewiness, just not as much as I would like. The carb plays out well in the mouth and I enjoy the tiny little tingle as I finish my glass.

D- Definitely enjoyable, but not as drinkable as I would have liked it to be. The bitterness of the coffee would become too overwhelming and the thinner than expected body would wear out it's welcome. Though it is a coffee stout and I can't argue you with that. Thanks again Troegs brothers.

Definitely an enjoyable stout, but I would have rather seen them resurrect the oatmeal stout or converted scratch 27 into a year round stout. Please John bring back scratch 27 or the oatmeal stout!

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2010 04:52:57 | More by StormKing47

TheDeuce

New York

4.4/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Troegs Java Head Stout...on tap at the Troegs Brewing Company in Harrisburg, PA.

Appearance-jet black with a large sized tan head, creamy and crackling bubbles everywhere, my god this is black. Deep layered body.

Smell-roasted coffee malts, very pungent, another sniff give traces of chocolate syrup, hop spice, crystal malt. Strong.

Taste/Mouthfeel-bready initially, nice strong coffee flavor mixed with fruit and chocolate for an almost mocha mix. Medium to heavy mouthfeel, nice smoothness. Finishes strong with a last note of coffee.

Drinkability-no issues, hides alcohol very well.

Overall-great example of an Oatmeal Stout, one of the top out there. Plenty of coffee, lives up to the name. Very well done.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2010 04:28:38 | More by TheDeuce

mbunn125

New York

4.05/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

If you like coffee and beer the java head is a great beer for you. I have the opportunity to teast this beer at the brewery itself, in the teasting room. Was a good hardy stout but not made for drinking is mass amounts. the beer had a rich coffee smell which made it quite interesting. overall the beer was good.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2010 18:12:02 | More by mbunn125

orangesol

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in the Troegs tasting room into a standard pint.

A - Pours pitch black with a small tan one finger head that leaves faint lacing down the entire glass.

S - Big roasty, rich, nose on this one. Chocolaty malts add a nice rich flavor to go along with all that roasty coffee. A little bit of vanilla and a slight hop bitterness are hidden but do come out a bit more once it begins to warm up.

T - Plenty of strong, roasty, flavors in this one. The chocolate malts are a great complement to all that strong coffee flavors. Espresso, chocolate, even a little vanilla help balance this one out a bit. Some hop bitterness comes thru on the finish and is a welcome addition to help break up all those rich flavors. A very nice oatmeal stout.

M - Heavy flavors with a medium feel and moderate carbonation. A little too cold at the start but much better once it warmed up a bit.

D - A very drinkable coffee stout. A nice rich, roasty, offering perfect for a cold day like this.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2010 21:53:52 | More by orangesol

lordofthewiens

Maine

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap, served in an imperial pint glass that was chilled.
Dark brown, almost black in color. Cocoa colored head. A little bit of lace.
Roasted malt aroma, a little bit of coffee and a little bit of chocolate.
Pronounced espresso taste, some chocolate.
Medium-bodied.
Very nice.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2010 22:55:26 | More by lordofthewiens

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewery. Reviewed from notes.

Pours a really, really deep brown that is bordering on black with a bit of a mocha head that fairly quickly recedes into nothing. The nose is fairly one dimensional with a lot of coffee, but that's fine by me as it is quite nicely presented. The taste is overloads of coffee along with a bit of roast and a nice creaminess. Smooth mouthfeel with good carbonation, accentuating the coffee flavor. A really nice coffee stout.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2010 00:28:04 | More by Thorpe429

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours jet black with a dark tan head. In the aroma, coffee and roasted malt, with a small oatmeal sweetness. In the taste, dry coffee, roasty malt and a sweetness that almost reminds me of lactose. A smooth and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry coffee aftertaste. Nice coffee presence and interesting sweetness.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2010 16:10:58 | More by OWSLEY069

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours black in color with about 1 finger of tan fluffy head, small amount of lacing.

The scent is of chocolate, some coffee and roasted malts.

The taste is of chocolate, burnt coffee, roasted malts, notes of citrus and oatmeal.

Full bodied, smooth and creamy, low carbonation.

This was a good oatmeal stout, the flavor is pretty much what you would expect, very balanced. This was unusually very easy to drink, not as filling as I had thought.

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2010 15:51:18 | More by BeerCon5

morebeergood

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the Yardhouse in Dedham. Served in a standard pint glass. Dark brown color. Thin white head. Smell had a faint hint of coffee. Taste was put together well. Lots of flavor of chocolate and espresso, plus the added roasted taste that you often find in an oatmeal stout. Mouthfeel was a bit on the thin side for a stout though. Not watery, but would have loved it to be thicker. Drinkability was good as it was smooth and the 7.5% abv was not really detectable. A decent version of the style, and a good way to start the night.

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2010 14:33:53 | More by morebeergood

afksports

New York

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appearance: Nice initial and sustaining head on this thick dark stout.

Smell: Coffee, oatmeal, sweetness. Good stout smell.

Taste: Well done beer, yet again, by Troegs. Only problem is there was nothing that stood out about it. For a name like Java Head, I was expecting maybe the coffee to really stand out, but it didn't. It was like weak coffee. That's not to say it was bad; it wasn't. It just wasn't exceptional.

Mouthfeel: There wasn't as much to this brew as other stouts. Still solid, just not crazy.

Drinkability: This is a repeater. Maybe not too much so, because at 7.5% it still packs a punch. But it's an easy beer to finish off while chatting with the bartender.

You know, cuz you're a lonely guy reviewing beers on here. What else are you doing?

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2010 04:17:27 | More by afksports

Chickenhawk9932

Pennsylvania

4.78/5  rDev +26.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appears a dark chocolate brown - deep and mysterious - with a tan head.
In the nose there is cocoa, coffee, and a slight pine smell. All are inviting.
The coffee flavor hits in the back of the mouth and is smoothed over by chocolate goodness; then, it finnishes with a slight piney bitterness that keeps you coming back for more. A delightful brew and extremely drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2010 21:46:31 | More by Chickenhawk9932