Tröegs Java Head Stout - Tröegs Brewing Company

Fadefury

Maryland

3.38/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Dark brown with 2 inch rocky head that lasts a good bit

S - Coffee up front, with slight hop smell in the back

T - Roasted grainy flavors, with strong coffee. Slight oatmeal/cocoa flavors. You can tell the higher level of alcohol

M - Mild carbonation and creaminess. Thick/strong body

O - Decent oatmeal stout. Not sure if I'd get again, due to the price not fitting the quality.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 16:29:20 | More by Fadefury

dafizzif

Virginia

3.6/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Opaque very dark brown, almost black. Bountiful tan/mocha head. Loads of lacing down the glass. Pretty awesome looking.

Smell: Mainly chocolate with a good bit of roasted malts. Not much coffee really and just a touch of hops. Bottom line: not as coffee dominant as I would like, but still a very pleasant scent.

Taste: Bitter, roasted malts and much more coffee than the nose. The coffee is still lacking and fairly subservient to the roasted malts. A dash of tasty, dark chocolate and a hint of hops present.

Mouthfeel: Mild carbonation and a medium to slightly thick body.

Overall: A very nice brew though it is lacking in what it promised to deliver: coffee! There are many better stouts out there, but there are also much worse. More coffee, especially in the nose could have made this an amazing standout.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 22:06:26 | More by dafizzif

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had this on 2012-01-15 in Columbia, PA

A - Opaque dark brown with a 2-finger dark tan head that sticks around.

S - Bread and light coffee latte

T - Dark roasted grain, pumpernickle bread, bold coffee, very little chocolate. Not too sweet. Finishes with a dark roasted coffee bitterness and burnt caramel.

M - Medium body and carbonation. Moderately creamy but not quite as thick as I like. Certainly thicker than a Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout.

O - Pretty decent but not as good as Terrapin Wake N Bake or the even more impressive Founders Breakfast Stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 18:17:43 | More by Tucquan

StoryOfTheGhost

New Jersey

2.93/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- Dark brown with copper head

S- Smell coffee, roasted malts, some chocolate, metallic smell to it

T- This beer is a mess. I was surprised because I love Troegs and I love the style. Tasted mostly a roasted malt, some coffee, but not a good coffee- more like a stale coffee taste. Some chocolate and sweetness. Oatmeal. Leaves a metallic aftertaste

M- this, light body. too light for the style. Medium carbonation

O- not something that I would drink again

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 03:07:35 | More by StoryOfTheGhost

stealth

Minnesota

3.45/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Well, I was expecting some coffee to this brew, and...nada. The pour looked real nice - great head, great dark color. Basic roastiness in the aroma and taste, with nothing really jumping out at me. I was more disappointed by the lack of coffee than anything.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 11:25:55 | More by stealth

smakawhat

Maryland

3.93/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass.

A real velvety like pour out of the bottle, creates a real nice together if somewhat foamy head that is nice and tan colored. Dark brown walnut body, with lots of red to it. Head clumps quite bit, looks aggressive, very nice looking beer here.

Bouquet is a slight soap, but gives to chocolate like milk. Strangely not very coffee like and some mild roasted malt character.

Taste is interesting. Chewy dark roast in the mid palate, a good texture that gives a real nice body. Finish brings a slow coffee roast, but then just rips on coffee on the finish. Coffee angle is subdued quite a bit, but grows with larger gulps and finishes. Carbonation is moderate if not low to just let the beer retain some malt sweetness and density.

Overall pretty enjoyable, perhaps not a favorite coffee angled brew but easily drinkable for a high abv as well.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 03:00:09 | More by smakawhat

andersony17

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bought the troegs variety pack.

Dark Brown, Black color pours and brown head

smells like oats and coffee

tastes like coffee and i hate coffee but i could definitely drink this every morning

surprisingly crisp and not a bad after taste

pretty darn good, kind of heavy but overall a good beer, when i get more money i'll definitely buy a case of this and stock this in my fridge

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 22:17:03 | More by andersony17

Lawl3ss

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Slightly chilled 12 oz. bottle poured into a pint mug.

Look- Out of the bottle, this beer pours like maple syrup. It's almost completely opaque, with rosy cherry-wood highlights around the edges. Plenty of toasted-marshmallow colored head, but it starts off pretty watery-looking and retention is moderate for the style, leaving a thin film at the surface when it settled after a few minutes. Nice veiny lacing. There are also some lighter-colored neutral-buoyancy particles floating around sluggishly that I only noticed after a minute or two.

Smell- Light roasted coffee and toasted marshmallow. Maybe some bittersweet cocoa, but not much. It's not particularly strong, but it's quite appetizing, and just the right amount of sweetness.

Taste- Bitter espresso with a touch of grass at first, slowly fading to a nice woody roasted malt flavor with hints of toffee and cocoa. Bittersweet chocolate finishes it out, with the hardwood presence lingering. Aftertaste is of coffee and cedarlike hops. This brew is just sweet enough to balance the bitterness in my opinion, though I tend to drink my coffee black. Alcohol is the next thing to undetectable.

Mouthfeel- Easy drinking, but light-bodied for the style, especially after the rich-looking pour. Not a whole lot of carbonation, but what's there is entirely appropriate. There is a touch of lingering astringency, but the roasty aftertaste balances it well. Very clean for the style. It's actually similar to drinking coffee, although it sits heavier in the stomach.

Overall- Another exceptionally nice brew from an exceptional brewery. It hits all the right notes for me, and stays away from the sweet, sticky feeling I often get from oatmeal stouts. I wouldn't want to drink more than two of these in a night, however, and it lacks the kind of flavor "oomph" I'd want from a moderately heavy beer. I'll definitely pick it up again and I'd love to try it on tap if I ever get the chance.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 10:10:56 | More by Lawl3ss

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Dark brown/black with one-finger, creamy, tan head that lasted a couple of minutes. Good lacing.

S: More hops than coffee.

T: Moderate sweetness and moderate bitterness. Roasted coffee notes. Dark malt that is nicely balanced by hops. Pretty good.

M: medium bodied with soft carbonation. Smooth and creamy. Slightly dry.

O: Solid look, taste, and mouthfeel. The coffee was not overpowering, which was nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 23:40:04 | More by SolipsismalCat

chrisbues

Ohio

2.7/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A - Dark chocolate brown. Light-brown, almost non-existent head.

S - Roasted, chocolate, malty. Very little coffee so far.

T - Not what I expected. Chocolate malt overtakes everything. Very little coffee. Flat and uninteresting.

M - Not as thick as I'd expect an Oatmeal Stout to be.

O - Pretty disappointed in this. Just wasn't as complex as I would expect. Not a very good stout IMHO.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 17:01:07 | More by chrisbues

DarthKostrizer

California

3.23/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Look: Very dark brown almost black and totally opaque and a solid 1/2 inch mocha colored head and very good retention

Smell: Coffee and chocolate

Taste: Upfront is a nice amount of roasted malt with a touch of ash and the beer finished with some gourmet coffee note.

Mouthfeel: Medium body and mildly carbonated and a bit sticky

Overall: For a " "coffee" beer this was actually lacking in the "coffee" department would have loved more. The beer over all is not bad but kinda missed what it was trying to be

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 03:29:55 | More by DarthKostrizer

y2jrock60

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- Dark black with an off white head that laced nicely.

S- Not very aromatic. A few hints of chocolate, roasted malt, and coffee.

T- Slightly bitter upfront with a mild coffee and roasted flavor in the middle. This beer finished with a nice lingering hop bitterness.

M- Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation. I was expecting it to be a little thicker due to the oatmeal and have lower carbonation.

D- Fairly drinkable.

I would rate this an average stout. I didn't know it was an oatmeal stout until I read the description. It wasn't every thick and was overly carbonated for the style. The flavors were on the mild side and lack character. However, it's not bad at all, just not great.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 23:46:45 | More by y2jrock60

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.13/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A Christmas gift from my father.

Into a pint glass:

A: pitch black body with no head, some white specks of lacing

S: roasted black coffee

T: roasted black coffee, some oatmeal comes out in the taste as the beer warms

M: medium, sessionable, crisp and smooth, no aftertaste, bitter finish

O: decent oatmeal stout, but not necessarily one I'd come back to

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 04:18:16 | More by kangarooAdam59

Gtreid

Florida

3.15/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into my bruery tulip.

A: Dark brown color. The pour dropped a nice two finger head that faded to a thin rim and left some nice lace.

A: Sweet malt with a coffee bitterness. Notes of wood, chocolate, and caramel. The coffee is very subdued at this point.

T: Pretty disappointed here. The coffee is not as prevalent as I had hoped. The sweet chocolate malt overtakes what is supposed to be a coffee brew. Finishes sweet and cloying.

M: no problems here. Full body and good levels of carbonation.

O: I was really looking forward to this, but as it turns out, it was very difficult to finish. After having coffee stouts like FBS and WnB, this one falls waaay short.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 14:47:33 | More by Gtreid

stercomm

Ohio

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

Poured from a 12 oz bottle.

A - Dark coffee color, mocha single finger head, slight glass lacing.

S - Coffee grounds, chocolate, toffee, maybe some slight citrus.

T - Very unique, get the chocolate and coffee, also get a taste that reminds me of eating Quaker oats raw, slight sweet finish.

M - Medium bodied, creamy slight carbonation.

O - a tasty Java Stout, doesn't overwhelm you with flavors, solid effort.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 22:46:57 | More by stercomm

harrymel

Washington

3.73/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bottled 14APR11

A: pours brown, dark brown with a transient finger of light latte head. This leaves an etched surface with a ringlet left. no lace.
S: chocolate, dark chocolate. Some astringent, tannic quality and coffee grounds with a dry overall feel.
T: This is where the money is made: great cocoa, leather, toasted malts, dry and sweet oats. Nice flavor.
M: Medium bodied with moderate carb and semi dry finish.
O: Good beer. Worth having several times. I would pick this up regularly as an extra for folks or a party favor. Nice beer, approachable.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 18:13:31 | More by harrymel

jegross2

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Reviewing the Java Head Stout from Tröegs Brewing Company. This is the first beer that I have ever had from Tröegs. I am very excited.
Score: 87

2011 vintage bottle served in a snifter glass.

Appearance: Pours a black coffee color, opaque with ruby highlights at the top and bottom of the glass. Full finger of creamy mocha head from the pour that gradually settles into a thin lace and thick creamy ring around the edge of the glass. Excellent lacing. An absolutely gorgeous looking stout. 4.5/5

Smell: Percolating coffee, semi-sweet chocolate morsels and espresso. Also detecting oatmeal and some dark grains. Hints of toffee. 4/5

Taste: Smooth, earthy black coffee and roasted oats. Citrus hoppiness and a little toffee. Cocoa on the mid-palate. Finishes with coffee and a citrus twist. The citrus hops character of the beer was completely unexpected and quite interesting. The beer is not overly bitter, despite the coffee and hops flavors. 7.5% ABV is completely hidden. 4/5

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel of this beer is a glaring weakness. An overly light body cost this beer an A- rating. Instead, it ends up being rated as a high B/low B+. Java Head Stout is medium-light bodied, which was surprising given the appearance. The mouthfeel is smooth and a little creamy with low carbonation. Finishes very dry and bitter. 3/5

Overall: A pretty solid coffee/oatmeal stout that could be something special if given a thicker mouthfeel and fuller bodied. Nonetheless, this is a really solid brew that is worth seeking out.

Recommendation: Safely recommendable for beer geeks and casual beer drinkers looking for a gateway into the craft scene.

Pairings: Biscotti.

Cost: $12.99 for a six pack.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 20:01:10 | More by jegross2

dorianmarley

Ohio

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

Appearance is a dark black, with a tan pancake head and nice lacing.

Nose is plenty of sweet malt, some mild coffee, and oak.

Taste is mildly sweet malt and a good amount of oatmeal. The coffee is mild.

Mouthfeel is very smooth and creamy. Carbonation is medium to mild.

Overall, it is a very creamy, easy-going stout, without much of the coffee that you would expect.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 02:13:34 | More by dorianmarley

LeRose

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - coffee dark with reddish tint.

Smell - coffee-like, did not detect much else.

Taste - confusing to me. Heavy on the bitter components, seemed somewhat acidic as well. Definite coffee notes, but seemed lacking smoothness.

Mouthfeel - thick and almost cloying. Seems heavy on tongue, coating. Strong aftertaste, mostly bitter.

Overall - thought it was OK, but I would probably not purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 23:12:02 | More by LeRose

PittsburghAJ

Pennsylvania

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

A: very dark brown, tan head

S: robust coffee smell

T: smooth coffee taste, not overpowering or sharp like other coffee flavored stouts

M: medium bodied, medium carbonation

O: enjoyable oatmeal stout that's not too heavy, with well disguised ABV

Definitely recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 19:17:45 | More by PittsburghAJ

DanielWRyan

Indiana

4.45/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: very dark black/brown body with with brownish head

S: nice coffee scent

T: smooth with coffee flavor that doesn't overpower the beer. The ABV is hidden well in this beer.

M: Very nice, not too heavy or light.

O: A very enjoyable beer, very drinkable. One of my favorites.

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 21:16:29 | More by DanielWRyan

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: pitch black body with an ample, dense dark coffee hued head, good retention and lacing.if the retention were a little better it would really set the

S: definitely dark roasted coffee mixed with a slightly acidic tone.

T: a good deal of body on this very chocolately/roasted brew. definitely coffee notes, but there is a good amount of sweetness as well. sort of an acidic, dark-roasted coffee/roast finish. significantly dry.

M: moderate amount of fizz on a medium, almost full, body.

D: overall a tasty, but not overbearing coffee accented brew. lighter body than most, makes this an easy drinker.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 15:32:37 | More by Jimmys

Rickythejeweler

Maryland

3.55/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled: 4/14/11 Consumed: 12/3/11

A - Black, 1 inger off white head, spotty lacing.

S - Light coffee, cocoa, hops, oats, brown sugar.

T - Oatmeal, coffee bean, hoppy, roasty, dark chocolate.

M - Smooth, thin-medium body, medium carbonation.

O - Pretty good oatmeal stout, nice hops, heavier body would be preferred.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 00:33:08 | More by Rickythejeweler

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.08/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A-Pours quite black. Barely any light penetration. Dark tan head forms and retains. Head is about an inch high and leaves good lacing.

S-Lighter aroma of coffee and cocoa. Too light to be very interesting. Not gonna earn high marks here. Very light for a stout.

T-Something about the taste that just doesn't hit the tongue right. Maybe its the odd twang in the taste. Maybe its the awkwardly noticeable alcohol. Either way this isn't doing it for me. There is chocolate and coffee. There's also a bit of hop bitterness. But altogether, something is amiss here.

M-Massaging carbonation. Medium body with an adequate mouthfeel. A tad bitter.

O/D-Not a big fan. The local Ipswich Oatmeal Stout blows this one away. Simply put: I am not a big fan of this. And I really like the style too.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 02:20:57 | More by VelvetExtract

jb413

Massachusetts

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

A - Pitch black with a dark, rich, espresso head. Very nice lacing.

S - Roasty notes, with fairly strong coffee and espresso in the nose. Smells like freshly ground coffee.

T - Roasty in the front with a good strong coffee taste in the middle. Some chocolate hints as well. Underlying earthy hoppiness was a nice balance.

MF - Smooth and rich in the stout style. Good carbonation. Nice. Still a sipper, however 7.5% is rather well-hid.

O - A great looking stout with ample coffee roastiness. Would certainly buy again. One thing I noticed is this didn't seem like quite 60 IBUs though.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 00:58:42 | More by jb413