Barley Island Black Majic Java Stout

Brewed by Barley Island Brewing
Style: Stout
Noblesville, Indiana USA

Rated at the Pewaukee Tasting II 5/5/07. Appearance – dark brown, modest head Outstanding coffee aroma, but flavor and body are frankly more than a bit underwhelming.

12 oz bottle, via Sephiroth. Pours a clear flat black body under a foamy one finger plus brown head. A good amount of visible carbonation and lots of lacing. The aroma is full of dark roasted coffee, black patent malt, and roast. The flavor is a little too heavy on the burnt malt, lending an ashy chalkiness that overpowers the coffee and roast notes. The coffee does come out nicely on the finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, watery in texture, but not thin, with moderate soft fizzy carbonation. This was OK, but not up there with my favorite coffee beers. A far cry from Bell’s Java.

Dark broen, with a brown head. Aroma is coffee, chocolate, and some dark fruit. Flavor is coffee dominated, with fruit, chocolate, and roasted malt. Body is a little too thin. A higher alcohol level would be help too. Still, very good. Thanks Jason, for this bottle.

Transparent and cherry chocolate when put to light. A thin pin-dotted strain swirls around the head. Aroma heightens the anticipation, emitting black fudge brownies, unrefined mocha beans covered in dark chocolate, hints of Madagascar vanilla bean and baked mocha torte sauce. Flavor onsets with too much frits and feverishly dissipates across the palate. Astringent edges curtail around the outer realm while a charred, French roast coffee flavor gets hard pressed to the top of burnt brownies. Hallow in all areas, and at its best in the sweetened vanilla mocha finish. Stretched too far to make an impact. Thanks for bringing it, MrFacto!

Thanks Matt. The beer pours to a dark black/brown body with a brown/gray head. The aroma is heavy on the coffee and oatmeal. Also noticeable is chocolate. The flavor is black patent and is very roasty with lots of coffee going on. The palate is roasty and acedic. I liked it.

Darkest brown color, no head. Aroma is awesome, and unfortunately its the pinnacle of the brew. The flavor has a bit of coffee in it, a little beer in it.

A nice coffee aroma with a good chocolate flavor to it. This was a good beer at 9 am in the morning. Not bad but a liittle thin in the body overall.

Growler @ DLD: Poured dark brown with a tan head. Aroma, coffee, chocolate, roasted malts. Flavor, coffee, chocolate, an odd sweetness, kinda thin.