Bells Java Stout

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Stout
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Batch 8315, packaged Feb 5, 2008. Dark not quite opaque brown. Dense rich mocha head eventually collapses to a thin layer. Unmistakeable coffee aroma, coffee and cream, rich, roasty, cohesive. Very soft and creamy texture. High quality latte, but not espresso based, if that’s fair to say. Light/medium milky sweetness. Light/medium bitterness of part roasted coffee bean, part roasted barley. To compare/contrast this with some other coffee stouts I’ve tried, far less astringent than Founders Breakfast Stout, like drinking heavily creamed coffee vs straight dark roast. Less roast than Peche Mortel and shorter finish. This is such an easy drinking beer, very recommendable, although to be fair, the first half of the bottle is better than the second half as the bitterness does build up.

pours a deep black with a thin and creamy mocha head. outstanding aroma of dark roasted coffee with a subtle milk chocolate backing. flavor has tons of coffee, some burnt toffee, and a hint of dark fruit. i wish the chocolate wasnt lost in the flavor. mouthfeel is thick and creamy with a roasted coffee finish. very nice stout...the only thing it lacks is a bit more flavor complexity as it is a bit one dimensional and head retention was poor.

Found some old notes. (6/30/07). Bottle. Pours a rich coffee color. Nose is full of roasted malts a little coffee. Flavors are also very malty with a slight coffee. Wonder if this bottle is not as fresh as it should be or if that is just the beer. Still a good drink.

Bottle. Pours a black color with a decent head. Aroma is roasted malts and coffee. Taste is similar to the aroma. Very drinkable beer.

Bottle from California bottles. Has a moderate amount of roast black malt and scent of coffee bean but overall aroma is average and not substantial enough for satisfaction. Stout, however, pours a deep blackness with a thin layer of film. The flavor is a rich and robust blend of coffee bean and lives up to the title and description of the beer. Lovely aftertaste finish of dark black coffee and just the most minor reminder of half and half or sweet flavored creamer.

Pours motor oil black with a small dark brown head. Aroma is deep, earthy coffee with some milkiness, and maybe a twinge of vanilla and spice. Smells like a Starbuck’s. Some small noticeable yellow lace upon swirling. Flavor is some malt with black coffee and some sugar. Finish lingers with earthy coffee. No bitterness in finish. Very gentle and unbitter for amount of coffeeness present. Very nice stout: even gives coffee breath without the unpleasantness of so much coffee.

Bottle, batch 8315. Poured black with a tan head that settle to a ring and left light lace. Big aromas of coffee and chocolate. The flavor is much the same but the coffee is even more pronounced. Full body and very enjoyable.

12oz bottle brewed in January 2008 sampled at the Hopsnobbery Collective stout tasting on 1.16.09. Pours darkest brown with a thin off-white head. Aroma of coffee, coffee and coffee. Heavy coffee flavor with a touch of creamy sweetness. Not a lot different than when fresh, but I still love this one.