Bells Java Stout

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Stout
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

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.

Bottle. Pours jet black with a small tan head. Aroma of coffee, chocolate, roasted malts, and has a hint of vanilla. Flavor is rich and sweet with dark chocolate, dark roasted coffee, molasses and some roasted goodness with a medium body and a lightly roasted bitter finish. Excellent stout.

Bottle: Poured a black color with a tan head. The aroma was roasted coffee malts and chocolate. The flavor was creamy, sweet, coffee, chocolate, caramel, and toffee. Overall, a smooth tasting beverage I’d drink instead of coffee.

Bottle (note: bottled on Feb. 08, so almost a year old). Pours opaque black without a hint of light making it through, with a fluffy brown head that recedes quickly. Nose is interesting - there’s a clean dark fruity/cocoa sweetness, alongside light espresso. Taste is surprisingly sweet - sweet chocolate alongside a light espresso character. Chocolate covered espresso beans. Finish is light, delicate espresso with some notable dark chocolate, consistent with taste and aroma. Mouthfeel is nice, lively but but light carbonation, slightly fluffy mouthfeel. Very drinkable and tasty cross between a milk stout and a coffee stout.

12oz bottle from Mr. Dunderbaks (Tampa, FL). Pours a pitch black color with a massive two finger tan, creamy head that settles slowly and heavily laces the glass. Aroma is malty and sweet with heavy notes of coffee and dark chocolate, dark ripe friut, raisins, roasted notes. Flavor is roasted and malty with notes of sweet chocolate, fresh coffee, prunes, molasses, and hints f caramel and toffee. Generally medium to full body with a slightly bitter chocolate and coffee finish.