Vanilla Java Porter (VJP)
Atwater Brewery

Vanilla Java Porter (VJP)Vanilla Java Porter (VJP)
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From:
Atwater Brewery
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American Porter
Ranked #415
ABV:
5%
Score:
79
Ranked #26,607
Avg:
3.47 | pDev: 18.73%
Reviews:
566
Ratings:
1,870
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 27, 2024
Added:
Oct 21, 2006
Wants:
  37
Gots:
  426
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by KajII:
Photo of KajII
Reviewed by KajII from North Carolina

3.4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
[Best served in a Nonic Pint glass]

The pour was murky and almost black in color with a large (2-3 finger) light brown creamy head that had decent retention, reducing slowly to a thin cap with some good streaky lacing.

The aroma was a lot like french vanilla coffee with some roasted chocolate malts and a sweet yeast and had notes of dark chocolate, vanilla and dark roasted coffee.

The taste was lightly sweet and a bit bitter with hints of vanilla and dark chocolate from the onset with the finish having a more pronounced bitter coffee taste. The flavor hung around for an average duration after the swallow and had a mild bitter sweet coffee ending.

Mouthfeel was a few shades above medium in body and a tad oily in texture with a good strong carbonation.

Overall a Coffee Porter that has a lot more vanilla in the aroma than in the taste, but all in all it was a nice smooth tasty brew...
Jun 07, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.89 by NRMeadmore from Connecticut

Jan 27, 2024
Photo of Dimagio
Reviewed by Dimagio

4.18/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This beer is a lot better than a 79. I've had porters that taste like flavored water. This one is a good tasting porter. Not the best, but definitely better than a 79.
Sep 26, 2023
Photo of Brook82
Reviewed by Brook82 from Ohio

3.04/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Ordered on tap, Dark brown/ black color, no head by the time it was brought to my table. Left some lacing. Vanilla dominated both aroma and taste. Full, rich flavor and came across a bit like a dessert beer. Okay overall, doubt I would order again.
May 13, 2023
Photo of Arttooo
Reviewed by Arttooo

4.01/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Solid beer. My only real complaint is the mouthfeel, it's just thin, nothing else about it. That's probably just a consequence of the 5% abv though, which makes it a little more approachable, so I'll cut it some slack for that.
Jan 28, 2023
 
Rated: 3.37 by Mikexw from New York

Dec 04, 2022
 
Rated: 3.54 by RalphStanley34 from French Polynesia

Sep 01, 2022
 
Rated: 3.38 by cold_beer

May 07, 2022
 
Rated: 3.77 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

Jan 29, 2022
 
Rated: 2.53 by dhannes from Wisconsin

Jan 01, 2022
 
Rated: 3.6 by TP2MSU from Michigan

Dec 10, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by n2492004 from Michigan

Dec 05, 2021
Photo of Bierwizard
Rated by Bierwizard from Pennsylvania

3.41/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Tastes and smells a bit like a chocolate milkshake. I’ve had better.
Nov 18, 2021
 
Rated: 3.51 by Meddwol from Michigan

Oct 25, 2021
 
Rated: 3.28 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Oct 22, 2021
Photo of MacMalt
Reviewed by MacMalt from New Jersey

3.54/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a tulip glass. It pours a very deep cola color with a thin, khaki-colored head that dissipated quickly. A subdued nose: mostly roasted malt, cocoa, and earthy nuts. The taste is primarily char, bakers chocolate, and burnt nuts. There is little of the cocoa that I smelled. The vanilla bean is noticeable in the after taste. In that sense it's rather one dimensional. The mouth feel is okay for a Porter but on the thin side. The carbonation is appropriate and at 5% ABV it's quite drinkable. Overall, there is nothing wrong with this Porter but nothing memorable either. I would recommend it as an accompaniment to a burger, cheese steak or other substantial meat dish rather than for casual drinking.
Sep 03, 2021
 
Rated: 3.83 by stucat from Illinois

Jul 15, 2021
 
Rated: 4.43 by Jerid from Florida

May 23, 2021
Photo of RobertB412
Reviewed by RobertB412 from Pennsylvania

3.71/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz. bottle into a pint glass with a very dark brown almost black color, tan head and decent lacing. Aroma is vanilla front and center, some coffee and caramel notes as well. Taste is more coffee than vanilla with notes of chocolate, roasted malt and nuts. Mouthfeel is smooth, thin bodied with decent carbonation and somewhat sweet finish. Overall, its a decent porter. I like vanilla, but its a bit too sweet and thin-bodied for me.
Mar 12, 2021
 
Rated: 4.62 by Jonnybgood from Massachusetts

Feb 06, 2021
Vanilla Java Porter (VJP) from Atwater Brewery
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 1870 ratings