Hazelnut Vanilla Java Porter (VJP)
Atwater Brewery

 

I’ve been meaning to try this beer for a while and I’m glad I finally found it in a local store. This is a well-lauded porter from a great local Michigan brewery, and a variety of their famous VJP. Looks very nice, pours a deep dark rich brown color that looks almost black, with nice white fluffy head and some sticky lingering lacing that created nice small sheets around the glass. Smells great, nice aromas of vanilla, caramel, medium roast coffee, mocha chocolate, caramel and malt. And then there’s that great hazelnut aroma that permeates through everything else. Taste follows the nose, and there seems to be a hint of coconut in the background. Smooth, surprisingly rich, slightly sticky mouthfeel with good carbonation. A very tasty porter, and one that I would definitely buy again.

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, no bottle dating. Pours slightly hazy very dark brown color with a 1-2 finger dense and rocky light khaki head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Nice thick soapy lacing clings on the glass with some light streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big hazelnuts, vanilla, milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, coffee, cream, and toasted dark/brown bread; with light notes of dark fruit, smoke, char, herbal, grass, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/roast/bready malt, vanilla, hazelnut, coffee, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop notes; with great strength. Taste of big hazelnuts, vanilla, milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, coffee, cream, and toasted dark/brown bread; with light notes of dark fruit, smoke, char, herbal, grass, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Light herbal/grassy hop, and roast/char/coffee bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of hazelnuts, vanilla, milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, coffee, cream, toasted dark/brown bread, light smoke/char, herbal, grass, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malt, vanilla, hazelnut, coffee, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; with a nice roast/hop bitter/sweet balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering hop/roast bitterness. Medium carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/silky/grainy, and lightly sticky/chalky mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5%. Overall this is an excellent flavored English porter. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malt, vanilla, hazelnut, coffee, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the mildly bitter/drying finish. Very flavorful for the ABV, despite the lighter body. Great balance between nicely rich malts, coffee, and flavorings; with solid earthy hop presence against sweetness. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on style example.