Java Stout
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store

Nass from Florida

4.26/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The pour is black, The aroma is of roasted malts & coffee. The taste carries along with what the nose had to offer along with a slight trace of baker's chocolate in there as well.. This is a pleasant drinking stout. I have not a Bell's stout to date that I was dissatisfied with. Cheers! A-

Sep 10, 2019

GuyFawkes from Illinois

3.92/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottled 10/24/15; drank 11/26/15 @ the Yarchives.

Black/brown appearance.

A rough pour yielded a HUGE tan head; a frothy curtain of lace.

Mild habenero, roasted coffee bean & faint citrus notes in the nose.

Creamy medium mouthfeel.

Caramel & milk chocolate flavors up front; dry orange rind & faint pepper heat notes on the finish.

I wished this was more coffee forward, but found it enjoyable.

Apr 24, 2019

Sigmund from Norway

3.78/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

From bottle at RBESG 2016 in Barcelona, Grand Tasting. Black colour, small tan head. Roasty aroma and flavour, distinct coffee notes, fairly dry. Better than average.

Jun 12, 2018

mothmanscott from Georgia

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes 3/12/13: My goodness this pours a very dark brown/black. The pour produces 2+ fingers of deep mocha, frothy, finely bubbled, lasting head that leaves a superb coating of sticky lace. Aroma is cold coffee grounds, roasted/lightly burned and dark malts, dark bittersweet chocolate, molasses, toffee, a hint of dark fruits and a faint hint of anise/licorice. Taste is strong black iced coffee, burnt dark bread, dark bitter chocolate, prune, fig, molasses, toffee and a little spice. Hop presence is best defined as a bitterness just after mid-sip through the aftertaste. The burned and very bitter (for a stout) character intensifies in the aftertaste. Intense coffee in both the nose and mouth. The aroma reminds me more of what arises from a coffee maker as you clean it than drinking coffee but this is not necessarily a negative attribute. Alcohol presence is well hidden. Mouthfeel is medium heavy bodied, silky smooth and creamy with more carbonation than is typical of the style.

Jan 28, 2018

Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

The appearance was a pitch black body, half finger white head that quickly dies and has some light trickling around the sides of the glass. The smell had dark roasted coffee beans, super light chocolate. The taste had some bittersweetness and combined very well through the previously mentioned flavors, bitter aftertaste, dry finish. The palate was about a medium, fairly sessionable, smooth, ABV wasn’t felt. Overall, I think this was a very well done for a coffee-forward American Stout.

Jun 23, 2017

Drinksonme616 from New Hampshire

3.7/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Sweet toasty aroma. No hop aroma. Whip cream scent along with chocolate malt. Dark opaque, with a thin long lasting, tight small bubbly head. Roasty malt with slight hints of alcohol. Medium to full bodied with a creamy feel to it. Finishes slightly dry with a creamy chocolate and coffee aftertaste.

May 15, 2017

Ferretferret from Wisconsin

4.46/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Coffee, coffee, coffee, and more coffee! Not to understate the richness or complexity of the roast as a whole, but, wow! I feel like I should ask what the caffeine content might be.

Imagine one of your favorite stouts or porters. Now, mix it with the coffee from your favorite local coffee shop. Scorched caramel, espresso notes, and, well... Coffee!

99 cents per single on sale at Whole Foods. It would probably be worth the $15.00 for a 6-pack other people seem to be paying; at this price, though, I stocked up!

Apr 23, 2017

UnholyDemon8 from Missouri

4.04/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Looks like a stout. Not super thick but pours a nice color

Smells and tastes strongly of coffee

Goes down smooth and is incredibly flavorful for a coffee stout. Not entirely sure if its worth the 15 bucks per six pack though

Mar 16, 2017

Gmann from New York

3.8/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours a cola like brown color with a light brown head that quickly settles into a ring around the glass.

The aroma is of cold brewed coffee with semi sweet chocolate notes. Some cocoa and caramel.

The taste is of a moderate roast coffee with pretty big cocoa flavor. A bit of a sour cherry thing going on. Toasted pumpernickel and scorched caramel from the base stout. Some ashy bitterness.

The bed is well bodied with fizzy carbonation. Sweet start but finishes with an earthy bitterness.

A flavorful stout. I feel like I get more chocolate notes than I do coffee though.

Mar 05, 2017

Red5StandingBy from Maryland

3.91/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from 12oz bottle into Spiegelau Stout Glass. Bottled October 10th 2016.

L: Very dark brown, faint ruby edges. Half-finger beige head that doesn't stick around for very long.

S: Tons of coffee, hints of chocolate and cocoa as well, some molasses.

T: Coffee mellows out in the flavor but is still very present, the chocolate shines through better here. Let's see what happens as this warms a bit.

F: Medium body, low carbonation, dry finish.

O: Not Bell's best offer, a good beer definitely but I was slightly disappointed with this one.

Feb 27, 2017

Zaktcc from Maryland

4.17/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours pitch black with a coffee colored, 3 finger head. Average head retention with a lot of lacing.

S - Like a fresh brewed pot of coffee. If you love coffee you'll love this aroma. It's honestly hard to pick up on anything else how strong the coffee aroma is, however, notes of chocolate and sweet malts are there.

T - As surprising as it may be - coffee. Coming from someone who drinks, literally, a quart of coffee a day, black, this beer tastes stronger than most coffee. The coffee flavors are so overwhelming it's hard to note even the subtle hints of chocolate in it.

M - Full bodied beer and very bitter. Given the over abundance of coffee beans in the brew, it's not much of a surprise how bitter it is. Very enjoyable and drinkable.

O - It feels as if I'm drinking a fresh brewed pot of coffee. Beer loko?

Feb 04, 2017

BloodSoakedAleMug from New York

4.08/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Look: A fizzy dark brown beer with a nice two finger head of khaki foam. Laces the glass well

Smell: Coffee, coffee, coffee and more coffee. Subtle hints of vanilla.

Taste: This is a coffee bomb. At first I'm getting a very bitter espresso and black roast coffee flavor but on the aftertaste I'm getting a more soft and supple, sweeter medium roast flavor. Dry and bitter, but not overtly so. Rather effervescent and bubbly. Gentle hints of dark chocolate and very mild vanilla in the background.

Feel: Midweight and moderately carbonated. Feel is quite crisp - for a stout.

Overall: Like I said, this is an absolute coffee bomb with tons of roasted malt flavor. It remains crisp and not unbearably dry while offering a wide range of coffee roast styles. Not a whole lot to say about this one it's fairly simple and straightforward (not that thats a bad thing). If you like espresso and coffee this is worth a try.

Jan 30, 2017

jngrizzaffi from Texas

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pitch black with small head. Mild retention and lacing. Strong coco nibs and milder java. Strong coco nibs in taste with some java. Medium to heavy bodied. Mild carbonation.

Jan 29, 2017

jjamadorphd from Florida

4.2/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Probably the strongest coffee stout in both smell and taste I have ever had, and I liked it...

A dark and rich looking brew with very good lacing that also had the strongest coffee scent I have ever experienced. Add to that a smooth mouthfeel and a very strong coffee taste to go with the smell (and good maltiness to boot), it all adds up to the strongest coffee stout I have come across. If you're a coffee lover this is the stout for you. Good job Bell...

Jan 23, 2017

Benish from Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: charcoal black in color with a very minimal head. Maybe a quarter inch but dissipated away quickly.

Aroma: strong espresso with hints of chocolate as well as mild notes of fruit. There is no better description than chocolate covered espresso beans you can buy at the store. However, as the beer starts to warm up, the aromas become a little more musty or should I say old coffee.

Taste: very bitter espresso up-front that is acidic and mildly nutty with hints of hazelnut. The aftertaste of coffee sticks around, leaving a charred coffee taste. The sweet malt is there, but more of an afterthought.

Mouthfeel: medium-bodied and smooth. Carbonation is perfect.

Overall: each sip leaves me wanting another sip, very drinkable yet had to pace myself. Bottled 10/10/16. Makes me wonder what the coffee would be like in a fresh batch.

Jan 18, 2017

nicholas2121 from Ohio

4.63/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Bell's Java Stout brewed by Bell's Brewery, Inc., with an ABV of 7.50% This American Stout pours out a deep brown color with a small light brown head. This brew has the look of cola, not saying that is a bad thing. There is also a decent amount of lacing to this brew, it sticks to the side really nice. The smell of Bell's Java Stout, is Bold with coffee, roasted grians and malts. You also pick up on some nice hops in the smell of this stout. I really like the the smell of this brew. Between the look and smell this is one nice inviting brew. Now for the taste, it is rich with coffee flavors, kinda a nice blend of coffees. There is also a nice mild sweetness in the taste of this American Stout. I really like the roasted grians and malts in this brew. There is a lot going on in this brew, this American Stout has a nice balance to it. There is nothing overpowering about this brew. If you are a fan of coffee look this brew up. It is really hard to pick up on the 7.50% ABV. This American Stout goes down that smooth. The mouth feel is Coffee, Bold , Rich, and Refreshing. This is a nice mid to heavy drinking brew. Overall I'm giving Bell's Java Stout a 4.5 out of 5. I would definitely buy this brew again. Bell's Brewery, Inc. did a real nice job with this American Stout.

Jan 10, 2017

Caveworm from Ohio

4.65/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Bell's Java Stout | Bell's Brewery, Inc. Poured from the bottle into a pint glass, this brew's khaki head is two fingers thick, with solid lacing, and a jet black body.

I smell a mildly boozy stout with with rich yet smooth coffee.

Tastes like the aforementioned traits, but oh-so rich and smooth. I can't get over it!

The mouthfeel is medium with mild carbonation.

Overall, I'll choose to give Bell's Java Stout | Bell's Brewery, Inc. a well-deserved 4.75. Certainly pick this up!

Dec 31, 2016

Buck89 from Tennessee

3.99/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass. A nearly opaque dark brown beer with a modest tan head that stayed with me for a while. Bright aromas of freshly ground coffee, vanilla, some cocoa, and roasted malt. A big coffee taste up front. This was followed by toast, char, dark chocolate, and a pleasant bitter coffee finish. Medium-bodied and medium-carbed. Nothing fancy, but a great coffee stout.

Dec 16, 2016

SaltofOH from Ohio

4.11/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bottle dated 10/10/16. Michigan craft pint.

A: Pours an opaque black with barely any light penetrating at the dark brown edge. Finger and a half of thick frothy tan head. Nice retention, above average lacing.

S: you get the statement that a stout smells like coffee often, but this one really does smell like coffee, obviously. It smells like the dark, syrupy black stuff they used to serve at a church I used to go to. There is an underlying sweetness, but this is dominated by a bitter roasty, almost smoky smell.

T: nicely balanced. The taste is far sweeter than the nose, but not super sweet as stouts go. Malty, roasty, middle; light and surprisingly clean. Roast does not linger.

M: lighter side of midweight, slightly slick with mild carbonation.

O: compared to FBS, this is much lighter and more coffee-dominant. Less lingering roasty taste, but coffee is really strong and prominent but somehow remains light. Excellent daytime stout.

Nov 26, 2016

ThickNStout from Georgia

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12oz bottle from Target (Woodstock, GA). 9.99/ 6 pack. Bottled 10/10/16. Served in a Bell's snifter.

Pours black with about three quarter fingers of pale tan head. The milky froth shrinks to a thin partial film with a narrow band, leaving a couple small patches of lace.

Smells of cold brewed coffee, roast and burnt caramel. The coffee dominates but that's just fine by me.

Taste follows the nose. Robust coffee, burnt sugar, roasty malts, a little brown sugar and some toast. As in the aroma, coffee pretty much runs the show and that really suits this brew.

Medium feel with moderately mild carbonation. The lingering, softly bitter aftertaste is roasty with coffee and cooked sugar.

It's good to revisit one of my early craft favorites. Coffee stouts are what got me into beer and Bell's Java Stout was not only the first of their many treasures I tried but also one of the original brews that kept me going. This is still a good solid brew that delivers plenty of coffee flavor.

Nov 21, 2016

JColin from Illinois

3.81/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12oz. pkgd, 11/3/15
Duvel Tulip

A - Dark brown with some carbonation

S - Coffee and roasted malt

T - Coffee and bitter cocoa

F - Sticky mouthfeel

O - Not overly impressed but it is a year old. I will buy again if I can find it fresh.

Nov 13, 2016

bbtkd from South Dakota

4.06/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bell's Java Stout, 7.5% ABV, 43 IBU. Pours black, medium viscosity, with 1 finger tan head on a careful pour. Nose is strong coffee, some malt. Taste is strong coffee, a bit of chocolate, slight to moderate coffee bitterness. No doubts at all that this is a coffee stout. Nice mouthfeel, overall excellent.

Nov 04, 2016

josanguapo from Spain

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

From Labirratorium. In Teku glass. Playing Magic Duels. Coffee very noticeable here without being unpleasant, although Id prefer a bit less. Leaves a sticky moutheel.

Oct 19, 2016

Oopssorryy from Ohio

4.73/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Poured hard into a pint glass, this brew comes out thick and black, bringing up memories of recent oil changes. A large creamy tan head forms, and leaves quite a lot of lacing as you drink. Eventually the head settles down to a thin coating on the top of the beer, but it takes some time for this one to dissipate. The nose of this stout is one of my favorites, with notes of dark chocolate, rich fruit and coffee scents intermingling well. Flavors are complex and well balanced. You start softly with the date like fruit tastes, which almost immediately is overtaken by the rich black coffee flavor. Hints of bittersweet chocolate build as you approach the finish, eventually taking the lead at the very end, with hints of vanilla showing up now and then. Overall this Java stout is on the bitter side, like a true cup of Colombian coffee, hold the sugar and cream, however there are hints of sweetness at the start from the fruit like flavors, and then again in the finish with the coco note.

The mouth feel is rich, thick, and chewy, but not so much so that it makes the stout difficult to drink like some I've partaken in. I would credit the medium amount of carbonation for keeping this brew highly drinkable. Not once did this beers 7.5 AVB rear it's head, allowing the flavors, textures and aromas to take full stage in this wonderful experience. If you enjoy a coffee forward stout, this has to be sampled.

Sep 15, 2016

PongIsNotBeirut from New York

3.98/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into glass. Very dark with shallow head of tiny bubbles.
Deep coffee aroma with toasted malt, negligible hop smell.
Very coffee forward taste that buries any subtleties; perhaps oak, tobacco.

you get exactly what you expect; a very coffee-forward beer brewed very well.

Aug 25, 2016