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

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American Stout
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
4.38 | pDev: 12.1%
Reviews:
7
Ratings:
8
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 30, 2011
Added:
Mar 10, 2007
Wants:
  10
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by prototypic:
Photo of prototypic
Reviewed by prototypic from Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: It arrived a very dark brown color (nearly jet black). Head was creamy tan and about two fingers. Retention and lacing were good.

Smell: Wow. The blend of the bourbon, coffee, and chocolate aromas is truly excellent and very unique. Chocolate and roasted malts are secondary to the bourbon and coffee aromas, but not by much. Slightly burnt smell and light alcohol toward the end.

Taste: The bourbon and coffee flavors are clearly dominant and combine to create a very unique taste. Coffee taste is somewhat of a burnt taste. Roasted and chocolate malts add some sweetness and depth. Alcohol is noticeable, but not offensive.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability: It's medium bodied to thick. Carbonation is excellent. ABV is unclear, but presumably high. Drinkability is thus limited somewhat. Overall, this is truly a very unique and excellent beer. Certainly recommended (if you run across it).
Mar 09, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3 by GraddyMN from Minnesota

Nov 30, 2011
Photo of FtownThrowDown
Reviewed by FtownThrowDown from Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap at Oaks Cafe. Pours a very dark brown with a head that doesn't hang around too long. Smell is an absolutely incredible bourbon with plenty of vanilla. These flavors are perfect together, and working beautifully. Full and creamy on the mouthfeel. The barrel aging tones the java down a bit, but this is so damn easy drinking. Thoroughly enjoyable and luxurious. I could drink this everyday.
Feb 13, 2009
Photo of Dogbrick
Reviewed by Dogbrick from Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Sample at the Bell's tasting at Brews Cafe on 3/6/08 (as Bourbon Barrel Java Stout): Pours nearly black with a wispy beige head that recedes quickly. Spotty lacing. Nice coffee aroma with some oak and roasted malt. Rich, smooth body with an understated coffee character. Notes of malt, hops and bourbon flavor. The finish is mostly coffee with touches of caramel and toffee. Hit the ground running with this one because it turned out to be my favorite of the evening. Very good overall.
Nov 24, 2008
Photo of mcallister
Reviewed by mcallister from Ohio

4.67/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Black pour with very little head of mocha color. Calm and still.

Amazing aromas of burnt charcoal and wood. Spent coffee grounds. Relentless amount of character from the barrel aging process like only bell's can do (from what I've experience any ways:). Roasted chocolatey goodness with toasted caramel, vanilla and some black licorice.

Smooth, rich, great balance and an impeccable blend of coffee and toasty oak that may have even been a chocolate barrel. Thick creamy yet decadent and defined. Black currant flavors with an earty rustic appeal. Some raisin undertones with a good amount of bourbon on the finish. A wonderful beer for the barrel aging front as the coffee and dark malts blend so well with the bourbon and vanilla oak tones. Delicious!!!
Mar 07, 2008
Photo of DaPeculierDane
Reviewed by DaPeculierDane from Wisconsin

4.62/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
On tap at Maduro during the Bell's pre-party for the 21st GTMW. $4.00

A wonderful use of bourbon barrel aging. The aging has added tremendous vanilla flavor that compliments and adds to the existing flavors of this beer.

Appearance: Thick looking dark chocolate with thin splotches of lace.

Aroma: Coffee, bitter dark chocolate, vanilla…a good, creamy after dinner martini. Slightly boozey.

Flavor: Vanilla Mochachino with a shot of coffee liquor. The vanilla perfectly compliments the existing flavors of the Java Stout. Wonderful.

Mouthfeel: Lighter then expected. Smooth and creamy. Very luscious and pleasant feel as it rolls over the tongue, coating the palate in thick waves of chocolate, coffee, and vanilla.

Drinkability: Flawless.
Aug 13, 2007
Photo of dirtylou
Reviewed by dirtylou from Oklahoma

4.53/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
on tap, $4, Bell's pre-taste gathering at Maduro

18 bells on tap and i thought i would start light with this one as pints of 6k, 7k, and TCOA are around the corner

appearance: poured into a pint glass, gushing dark chocolate head with strong lacing - looks absolutely incredible

smell: i could tell immediately that this beer was going to work out really well - the bourbon complimented the java well, boozy vanilla aromas come through nicely as well

taste: very nice start to a bells evening...the normal bold java character is nicely complimented here without sacrificing its purpose...the vanilla and oak match the bourbon flavours and only a light boozyness is present. Great beer

mouthfeel: super smooth, milk shakey, creamy

drinkability: high
Aug 12, 2007
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4.81/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Served at the Brickskeller tasting hosted by Larry Bell (3/8/07)

Appearance: Arrives at the table with a coffee color and a ringlet of a head that fails to impress with any lacing

Smell: Coffee and bourbon - wow!

Taste: Starts out like café au lait; but the bourbon arrives after the swallow to provide incredible complexity

Mouthfeel: Meidum to heavy body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Simply outstanding and clearly the highlight of an incredible evening of beer
Mar 10, 2007
Java Stout - Bourbon Barrel-Aged from Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Beer rating: 4.38 out of 5 with 8 ratings