Java Cask
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown

 

Black, with a medium-sized, beige head. Aroma of coffee, roasted malt, wood, and bourbon. Moderate sweetness in the balanced taste. Surprisingly far from being sweet. Bourbon and coffee flavors dominate.

 

16oz corked and caged 750mL bottle received as a gift from a friend. Release year 2016, says Enjoy By: 15 NOV 2017 printed on the label.

Look: Very dark brown, just shy of black. Seems to have minimal carbonation. There was a beige-colored wispy head that dissipated to almost nothing.

Smell: Combination of bourbon, coffee, and stewed fruit. Hot alcohol almost burning the nostrils.

Taste: I am pleasantly surprised. I was expecting this beer to be long gone based on its age and the nose. However, it is actually pleasant-tasting and it's quite smooth with nice notes of caramel, toffee, chocolate, and coffee up front. The finish is definitely hot and it is burning my chest. I guess that age can only help with the burn so much when the beer is 14.3% ABV. I think that the heat is mellowing as the beer warms.

Feel: It has a medium plus body. The mouthfeel is a bit thicker, which is nice. However, the carbonation is so low so that is a bit of a knock and it makes it feel like it's almost a still beer.

Overall: It's interesting. On the one hand, this is a beer that benefits with some age. However, I would not letting it age as much as this one did. Probably not more than two years, especially considering that the coffee notes fade over time. It's good, but I just don't care to drink much more of this version now that I have tasted it. I would seek a fresher version of this out again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's good but the bourbon is just a little too heavy, partially masks the rest of the flavors.

 

 

On tap at Das Beer Garden. Black and a little transparent at the edges. Smells of bourbon, oak, earthy coffee. Tastes of bourbon, sweet chocolate, coffee, oak. Vanilla and sugar lingers. Big, boozy, heavy, and sweet. But it's very flavorful. I don't often enjoy beers like this, but this is excellent.

Pours black as coffee and no head from a 12 ounce bottle dated 25NOV2019. It has a little carbonation and a strong molasses aroma. An near copy of my beloved "BOMB" without the heat of the Ancho Chiles. A touch more chocolate flavor and the oak wood of the barrel. Very smooth and almost creamy mouthfeel is also a plus. No bitterness and at 14.3% ABV the alcohol is not even noticeable but the coffee is fabulous on the tongue. A grand American Imperial Stout overall in my book and I would buy this again.