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Java Cask Gold
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
Beer Geek Stats
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- From:
- Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 11.8%
- Score:
- 90
- Avg:
- 4.05 | pDev: 7.9%
- Reviews:
- 19
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jan 19, 2022
- Added:
- Nov 21, 2018
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 2
This remarkable Bourbon Barrel-Aged Blonde Coffee Stout is worth its weight in gold; packed with One Billagr Coffee’s “Legend” dark roast, it is cut with oats, brown sugar, milk and cocoa then elevated further with 7 months aging is Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey barrels. As luck would have it, it’s all yours to savor.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by dvmin98:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado
4.39/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.39/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
this is absolutely sensational. its been ages since i had the original java cask, but i remember being floored by it. similar thing here, this is like none of the other blonde stouts in the game, and definitely stands at the top of the heap for me, super impressive depth of flavor and overall quality, the bourbon adds a lot, and overall this is crazy good, packed with coffee, and not any kind of gimmick at all, a new gold standard in this style that just wont seem to die. a deeper golden color to this, stained some by the coffee i would guess or even the barrel char, darker than blonde for sure, but still short of amber, not overly viscous for its strength, and with a short white head on it from the little bottle. aroma pops with cocoa, coffee, and sweetness like honey, lactose, and vanilla, although i am not sure what they actually put in here, a lot of the richness seems to come from the bourbon, which is robust, but its not overly boozy for what it is either, coffee in the lead but a lot of complexity and balance, very wintery and warming, very appealing. the flavor is incredible, first sip is just wow, coffee through it all, very good coffee, but there is so much more, the best parts of the whiskey, oak, char, and vanilla essence to me, a hint of maple over the grain, which has to include some oats, dry baking chocolate, a toasted warming element, and just a bit of the alcohol coming through. the coffee is amazing here, but the whole thing comes together super well. still some bubbles here, fuller feeling, but not sticky sweet or all that heavy to me. i felt it the next day, but not at the time of consumption. enormous thanks to my brother in law for scoring this rarity and sharing it with me, i had no idea a gold version even existed. what a beer! genre defining for blonde stouts!
Oct 30, 2020Reviewed by maximum12 from Minnesota
2.48/5 rDev -38.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
2.48/5 rDev -38.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Thanks to Ben for this 16.9 oz. bottle. Missed out on the original Java Cask so this one will have to stand in.
The pour is a clear copper/gold. I’m old. Stouts ought not be that color (& there shouldn’t be 36 teams in baseball playoffs, either). The nose is mostly roast, some orange peel, with a side of weird.
Java Cask Gold tastes like a mixed drink. Some whiskey, many oranges (there aren’t any in here!), sharpness from the oak, with a finish of vanilla. The sum is a Ball of Confusion on my palate & not a good one. A few ounce sampler would have been sufficient.
Disappointingly poor, this beer is a mess of clashing flavors that’s far less than the sum of its parts. My wife is headed for the drain. I’ll be after her shortly.
Oct 24, 2020The pour is a clear copper/gold. I’m old. Stouts ought not be that color (& there shouldn’t be 36 teams in baseball playoffs, either). The nose is mostly roast, some orange peel, with a side of weird.
Java Cask Gold tastes like a mixed drink. Some whiskey, many oranges (there aren’t any in here!), sharpness from the oak, with a finish of vanilla. The sum is a Ball of Confusion on my palate & not a good one. A few ounce sampler would have been sufficient.
Disappointingly poor, this beer is a mess of clashing flavors that’s far less than the sum of its parts. My wife is headed for the drain. I’ll be after her shortly.
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania
3.85/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from 16.9 oz bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Slightly cloudy amber pour with 2 fingers of foamy white head. Nice lacing.
S: Coffee... strong espresso and roast.. lighter booze and vanilla.
T.F: Follows the nose. Strong coffee... roast and brown sugar. Sweet-ish to start with bitterness to follow. The bourbon isn't all that strong, but still picks up some vanilla and oak. Cocoa and syrup. Smooth.. lighter bodied than it should be and creamy mouthfeel.
O: I thought this was kind of 'meh' and I can't really get into these golden stouts... and something about this one is a bit cloying. It's not that this is bad... it isn't, but it also doesn't hold a candle to the real 'Java Cask'. Worth trying once, but I'll be sticking to the original.
Jul 04, 2020L: Slightly cloudy amber pour with 2 fingers of foamy white head. Nice lacing.
S: Coffee... strong espresso and roast.. lighter booze and vanilla.
T.F: Follows the nose. Strong coffee... roast and brown sugar. Sweet-ish to start with bitterness to follow. The bourbon isn't all that strong, but still picks up some vanilla and oak. Cocoa and syrup. Smooth.. lighter bodied than it should be and creamy mouthfeel.
O: I thought this was kind of 'meh' and I can't really get into these golden stouts... and something about this one is a bit cloying. It's not that this is bad... it isn't, but it also doesn't hold a candle to the real 'Java Cask'. Worth trying once, but I'll be sticking to the original.
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts
4.21/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a med foamy bubbly 1/2 finger head with med retention, light lacing and legs, darker but mostly clear iced-tea tan color with some floaties
Nose brings bourbon and coffee, a fresh light roasted coffee, with golden malt and little syrup like, sweet blond malt stout like aroma, some white chocolate like, smooth light cold-brewed coffee, light vanilla and oak, bourbon barrel syrup brown sugar
Taste starts with the big golden malts, golden stout, with some roasted coffee but again light roast, a little bitterness from that, a touch of golden fruit like golden raisin, a bit of creamy oats and lactose but barely, some sweet syrup and brown sugar but not syrupy or too sweet, a bit of perfumey alcohol, a touch biscuity, light vanilla and white chocolate, light oak and some sweet bourbon candy, mild sticky finish, bit of tingly alcohol late, bit of bitterness, sweet bourbon brown sugar syrup and mild coffee lingering
Mouth is med to fuller bod, med fizzy carb, fair warming tingly alcohol, sweet but not too syrupy
Overall pretty interesting beer, nice flavor profile and combination of flavors, lots of "golden" flavors, and light roasted coffee with bourbon and syrup-like sugar was a nice touch without being too sweet, nice sipper
Mar 26, 2020Nose brings bourbon and coffee, a fresh light roasted coffee, with golden malt and little syrup like, sweet blond malt stout like aroma, some white chocolate like, smooth light cold-brewed coffee, light vanilla and oak, bourbon barrel syrup brown sugar
Taste starts with the big golden malts, golden stout, with some roasted coffee but again light roast, a little bitterness from that, a touch of golden fruit like golden raisin, a bit of creamy oats and lactose but barely, some sweet syrup and brown sugar but not syrupy or too sweet, a bit of perfumey alcohol, a touch biscuity, light vanilla and white chocolate, light oak and some sweet bourbon candy, mild sticky finish, bit of tingly alcohol late, bit of bitterness, sweet bourbon brown sugar syrup and mild coffee lingering
Mouth is med to fuller bod, med fizzy carb, fair warming tingly alcohol, sweet but not too syrupy
Overall pretty interesting beer, nice flavor profile and combination of flavors, lots of "golden" flavors, and light roasted coffee with bourbon and syrup-like sugar was a nice touch without being too sweet, nice sipper
Reviewed by ScruffySouthpaw from New York
4.21/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.21/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Served in a snifter glass from the bottle.
Appearance: Hazy amber color with an off white head rising maybe a budget over one finger's length off the body.
Smell: Deep whiskey and toffee hitting the nose like a line of you know what. Addicting aroma.
Taste: deep caramel with notes of milk sugar, I'm lactose intolerant and I can litterally feel it. Gives a pretty mellowness feels like a tres leche cake fused with chocolate and hints of toffee. Has a light bitterness which can resemble American coffee with light light dose of warm half-n-half.
Mouth: sweet finish which comes more sweet than bitter with a medium carbonation and very sticky.
Overall: good beer but definitely one and mldone. Like a clear milk stout if that makes sense. Tasty and super mesmerizing but feels like I had too much cake.
Feb 28, 2020Appearance: Hazy amber color with an off white head rising maybe a budget over one finger's length off the body.
Smell: Deep whiskey and toffee hitting the nose like a line of you know what. Addicting aroma.
Taste: deep caramel with notes of milk sugar, I'm lactose intolerant and I can litterally feel it. Gives a pretty mellowness feels like a tres leche cake fused with chocolate and hints of toffee. Has a light bitterness which can resemble American coffee with light light dose of warm half-n-half.
Mouth: sweet finish which comes more sweet than bitter with a medium carbonation and very sticky.
Overall: good beer but definitely one and mldone. Like a clear milk stout if that makes sense. Tasty and super mesmerizing but feels like I had too much cake.
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire
4.16/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.16/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle from a Lazy Dog
Deep gold in color with a touch of haze and a tightly bubbled off white head that slowly recedes. Big creamed coffee aroma with vanilla and brown sugar and a touch of earthy woody alcohol to counter. Very nice sipper.
Jan 12, 2020Deep gold in color with a touch of haze and a tightly bubbled off white head that slowly recedes. Big creamed coffee aroma with vanilla and brown sugar and a touch of earthy woody alcohol to counter. Very nice sipper.
Reviewed by jjamadorphd from Florida
4.13/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Oh how I waited for to try this beer - a year actually...
...as I bought it last year in November, it was born on in November, and now I am drinking it a year later in November.
The brew is almost 12% ABV, and I am glad I waited a year. The bourbon taste is not overpowering, in fact, it adds a touch of sweetness that I wasn't expecting, but certainly enjoyed as I downed the entire pint. The look is a burnt orange with a very thin and short lived foam. The smell is a nice blend of the coffee, bourbon, and even some of the oak advertised on the bottle. Mouthfeel is full-bodied without being thick or creamy or heavy - just literally full-bodied - a very nice experience. The taste is bourbon-forward with just lighter coffee flavor and an even lighter taste of the advertised oak - though if you try I think you will find it is there.
Overall, this is definitely a very good beer, if not exceptional. I would gladly buy this again and have it during the holidays - it just seems like something to have in hand to celebrate with family and friends.
Nov 24, 2019...as I bought it last year in November, it was born on in November, and now I am drinking it a year later in November.
The brew is almost 12% ABV, and I am glad I waited a year. The bourbon taste is not overpowering, in fact, it adds a touch of sweetness that I wasn't expecting, but certainly enjoyed as I downed the entire pint. The look is a burnt orange with a very thin and short lived foam. The smell is a nice blend of the coffee, bourbon, and even some of the oak advertised on the bottle. Mouthfeel is full-bodied without being thick or creamy or heavy - just literally full-bodied - a very nice experience. The taste is bourbon-forward with just lighter coffee flavor and an even lighter taste of the advertised oak - though if you try I think you will find it is there.
Overall, this is definitely a very good beer, if not exceptional. I would gladly buy this again and have it during the holidays - it just seems like something to have in hand to celebrate with family and friends.
Reviewed by AyatollahGold from Indiana
4.03/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From a 16.9 oz. bottle into a PAA Dino glass, this beer pours out like a deep golden apple juice. Impressive and surprising clarity. One finger of bone white crown on top.
The nose brings a caramel sweetness that is fighting through a strong coffee. Dark roast coffee, coffee grounds, burnt brown sugar.
The taste brings in a chocolate presence that helps round out the coffee and make it seem less sharp. Coffee with a creamer, more brown sugar and toasted caramels.
There is a warmness left behind in the chest from the first drink. Creamy coffee. It surprisingly doesn’t feel thin being a blonde stout. It’s not the thickest ever, but it holds its own. No warmness throughout drinking until the warming sensation stays behind in your chest.
Overall, this is a fun brew to try and a nice change of pace for “stouts”
Nov 16, 2019The nose brings a caramel sweetness that is fighting through a strong coffee. Dark roast coffee, coffee grounds, burnt brown sugar.
The taste brings in a chocolate presence that helps round out the coffee and make it seem less sharp. Coffee with a creamer, more brown sugar and toasted caramels.
There is a warmness left behind in the chest from the first drink. Creamy coffee. It surprisingly doesn’t feel thin being a blonde stout. It’s not the thickest ever, but it holds its own. No warmness throughout drinking until the warming sensation stays behind in your chest.
Overall, this is a fun brew to try and a nice change of pace for “stouts”
Java Cask Gold from Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
Beer rating:
90 out of
100 with
46 ratings
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