Java Stout
Copper Country Brewing Company / The Library

 

 

 

Poured on tap into a pint glass. Tasted on 03-31-2011. Review from notes taken.

Appearance: Pitch black with a fluffy one finger cream/hazelnut head.

Smell: The nose of this brew is fantastic. Strong coffee, with subtle caramel malt back. Chocolate supports the heavy roast nose.

Taste: Found the body to be a bit thin and sweet, but great espresso kick. I think the sweetness and coffee went together very well. Not a whole lot of roast on the palate, but it's present, with lingering chocolate and Vietnamese coffee.

Mouth: Like I had mentioned above, a bit thin, decent carbonation, but otherwise awesome balance.

Drink and overall: Really impressive stout. I ordered a Bells Double Cream first and noticed the in house brewed Java afterwards, and kicked myself. The second and third were definitely Java Stout, and I enjoyed them thoroughly.

This was on tap at The Library in Houghton, MI on 3/28/11. It was served in a pint tumbler.

The pour manifested a finger tall head of dark brown. Head retention was moderate. Sticky lacing sporadically lined the glass. The brew was ominously dark. So far so good.

The aroma is sweet with touches of chocolate and coffee.

The flavor profile reveals a sweet stout that is big on coffee flavor. When they call this Java Stout they mean java first and stout last. It was akin to pouring a double shot of mocha espresso into an otherwise standard stout ale. This is not a bad thing. It was a very delicious take on the style.

The body was medium. Carbonation was low. The feel was smooth. It was perhaps a little lighter than I was expecting but well balanced none the less.

I'm glad to have been able to imbibe this delicious stout. While remaining a bit understated, it does everything that you could ask a stout to do. I liked the balance of very literal coffee flavors in an otherwise traditional sweet stout. Alcohol was completely hidden. I will likely return for more.

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The Two-Schlitz Scale™: (see my profile for an explanation)
I give two Schlitz for this delicious coffee infused stout.

Originally reviewed on November 25, 2005. On tap at the brewpub. Pitch black pour with a large head of tan. Aroma of light lucious bourbon, coffee, pitch black chocolate. Flavor follows aroma with some dusky malt and earth, horse barn and oat, that mingle with a hot fresh blast of roasted coffee and caramel, very dry. Palate is cool and sweet, but finishes with a parching dry smack of oak and coffee grounds. Has fruit malts more like a Porter, but registers as Stout.