Java The Stout

A: Not really ruby, but the beer is a bright, clearish brown ale. Very small bubbles that were fairly quick to disapate, but soft attractive looking brownish tan foam. S: Coffee, molasses, and sweet malty notes. Good blend and completely appealing. T: Crazy, the first sip was totally unexpected. It was tangy and citrus semi sweet. Maybe a touch of a green coffee bean, seems to start sweeter, but immediately reigned in by a hop bitter fruit. Medium body. Finishes as toffee malt and then a slow fade into dryness. O: A surprise at the initial taste, in a very good way...which was not a surprised. Light coffee well balanced with a bunch of other flavors that I've already named above. I would make this one of the regular beers. Want to go to Jackie O's one of these days.

Pours opaque. Direct light can be seen on the edges and bottom. Half inch of frothy, mocha foam covers. Great retention. Thick lacing that leaves traces throughout. Aroma is coffee early and often: the overlying scent. Carmel sweetness joins as well as a light roasted, bitter. The sweetness is bigger than the bitter, allowing for a more sweet forward nose. Taste is more coffee but most of the flavor is late. Coffee, roast and bitterness prevail. The sweet is there but more balancing in the taste than the aroma. Body is medium, maybe. Medium or better carbonation. Somewhat dry finish. Seems a bit thin with the big dose of coffee, roast and bitterness that lingers. Carbonation seems a bit more than necessary as well but assume the beer would even be thinner without. A nice beer, not great. Needs a bit more balance for my taste buds. Enjoy!