Beer Man: Java Stout upholds Bell’s worthy tradition
Beer Man is a weekly profile of beers from across the country and around the world.
This week: Bell’s Java Stout
Bell’s Brewery Inc., Galesburg, Mich.
Although Bell’s has many fine beers, I’m most fond of its decadent line of stouts.
I’ve written about most of them — including Expedition, Special Double Cream and Kalamazoo — and they are all marked by rich malts and creamy drinkability. Java Stout is no exception.
At 7.5% ABV, it flirts with imperial stout territory. It poured with an inch-thick tan head that contrasted nicely with the black body, which had a slight oily, pleasant mouthfeel.
Although the barley roast, chocolate and caramel notes were prominent, the rich dark roast coffee flavor became more pronounced as the ale warmed in the glass. Notes of vanilla and smoke also made an appearance. A slightly dry background helped to counter the sugars and resulted in a clean finish.
The brewery's beers are available in about 23 states; its Beer Finder link is here. It also plans on introducing its beers this year to Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska and South Dakota.
I have one last item to mention from my recent Milwaukee visit. I had a chance to visit the District 14 brewpub, 2273 S. Howell Ave., about halfway between the airport and downtown. I highly recommend it for anyone visiting Milwaukee or natives looking for some good new beers.
These included a Vendredi Noir black abbey-style ale, Biere de Charde strong Belgian ale aged in chardonnay barrels, Bazooka Joe old ale with bubblegum esters, also aged in chardonnay barrels, and a Le Petite Coquine Belgian pale ale.
Its everyday offerings are like the specialty offerings of most breweries and brewpubs.
D14’s Tsar Pushka Russian imperial stout had an 8.38% ABV. Keeping the alcohol content down from crazy levels helped create a very smooth, well-blended imperial. It was jet black with a thin head that stayed as a creamy topping throughout the sampling.
Its mixture of chocolate, coffee and caramel was a fine blend, with none of the flavors overpowering the other. It had an overall richness that put it in the company of the best Russian imperials.
I also tried the 5.24% ABV Dunkelnator dunkelweizen, a dark weizen beer. Again, the rich malts stood out, offering flavors of chocolate and caramel, plus some of the banana-clove esters traditional to the style.
Owner Matt McCulloch said he is constantly switching his taps, and prides himself on coming up with different recipes for his beers. District 14 is well worth seeking out. The brewpub has no website at this time.
Many beers are available only regionally. Check the brewer's website, which often contains information on product availability by mail. Contact Todd Haefer at beerman@postcrescent.com. To read previous Beer Man columns, click here.