Barley Island Black Majic Java Stout

If happiness was a beverage, this would definately be what it tasted like. As the bottle describes, "inky black," I couldn’d describe it better myself. Mild tan cream head and heavy coffee aroma leave me wishing I had this as an airfreshner. Black Majic is smooth, like Guinness, but better. Finish is nutty and roasty and delicious. Coffee and beer... best of both worlds. I have yet to find a better beer in a bottle. It’s only competition is Surly Coffee Bender, which sadly isn’t available for purchase. Black Majic Java Stout... near perfection.

This is one of the more straight up coffee like beers I have had and it is all the better for it. A very drinkable brew and not to strong

12oz bottle poured in an English pint. I bought this as a one-off item in Granite City, Illinois. BIBMJS pours... (drum roll, please)... black. It has a small tan head that doesn’t stick around for the majic show. The nose is solidly coffee with loads of butter and hints of toffee. the body is meaty and thick just the way it should be in a stout. The coffee has a nice flavor without overpowering the beer. The oatmeal not only adds body to this stout but adds a nice smoothness. The buttery flavor comes out especially well in the finish. With the medium-to-low alcohol this beer sports you could tag this as a great session beer. If I were to suggest any improvement it would be to add a touch more oatmeal to balance out the hop & java bean bitterness. It would be nice to see how this beer faired if it were juiced up to an imperial level. I feel this beer is a bit underrated by the community but the masses have spoken.

Bottled, November 2006. Malty, chocolate malt aroma with brown supple head. Medium-bodied flavor leads with smooth, clean chocolate malt in perfect proportion without that burnt overdone roasty character so typical. Smooth espresso quality in the clean finish, again perfectly proportioned. This big flavor beer is very well made, appropriately bitter & bodied and is one of the best beers I’ve had in Indiana.

VERY solid java stout! While I thought Bells was too strong, this one was just slightly weak. Looks like ink when it pours, and creates a very thick and frothy tan head. Aroma is awesome, all malt/chocolate/coffee. Taste is much the same, just a tad watery. I usually complain about brews being too strong, but this one should have been slightly stronger. This is just me nitpicking though, this is really delicious and another good offering by Barley Island, a really underrated local brewery.