Review: Atwater Vanilla Java Porter

Atwater says:

“Made with fine-roasted coffee beans and vanilla extract, this is one of the most admired beers Atwater offers. Unique and flavorful, with a chocolate malt finish, this beer is a perfect balance of complimentary ingredients.”

Atwater Vanilla Java Porter
Porter, 6% ABV

Sayeth the Guys:

Ryan: I tried this beer a few years ago when I first started to get in to craft beer. It was not love at first sight. I picked up one bottle as part of a mixed six pack and that one bottle, essentially, exploded when I popped off the cap. Head went everywhere and I was left with a half of a glass of what tasted like a carbonated milkshake. Blech. Being very impressionable at the time, and also stubborn, I vowed to never drink an Atwater beer again because of that experience. Despite attempts from other friends who had enjoyed this beer, I would not cave. Until last week. I was in a porter kind of mood, saw a bottle in the cooler and thought, “maybe I should give it a second chance?”

So, I did. And this time around there was no eruption of 4th grade science class vinegar and baking soda volcano proportions. Instead a nice, slow pour into a pint glass revealed a black, opaque beer that had a thin, tan head. A welcoming nose of strong, bitter coffee and vanilla beckoned.

Take a sip and you get a smooth porter with coffee up front followed by splashes of vanilla and roasted malts. The vanilla takes over the finish. The taste is similar to scooping up the last bit of vanilla ice cream from the bottom of your bowl. The more this beer warms the more the roasted malts emerge. They blend seamlessly with the coffee and vanilla.

It seems my stubbornness got the best of me again. This is a pretty good beer and a nice break from the standard porter, if you’re looking for something a little different.

Ryan

With over a decade of news experience under his belt, Ryan spearheads The Guys in-depth coverage of beer news and craft beer legislation in Illinois and neighboring states. When he’s not digging through the annals of state government he’s looking for unique beers to cellar.

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