It’s getting cold out, or cold enough, to start drinking those darker brews. I’ve been leaning towards stouts, specifically oatmeal, chocolate and java stouts. Santa Fe Brewing Co has been a brewery that I recently discovered, catching my eye with their Java Stout, with a plain label that has a cup of coffee and below it says “before noon” on one side and “after noon” on the other. Perfect for any time of the day!

First Impressions: I like simplicity, so in between an array of cans displaying a lot of detail, this can caught my eye. I was also looking for a new stout to try, and being a fan of coffee as well, this one made it a must-buy. I’ve never had a Santa Fe beer either, so it was a bunch of new stuff combined in one, what’s better than that?

Pour: The pour was a thick, yet smooth, pour. Very dark with a coffee hue to it, with a look of a dark chocolate, enticing is the way to put it best.

Taste: Looks can be deceiving with this beer. With a full body pour, one would think this would be a heavy, thick brew. However, it’s not as thick as it seems. It’s smoother than imagined, and it smells more like coffee than it does of beer. Don’t be concerned though, with 8% alcohol content it’s a great beer for morning or afternoon…or a late night dessert, even. It’s packed with fresh coffee, hops and black-roasted malts.