Bells Bourbon Barrel Aged Cherry Stout

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Sweet Stout
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Bottle from personal stash- last years batch. Pours thick, dark, reddish/brown, with a light reddish/brown head that is foamy but discipates quickly, leaving a small ring and light, intermittent lace. Nose is of vanilla, a little caramel, and a lot of sweet, red wine/cherries. The initial taste is moderately astringent and tangy with the wine/cherry, and semi-sweet chocolate following. The alcohol, as soft bourbon, is present and warming behind the above, bolder flavors. Nice stout variation for some quality sitting and sipping.

Pours a oily dark brown opaque color with a small fizzy brown head that dissipates completely. Nose of bourbon, vanilla, hints of nuts, touch of cherry. Initial taste of cherry, bourbon overlaying a syrupy vanilla and mollasses. Mid palate becomes slightly vinous with touches of cocoa. Finishing with good palate duration of alcohol warmth and bourbon. The rich sweet malt is some what shocking to the palate at first, but as you the sip further into this brew it becomes quite intriguing.

Bottle purchased at the Cafe. Dark pour with small head. Aroma is of cherries, wood and booze. Flavor is bourbon, wood, butterscotch and sweet. Full body and fairly smooth. Better than the regular cherry, but nothing great.

# 1050. Bottle courtesy of Todd. Pours a black color with a medium light brown foamy head. Aroma of bourbon, wood, vanilla, coconut and cherries. Taste of buttery vanilla coconut, bourbon, cherries and wood. Very interesting brew. Tasty.

In short: Bourbon Barrels, sweet cherries and stout clash with each other more than they work together. A bad idea.
How: Bottle 12oz, consumed when about 4 months old. From CharlesDarwin, thanks a lot buddy.
The look: Black body topped by a very small tan head
In long: Light-medium roastiness level. Taste of concentrate cherry juice, some other red fruits, black liquorice and a whole lot of bourbon barrels. Vanilla and more vanilla, the barrels here contributed way too much vanilla. Syrupy limy body. No hops presence. This beer is what it says it is, bourbon barrels and cherry stout. Cherry character is really sweet maraschino cherries and not fresh tart cherries and that doesn’t work with the bourbon barrel at all. Tonight I had my only two Bourbon Barrel Cherry Stouts (this one and the Central Waters) and while not the total mess that was the Central Waters this beer was less than convincing. I now believe that Bourbon Barrels, Cherries and Stout are three elements that blend together as well as bananas, ketchup and maple syrup.

Courtesy of CharlesDarwin, thanks buddy, this was a special treat. Pours deep darkness with dark mocha to brown head. The aroma starts with mild bourbon that moves toward smooth oak, hints of roasty malts, faint alcohol heat and some dark ripe cherries riding around in the background (causing trouble, no doubt). The taste hits all at once with an array of notes of malty goodness, roasted malts and bourbon and then followed by sweet ripe cherries, chocolate, molasses and vanilla. This is just plain yummy.

My Bottom Line:
Anisey bourbon is emboldened by vinous cherries, as fruity tartness, chocolate and caramel attempt to coexist. This rich creation is the home for many voluble flavors, but I fear I do not see them as being as harmonious and pleasant as most here.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A ring of foam crowns the velvety black.
-Although there are a few crunchy biscuity notes, most of the flavors are expressed in the sweet realm of things.
-The body is as voluptuous as most of Bell’s big beers.
-The finish isn’t too long, but that makes the beer much more drinkable.
-Alcohol hits quite seriously midway.
-The sequence of flavors is just bizarre to my tastes, although I admit I thought bourbon and cherries would work better together. My loss, I guess.

Bottle.

Bottle courtesy of miketd. Pours dark brown with a tan head. Smells of cherries, boozy bourbon, rich sweet malt, a hint of spice. Tastes peppery and oaky with a nice accompaniment of cherries, oaky hints, vanilla and roasted malt. Yet another home run from this brewer’s line of stouts and porters.