Bells Bourbon Barrel Double Cream/Expedition Stout

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

Pours with a dark brown color to the body and a thin tan, medium dark brown head, with some reddish light at the top and bottom of the glass. First taste is bourbon up front, with a very vivid and fresh mocha, cream and butter note, turning almost spicy on the palate mid-drink. It’s at first rich and sweet, with candied milk and sweet mocha from the Double Cream, followed by the dark fruit skins and bitter bakers chocolate that make Expedition so wonderful. The bourbon is somewhat subdued, probably helped by the lower alcohol level compared to the more boozy BA Batch 7000, but it’s the charred malt and dark chocolate with the rich and slightly sweet cream notes that just make this beer amazing. When warm it finishes with a heavier chocolate syrup note with the bourbon being somewhat more subdued. An amazing beer, with both parts of the blend working so well together, and a barrel character that compliments fully and takes nothing away.

Draft, Birreria Paradiso, Bell’s Dinner. Pours a very dark, brownish-black color; thin, medium tan head with patchy lacing. Much lighter bourbon character (at least less butter and vanilla) in the aroma than BA Batch 7000; well-roasted coffee and roasted malts and chocolate, with a medium, sweet bourbon core. A light jolt of citrus, almost indiscernable at the front, followed by huge, chewy roasted coffee and nougats and milk / dark chocolate; incredibly chewy, viscous chocolate and chewy malt core, with a decent, if relaxed, buttery bourbon and lightly toasted oakiness; lots of coffee and less bourbon than BA Batch 7000. Lengthy, chocolate and roasted coffee and bourbon-tinged finish.

On tap at the Bell’s dinner at Birreria Paradiso; 5.5 oz pour. Slightly thin black body shows a ruby glow around the rim. Big milk chocolate and nougat aroma with an expansive, vegetal warmth of full roasted coffee bean; hints of raspberry, ground honey grahams and quieted bourbon barrel. Taste is decidely quite reserved, showing a fair strength of bitterness and earthy tone; sumatran coffee and sprucewood, with a bold, wet tobacco acridity underneath. Altogether restrained and surprisingly quite delicate; drying cinnamon, charred malts and fruit tones in blackberry and apple warm the back end. It isn’t especially viscous or overpowering in the mouth, though still commanding and full-bodied. Caramel sweetness and acidic black cherry skin pulse in a long finish; lots of traditional mocha foam and chocolate layer thickly as it warms. Pleasant, and confidently sophisticated in its reserved and educated presentation; though it stays quite quiet throughout, it never concedes even the slightest bit of strength.

Hand bottled and shared by moejuck. Black pour with no head. Aroma of bourbon, coconut, bready malt and booze. Flavors of dark fruits, bourbon, chocolate. Thick body, no carbonation(but that was kinda expected). dry boozey with a boozey/dry somewhat juicy finish. Nice, but now I want it fresh.

On tap at Birreria Paradiso on 12/4/07: Viscous opaque with stringy-lacing dark tan head. Aroma of sweet vanilla, dark caramel and rich molten chocolate with nice oaky bourbon complexity. Body starts thick and creamy with a nice dark caramel chocolate sweetness and some lingering roastiness and coffee notes toward a smooth bourbony finish. Extremely well-balanced and enjoyable.

On tap at the 2007 GTMW: Pours a completely opaque with a frothy, clingy-lacing light tan head. Sweet, mellow dark caramel and chocolate bourbon blend in the nose with nice oatmeal and maple syrup complexity. Body starts with a rich, sweet dark caramel and chocolate maltiness along with great bourbon oaky balance and smooth complexity. I really wish they’d bottle this awesome elixir.

Poured black and oily with a thin off-white head. The aroma was and vanilla. The vanilla runs the full length of the aroma. Also notes of sweet roasted malt and chocolate. A little alcohol hits the nose. The flavor was sweet and roasty with good bourbon. A little tartness. Medium to full bodied.

On tap: Great aroma of caramel, chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, and a hint of maple syrup. It’s virtually black with a small beige head. The flavor starts with lots of caramel and chocolate and moderate vanilla. The finish is somewhat boozey with moderate bourbon, maple syrup , and faint pine. The maple syrup really lingers in the aftertaste. There is some very faint roastiness hidden behind everything. The mouthfeel is slick but thinner than I would expect with very mild carbonation.

Tap at The Oak Cafe. Black with minimal tan head. Bourbon adds a nice touch to aroma, brings out more chocolate, huge vanilla. Flavor much the same. Buttery bourbon, chocolate, vanilla, oak. Well rounded, mellow. Thick luscious mouthfeel. While the bourbon is the predominant component it doesn’t overpower the beer. Still highly drinkable for non-bourbon lovers like myself.