Bells Bourbon Barrel Double Cream/Expedition Stout

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

Hand bottle shared by largadeer on BA - thanks a lot for this rarity, Chris! Yes, it is awesome. Pours pitch black with a small, frothy brown head. Amazing aroma of bourbon, vanilla, coffee and cream, and rich chocolate. Flavor is more of the same, lots of vanilla and bourbon balanced by an awesome, thick, intense base stout with loads of chocolate, and hint of anise, and some date and raisin notes. Incredibly creamy, smooth, and full palate with soft carbonation. This is definitely up near the top impy stouts I’ve ever had.

7 oz. handbottle from Stfun ...Thanks! Pours jet black and syrupy....no head but a few bubbles. Aroma is of serious booze, dark fruit and a ton of chocolate. Flavor is superb of mainly booze and chocolate with notes of vanilla, tobacco, molasses and dark fruits. Very slick and oily mouthfeel, just damn wonderful to say the least.

(Handbottle, thanks StFun!) Pours black with brown edges. Some brown bubbles represent the head. The aroma is quite oak-driven with lots of dark roasted malt and dark fruits to back it up. Tones of fudge, butter, vanilla, cocoa nut, raw wood, creamy dark chocolate, mild espresso, brown sugar, cinnamon, figs, prunes, dates, blackberries, apple tobacco, mint and sweaty liquorice are all present. The nose is typical for the style but deeper and more complex than your average IMP. Bit vinous as well with hints of blue grape skins. The flavour is light to medium sweet, light to medium bitter and light acidic. Tones of peppery wood, vanilla, creamy chocolate, light molasses, mild asphalt, liquorice, dark berries and dark fruits. Well hidden alcohol. Bit vinous with a slight touch of tannins. The mouthfeel is oily, round, creamy and smooth with almost no carbonation. Lingering chocolate and bourbon notes. Light peppery finish. Medium to full bodied. Fantastic!

Nip handbottle from StFun. Pours black as night, ominous and dark, with a small head of dark brown foam. Organized, micro-spot lacing forms in bands that circle the glass. The aroma shows its Expedition roots, with notes of decadent, fudgy, chocolate cake, scorched caramel, espresso roast, and anise all showing strong. Peppery, toasted oak and subtle whiskey kick things up nicely, while lactic sugars and a milky element borrow from the Double Cream stout. licorice, figs, dates, and raisin lend incredible depth and complexity. Flavors basically mirror the nose, insanely chocolaty and bittersweet, with massive espresso roast and earthen hops for balance. Soft whiskey and woody vanilla are soothed and massaged by the creamy sugars, all coming together to form a creme brûlée and bourbon-soaked fruit finish. The palate is heavy and velvety, well carbonated but just a bit overly hot and sharp. One hell of a fireside slow sipper, this massive brew is as decadent as they come. Delicious stuff.

Another hand bottle by way of the man StFun. Pours midnight black with a thin tan head. The nose is bourbon dominating with some faint impy stout characteristics such as roasted malt and chocolate. The taste is bourbon, dark fruit, burnt cream, milk chocolate and roasted malt. Creamy mouthfeel. Very good! I never thought I’d have a chance to try this gem. You rock Josh!

This draft brew from a beer bar poured a small sized head of foamy with a frothy top fine to large sized brown colored bubbles that were long lasting and left behind a and a poor lacing. The mild aroma was dark mal and bourbon. The thick semi-flat mouth feel was weakly tingly at the start with a mild hop bite mediumly tingly at the finish with a medium hoppy bourbon biting aftertaste. The flavor contained notes of hops toasted malt roasted malt dark malt and bourbon. Delicious and one I would certainly buy again.

Hand bottle shared by Sparky27 via STFun...once again...THANKS!!! Aromatic brew with notes of vanilla, bourbon, oak, cocoa, and brown sugar. Caramel and molasses accompany similar vanilla, oak, and chocolate fudge flavors. The deep ebony brew with mahogany edges created no head to speak of and zero lacing; a product of hand bottling, perhaps. Extremely creamy and luxurious...really, an amazing beer. Wow!!!

Courtesy Gunhaver. Pours black with a small tan head. Aroma is loaded with roasted malt, caramel, chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, licorice, and oak. Taste is the same as aroma. Medium full mouthfeel with smooth alcohol. A damn fine brew.