Bells Cherry Stout

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

Another winner from my Fav. brewery. I generally don’t like fruity stuff, but this beer is so good, I’ll make an exception. Pours black, oh yeah. Smells of cherries and chocolate, reminds me of candy. Has a nice roasted coffee and dark chocolate taste up front with a stinging cherry bite at the end. Not too carbonated, with just the right aftertaste.

pours dull black with small head. initial flavor is very tart from the cherries, then sweet, slmost chocolatey in the finish. slightly thin, if i had to find a fault.

Bottle from kosko20, marked 7734. Pours thick, with a dark brown layer of head and a black body. Head checks out in amout a minit leaving a ring and good lacing with a bit of alcohol legs above. The head can be called back at will. Aroma is strong at a distance with tart cherries, boat loads of malt, chocolate, tannins, cocoa powder and a bit of leather. Taste is an interesting balance of roast and dark tart cherries, a bit ashy or sootie as well. Second sip yields strong fruit up front and an espresso roast in the finish. Very smouth mouthfeel and light carbonation. Noted to self to add bourbon barrel version to the wants list, cause I liked this version, and I like bourbon more...

Pours oil black with a small tan head. Aroma is definitely roasted chocolate malt and cherry. Pleasantly surprised that the cherries smell real yet not too overwhelming. A bit of smokiness as well. Flavor starts out with a bang of tartness from the cherry that is very nice and refreshing. The cherry mellows through the swallow and the sweet roasted malts give the chocolate and coffee balance. Very easy finish that tastes warming and smooth. Medium-full body and low to average carbonation. I was pleasantly surprised with this beer. I think they managed to balance the flavors well, better than other fruit beers I have had, and if you appreciate tartness it is even better.

Bottle (William is cleaning out his basement). Pours an engine oil black- thick with no head. This one grew on me. First I thought the cherry flavor was too overwhelming- it was more like a sour ale and I wasn’t ready for it. But as the beer warms, the sour cherries complement nicely the very rich, sweet chocolate flavor of the malt. Really does taste like dessert.

Bottle. Pours a deep black with a small tan ring. Light sharp aroma, of toasted malt and tart cherries. Tart cherry taste hits right away, before picking up a hint of cherry sweetness, a lot of burnt toasted malt, and a hint of chocolate. Lingering sourness and toastyness. Nice, rich fruit stout.

Bottle at Jerry’s. Black with good, creamy cappuccino brown head / Toasty, cherry and chocolate nose / Medium body, very tart and acidic, with good malt and hop balance, and fair finish / Flavors of tart cherries, unsweetened chocolate, and dark roast coffee / Curious - needs to be considered on its own terms - almost a sour ale. Needs a little more body, but a fine beer. Despite the cherries, really a dry stout, I’d say, or a fruit porter.

Bottle from Bells. Thanks to nbutler11 for trading the bottle. Smells like your well-made stout, but strangely teeters between a dry or sweet. The reason reveals itself in the flavor, when tart cherries meld with bakers’ cocoa for a surprising fruit edge on an expert stout. Man... what an anomalous beer.