Bells Debs Red Ale

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Amber Ale
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Sample at the Bell’s tasting at Brews Cafe on 3/6/08: This brew is a clear reddish-copper color with a thin off-white head that burns away quickly. Spotty lacing. Aroma of light hops, earthy malt and citrus. Light to medium body with mild hops, toasted malt and spice flavors. The finish is hoppy and malty with notes of pine and citrus in the aftertaste. Above average overall.

On tap. Pours a clear light red color with a fluffy white head. Aroma is toasty, grainy malts, and a nice floral/citrusy hop balance. The hoppiness is very nice but it is quite tamed - I can only guess that this is quite and old sample, it certainly does not seem very fresh. Taste is smooth, malty, mildly hoppy and low in bitterness. A bit watery but that could just be the slight staleness. Grateful for being able to try this one, would love to get the opportunity to try this fresh.

On tap @ Brew’s Cafe: Pours amber with a light tan head. Aroma, caramel malts, fruity/citrusy hops, some pine. Flavor, citrus, pale malts, very crisp, and fresh. An herbal/piny bitterness on the finish. This was very nice.

On tap at the Eccentric Cafe, a beer I’ve been searching out now for the 5+ years I’ve been on RB. Deep red-brown body, thin buff head. Toasty nose with piney hops. Medium-bodied, nutty, and chocolatey, with a firm piney hops bite. A nice red ale. This batch was listed at 7% ABV at Bell’s.

had this on tap at crunchys in east Lansing. Flavor was slight citrus and a nice hop profile balanced by nice biscuity malt. Very drinkable and nicely balanced. Best red ale I’ve had.

Is there something in the water in Kalamazoo, or just something in Larry Bell's blood, sweat and other bodily fluids that makes everything these guys make stand apart from everything else? Cleverness abounds in Bell's country, for their red is not named after any Deborah, but the famous unionist, Eugene V. Debs. A murky red color, spicy nose, quite hoppy. Flavors of plums, raisins, cinnamon. Malt is substantial, but not dominant. Medium body, but thick and full with flavor. Remarkably soft, smooth, and spicy!

Cloudy amber with just a little bit of head. Nose is citric and floral. Nicely balanced--hoppy, sweet, and lightly tart.

Copper hue with a rocky off-white head and very good lacing. Malty and piney aroma with hints of grapefruit, earthy yeast, and hay field. Nice balance on the tongue between malty sweetness and hoppy bitterness. Dash of spice and tart fruit thrown about for good measure. Bitter and smoky undertone finish. The thin to medium-bodied brew has a fizzy and slighty metallic mouthfeel. If the taste didn't fade towards the finish, I would have rated this beer among the best in the standard Ale style. Still it is very quaffable and worth trying at least once.