Bells Expedition Stout

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

Batch 8864 Pours out thick and black, like old motor oil. Body is black as ever with a pretty chunky, medium sized head. A little swirling can change the color from light tan to a dark brown, and everywhere between. The aroma is full of chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, slight dark fruit, and a touch of anise. The flavor is amazing, similar to aroma and sweet at first, then becomes oaky and dry. Both fluffy and thick on the palate, with an exceptionally long finish. Great Beer.

From a bottle poured balck with a fair amount of head. Nice dark malty flavor with a lasting finish.

Pours black as night, almost no head. Lacing slight but clingy. Smells strong, malty, alcohol not the least bit concealed. Sharp yet smooth, rough and full of alcohol. I realize it’s 10.5% abv, but others I’ve had in this abv range didn’t have quite the pungency. Complex taste, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good one. Not crazy about this beer. Perhaps cellaring would improve this one; I drank a 8864 date-coded bottle on 4/5/09 so it’s young still. Just not my cup of tea I guess.

Bottle. Poured a very dark brown with a very small brown head. Little carbonation. Aroma seemed light. A hint of malt and chocolate. Flavor was fantastic! Smooth. Nice bitter chocolate flavor with an easy to take roasted malt finish. As it warmed I did notice a slight alcohol burn. Great stout though. I look forward to cracking another one open after some aging.

This is a great stout and I have had this beer several times on many different serving types. I’ve had this on draft,in a bottle, and on cask pulled with a hand engine. I must say that this is one incredible stout that hides the alc content to a dangerous level of drink ability. This is also one that ages to an incredible smoothness. Smooth and creamy chocolate with a nice malt sweetness..worth the effort!

Poured from 12 oz bottle courtesy of SamGamgee. Batch #8729. Dark brown with very minimal dark tan head. Nose of bittersweet chocolate at first with a hint of vanilla. A bit hot, probably the 10% alcohol. Tastes were varied; chocolate, raisins, figs and a hint of coffee. Dry aftertaste and finish. Oh how I wish this was available on the left coast.

Wow! what a beer! on draft at fiddlers hearth. thick- great flavor. a classic. will rerate soon.

Bottle from Batch 8864 at Akkurat. Black with a rather dark brown, small head. Spicy, hops, rosted malts and some sweetness. Huge body and nice complexity!