Bells Expedition Stout

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

Bottle, thanks TheCheeseMan! Pours black with a finger of dark brown head, fades to a ring and spots of suds on the surface. Aroma is intense, heavy roasted malts, loads of strong espresso coffee, high cocoa content chocolate, some alcohol, almost smells like it’s been barrel aged too. Faint vanilla and wood-lke notes. Some alcohol. Flavour is massive, much roastiness, loads of espresso, figs or prunes, and a sold cocoa bitterness and warming alcohol finish. Feels thick and smooth in the mouth, carbonation is just right. Creamy, with just a little sparkle on the tongue. Good stuff.

Bottle. A pitch black and viscous beer with a small brown head that actually shows some retention. Nice lacings. The smell is big, powerful and intense. Lots of everything - hardly roasted malts, cocoa, espresso, wood. Perhaps a hint of vanilla. The alcohol is nicely integrated with the other aromas. And the flavors don’t disappoint either. There’s lots of roasted malts in the mouth, coupled with notes of bitter chocolate and musty espresso. Hints of dark fruits ease up the otherwise heavy character. The finish is very bitter with lots of bitter hop notes, some alcohol, wood and licorice. The mouthfeel is outstanding - a nearly spotless balance of big body, creamy texture and gentle carbonation. This is a really good beer. Bold character, intense and massive. My only objection is that the bitterness is perhaps a bit too generous as it gets slightly overpowering after a while.

Dark cola appearance with brief burnt sienna colored head. Smells of alcohol and light malts. Complex malt flavor with a little bit of hops coming through, land ight spices. Spot on, smooth mouthfeel. I’m glad this one is distributed so broadly. Beautiful.

Bottle. 12 oz. Split with Braden. Pours solid, opaque black, with a thin, creamy amber head. Aroma is pungent and beautiful; fresh peppers, chocolate, barley, bread, roasted malts, soil, and ginger. Full, bold body: this has one of the best mouthfeels I have ever expereienced; very smooth and light at first, but blossoms into a warm, vibrant, velvety finish. Outstanding stout, from start to finish. Highly recommended.

Tasted last winter, just adding the rating now. Bottle. Pours black as used motor oil and almost as thick. Was going to say there was no head at all, but I turned my head and 5 seconds later there was a cm-thick, rich brown head that dissipated relatively quickly. Aroma is plums, prunes, raisins, coffee, cinnamon. Flavors similar with a very roasted malt character, very sweet. High in flavor, even very cold, and about as viscous a mouthfeel as I’ve experienced. I’d prefer less syrupy. Aftertaste is where the alcohol is, and where the roasty is. Had it with a creamy roasted potato soup and a wedge of gruyere, and I can hardly think of a more robust trio. Strangely, none overpowered the other. I like it.

Bottle thanks to mcbackus: Poured a deep dark oil black with a beige to light brown head. The aroma is that of dark chocolate and molasses. Taste has more of that dark chocolate mixed with roasted coffee malt characteristics. The alcohol and hops give you a bitter finish just to make sure your awake inside. This was an excellent beer to drink for #2000!

Black with a reddish amber head that lingers. Not much lacing :-( Smokey burnt log scents followed with a touch of molasses. Velvety texture and full bodied with earthy dark chocolate undertones while finishing with a lingering coffee taste. I really wish I had more to write but I’m busy enjoying this stout.