Bells Rye Stout

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Stout
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

bottle. pours dark black. thin body. rye, slight taste of chocolate. not many strong flavors. a little sub par for bells but not bad

bottle. deep dark brown, near black body with a small brown head that quickly fizzes away. smells of coffee, bread loaf, and maybe some grape lingering in the back. creamy smooth body with bread and chocolate flavours. quite rich and delectable as it warms with no apparent bitterness. bought at The Beer Depot in Ann Arbor.

Thick black pour with tan head that quickly turns into a rim of foam. The aroma is filled with rye and burnt malts. A slight musty odor wafts from a quick swirl of the beer. Burnt, somewhat bitter malts and rye dominate the taste which also has hints of coffee. Aftertaste is slightly bitter with a charred flavor. Medium to full body.

Another solid stout from Bells, this one a nearly black, dark brown body with a slim light brown head. The aroma is a smooth, roasted barley smell with chocolate, rye seeds, and black pepper. Extra creamy mouthfeel. The flavor taskes a stronger chocolate turn with a splash of coffee added to the rich malts and rye spiciness. There’s a slight sourness in the finish along with a nutty bitterness. Very nice.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/ViewUser.asp?UserID=1 RAYBOY01’s Fridge<font size=-1>

12 oz bottle, original vintage (November 2002) shared with and by the most generous ClarkVV at his tidy abode. The head on this 3 1/2 year-old was well retained, dark and smooth atop the black body....the nose is obviously, immediately oxidized but offers light bready spicing, carroway and also perhaps juniper, chocolate and espresso begin to dominate quickly and take over after a few moments....in the body, lots of wine (burdundy), rye bread and light fruity coffee mix with Mexican chocolate and touches of dry crackling yeast....body is still fairly full, not thinned much at all and the carbonation is low but pleasant and evident....light grapiness and hints of sourness are the only real hints of age, an absolute gem thank you so much Clark for sharing, and I’m sure glad this has returned!

Much too thin and bland for me, Bells is still better than 90% of the stuff out there but I was expecting more. Mahogany body with a light and think tan head, got to give them credit for hiding the alcohol so well. Where is the flavor? A little sweet malt and some wheat bread as is typical of rye beers but just too paltry for a stout.

Oily brown-black pour leaving a light tan head. Coffee, chocolate, and breadish aromas hit the nose. The flavors are a roasty chocolate malt, some quick coffee in the front and in the finish along with a sutle rye note. Oil slick over the tounge, a bit malty, a bit bitter...not too much of either to where one really dominates. Very light in body for the style...almost a little watery at times...and perhaps a bit too much carbonation in the end. I think it’s a really great beer, but I didn’t think I"d ever call a stout "crisp" you know? Oh, one more thing...as great of a beer as this is...did they have to make the label so goddamn depressing? I feel like I’m drinking the soul of someone from The Great Depression...what a pisser.

Bottle: Aroma has lots of coffee and roasted grain along with a moderate chocolate balance. Pours a dark brown with a tan head that fades quickly. Moderate chocolate up front quickly fades to a point where there is no taste at all for an instant and then light rye and coffee appear in the finish and then those flavors quickly disappear. Not all that flavorful. Nice creamy smooth mouthfeel.