Bells Rye Stout

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Stout
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

An interesting experience, pours a dark brown color with a thin tan head. Not a lot of lacing. Aroma was really hard to pick up, some chocolate and coffee with almost a bubblegum type scent. The rye came out in the flavor: tart and off with some sour/bitter dynamics. Slightly dry and medium mouthfeel (particularly for a stout).

Bottle, batch 9399. Pours a dark mahogany color that shows slightly translucent at the outer edges. A moderate, spongy head of khaki colored foam dissipates quickly, settling to a bubbly film and leaving scant traces of lacing on the glass. The nose is very mild, but nice, showing notes of dry, chalky cocoa, fresh rye grain, dry caramel, and hints of earth and smoke. Flavors are very well crafted and easy going, showing the same dry, dark caramel and cocoa, mild rye and toasty grain, with traces of pumpernickel and dry, slightly chalky yeast. Peppery, spcy hops come through on the finish. The body is medium-plus in stature, dry, yeasty, and easy going. Overall, I enjoyed this quite a bit. Very solid stout.

Dark brown. The aroma has hints of coffee & roasted nuts. It’s hard to describe precisely what the rye adds here, but it’s definitely in the mouthfeel

Batch 9370

10/26/2009: Bell’s Rye Stout... Aroma: Earthy, rich, dusty chocolate; coffee grounds; the fruity rye malt definitely comes through. Appearance: Dull, dark brown color; mostly opaque; small, foamy tan-colored head. Flavor: Roasted malts and chocolate; rye malt is evident; tastes a bit like New Glarus Black Wheat with a spicy and dry rye twist; finishes a bit thin/watery; alcohol comes through more than expected. Palate: Medium-bodied; thick, filling texture; faily smooth. Overall: Quite good, but not worth the elevated price tag of $12.99/6-pack ($2.17/bottle).

12 fl. oz. bottle from Hyde Park Wine & Spirits in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rating #383 for this beer.

Hazy brown stout. No head. Quite thin body and a way too sour finish for a stout. Lacks power and sweetness.

Bottle. A chocolate, nutty, milky, and coffee aroma. The rye is a very nice twist on the stout and is evident in the flavor and aftertaste. Fairly thin body.

Label features a pencil sketch of a sullen old women, casting her eyes downward, perhaps grimly reflecting on a miserable life, soon to end, or sadly summarising the pathetic events she has yet to endure. Haven't these guys learned anything about marketing from the Swedish Bikini Tean???? Perfect ebon color, large fizzy brown head. Aroma is richly roasted and spicy, with hints of graininess. Heavy mouthfeel, but smooth on the palate. Sits sturdily in the mouth, leaving a nice, pleasant finish, and an abiding sweetness, with hints of cherry, coming through in the middle. A very satisfactory stout, and an accomplished experiment from Kalamazoo

11.09.06 12oz bottle, batch 7235. Mostly dark brown beer with light cola edges and very little head after the initial pour. Aroma is weak coffee, dark chocolate, and mild toasted nuttiness. The nuttiness must be the rye because that’s the closest thing I can find to a grassy or grainy anything in this beer. Very slight acidity near the finish of this otherwise plain (though tasty) stout. The palate is fine with a nice, mild carbonation and somewhat slick but full feel. I can’t knock if for flavor, because it’s good, but I’ll be damned if I can find even a trace of rye anywhere in the flavor or aroma of this stuff. Meh, I’m gonna go drink a bottle of Triumph Roggenbock -- boy am I glad I saved some of that stuff!