Bells Rye Stout

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Stout
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

From 12oz Bottle, #7235. Pours a rich, deep brown color with a thin layer of fizzy tan head that quickly recedes to a thin rawhide ring around the edges of my glass. Interesting fruity aroma of sugar plums dance with a soft bouquet of molasses and pumperknickle bread. The aroma is quite interesting in its gentle fruity approach and restrained toasted malt character for a stout. Medium bodied texture with light carbonation. The flavors bring out some mild christmas fruitcake spread with some fresh plum jam. The finish brings out a unique yeasty spice character before finishing with the promised smack of toasted rye. Quite tasty, delicate stout overall.

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. near pitch black pour with thin tan tiny bubble head. great fruit and hops in the aroma with malt and sweet chocolate. Very crisp. a mild/medium body. chocolate lingers in the aftertaste. mild coffee. I taste what I imagine is rye but I couldnt say for sure. This is a very easy drinking stout.

Bottle from siciliano’s. Batch 9370. Opaque dark brown to black with creamy, medium beige head. Aroma is slightly sulphury upfront with rich roast and chocolate, dry spice. Flavor is rye spice, rich roast, cocoa, slight cold coffee, nuttiness. Medium to light, creamy body with medium carbonation. Real unique, I think this would be great BA beer if they decide to throw it in a barrel.

On tap at the Institute in Philly. Nearly opaque black with a white, wispy head. Aroma of burnt toast, nuts, coffee, some distinct spiciness too. Flavor is solid, milk chocolate, oatmeal, sweet. Full bodied, a little sticky. The rye adds some complexity that some other stouts don’t have.

Nice roasty aroma, with hints of rye in the back end. It pours an opaque black with just a thin light tan head. Nice rich roasted flavors, balanced by a slight bite of rye. This is another solid beer from Bells.

12 oz bottle from Ohiodad(thanks!).Pours a near black with a small tan head. Nose is of roasted coffee and rye. That is pretty much the taste along with some lactose and possibly some oats. Well carbonated fizzy finish. The rye is actually fairly subdued. Thin bodied and sessionable. No alcohol detected. Nice easy drinking stout. Bells seems to never do wrong.

12oz bottle, batch 72xx, flavors have faded a bit, rye still smooths out the beer, but the in your face coffee,roasty flavors are subdued greatly, not bad by any stretch, nice easy sipping even on a hotter midsummer night.