Bells Bourbon Barrel Double Cream/Expedition Stout

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

I was very excited to have this on tap at Bell’s All Stouts Day on 11/1/09 known as Black Note and weighs in at 11% ABV. I had two 8 oz. pours of this delicous brew, but I’ll do my review off of my first pour which was into a small 8 oz. snifter. Black Note pour a deep black with a thin tan head that dissipated quickly. Smells of bourban, wood, chocolate, vanilla and roasted malt dominate the nose. I will say that the nose definetly improves as the beer warms. It was actually a bit difficult to smell all the subtle details when the beer was cold, but as it warms the smell does really shine through. The taste is amazing, a great blend here to be sure as the sweet, sharp molasses charector of the Expo stout is balances perfectly by the creamy smooth mouthfeel of the double cream stout. Flavors up front are of chocolate, wood, vanilla and molasses with hints of lactose sweetness. The finish is dominated by a sweet chocolate, bourban flavor. The layors of this stout are quit impressive and for 11% this is sooo drinkable. On a cold winter day I could drink this all day with out one regret. I feel very fortunate to have been able to try this beer as I know supplies are running very low, but I have to say that this is one of the best blended, barrel aged stout combinations that I have ever had. I think to myself this is such a great idea by Larry and the guys at Bell’s I wish they would do a second batch because this beer makes me happy to be alive...well worth the drive and the wait.

On-tap at Stub N Herbs Pre-Darkness Day Party. Ordered two 7oz pours of this, because I wanted to make sure I had a couple before the keg blew. A - Pours black with a thin tan head. Even though there’s only a small ring of head around the edge of the glass, there’s a good amount of lacing draped along the sides. S - Sweet chocolate, roasted malts, caramel, light bourbon, some oak/wood. As it warmed up (and I made it to my second glass), things picked up even more. T - Just outstanding! Lots of sweet milk chocolate mixed with the perfect amount of bourbon. Much like drinking chocolate syrup mixed with a kick of bourbon and some expresso beans. M - Not quite as think as I was expecting, but doesn’t detract much at all from this beer. Very little carbonation, just right for the style. D - Glad I was able to get two of these because who knows if I’ll ever have the chance to try this one again. Easy to drink for the style, but obviously I can only drink so many before I’d fall over.

FoBAB ’09, pours black with small tan head. nose of dark fruit and bourbon. flvors of dark chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, raisins, with some heat in the finish. body is rather thin and watery with a roasty boozy finish.

FOBAB 09, under the name Black Note. Poured jet black with a frothy brown head. Aroma is of bourbon, rich chocolate, vanilla, malt, and some lactic notes. Taste started off with a strong bourbon presence and lots of wood. Has a very dry, biscuity malt backbone to it. After the bourbon subsides, there is a strong vanilla charatcer, and very rich chocolate. The alcohol is well masked, but has a slight alcohol bite at the end of each sip. Lingering chocolate taste. Insanely drinkable for given how big it is. Mouthfeel is very creamy, and thick. Good to look at, smells great, and it tastes awesome.

FoBAB tasting. Listed as "Black Note" my first taste of the event. Poured a dark creamy chocolote brown, some head lingered. Aroma of vanilla, chocolate malts and bourbon. Taste is similar, well balanced and smooth. Aftertaste lingered quite a bit. For sure one of the many highlights of the event.

So, so glad to see this on tap at FOBAB. This was my first stop. Poured pitch black with a great dark tan head. It was called "Black Note", and I believe it is the barrel aged blend. Aroma was fantastic. Vanilla, chocolate, and bourbon. Taste was much the same, huge rich chocolate, bitter black chocolate, really rich vanilla and espresso. There was just a touch of heat but other than that, this was a delicious beer. Now I can’t wait until the next time I try it. So good, a big sweet beer that was balanced by just enough bitterness on the end. Wish I would have drank more of this. Really the best new stout I have had in a long, long time.

FoBAB. Wow, this is ridiculous. I think it’s alias of Black note kept it a bit of a secret because this was available all night. It was so good. Pour is midnight black with thin brown head. Viscous. Aroma is huge bourbon, vanilla, roasted malt and chocolate. Flavor is everything you’d want and more. So rich, so smooth and so complex. I had 3-4 samples through the night, I could not stay away.

FoBAB 09 listed as Black Note. The first beer I had to hit up. Brown black in color with a beige head. Although boozy, the nose was enveloping. Super coffee and roasted malts, chocolate, burnt notes, vanilla, and bourbon. Slick medium body that I thought might be a little thicker considering the components but I’m pretty sure the barrel thinned it out. Again lots of roasted malt flavors. The sweet creaminess blends well with the coffee and roasted malts. Lots of bourbon here. The sweetness tastes a little like maple syrup with a bitter espresso finish that’s hot from the bourbon. A nice beer, but I don’t think I’d want to drink a ton of it. The coffee bitterness and booziness is a little over the top. It didn’t live up to the hype, but a solid beer.