Bells Bourbon Barrel Double Cream/Expedition Stout

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

Without doubt, the best bourbon flavored beer I have ever had,aroma carried all the best traits of the best of stouts,the dark roasted malts,rich creamy chocolate,almost bosco like, and the best bourbon flavors ever,all that oak and vanilla flavoring,alcohol was just on the fringe of being noticeable. I see no room for improvement. I pray I get this again before going to that big brewpub in the sky

Multiple 6 ounce glasses at the 2007 GTMW. The beer was simply marvelous. A huge active murky black body with a huge nice brown active thick head. The beer was aromatic with chocolate, charred wood, smoke, and brown sugar. Sweet and creamy. The flavor was a deep molasses and chocolate nicely blended with a charred wood and brown sugar. The sweetness on this one is large. A long flavorful finish pervades the senses. The beer has a full body and oily and creamy mouthfeel. Simply divine. My only perfect beer to date.

Handbottle, courtesy StFun. Pours flat, dark brown, reddish haze. Nose is tons of bourbon, lots of roast, big heat, dark, dry wood. Flavor is STUUUUUUUPID. Tons of roast, chocolate, big bourbon, huge dry coffee, extremely wonderful finish full of dry ashy roast and wonderfulness. Probably the best, most complex stupid beer I’ve ever tasted. It just doesn’t get better than this. PERIOD.

Bottle courtesy of gunhaver! This started off a retarded tasting. Pours black. Nose is huge bourbon, whiskey, tons of earthy woods, hot booze, fig and prune, mild coffee, vanilla and liquorice. Flavor is huge roast, hot booze, caramel, toffee, mollasses, cherries, prunes bourbon, intense wood. AMAZING!

First off, let me say my thanks to Larry Bell for making this gem, and thanks to The Party Town for making this available for growler fills. That being said, wow, what a treat! I’m a huge expedition fan, so this beer is what I’m all about. Pours a dark brown with a slight head that recedes quickly after pouring. This is possibly one of the best noses I’ve ever had come from a beer. I spent quite a bit of time sniffing this one. Smell is velvety bourbon, with notes of chocolate and espresso coffee. The taste is incredible. Think bourbon barrel aged Expedition with a very creamy and silky finish due to the Double Cream. This is the perfect combination, everything is working incredbily together. If bottled this would rival and give Kentucky Breakfast a run for its money. Very happy that I had the chance to enjoy this, but very sad as well, because the chances of coming across this rare gem again is small.

From the tap at EBF 09! I must have drunk 10 samples of this stuff during the two day event. Poured an opaque black while cascading into a fine frothy head; perfect! The aroma was incredible if you’re a BB lover. Sweet vanilla, chocolate, oak, and of course, bourbon notes abound; could inhale this all night. The taste was superb; roasted chocolate malt, vanilla, and oak blend so well with the bourbon that it just melts in the mouth. Very smooth and creamy with a very slight hint of ABV; which is scary! One of the best well balanced BB stouts that I have tasted. Too bad this isn’t bottled!!

GTMW07- In my opinion the star of the show and the Bells beer line. As "waldo" was saying on the bullhorn "perhaps the best beer Bells has ever made". I’d agree. Everything I love about both beers with the added robust bourbon flavor. It works with the beer, not against it. Its the harmony of the 2 beers and wood that makes this so special.