Bells Cherry Ale

Formerly brewed at Bells Brewery
Style: Fruit Beer
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Serve in Flute

Very red coloured with some hints of brown. Fine thin head that dissapeared nearly after I finsihed pouring, leaving behind a almost complete layer of lace and a immesurably thicker ring. I can’t really smell a whole lot from this one, only thin hints of cherry. The initial sip is almost overwhelmingly tart but smoothes out to a sweet cherry finish. As I get farther into my glass, the almost fruit juice flavours come out, transitioning to tart cherries and going down like a fine wine. At first, I was glad that I had only bought one bottle, but now I almost feel as though I should have got more. It’s quite refreshing, with a good flavour profile, and doesn’t attempt to overwhelm.

There was a melon-colored hint to a hazed, rusty body under a fizzy head that didn’t last much beyond the pour. I can’t say the aroma was very appealing with sour fruit and light vinegar. Flavor is tart cherry and highly astringent (I felt astringence in my esophagus, if that’s even possible). It came off like a nice, buttery kriek and should appeal to lambic-lovers (and the multitude of Bell’s loyalists).

<font size=-4>Single bottle from <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/ViewUser.asp?UserID=1 cellar.<font size=-1>

Courtsey of Illinismitty

Bottle, Aroma had a grass and decent cherry aroma. Murky orange color and next to no head. Flavor has some cherry flavor but could use more. Boy this is tart to start off with. Did I say tart whew. Mellows out by end. Dry on the palate with some cherry taste also. Man little too tart for me.

Bottle, batch #6898, thanks to Mr. Styles! Beautiful, hazy peach pour with a short cap of whitish head. Nose was primarily of cherries, artificial sweetener, and some grassy wheat-ness. Tart cherries were persistent throughout the flavor... wheaty backbone and some Jolly Rancher sweetness were also in there. Rather long cherry finish. Effervescent on the palate, which worked well for the style. Well-crafted, but really didn’t do it for me.

On tap at the Blue Nile ( imagine that!) color is a bright crimson, a solid ruby, thick & hazy, too, and capped with a lush pinkish head, solid and lasting...very impressive appearance, very attractive, too! Aroma, light, and sweet, with whiffs of cherry, but not much else. Full feel on the palate, when first quaffed, a rush of sweet fruit, then the tart of the cherry, a bite of sour, then all is refreshment, and total quaffability. My first taste of this made me wonder if I’d really like it. My first pint of it led to another, and so on.. Excellent texture, great drinkablity, a splash of tart to meet every swallow, but not so much to bring down the pleasure of drinking...bright and juicy...it’s an ale full of cherries, what else do you want? If you love cherries in your beer, this is the brew for you! I not, stay away. Solid, tasty, tangy, very well done. Hats off to Larry & Co. Much better than Bell’s Cherry Stout,meets the style of an ale better than the aforementioned does for a stout.

Red/brown with a small white head. Cherry nose with malt and some grassy hop notes. Farily dry, very nice flavor, dominated by tart cherries with a touch of bready malt, slight sugary sweetness, and a balance of dry bitterness.

Bottle. Tart sour cherry and malt aroma. Reddish amber with small head. Sweet-tart cherry flavor - tastes like freshly picked cherries, not a nasty chemical fake cherry flavor - with light malt tones. Nice drinkable fruit beer - just doesn’t have strong beer flavors.

Tap. Translucent and auburn red in color with an expansive dust overlay and a thin, khaki-grey wrung around the edges. Sticky web lacing. Love that aroma. Sweet maraschino cherries nearly predicate a kriek dimension, along with hints of strawberry-watermelon Jolly Ranchers. Mild accents of lemons and cloves for dimension, and throw in some grenadine while you’re at it. Big fresh cherry sweetness syrups its way into the palatary playing field, with a sticky dissipation that leaves a tin soup can reverberating in the background. Sweet cherry pie filling, and the effervescence at the outset is saying "Shirley Temples" - dirty style (which means maraschino juice, pervert.) Mild coriander met with grenadine in the finish. I expected the worst and was pleasantly surprised. Decent stuff.