Bells Cherry Stout

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

Serve in English pint

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Delecious. But do not be fooled this is not a thick filling stout. It is sweet but very tart. The cherries do not really stand out.

Bell’s Cherry Stout (bottle from RFD in D.C.!) is probably one of the most interesting stouts I’ve tasted. Either I was just seeing things or there was actually a ruddy hue to the head. The beer was dark brown-black, but not necessarily opaque, and the smell was about what you’d expect from a cherry stout (cherry and malt/coffee). The taste was immediately tart, but still maintained the usual roastiness of a stout. The body was a little thin, and, with the carbonation, I couldn’t help but think of cherry coke. Still, the originality of this brew makes up for what it lacks. The Cherry Stout is generally well-balanced and highly drinkable.

Interesting beer indeed, smells great and looks incredible. I expected to be wholloped by cherries, which wasnt the case - thank god. It actually mixes pretty well, but I dont know if I could take down more than a couple of these at once. Best comparison I can make is Surly Two, and this is not nearly as tart. This doesnt have as much fruit taste, which might be a good or a bad thing depending what you are going for.

This beer pours very black and with a very thin, brown head that disappears after a minute or two. The aroma reminds me of an imperial stout....sweet, fruity, almost winey. The flavor is of roasty, coffee-like malt notes with the tart flavors of the cherries. I like the flavor, but I don’t think I could drink more than two without getting sick of it, but I feel that way about most fruit beers. You notice the high alcohol content towards the end and in the aftertaste. The body on this is perfect. It has a medium-heavy body with the right amount of carbonation.

Bottle. Poured Deep Black and opaque with ruby hues. I took some time to try it a few times before reviewing it, at first I didn’t like it at all, but then I decided to give it another shot because well, look who it’s brewed by. Sure enough I came to really like the style, and the tart cherries reminded me of the chokecherries we would pick in colorado and make into jam. It had some chocolate and sweetness that are definitely overpowered by the tartness, but it works, I will cellar some for a review this time next year.

Thanks ucusty for the bottle. This is a very interesting brew. It pours dark with a red-tinged head that fades quickly. Taste is of a stout that is quickly overpowered by a tart cherry flavor. Cherry flavor is overpowering and very sour for me. This one sure is different. Not my type of brew to begin with, but it does get better as it warms.

Bottle from ucusty. Dark brown/black with a thin head that went quickly. Aroma of chocolate malt, cherries, tart and sweet. Flavor has nice tart cherry with roast and chocolate. A bit of smoke rounds it out. I liked how the cherries lent an interesting sweet tart thing that went very well with chocolate and roast. Leaves a tart roast on the palate.

Pours a pitch black with ruby tints around edges. Head is burnt caramel, but very thin and short-lasting. Smells of cherry, rich chocolate, a little burnt matches, burnt sugar. Taste is sweet chocolate, tart cherries, and burnt wood. Smoky richness blends interestingly with the cherries. Novel beer. 12 oz bottle from Chevy Chase Wine and Liquor.

On Tap, standard stout taste with the added cherries bringing more of a tart flavor to the beer. Decent enough to get me to order two more.

Very dark beer. Little head, with very light carbonation. Slightly smoky tasting with a bit of sour cherries. Not as good as Bells other stouts.