Bells Expedition Stout

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

Tasted last winter, just adding the rating now. Bottle. Pours black as used motor oil and almost as thick. Was going to say there was no head at all, but I turned my head and 5 seconds later there was a cm-thick, rich brown head that dissipated relatively quickly. Aroma is plums, prunes, raisins, coffee, cinnamon. Flavors similar with a very roasted malt character, very sweet. High in flavor, even very cold, and about as viscous a mouthfeel as I’ve experienced. I’d prefer less syrupy. Aftertaste is where the alcohol is, and where the roasty is. Had it with a creamy roasted potato soup and a wedge of gruyere, and I can hardly think of a more robust trio. Strangely, none overpowered the other. I like it.

Bottle thanks to mcbackus: Poured a deep dark oil black with a beige to light brown head. The aroma is that of dark chocolate and molasses. Taste has more of that dark chocolate mixed with roasted coffee malt characteristics. The alcohol and hops give you a bitter finish just to make sure your awake inside. This was an excellent beer to drink for #2000!

Black with a reddish amber head that lingers. Not much lacing :-( Smokey burnt log scents followed with a touch of molasses. Velvety texture and full bodied with earthy dark chocolate undertones while finishing with a lingering coffee taste. I really wish I had more to write but I’m busy enjoying this stout.

Pours jet black with a syrupy texture. Has a sweet bitter aroma. Has a very clean pour, smooth with no foam. The 10.5 ABV doesn’t really show too much in this one, a very enjoyable beer.

Pours a deep, opaque sable with a thick, fine-bubbled tan head. Smoky coffee-ish aroma has a hint of unsweetened chocolate. Flavor is smoky and surprisingly bitter, and has an undertone of chocolate and a hint of molasses. Texture is very smooth and tingly, and leaves a rather bitter aftertaste, not hoppy bitter but a tad unpleasing. Nevertheless, this is overall a darned good beer.

Smells like someone figured out how to make saturated dark chocolate coffee milk. With strong bitter hops and a healthy alcohol burn, it starts better than it finishes. First thing on my tongue is molasses; after that comes a heavy malt sweetness with raw bakers cocoa and a deep dark rum-like alcohol burn and a finish of heavy bitters. Mouthfeel is full, heavy, dense, slightly oily and coating and every other adjective you can use for a luxurious palate with sticky lips to follow. Legendary brew, would be fascinating to sample barrel aged. Thank You Bells. 2009 12 oz.

Bottle. An opaque black beer with a small, almost creamy, lacing and mostly lasting brown head. The aroma is incredibly atrong and powerful, malty with a hint of hops and notes of roasted grains, chocolate. coffee, vanilla and a touch of dark fruits and alcohoi. The flavour is heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly to moderately bitter. Certainly one of the creamiest beer I’ve ever tasted. Fruitier in the mouth than in the nose. Very roasty, almost burnt maybe, but well balanced. Full body, soft carbonation, very long finish with medium to high bitterness, lightly to moderately alcoholic. Simply outstanding, I wish I lived nearer Kalamazoo.