Bells Expedition Stout

This is a very good stout! It pours a dark black with a creamy brownish tan head that is almost nonexistent. The aroma smells of dark chocolate with notes of chicory and the chocolate malty sweetness. The flavor is the same chocolate, malt, some slight alcoholic sweet notes and a slightly dry finish. For the price it is on par with World Wide Stout, but WW has a smoother finish. Great example of the style, and a solid beer. Great beer for #200.

I pulled this beer out to try against a Dark Lord just to see what was going on. After comparing the two and double-fisting each, I came to the conclusion that Expedition is probably a better example of the style (Imperial Stout), but Dark Lord really should be in a category of its own! Anyway, I digress. This is batch 8145 which is probably 2007. Pours a completely night black fluid with a small coffee colored head made up of tiny bubbles. The oiliness of the beer allows it to stick to the glass. The aroma is not so strong but has a burnt and roasty quality with some sweetness. The flavor is bittersweet on the nose which gives way to a huge bitter, roasty flavor which reminds me of slightly burnt coffee grounds. There are also notes of black licorice. The Expedition stood up well to the Dark Lord, but in the end evil triumphed because good is dumb!

bottle, pithc black color with minimal head that fades, strong fruit and coffee nose, flavor is very layered of chocolate, coffee, red wine, licorice, etc, hoppy dry finish of fruit and oak, excellent

Bottle from a trade with StFun. Wow poured out a black color with a good sized tan head. Smelled of chocolate. One of the sweeter stouts I’ve had. I almost felt like I had to chew it. Tasted chocolate, with a hint of coffee flavor. No alcohol taste whatsoever. StFun will have to send me some more of this wonderful brew.

Smells chocolaty and malty. Pours pitch black with a think brown head. Flavor very heavy, not DFH WWS heavy, but pretty heavy. Tastes like dark chocolate and oak, very syrupy and an alcohol aftertaste, but not bad. Not as much of an aftertaste as the DFH WWS, so that is good. Not bad at all on the palate for such a thick stout...It warms up your throat and you might think youre drinking spiked hot chocolate rather than a beer. Overall its impressive...best stout I’ve had...I couldnt drink this stuff everyday though that’s for sure.

Bottle from DTM’s trade to some dude in Indiana. I love pitting beers against each other (if not for superiority, then just comparison), and this one has to be near Alesmith’s Speedway Stout. While Alesmith controlled their palate with the Speedway, Bell’s Expedition Stout just punches you in the face, like Mike Tyson would if you asked him what time it was. This brew was much sweeter than I’ve experienced from the genre, and I tasted the cocoa, vanilla, and coffee (although faint). There’s more dark chocolate there than anything. This one’s complex enough to throw into the Matrix. Great brew!

12oz bottle from Kingdom Liquors (Tampa, FL). Pours completely black and syrupy with a thin tan head that dissipates quickly into nothing. Still, lacing is plentiful on glass. Aroma is full of deep, rich malts, dark chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, and coffee. Flavor is very similar to the aroma with strong notes of dark chocolate, rich, syrupy dark malts, candy sugar, and strong coffee flavors on finish. Just a hint of toffee here and there with notes of dark ripe fruit as well. Syrupy mouthfeel with a slight bitter, coffee finish. Maybe this beer does live up to the hype. . . .

Re-rate: On tap at the Flying Saucer in KC. Pours a Hersey’s syrup black body. Extremely dark and thick. Darkest damn head I’ve ever seen. It’s two finger-widths in thickness and literally looks like a layer of chocolate ice cream. It’s that freakin dark and creamy. Exceptionally lacy on the glass and swirly on the surface. A flick of the wrist rouses the head again throughout the session. Honestly, its sexy and turning me on. I’m more attracted to this beer than the waitress serving this to me and she has a big ass rack, a table-top ass, and long, dark legs. Yet I still think this beer is the sexiest object in the room. The aroma is heavily malted, roasted, chocolate, and coffee. Some very deep dark fruit, licorice, and wine characters too. Sweet, but very smoky. Phenomenal aroma. I can smell this from at least 3 feet away. The flavor hits the tongue and instantly explodes. My tongue crashes into a wall of roasted malts, bitter hops, and dark chocolate. Some licorice, coffee, and a slightly deep sour berry flavor. Lingering mocha and rich dark chocolate flavors beg me for another sip like a chain smoker craves another cigarette. Leaves just a slight boozy warmth. This is a very difficult beer to simply sip and enjoy. I want to attack it carnivorously. The palate is as thick as syrup and as slippery as black ice. A very medium sweetness and an overload of medium to intense roasts and bitter hops. Overall, this is like Nagasaki in a glass. I’m in love again. I rated this as a 5 awhile back and figured my opinions might have changed, however, I see no reason as to why I should downgrade this ogre of a beer. I am still completely astounded as to how unmatched this beer is. I’m in awe. This is hands down the best stout I have ever had. Better than FFF Dark Lord by a landslide. This is the perfect beer. It’s like drinking milk straight from the tit. If you EVER get a chance to try this beer, especially on tap, do it.