Bells Expedition Stout

12oz, Smells earthy with a heavy alcohol smell acompanying, also has a bit of espresso smell. Pours Ebony with a thin reddish-brown head. On the palate it’s silky smooth and very creamy. Overall taste starts off with malty goodness, as suggested by the smell the, alchohol has a strong presence in the taste as well, finish is moderately hoppy.

Bottle. Pours pitch black with ruby tints around the rim. Even with a vigorous pour, the head is fairly small and dissipates almost immediately leaving very little lacing. The smell has a quick hint of dark chocolate and espresso up front before giving way to a massive roasted malt and molasses sweetness with a noticeable alcohol burn in the nostrils. Hops are barely noticeable as far as I can tell. There really is a lot going on with the taste. The initial taste of chocolate and coffee gives way to the aforementioned sweet molasses malt flavor followed by dark fruits in the form of raisins and plums. The finish has a slight hop bitterness and a definite alochol burn. Mouthfeel is extremely smooth and creamy with very little carbonation. Very thick and decadent. Drinkability is OK for the style though I couldn’t see myself drinking more than one in a sitting. This is a very good RIS but probably not in the top few I have tasted. EDIT 11/3/09: Currently drinking a bottle from 18 months ago (batch 8311) and it’s an exceptional beer. I won’t rerate but, damn, it’s a much better beer than my earlier rating indicates.

12 oz. bottle - received multiple bottles via trades in recent months and sampled thanks to after4ever about a month ago; shortly after that taste, i sat down and savored a bottle from batch 8183; pours thick and creamy brown; chocolate colored head fades quickly; roasty and bitter sweet; alcohol is obvious; thin texture and oily smooth, but packs a mouthful; drinks deceptively smooth for a big beer; flavors of coffee, bitter chocolate and sweet fruit; quite a bit of sweetness overall; dangerously smooth and a totally kick ass impy

9/18/08 update - Batch 8311; aromas much more bitter in this batch; smoothness is there and gives off a sticky finish; sweetness less pronounced than batch 8183; just wonderful, but i might have been too eager to try another bottle as a little more time would get this just the way i like it

Toasted malt on the nose with hints of dark chocolate. Pours like a dark, but thin oil. Up front malty and rich. Finish is full, big hop, coffee and dark chocolate.

Pours black with ruby highlights and a brown head. Aromas of burnt malts. Sweet burnt malt flavor with alcohol coming through slightly. Coffee and chocolate flavors are also noticable. Full body with minimal carbonation and a thick, creamy mouthfeel. An excellent imp stout.

Pours a very dark brown with a small mocha colored head. Aroma is malty and has hints of chocolate and a bit of alcohol. Mouthfeel is like no other beer i have had before and is almost a milky feeling. Definitely the most complex beer i have had in my limited experience. I will stretch out drinking this 6-pack and enjoy it.

All time fave, this one via trade as I am in ny. Big and creamy the pour almost puts the gravity bar to shame. Melo sweet aroma dark malt and fair Choco hops. Smooth and ballance with just a bit of booz. Great long finish

12oz. bottle. thanks to maltomeal. nice dark syrupy pour. little to no head.aroma is strong malt with smokiness hidden away and slight chocolate oak tones. taste is huge with alcohol and malty thickness. coats your tongue with goodness. lasting aftertaste.