Bells Expedition Stout

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

This stout is deep brownish-black, and absolutly thicker then all hell. You cannot see throught it at all. Put it up to the light, nothing? Its like motor oil. I must have a brand new batch, cuz the super dark tan head grew fast up the edge of the glass. One of the darkest heads I've ever seen, very dark tan much like the color of a caramel candy, and it was a nice frothy head with some bigger bubbles on the opposite side from which I poured it. Some large patches of tight tan lace cling forever. Eventually the head shrunk down leaving a nice settled coat of caramel colored head just on top. I can't quite place the overwhelming aroma, I think its a liquorish or something, maybe saffron? Very puzzling, but man it is nice. Has an extremely fresh quality, very lightly hinted dark roasted barley and coffee. Seems to be complex, but I can't seem to pin point what that smell is. It reminds me kind of like a cough syrup or something. Taste is damn good, super smooth and silky, nicely coats and has a bit of sweet bitterness in the finish. Heavily roasted barley malt with some coffee and chocolate in there. I don't know what it is about that smell, because it transfers over to the taste a little and is super good and interesting. I'm going to do some kitchen research and try to find that smell. The feel is perfect for a stout, very smooth, rich, silky, bold, and heavy and has that wierd little sweet twinge in the finish and leaves your tongue with a bit of bitterness on it. This an amazing stout and is very soothing to drink. That powerful 10% is hardly noticeable in the smell or taste, but its there. It sinks in about 3/4 of the way through. Definately pick some up, its well worth it and a must for stout fans.

Wow!! one hell of a stout, lotsa nice dark roasted malts, pours very thick with lotsa head , nice bitter espresso flavour, reallu nice imperial stout would do well with some aging!!! At Beer bistro

12oz bottle to celebrate rating #800. Seems like awhile since I did a proper milestone beer. I really wasn’t terribly impressed with Bells’s other stouts, but this is pretty damn good stuff. I’m going to skip the beer color and go right to the head because that’s really all that sets stout apart; I mean, you know it’s black, right? has a good sized brown head off the bat, but settle into a solid ring of tan foam in a couple minutes. Big, vinous, chocolate, port-like aroma, with cherry and other fruity accents. Like a delectable black forest cake in a glass really. The flavor is the same rich dark chocolate with fruity, port-like complexity. You can tell that there are plenty of hops to balance the malt, but they don’t really protrude at all. There is a light alcoholic bite in the finish that reminds you how strong this is and dries enough sugar off on your tongue to invite the next sip. Thick, mouth-coating body. Definitely the most balanced imperial stout that I have had to date. Amazing beer actually.

On tap at Redlight, served in a wine glass by Teej. Pours inky black with a small tan head popping up out of the glass, that settled quickly. Aroma is chocolate, cognac, and cherry with a hint of a warming alcohol. Big thick and creamy in the mouth with lots and lots of hops cherry and fresh ground coffee. Nice carbonation for a stout, not flat, sparkles in the mouth. Finishes very clean for so thick a taste, then gets a little lingering hops and chocolate as it warms, but doesn’t get cloying. I was only suppose to have one and head home, but had to have a second one. Simply beautiful.

Deep ebony color, brown head. Fuller aroma, dark chocolate, heaps of roasted malt, prune, and actually some hops. Full flavored, dark fruit, dark chocolate, light coffee, pretty roasty, light alcohol and good hoppy bitterness to balance. Fuller bodied, some alcohol present. Really good stuff. Thanks rudolf.

Pours black w/ a mediUm sized, creamy froth. Head retention is good resulting in a full canopy and a fluffy ring. Aroma is very potent w/ sweet malts and chocolate cake. Full nectar w/ full, creamy effers that expand on the palate. A fat marbled, malty backbone is quickly slapped down by an army of Robo Hops. As the fight for dominance ensues a few nuances are thrown in the mix. Flavors of cakebread, roasted coffee bean, vanilla, coconut, and molases are thrown about like rag dolls as the mighty competitors call a truce. This war could go on forever. The balance is set and my palate is very well satisfied. The finish is long w/ a citrus rind bittering lingering. Highly recommended.

Vintage 1999: Dark brown stout with no head at all. Aroma is intense: oily, coffee grinds, touch of hops, plenty of roast and a solid amount of dark chocolate rounded off by notes of dark fruit. Body is very smooth, almost barleywineish. Alcohol is prevalent on the tongue, and so it should be, this is at least 11.5% ABV. Intense roasty notes complimented by coffee, dark fruit and chocolate. Ends bitter, with just a touch of hops. Man, this stout has it all; balance, intensity and is a stellar example of this fine style. Defeats Nils Oscar as my new favorite imperial stout. Absolutely incredible, the only negative aspect is that I’ll probly never have this vintage again. The memory will have to suffice....

Black w/ little carbonation & almost no head. Rich complex aroma of roasted coffee, molasses, fruit (cherries?) licorice, wood, & vanilla. Thick, oily, chewy feel. Intense flavour of roast coffee, chocolate, fruit (cherries, dates, raisins), wine, earth and hops.