Bells Expedition Stout

I hate molasses. Pours pitch black with a large dark tan head. Nose is dusty with strong molasses tones. Flavor is oh so smooth. Strong molasses flavors prevail, but stay perfectly balanced. Feel is thick in the liquid and thin on the carbonation. This is a beautiful stout that is a hard one to surpass. Amazingly crafted and worth seeking out...at all costs.

It had a little, orange head. Has a rich coffee and toffee aroma with some ginger. There is also a hint of vanilla, very rich. Flavor is slightly sweet with a little alcohol kick. Coffee, toffee and deep roasted flavors are hiding in here. Some slight vanilla and mushrooms are also here.There was no lacing in my glass. Excellent all around. I have had this many times and I am impressed more each time. It has more balance than a lot of impy stouts. Because of the consistentcy of this great beer at various stages, I am bumping up my rating. This is THE definitive imperial stout.

Bell’s Expedition Stout pours to an ink black, dark as midnight, opaque, color, this beer is as black as shoe polish. The head is big, tan, thick, and creamy. The nose on this beer is stunning. TITANIC malt aromas and hop aromas flood the nose. Big roasty and chocolate malt aromas marry with aromas of black licorice, and peppery waves of alcoholic strength. If that is not enough there is HUGE hop aromas as well. Bell’s Expedition has two times the malt of their Kalamazoo Stout, but has a whopping five times the hops!! The hop aromatics in this beer, are so fresh, piney, and citric. It does battle with the malt for your nostrils attention. Now for the palate. AMAZING. Huge malt flavors of chocolate malt, roast, coffee, expresso, licorice, toffee, and vanilla coat the tongue. The body is as big as mother Russia. This is a rich, hefty, lush body, very viscous, like motor oil. The finish. As incredible as the start. Big chocolate malt, expresso, licorice, and roasted malt flavors lead into a big, long, dry, citric, hop bitter finish. At five times the hops, and Bell’s loves hops, this beer has to be 100 IBU’s. The finish is very warming as well. Bell’s Expedition clocks in at about 10-11% abv, this is some potent stuff. Words can not do this beer justice. One has to experience a beer like this. I know it was worth a trip to Michigan for me. As stated, this is an amazing beer. It is rich and complex, with just layer, after layer of flavors. A beer as decadent as this should be sipped and savored. If you want to match this with food, only desert would do. This would go perfect with a big thick slice of death by chocolate cake, dark chocolates, and chocolate pudding.

Pours black and thick like chocolate milk. Best beer to date. I like this one because you can’t taste the alcohol. Beats Stones Russian Imperial stout. On my second case from Shangy’s. Only 48 dollars a case.

I’ve had it bottle and tap and both are amazing. Tap was definitely preferred though. Pours very thick and completely opaque. Very chocolately and smokey in aroma. It tastes extremely strong but in a very good way. Try not to drink to many of these at once though.