Bells Kalamazoo Stout

Bottle thanks to tjthresh. Pours a black/dark brown pour. Iced coffee, caramel, roasted malt, and hints of cocoa. Nice mouth feel with some sweetness and a balanced roasty flavor. Quite good.

draft at ecentric cafe. smooth, creamy, nice balance of bitterness and sweetness. would drink again.

Appearance: As is typical with stouts, Bell’s Kalamazoo stout pours the color of black coffee. It doesn’t have much of a head from the initial pour, but the lacing is rather impressive. A good swift swirl of the glass will help pull out about a finger of stunning light brown frothy head that (again) disappears quickly. (4) Smell: This beer smells very good. I’ve poured this one a bit cold, but right out of the glass I get an explosion of roasted espresso. This is followed quickly by caramel and bittersweet chocolate aromas. There is also a nice bit of rich tobacco and floral components that gives this beer quite a bit of depth. Taste: Kalamazoo tastes identical to the way it smells, which is a very good thing. There is lots of soft bitterness right away that helps carry the strong espresso and chocolate components down your throat. The tobacco from the nose comes across on the tongue, too, which is a very nice touch. For a 6% ABV beer, this thing is packed to the teeth with deep, dark roasty flavors. Mouthfeel: Although there is a ton of roasted flavors in the mouth, the beer feels a lot lighter than you’d expect. The bitterness is only faintly detected by the palate, and there is not a lot of heaviness that coats the mouth. I would even say this is one of the lighter stouts I’ve had; which is good considering how drinkable this is. Overall: Bell’s Brewery continues to amaze me. I’ve yet to drink one of their beers that isn’t extremely inspired and worthy of my hard earned cash. The Kalamazoo stout, along with the heavier Expedition stout, is a very solid stout. Where the Expedition stout is meant to be more of a sipper, the Kalamazoo is something that can be enjoyed at a bit quicker pace. With such a low ABV, this is one that can be ready to go with only about 30 minutes in the fridge.

12 oz bottle courtesy of the Binnys Singles Rack (Orland Park, IL). A beer I’ve been meaning to get at for awhile now. Pours a largely pitch black opaque pour with fairly big brown head that cakes, laces, and moves down to a decent or moderate amount. Aromas are a nice combination of roasted malts, vanilla, creamy chocolate, caramel, light coffee. Initial is a good follow through, medium bodied, nothing overbearing, bringing on some good roasted flavors, bitter chocolate and coffee. Finish brings in some more of that creamy vanilla and caramel, but largely the sweet stays away. Instead depending on roast and bitterness. The beer is smooth and creamy in body, yes.. but stays true to roast. Nothing overbearing or burnt though. Great stout, through and through.

Sampled in Lexington, Ky. A really good stout. Drank out of the bottle. Not too much head, but a really nice smokey taste with a bit of licorice. A really good brew. Drank at room temperature. Quality.

Thanks DrHomolka! Thick black, sandy 2 finger head had some dull grey in it, maybe I had licorice on the brain. All I get is black malt on the nose though. Lighter in body than it looks, lots of roast, balanced and sustained, tastes much deeper than only 6%

Bottle. Poured solid black with no head. Aroma is malty with some rasin and chocolate. Flavor is sweet malt, coffee, dark fruit and a hint of smoke. Medium bodied, creamy mouthfeel. Somewhat dry finish. Good stout.

Finally back in LaSalle County (IL). Welcome back old friend. Dark black pour. Can’t see light through it when held up next to a light. Brown head that leaves a nice lace as the beer goes down. Roasted malt aroma with a little sweetness. Little sweetness in the taste, little bitterness, and a slight dry finish.