Bells Kalamazoo Stout

More than a thousand reviewers grant this ultra thick stout a 99% style rating. And again, I believe the ’experts’ are a bit off. Color, lacing, finish are all top notch but the overly bitter aftertaste takes away from its complete perfection. Still, Bells has another extraordinairy beer to offer.

excellent stout with a moderately thick body, smooth in taste with a smoked, slight roasty after taste.

Shared with Pyrozoid. Pitch black poor with a foamy light brown head. Aromas of licorice, milk chocolate, prunes and molasses. Strong alcohol mouthfeel. Sweet start ending in a long lasting crisp dry finish. Medium body. Flavors of coffee, chocolate, and prune juice on a licorice finish. My expectations we’re maybe a little to high before drinking.

(Dégusté avec french tickler) Une biere noir avec un collet moyennement collant. Senteur de licorisse, chocolat, melasse, miel et dattes. Saveur de chocolat, sucré, le gout de miel qui revient. Une biere qui je croit est surévalué.

Not a beer to hide it’s strengths. Roast overload in the nose, with hints chocolate and fruit. Black body and rich tan head follow. Strong roast flavors, definitely for coffee lovers. A little bit of chocolate in taste as well, finishing salty, and a little too sticky for me.

Dark, little to no head. Fresh smell, not dank, a nice change. Chocolate,mmmm... nice taste...malt meets you then hops greets you. Even, not too watery on the palate. No bad aftertaste. No infighting, nothing cloys...very dynamic as a whole with no overpowering ingredients. Well played. A little salt..maybe from the licorice.

First off, I have to complain about the label... WTF is that hideous graphic, a portrait of a charred corpse?!? I’m not sqeamish, but It’s shockingly offensive enough to demote the beer’s appearance by a point. Exiting the bottle in an oily brown stream, the stout settles in my glass with absolute opaque, brown-fringed inkyness. Gazillions of tiny, tiny bubbles muster merely a ring of dark tan foam and scattered speckles of lace. A surprisingly plain nose exhibits gentle nutty, coppery, and leafy vegetal scents. A bit raisiny as well?? The flavor evokes half-burnt fireplace logs and the daintiest hints of granola and honey... like the aroma, it is dark, rough, and dimensionless. Thick, creamy, mousselike mouthfeel is shattered by chalky, scouring velcro tannins, and ends up feeling like a mouthful of fiberglas insulation. The finish flashes with brief, tinny tartness before settling into a permanent charcoal and salty parmesan rind aftertaste. To summarize: harsh and jagged... a beer as linear, acrid and muddy as chewing dry ground coffee beans... or the ashes from a cheap "sweet" cigar. In a year or two it might mellow to palatability, but will never be remotely enjoyable or complex. I’m completely pissed at this f*cking waste of my money !

Help this one up to a spot light. Dark carmel color to one quarter inch, giving way to inky darkness. Actual frown head. Smell of my grandma’s dark brown molasses bread and black licorice. Very smooth and creamy with a flavor that is lighter than expected, without licorice but with the coffee, molasses and chocolate one would expect. A slightly watery finish, does not really detract, if anything gets you ready for another slip. Very drinkable. Maybe a good one to serve to those who don’t "like dark beer."