Bells Porter

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Porter
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

A very dark brown color with a tan head that settles into a thin layer of bubbles on the surface. Great dark roasted barley aroma with elements of roasted nuts, coffee, cocoa, yeast, and toasted bread. Rich, complex flavors of dark roasted malt, caramel, some hops, and a bit of cocoa. Fairly sweet, but balanced by a dry, bitter hoppiness. Palate was slightly sticky, but finished quite dry. Really easy to drink, this would be a great session beer for me. It’s a shame it’s so hard for me to get!

Pours dark with a thick brown head. Arpoma has notes of roasted malt and coffee. Similar flavor with then addition of chocolate. Medium body.

Rated 3/4/07: Aroma is toasted nuts and roasted malt, not too robust but enjoyable nonetheless. Dark pour that doesn’t let any light pass, thick tan head with thick streaks of lacing. Not too thick like a stout, but the mouthfeel is very creamy and velvety. Flavor is a nice heaping dose of roasted malts, dark with bitter and sweet flavors combined. A hint of vanilla is noticed as well. The subtle taste soon fades omitting much trace of an aftertaste. I like my porters more robust with a lingering roastiness and Bells’ offering leaves me short on this aspect, but it’s still a decent quality porter.

Bottle from Fox and Hound: Pours dark as one would expect, with a decent brown head. The smell is a bit roasty, but not much stands out in the smell. Taste is a bit of burnt roasts, not dark, but burnt roasts. There is a taste of burnt chocolate in this one. Tastes alright, but not fantastic.

Poured from bottle, batch 7784. Dark brown, huge foamy tan head. Smelled sweet and malty. LOVELY smell! Taste was very light for a porter. Sweet malts, roasted nuts, coffee and just a tad of chocolate...I prefer a lighter porter myself, so this was very good for me. Easily a drinkable beer on any occasion!

Pours a deep, opaque brown, almost black, with a small, creamy, light brown head. The aroma is of roasted coffee and toffee with a fruity raisin undertone. The mouthfeel is a bit thin and soft becoming almost flat rather quickly. The flavor is dominated by roasted coffee, with light bittersweet chocolate. I also detect a slight fruity flavor, like cherries, at the malty and slightly dry finish. I found this to be a very tasty porter, and now, after reading a few other reviews, I find it interesting to see how different people find so many different things in this beer. A great after-dinner beer and definitely one that I’ll recommend to friends.

12oz bottle. Pours a dark brown center; light tan head with good retention. Plenty of milk chocolate and marshmallow in the aroma. Medium carbonation. Medium-to-full, chocolately mouthfeel: milk chocolate and roasted malts; hints of an oily smokiness; my archetype of a solid porter; not over-the-top, but very tasty. Medium, milk chocolate and roasted malt finish.

Bottle: Dark brown pour with a large tan head. Nice lacing. Nose is roasted malt, coffee, and light cocoa. The taste is a smooth blend of mocha, roasted malt, coffee, and bittersweet chocolate. Nothing really stands out, but this porter is very well balanced. Thank you to Eithcubes for sending this in trade.