Bells Porter

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Porter
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Pours out of the bottle a dark black with a brownish tinge to it. About half an inch of brownish tan head. Mouthfeel is great with a taste of coffee and chocolate.

When does the porter end and the stout begin and, vice versa, when does the stout end and the porter begin.

Sitting pretty in my Bells pint glass, deep brown-blacks laze about beneath a voluminous khaki head which settles into a thin velveteen layer. Holding her up to the light, I can see burnt streaks of amber and mahogany along the sides and bottom. A pint glass isn’t usually the most beer friendly glass, but in the case of a simple porter, so to speak, she will do just fine. Rich chocolates melt before my nose while fresh cream is mixed in amidst a sprinkling of fresh vanilla root. Café late, anyone? An essential to any café delight is, of course, the espresso, and my Bells Porter hasn’t forgotten this crucial ingredient. Freshly drawn espresso enriches the air while her soft crema exudes burnt caramel and earth. Licorice root, chocolate covered espresso beans, and further notes of fresh vanilla bean and creamy milk chocolate leads my lips to fully embrace hers. Mm! Mm! Mm! Chocolate covered espresso beans lead me right into warm espresso, vanilla bean, and a long lingering finish of chocolate café late delights. A few minutes pass and as I breathe, as all living beings do, my breath is a bastion of the finest milk chocolate delights ever to grace mankind. Standing stalwart in the background is chocolate covered graham crackers and rich earth black as pitch, while each quaff is marked ceremoniously by a crackling patchwork of lace. Furthering our journey together, there is a growing presence of dark spices and charred wood which softly dries my palate, but never parches. I am in Bells Porter heaven and she is decadent milk chocolates, vanilla cream, espresso, graham cracker, earth, and charred wood. Delicious.

If I do recall, the Bells Porter is also quite the pleasing session Porter. Let’s see…yep, her ABV is only 5.6% which means if you’re not quite satisfied with one glass, by all means, please feel free to go back and have another. I insist. You won’t regret it; that is a promise.

Pours nearly black with brown head. Roasty aromas are present on the nose. On the palate there’s a smoky quality that pairs with the roasty flavors as well. Some malt sweetness is there too, perhaps some spent coffee grounds also. Surprisingly drinkable for such a roasty porter.

Bottle, batch number 9420. Pours a dark black with crimson highlights and a small tanned beige head. Chocolate, light roasted bitterness and a touch of plum sweetness. Medium bodied and full of roast. Not as smooth as could be, but still tasty, and paired up really well with butter cookies. Finishes up with a light roast bitterness and some more chocolate and almost vanilla tones.

Poured dark with a tan head, aroma was woody and smoky. Tastes of slight coffee and chocolate with some smoke in the finish. Overall a decent porter with average qualities.

I like the drawing on the label of a young man holding oversized fresh grains and hops. Fairly yeasty aroma. A nicely balanced porter, with coffee and smokey malt flavors, and an unexpected light, sweet, minty finish. Very nice mouthfeel. This is a good brew, and one I could easily have more than one of.

Pours a dark opaque brown, almost black with a nice, tall tan head that quickly disapates. A light roasted, malty aroma. Not too strong. Crisp, lightly carbonated; A toasted, mildly woody or nutty flavor with slight hoppy notes at the finish. Milder all around than anticipated, though this could be due a stuffed nose. A good beer, but fairly unremarkable.

bottle, pours dark brown, mocha head. Aroma, chocolate malt, caramel, nice roast. flavor, chocolate malts, some grains, caramel, finishes with a mild hop presence adding a tad of bitterness and freshness