Bells Rye Stout

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Stout
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Serve in English pint

UPDATED: APR 10, 2006 Original 12 oz. Bottle at the Michigan House - Calumet, MI. I sit down at the bar, with the coolers of beer on the floor, beneath the counter in front of me and immeadiately I spot the ghostly label of this bottle. I’m blown away that this is still available. Pours a pitch black with a rime of whitish. A little salt and sea aroma, with a rich burst of cream and mellowed hops in alcohol. Some root beer and brandy shine through, with a hint of flowers. Flavor starts as a static salt and roasted coffee, quite watery, but then as the beer moves across the tounge and warms, it explodes into a fury of unencumbered chocolate and fresh ground espresso. Heavily depressed dark chocolate beans erupt into a glowing mouthful of rich notes mingling with light warming alcohols and gentle aged fruit notes. Pretty incredible profile for a beer that’s been sitting at a bar for a few years. Finishes fantastically with fresh coffee and toast. Palate is sweet, but peculiar. It starts like salt water, but then morphs into this hard-to-describe panacea of textures with some oily coating properties and a hint of dryness. Leaves the palate feeling refreshed, but also wanting and tasting more. Re-rate On tap at the Michigan House - Calumet, MI I’ve now had the fresh batch on. More sweetness and caramel, with a dusky and light must fruit and grain, with a touch of woody leather on the tongue. Toothy grain. Some creamy bourben notes., with a different edge. Rye really adds a nice level of complexity.

Bottle thanks to Tsotsi. Pours a dark brown with a small light tan head. Aroma of roasted malt, a touch of coffee, sweet malt. Flavor of sweet roasted malt with a touch of spice although I can’t really say that the rye is very prominent. Pretty tasty overall (although I was hoping for just a little more). 7/4/8/4/14[ 3.7/5]

Light roasted nose, opaque brown color, low foamy head. Chocolate malt, wheat in the middle, sherry flavors too. Light coffee end. Thinish. Very nice balance and different overall.

12oz bottle-This is one of the bells stouts that i have been dying to try for years now. Finally, this beer arrived in the St Louis area. dark brown with a small very tight kacki head. chocolate, hazelnut, burnt malt (black patent) and some spicy caracter akin to dark pumpernickel bread, chocolate, light char, anise dominate the flavors. body is a little on the light side, but the flavors are well distributed. Could be a porter to alot of people, at least body and appearance wise. finish is chocolate and light roast. I definately like it, but from what people have told me, its not as good as when it was produced 4-5 years ago.

Dark almost soda like appearance - mild carbonation. Faint aroma of roasted rye. Mild taste with some rye and sweet fruit.

Cloudy dark brown with a large tan quickly dissolving crown. Aroma of roasted malt, coffee, rye and a touch of peat. Taste of rye, chocolate and roasted sweet malt. Smooth with low bitterness. Sweetens up a bit as it warms. The rye is a nice addition, I like this one.

12oz bottle pours black with a cascading creamy tan head that stays pretty well and laces well on the glass. Aromas of roasted almost burnt malt and coffee. Flavor is nice roasted malts as well. Dark roasted coffee comes through as well also just touch of toffee. Palate is smooth and creamy. Medium bodied. Amazingly drinkable. Would work well as an everyday stout.. Bells continues to impress me..

Bottle from sliffy. Thanks Dan! Pours a reddish brown with a small tan head that fades fast. Like others mention, the aroma is apparent upon popping the cap. Smells of hops, some rye, roasted malts, a bit of lactic acid.. Flavor is surprisingly slightly sour, and would probably prove undrinkable for some hardcore stouties, but this sour head takes it in stride...well at first. As it warms, a few more notable stout-like characteristics pop up, but mostly the sour/lactic acid/rye combo takes hold and does not let go. Pretty damn thin mouthfeel for a stout and it definitely detracts from my enjoyment. No batch # on this guy, I wonder how old it is? Would like to try this again fresh and re-rate.