Bells Rye Stout

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Stout
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Serve in English pint

UPDATED: FEB 24, 2006 02 Bottle. Pours a magnificent brown with some lighter ruby tinges peeking through. One of the best looking heads Ive seen on a beer, big and creamy and has a wonderful beige/mocha appearance. Aroma is equally huge, sweet and coffee like, with a slight hint of carroway. Tons of lacing in the glass. Begins surprisingly sweet, but just when it may get too sweet, there is the classic bells stout coffee flavor to the rescue. Flavor dries out and there emerges a big, medium sweet, lighlty acidic flavor of alcohol mixed with grains and lots of spice. As the beer warms, the rye flavor is quite noticeable. At first, I passed this one off as just a Kalamazoo Stout with some rye flavor. But this beer has its own personality. The sweetness stays on the palette, even as the coffee flavor comes through. Decent amount of hops throughout, with some roasted barley as well. As it warms to around 58-60, there is a distinct and tasty rye flavor on the finish. It reminds me of Sam Smiths Oatmeal mixed with Kalamazoo Stout (with a rye aftertaste). Good.

2002 bottle shared with Muzzlehatch on 2/18/06. My above rating is pretty on par. Didnt find any alcohol, but the rye and a very dry chocolate covered coffee-bean note are truly wonderful, balancing light caramel sweetness, hints of dry vanilla and still a soothing, if slightly leaner texture. Oxidation is only lightly present and quite enjoyable (nutty, dry marzipan like notes and touches of madeira).

Dark black color. Medium head. Aroma is roasted malts and slightly spicy. Medium bodied stout. Deep roasted malts are chocolate and coffee. The rye adds a nice spiciness to the beer. Well balanced. Smooth taste. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

UPDATED: NOV 20, 2009 Bottle: pours black with some chocolate brown highlights when held to the light. Small tan head that lingers as a thin line. Aroma is very nice, dark chocolate, slight roastiness, and defenetly some rye very enjoyable. Flavor is a slight almost smokey roast, good dark chocolate, nice drying in the finish from the rye. Very smooth drinking stout. this beer maybe the smoothest stout i have had that was not on nitro and still maybe smoother than those. damn perfect palate for a stout.

Pours no head into my english pint. Has a gamey roast smell, but wow this is delicious and smooth. What better way to get your daily grains? Strange label; is that Ed Gein?

on tap - Sergio’s (Louisville) Exceptional! Dark, typical appearing stout. Taste is of burnt caramel and butter rum, buttery taste grows beautifully through a clean carbonated finish. Every bit of the standard set by Expedition and Kalamazoo (also by Bell’s).

Another good stout from Bell’s. Not their best, but still better than most. Very smooth.

On tap, Cap Ale House Innsbrook. Deep brown/black, nice slight head persisted well. Aroma primarily of chocolate. Flavor surprisingly complex, lots of chocolate, a peppery note, and a fantastic creamy mouthfeel. The rye gave this a great slickness. As it warms, an anise hop note emerges on the finish. Really outstanding brew, loved this.

Very dark brown body and a small creamy beige head with an oily fade. Characterful aroma of lightly roasted grain and coffee beans, plus fresh rye. Flavor of cream, chocolate, caramel, and warm spicy cinnamon rye. Semi-sweet with low roasty bitterness and a smooth, even body. This is a ridiculously drinkable bantam stout that pairs well with all manner of seafood.