Bell's Kalamazoo Stout - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

Lolli1315

Illinois

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pour a dark brown, almost black color. Unfortunately, the person who poured it for me did not get any head to form, so I cannot comment on that.

S- Coffee is what hit me at first, followed closely by chocolate. The roasted dark malts very prevalent as well.

T- Once again, the coffee was the strongest and most forefront in this category. Slight hints of darker chocolate, works very well with the coffee taste. Through all of this, a roasted flavor that works perfect in a stout comes through.

M- Almost chewy, very full bodied, but not the most thick stout.

D- After taking a sip of this stout and setting it down, I immediately wanted to pick it back up. Nice to sit back and relax to this beer.

Notes: I feel as if this stout is one that is perfect for someone looking to start drinking this style.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2009 02:52:41 | More by Lolli1315

sonicdescent

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Served on tap at smokin joes in Pittsburgh.

Appearance is a beauty. Thick, creamy head that dissapears after a few minutes leaving a thick lace. The beer pours very dark and gives the impression of thickness.

Smell is typical for this style, cream/milk with hints of caramel and other sweet scents.

Taste is damn good, delivering what I want in a sweet stout with major blasts of cream.

Mouthfeel is good with a medium to thick body that coats the mouth as it goes down.

Drinkability is a high point, this goes down easy and Would make a good session stout. Would have again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2008 20:22:50 | More by sonicdescent

bonbini26

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

on tap @ monks cafe

Apperance- The beer pours a deep dark black color with a thick frothy brown head that fades to lacing.

Smell- The aroma is good. It has a rich dark malt scent that is dominated with chocolate and roasted barley. It is sweet to the nose and seems a bit creamy.

Taste- The taste is good. It has a dry black malt flavor with some chocolate hints and a semi-sweet finish.

Mouthfeel- The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a fine stout. It has great aroma and flavor a good sessions ale.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2008 15:19:22 | More by bonbini26

nrbw23

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a nice black color with a tan head leaving a nice layered lacing.

S- Very sweet, roasted malts, chocolate and a hint of coffee and nuts.

T- Malty, with the same roasted, coffee, chocolate, and nutty flavors from the aroma. Very malty on the palate, with little to no hop presence.

M- Full bodied, smooth on the palate, low carbonation level, dry finish.

D- Easy to drink, just don't think I could drink a lot of these.

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2008 22:50:51 | More by nrbw23

IronCitySteve

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

My first try at a Milk Stout on tap.

A: Pretty dark and rich black. Head was quite bubbly and thick. Ample lacing.

S: Dark roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, toffee. A rather rich robust smell.

T: Good balance of taste. Lots of chocolate and coffee flavors. From what I have read about Milk Stouts, the flavors seem more robust than normal for this style.

M: Medium body beer. Coats the mouth with a creamy smooth taste.

D: Very drinkable, easy to drink. Not overly sweet.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2008 14:00:22 | More by IronCitySteve

Biggness

New York

4.35/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This certainly was my second favorite taste @ the Eccentric Cafe last night. This poured a dark brown almost black with a tan head. Once I smelled this beer I knew I was in love. Very complex with deep rich coffee smells, chocolate and other yummy things. The taste of this beer was just as delightful as the smell. VERY complex and extremely easy to drink. I was very impressed with the amount of flavor they were able to fit into this beer. VERY WELL done again another beer I will suggest to my local beer distributor

Serving type: on-tap

06-14-2008 12:50:55 | More by Biggness

skibumdc

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

On Tap in my kegerator. Bought from Total Wine & More in Springfield, VA. Totally pitch black with a dark head. Tastes of anise, coffee.
Nice mouthfeel of heavy stout but not too chewy.
I hate when a porter or stout feels watery.

Not much ofr aroma but I probably had it served too cold.
It's a heavy stout but very drinkable. Medium alcohol level, but after a few you know you've been drinking it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2008 14:14:00 | More by skibumdc

SierraGS

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a 16-oz glass at Alibi's last week (enjoyed it so much on Wednesday, I returned on Thursday for two more!) There wasn't much of a head on this beer, but what was there made a nice creamy top to my glass. The color was very dark, but held to the light, a faint dark red came through the glass. The aroma was all about the roasted coffee bean, and this followed through to the flavor. The flavor was additionally complex with dark chocolate, and as others have mentioned, a slight licorice tang. The mouthfeel was a little thin, but the flavor burst made up for that! I was really glad to find this available two nights in a row.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2008 02:49:40 | More by SierraGS

rodrot

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours completely black with a nice 1 inch tan head of foam. Aroma was an enticing mix of roasted coffee beans, licorice and dark chocolate. Taste was very similar to the aroma. Lots of roasted coffee flavor, dark chocolate and a hint of alcohol. Drinkability was damn good, as I love a bold tasting stout. Mouthfeel was medium bodied in the palate, with a slightly sweet finish. Another great beer from Bells.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2007 17:25:38 | More by rodrot

neenerzig

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this fine beer on tap last night. It took over 10 minutes to totally draw it from the tap. It had to be drawn bit by bit, letting the huge light brown head settle before more could be drawn. Served to me in a standard pint glass. This beer is a very dark brown color with a light brown head. When the beer was finally served to me the head was still well over an inch thick. It eventually settled to a very nice surface layer, in fact the best I have ever seen. It stayed nice and thick right down to the last sip. very nice lacing too. Sweet, malty roasted aromas of chocolate and coffee were strongly present but not much else. It tasted pretty much like it smelled, deep roasted sweet malt undertones and the bitter sweetness of dark chocolate and the bitterness of black coffee. Very good balance. I have had this beer in the bottle before and I must say it is almost like having a totally different, and better, beer when on tap. At least that was my experience. Has a nice smooth and creamy mouthfeel with a full body and mild to moderate carbonation. Drinkable in the way a great beer should be. I really hope to have this on tap again!

Eric

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2007 03:59:17 | More by neenerzig

surlyseth

Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

At The Depot in Minneapolis.

Looks brown to black with a deep red glint. Looks like a coke with a somewhat thicker head and less carbonation

[Sniff] Maybe some toast, maybe a little licorice. I wasn't getting much, but what I was getting was interesting enough.

Tastes bitter! ...And then dark chocolate and coffee.

Feels strangely thin. It does lubricate my palette with a syrup long after it's gone. I like that. I guess that's the sweet part.

Probably way too sophisticated for my palette since I was thinking about my next beer halfway through this one. It was just kicking the back of my tongue's ass, and I wasn't into that at the time.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2007 05:05:21 | More by surlyseth

JohnW

United Kingdom (England)

3.65/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured very dark & impenetrable in a pint glass, with fair head which stayed well. Aroma is very much dark chocolate and burnt grains, even a hint of smokeyness in there. Taste reflects the impression from the aroma, dark burnt chocolate, slight smokeyness, bitter finish - but more from the roasted grains than from hops. Texture is medium heavy, and powerful taste makes this a satisfying beer to sample, but never a session beer! Unfortunately the beer was served far too cold in my opinion, which may have muted any sweetness and hidden any other flavours, killing any subtlety I might have missed. Worth trying, though not an 'easy to drink' beer, and surely should not be served ice cold, for its a "winter warmer" type beer!

John W (written and tasted while in Tampa FL June 2007)
B'ham UK

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2007 18:59:52 | More by JohnW

mrasskicktastic

New Jersey

3.3/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

A - Black brew with a large mocha brown head. Strong lacing in thick clumps.

S - Coffee and chocolate, faint licorice.

T - Coffee mostly. Faint licorice too. Aftertaste is mostly a faint chocolate malt.

M - Rather harsh, medium bodied, a tad drying.

D - Okay, I might have again, certainly worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2007 03:07:19 | More by mrasskicktastic

atsprings

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Just had this on tap tonight at Flying Saucer and reviewed from notes. Poured a very opaque black with a thin darkish head that was mostly diminishing and left almost no lacing. Aroma was good and strong, abundant chocolate and black malt. This beer had a rich complex flavor; chocolate, molasses and just a hint of black licorice. There were subtle hops present as well, but you could tell they knew there job was just to balance. The beer had a decent carbonation and the alcohol was well hidden. Overall, this is a great stout, very enjoyable!

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2007 03:12:49 | More by atsprings

cabsandking

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Black color and a firm tan head with excellent retention and heavy lacing to the bottom. The nose is primarily nutty, coffee, and roasted nuts. A lot of malt activity; hearty dark roasted espresso, roasted and charred malts, dry but not too bitter. Other balanced notes of some sour fruit and a strong hop addition that doesn’t detract from the flavor. Buttery caramel notes notes develop half way down bringing together the hop and malt characters. The mouth is chewy with a nice creamy smoothness. The finish is relatively clean with slight lingering nutty roasted malt notes. Solid brew and one that I could drink a few of.

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2007 00:11:18 | More by cabsandking

DaveFL1976

Florida

3.93/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It's ard to describe something this black. But it's topped with a rather thick, super sticky tan head that lasts for a long time. The aroma is of roasted barley. Taste is not as dry as I would have expected given the dry nose. It's dry, but still has a bit of sweetness at the end. Mouthfeel is a bit heavy. Nice carbonation. It's a slow-drinking beer, but not because of the alcohol content. There's a lot of beer in this beer!

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2006 13:36:18 | More by DaveFL1976

karst

Missouri

4.13/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Two fingered brown sugar headover a black brew. Sharp, espresso & dark bittersweet chocolate aroma. Double crack - roasted coffee, roasted barley and balanced hop bitterness in flavor. Very strong chocolate flavor. Full bodied, viscous mouthfeel. Finishes w/ a lingering enjoyable hop and roasted unmalted barley bitterness almost an imperial stout. Put this together with my first beer at Bell's Ecclectic Cafe and I was in heaven

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2006 00:12:25 | More by karst

nortmand

Virginia

3.58/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Blackish red pour, half a finger of tannish head.

Chocolate, rich roasts, dark, ripe fruits. Very balanced aroma.

A bit of residual balancing sweetness, midtongue dark, not burnt malts. By the end of the toungue, there is some acrid burnt flavor.

Medium to full bodied, could throw back a couple. Not bad, not groundbreaking, but pretty good on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2006 22:03:14 | More by nortmand

cubedbee

Maryland

4.3/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First Bell's Stout I've had the pleasure of trying, on tap at Klinger's in Hanover PA. Served in a pint glass, this beer is absolutely pitch black, no light at all coming through, a finger of beige head, nice retention and solid lacing. Smell isn't as strong as expected, a light roasted malt and some slight espresso. Taste is excellent, a nice roasted malt, cocoa, smooth milk chocolate, and a nice finish with some slight hops and a bitter lingering roast. Excellent balance between the sweet lactose and the bitter roast. Despite the thick chewey mouthfeel, I found myself downing this rather quickly. This is an amazing stout, I wish I could drink this more often.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2005 21:09:55 | More by cubedbee

battlekow

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the Landmark 1850.

Starring Bell's Kalamazoo Stout as...Blacula! Big, rocky, determined chocolate-colored head--about as good as a stout can look. Smells fairly caramelly and lactose-sweet, but not really strongly of anything. Tastes strongly of toffee, a roasted, buttery sweetness, with a little hint of rotten prunes and raisins underneath. Yeah, diacetyl+roasted+caramel=toffee. Mouthfeel is nice and full, creamy. Overall, easy to drink, but not especially interesting. The Java Stout is better.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2005 04:32:21 | More by battlekow

ahking

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Great drinkable stout! One of the best tasting and balanced stouts I have ever had. Smooth, malty, roasty with a hint of chocolate. These flavors really come out as it warms. A nice 6.50% ABV. Pours rather thick (but not too thick) with a creamy-tan head. Lacing goes all the way down the glass. Recommended!

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2005 05:20:25 | More by ahking

soilguy

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pint glass arrived with a nice, creamy, thick tan head. I must say that the appearance of that glass as the server brought it was the best part of the beer. A nice lace coated the glass from the top to the last drop. It has a slightly sweet, faintly licorice odor. It also had a fairly noticeable licorice flavor that I personally didn't care for. A nice roastiness tried to chase it away, and that is what saved the beer and made it drinkable. It did have a full, substantial mouthfeel. Overall, I thought it was adequate but unremarkable.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2004 00:18:54 | More by soilguy

DrunkMcDermott

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On premise at KBC. Darkest of the stouts we had on our weekend pub crawl across Michigan. A deep coffee roast flavor and appealing body. I suspect this might have been better if we bought it bottled and let it age. Don't know why really, but I just wasn't as impressed by these beers as everyone else. Perhaps it was the somewhat cold serving environment at the Eccentric.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2003 14:42:50 | More by DrunkMcDermott

sponberg

New York

4.47/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Nearly opaque, brownish black with a tan head that dissipates rather quickly, but leaves lace to the bottom of the glass. A good, roasty, slightly coffeelike malt nose - mmmm!

Is the Michigan DEP hiring? I could drink this happily all day long. Bittersweet with a roast coffee and slightly chocolatey/toffeelike sweetness. Very creamy, almost oatmeal-oily like mouthfeel. Then it dries out towards the finish, with the alcohol making its presence known in the background. Beautiful. This could quite rapidly become a favorite.

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2003 18:25:03 | More by sponberg

TheDM

Indiana

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Good lacing on the pour. The head was a nice light color made up of small bubbles which quickly disappeared. Its body was a opaque black color. Its taste was that of some carbonation with a strong coffee and roasted caramel flavors. It went down very smoothly.

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2003 09:10:14 | More by TheDM