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

kunzbrew

Massachusetts

4.72/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This brew pours an opaque black with a monster tan head that when it reduces slowly leaves a rocky mountains in the glass. The lace that is left behind is almost poetic.

The smell of hops, robust malts and coffee fill the nose. The undertones of the malt hit the nose strong but the robustness of malt takes the cake.

This full bodied stout has a butter flavor that is nice to match the strong coffee and robust malt flavor kick ass. The twang of coffee is the strongest flavor that fills the palatte.

This is another great brew from this great brewery.

Cheers

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2003 18:59:45 | More by kunzbrew

stoutman

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Nearly opaque as most stouts are. The smell is not as strong as some of the other Kalamazoo stouts, but this stout has some nice flavors of roasted malts. The flavor is somewhat coffee-like with a burnt barley bitterness in the finish. This is a great stout, and is wonderfully balanced with chocolate and caramel flavors as well. Bottom line is that this is a super roasty stout with a nice full body.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2003 18:29:37 | More by stoutman

marburg

Michigan

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

Hands down Bell's top stout in my opinion. Gorgeous black color with a nice, puffy tan head. Aroma is of burnt Cocoa Krispies. Tastes like chocolate with a strong roasted flavor reminiscent of a Shakespeare Stout or some similar full-flavored brew. Decent hop presence. Very well balanced beer, and balance is something I think some of the other Bell's stouts lack.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2003 18:17:45 | More by marburg

StevieW

Florida

4.88/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle. Who's the guy on the label ? Black nothing brown about it. Creamy full tan densly bubbled head. Super smooth Hershey's milk chocolate smell. Taste is a sharpley contrasted yet perfectly balanced combination of smooth, creamy chocolate malt, and slighty burnt bitter coffee charge. There is just a whisper of burnt bitter candied apples, or more like plums. Just a hint of medicinal flavors, but it reminds its a stout, IMO. Hop bitterness finish up quickly, leaving your taste buds, aching for more. Medium bodied, noticable carbonation may set some off, make it too thin or bubbly, less viscous than some stouts, but not me. Felt perfect going down. Overall a creamy super smooth, perfectly balances chocolate sweetness and striking bitterness just at the last second. We've got a winner here. Yep it earns my highest compliment......Magic in a glass !

Part of the MJR Blockbuster deal.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2003 18:09:37 | More by StevieW

Bierman9

New Hampshire

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

Inky, jet-black in color, a hard pour induced a frothy, albeit short-lived, tan head. Bubbles were fine and tightly-packed, and left a respectable lacing in the glass.
The nose emitted a roasty, chocolate aroma, along with a decent amount of malty sweetness.
The body was about medium, all-in-all. Could be a bit more, imho, for a stout, though. I like 'em full-bodied! It did, still, have a favorable smoothness, almost bordering on creaminess. There are some out there, though, with more of a velvety feel on the tongue.
Quite nice flavor-wise! A welcome mix of chocolate, coffee, and sweetness, though the sweetness is not as pronounced as others, Mackesons, for example. A slight bit of hops shine forth at the end, with some mild piny qualities.
This is a fine bier, and eminently drinkable! Not to be turned away. Big time thnx to jeffboo for the surprise sample of Bells!! Prosit, Bro!!

overall: 4.15
appearance: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | mouthfeel: 4 | drinkability: 4.5

509

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2003 14:34:09 | More by Bierman9

Sixpack595

Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Another great Stout from Bells. I was surprised at the amount of head, it poured a thick chunky head that lasted the whole pint (more than any of the other Bell's Stouts I tried tonight). Very dark with tan head.Strong coffee, and chocholate milk flavor. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2003 23:46:44 | More by Sixpack595

JohnnyDuvel

Florida

4.03/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reminds me of Shakespeare stout with the combination of chocolate/coffee tase and hops bitterness. I think the Shakespeare has an edge in flavor, but this is a good stout (I liked it at least as much as the Victory Storm King). Pours a nice head with good retention, dark as night, with an appealing roasted aroma. Bitter, but not overly so. Fairly carbonated, with a medium body. I still prefer the smoothness of a Samuel Smith over the drier, more bitter micro-stouts, but this is an enjoyable beer, well worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2003 23:39:25 | More by JohnnyDuvel

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.55/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Color is deep, dark black, black as a licorice whip, and, we find, it tastes like one, too. Good, thick, boggy and bubbly brown head. And an aroma that is roasted flavors to gills, as charred and heady a stout this side of an Imperial. Full of flavorful connotations, chocolate, coffee, more rich flavors, mollasses, syrup, anise.
Hugely flavorful hop bitterness jumps right on board the palate and swims through the mouth. Full, thick, rewarding, delicious. This one sticks in the mouth like peanut butter, constantly abiding finish. Perfect balance, with massive amounts of everything, it contains certain essences of Imperial stouts, without going overboard in alcohol.
I'm not sure if the style milk/cream/sweet stout is appropriate here, but then I'm not sure what to call it, myself.
Who cares? It's delicious!

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2003 17:13:59 | More by feloniousmonk

francisweizen

Australia

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First of all, thanks to Sakaroo for the sample. This beer is simply brtilliant. After my first few encounters with this style, I thought I did not like this stlye at all...BOY! was i wrong! This beer pours a dark black colour, as dark as night, with a nice frothy white head on top of the liquid. This beer has wonderful aromas of bitter chocolate, dark fruits, malts, roasted tones, and even caramel. This reminds me of a beer version of a starbucks caramel frappucino!!! This beer tastes like it smells which is an absolutlely wonderful thing. The mouthfeel is just right: not too thick, not too thin, making this a very drinkable session stout.
This brewery rocks!
I need more of there beers...help me!
cheers!,
F.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2003 06:41:12 | More by francisweizen

jeffboo

Minnesota

4.55/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A really nice stout from one of my favorite brewers. A very opaque black brew with dark brown head appears out of the bottle. it has a huge roasted malt aroma, espresso with bitter chocolate and a slight whiskey undertone in the nose. The flavor is a great balance between the roasted malt and sweet malt with a long roasty finish. It finishes dry with a nice espesso acidity and a hint of smoke. It has a great drinkable medium body that isn't too rich for another bottle. Highly recommended stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2003 15:06:44 | More by jeffboo

Mitchster

Michigan

5/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

OG=1.065, 6.3% ABV.

Mmmm, another Kzoo. This delicious brew pours out ink-black, not even a wisp of chestnut at the edges of the glass when held to a halogen lamp. Forms a whipped, meringue-like dark tan head atop medium bubbles with gobs of tenancious lace. The head always remains at least 1/2" thick. Aroma is heavenly, with lots of sweet milk chocolate, walnuts, peanut butter, bitter dark chocolate, sweet vanilla beans, oily french roast, and hints of burnt marshmallows while sitting around a smoky campfire. Mouthfeel is velvety smooth and lightly oily with a thick, chewy body. Carbonation is mild to moderate. Taste starts out with lots of bittersweet chocolate, followed by faint woodiness, sticky dark malts, a subtle sourness, full city roast coffee, a wisp of alcohol, a pleasant chalkiness, and ending in a drawn-out cascade of aphrodisiac bittering hops and tons of chocolate and black patent malts. As it warms, the carbonation disperses, and the elements mellow, making it all the more satisfying. Absolutely no off-flavors, and an absolute perfection in complexity, character, and nuances.

I don't know how the magicians over in Kzoo do it, but despite being so rich and complex, this brew is extremely drinkable. The only thing better than this is having it on tap. I feel sorry for the people who don't have access to all of Kzoo's brews. They brew some of the finest beer you'll ever have. This is an exceptional beer that I couldn't live without, and one of the only reasons I still live in Michigan. A World-Class King of Stouts. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2003 17:37:59 | More by Mitchster

AudioGilz

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This stout is simply one of the best. It's pitch black, very opaque, and has one heluva roasted aroma. There is also a small hint of chocolate in the aroma as well. The mouthfeel is so smooth and creamy, with also a crisp carbonation if you leave a swig in your mouth for a little while. Taste is very much dominated by the roastiness and wow is it enjoyable. Chocolate comes through a little bit, more so in the finish along with the bittersweetness. The aftertaste lasts long and is burnt coffeeish. I can't find anything I don't like about this stout. It's one of my favorites and I could easily drink one for dessert, or even a few in a row if I really want to indulge.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2003 18:40:16 | More by AudioGilz

HopheadEd

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a very dark brown, almost black. Fairly nice head that lasts a little while then faded to a thin surface covering. Drinking out of a goblet, a swirl brings back a small head.
Aroma of coffee overpowers the nose, followed by dark roasted malts. Faint hint of alcohol. The taste is of coffee/toffee, roasted smoky malt, slight chocolate, and a faint hint of licorace. A semi tart mouthfeel reminds me more of a dry stout rather than sweet, with a light hop finish. Rather thick, couldn't have more than two. Nice beer though.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2003 17:57:48 | More by HopheadEd

mickstepp

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark, almost opaque color with a thin tawny head. Aromas of burnt coffee and faint hints of chocolate. Some fruity and hoppy notes as well in the nose. Msdium bodied and smooth. The taste is consistnet with the aromas. Nice coffee bitterness. Chocolate and caramel and toffee even a little vanilla bean. Very easy drinking stout. Not at all heavy. Makes you want more than one. A very, very competent offering by a premier brewery.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2003 15:19:47 | More by mickstepp

aaronh

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a deep reddish chestnut color, almost black, with a thin tan head. The aroma is very strong with sweet fruits, like cherry and pear. Scents of the finest chocolate in the world tease the nostrils. A bit of hop spiciness mixed in as well. Truly delicious aroma. The taste is strong on dark, bittersweet chocolate. A nice sweetness follows, as well as defined roasted notes. The finish presents more fruity chocolate, with a wisp of smoke. A bit of vanilla is present as well, mixed in with the solid malt flavor in the background. As you can tell, this is one very complex beer. I also sense a bit of nuttiness in there as well. The mouthfeel is very smooth, and shows a moderate body. Not as thick as some sweet stouts, but flavor is what this beer is all about. I would gladly trade a handful of Guinness beers for just one of these. However, I could drink this beer exclusively and soon forget that there was ever any other beer in my life. While each bottle may not last that long, I can see this is the beginning of a long-term relationship with Kalamazoo. Oh, what a beer! Thanks to cretemixer for the trade.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2003 19:08:19 | More by aaronh

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

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

Pours an opaque black (no highlights when held to the light, but the yeast sediment is clearly visible at the bottom of the glass) with a frothy light tan head that holds fairly well before dropping to a decent collar and whispy surface covering. A short creamy head can easily be brought back, however, simply by swirling the glass, and it leaves some nice as well. The nose is rich with a sharp roastiness and notes of bittersweet chocolate, but also offers some floral and lightly earthy hops in the background. The medium body is enhanced by an exceptionally fine carbonation from bottle conditioning that leaves it creamy and smooth in the mouth. The flavor is also affected by the creamy carbonation, softening it's bitterness and rounding it's sharp roasted edges. It starts with an underlying fruitiness and dark chocolate, but immediately becomes quite roasty. It warms to reveal some caramel sweetness as it crosses the palate but reverts to deep roastiness and a solid bitterness in the finish. A rich, dark roasted coffee flavor lingers in the mouth long after the liquid had gone and occassional flashes of hop flavor can sometimes be found. Rich, complex, and highly enjoyable. This makes a great after-dinner drink or nightcap. Highly recommended and well worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2003 18:21:50 | More by NeroFiddled

PhantomVodoo

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours an opaque black with a tan head. Roasted malt aroma. Wonderful roasted malt flavor with sweet chocolate notes. Full body. Finishes well and has good drinkability. Of the beers I've had from Kalamazoo Brewing, this is my favorite. Overall very good if not exceptional. If you're into sweet stouts this one is top notch.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2002 13:15:14 | More by PhantomVodoo

purplehops

Maine

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

Kalamazoo pours a rich red-black with a light brown head. The head leaves a nice lace pattern on the glass with a thin layer staying on top of the stout for most of the duration in the glass. The aroma is sweet with hints of cherries and roasted grain. There is also a hint of sour odors in the aroma but not to the point of being unpleasant. The taste starts out very malty and chewy with a pleasant effervescence to it. The finish is bitter black malt with notes of smoke and chicory and a faint background sweetness. There are no noticeable hops flavors here and they don't seem to be needed. The aftertaste is toasted grain blending with bitter black malt and still a subtle sweetness lingering. The mouthfeel is very smooth with a bit of a lip smacking chew to it.
Overall this is a very nice stout. A nice complexity of flavors and odors that make for an enjoyable drink. It is bitter and sweet and tart along with dry and wet all at the same time. My second Bell's product and my opinion of them is getting better.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2002 15:44:47 | More by purplehops

Jon

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Another great Bell's stout. This one pours an opaque black with a fizzy tan head. Excellent head retention leaves substantial lace down the glass. Smell is big on roasted malt and espresso. Taste is more of the same and some chocolate characteristics, with the roasted aspects taking priority. There is a bittering hops quality to it, as well, but overall the taste is rather sweet as the style would suggest. Smooth, creamy mouthfeel. Excellent drinkability, too, makes this a wonderfully delicious stout suitable for all occasions.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2002 21:33:57 | More by Jon

Dogbrick

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a great flagship Stout from Bell's. Pours a a deep dark brown with a thick, somewhat foamy light brown head. Decent lacing. Nice chocolately and coffee bean aroma. Sweet flavor of roasted malt, coffee and chocolate. Slightly bittersweet dry finish. This is a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2002 12:05:06 | More by Dogbrick

cretemixer

Indiana

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

Black as a moonless night with a smooth creamy head. The aroma is of roasted malt with chocolate and coffee. A nice bitterness, not too overpowering. Medium body with a good mouthfeel. Another very good Bell's product.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2002 10:05:54 | More by cretemixer

jtw5877

Ohio

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

Pours a deep dark brown with a foamy tan head, smoky roasted malt aroma. Nice malty taste with a prominant roasted malt flavor with dark coffee tones and maybe a little caramel thrown in, also a little bit of cracker maltiness Tastes really solid, not a watered down stout. A definate must for stout lovers.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2002 16:35:38 | More by jtw5877

pheurton

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

pours midnight black with a fine tan head. aroma is chocolate espresso. medium body with a good carbonation level, affording a good mouthfeel. the taste is dark roasted malts, with a cocoa-coffee finish. a very nice stout that gets better as is comes to room temperature. reminds me somewhat of rogue chocolate stout, just toned down a bit. very good.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2002 16:34:59 | More by pheurton

maxpower

Missouri

5/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours thick dark black color, nice lasting tan head, leaves a perfect lace, aroma of chocolate, coffee and nutmeg? Thick and creamy full mouthfeel, coffee and sweet chocolate taste, this may be my favorite stout, its hard to stop at just one, the best stout IMHO.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2002 07:20:48 | More by maxpower

Gusler

Arizona

4.63/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

The pour as dark as they come with an extravagant head, a large olde frothy "Thang", long lasting and chocolate brown in color with the lace in voluptuous sheets. Nose, coffee, bitter-sweet chocolate, roasted malt, ah yes my friends one "Sniffable Beer". Front malt, sweet, the top portly, the finish is benignly acidic, stupendously hopped, lordly dry. It's a good thing that I have to beg borrow and steal these beers, as my total would be much less as why sample the rest, when you can have the best. #10 of their beers sampled, not a "loser in the bunch". Trust the olde spavined "Gusler", when I tell you this line of beers is phenomenal.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2002 17:25:54 | More by Gusler