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

hero27

Iowa

4.88/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Deep rich chocolate color with an extremely creamy head. Aroma is rich chocolate, molasses, coffee, dark fruits, etc. Tastes are incredible and mirror the smells, but with an added complexity of burnt malts and a brutally bitter character as well. Amazing..this exceeded the hype for me, and then some. The mouthfeel is endlessly smooth & creamy.. The alcohol shows itself perfectly, and compliments the other flavors exceptionally well.
Mindblowing drinkability for a nearly 12% alcohol beer. Definitely one of the best stouts I've ever had..nearly flawless.

A top-notch offering from Bell's. Thanks to Px2GrafX for letting my try this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2005 01:24:48 | More by hero27

unclederby

Oregon

4.88/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Batch 6811

So i'm gonna go ahead and say it now, this is absolutely one of the best beers i've ever tasted.

The pour was an opaque pitch black topped by a smallish mocha-colred head which dissapated quickly. Impossible by sight to guess if there is any carbonation activity.

Smell is sweet, dominated by smoke and chocolate, wheat toast and with the faintest hint of hops.

And the taste! Rich with flavours of milk chocolate, roasted malts, hazelnuts, coffee and the slightest hint of hop bitterness on the finish. How the hell did i get all of this? I would never know this is 11.5 ABV.

What superb flavors!

I'm drinking too fast...

Mouthfeel to me is perfect for a double stout, thick and chewy, smooth and creamy... just a bit slick and oily. Who needs carbonation?

Drinkability? Give me another... but just one more. Not because it's harsh on the palate but just the opposite; it's delicious and very rich and quite filling.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2006 03:02:17 | More by unclederby

HellsBELLS24

Michigan

4.88/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Very strong russian imperial stout.

Has an excellent amount of hopiness and will definately warm you up in the winter. Has an excellent shelf life and this stout continues to get better with age. Has a very rich flavor and can be too strong for some "young" stout drinkers. I feel that this is one of the best stouts that money can buy. I could drink this all year round.

Top of the line world class imperial stout.

Nice job Larry :-)

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2006 23:34:28 | More by HellsBELLS24

mmmbeer

Massachusetts

4.88/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle, batch 7740 - packaged 12/19/06. This fresh, young, yet immense imperial stout pours into my chalice a viscous inky black, and is topped with a thin, dark cappucino head that reduces to a collar. After an hour there is no head, but swirling the beer seems to revive it some. The bouquet is strong and aromatic, yet soft, consisting of roasted, coffee, and chocolate malts, licorice, raisins, plums?, green hops, and hints of red and green apples. Although the aroma is big, it still doesn't prepare you for the amount of flavor and body that this beer throws at you. It tastes of strong, black coffee, bitter charred/roasted malts, tobacco, anise, dark chocolate, leather, green/piney hops, port wine, green apple?, caramel?, and just a touch of alcohol - massive and incredibly tasty. The body is full, coating, drying, and silky smooth, with low/medium carbonation, and a long, roasted/coffee finish. This is an awesome, huge stout that demands respect; consuming it is a truly memorable beer experience that just makes you crave more. I can only imagine how it would improve with age. Mmmm...

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2007 00:28:51 | More by mmmbeer

Braudog

Virginia

4.88/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Draft at KClingers on the recommendation of one of the smartest but unknown beer drinkers I’ve ever met. It poured midnight black with a sticky light tan head. At first, I sense medicinal properties -- licorice, cough medicine (but in a good way), roasted malt and dark cherries. This is an exceptional dark beer! (#2718, 2/18/2007)

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2007 22:12:28 | More by Braudog

phil7568

Mississippi

4.88/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Grabbed the last two bottles of this at Roof Bros. in Paducha, KY a week ago. I meant to hold on to them for a while but I couldn't resist. I've wanted to try this beer forever.

The beer pours jet black with an inch head which quickly becomes about 1/8". As noted by other reviews the aroma is dominated by dark fruit and chocolate, very enticing.
Awesome flavor. This brew has everything from sweet chocolate to roasted coffee and everything in between with only a hint of alcohol. It's so rich and smooth.

I figured this could not live up to expectations and was actually expecting a letdown. That didn't happen. I can't say anything negative about this awesome RIS. I wish I had more!

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2007 01:55:45 | More by phil7568

GClarkage

California

4.88/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

11/24/07- Received via trade with Lou91.

Presentation- 12oz bottle with a code marked 6672 on the bottom of the back label. Not a clue what that means. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

Appearance- Very black in color. 3/4 inch milk chocolate colored head. Head has nice staying power. Lace streaks and spots and patchwork remain after the finish.

Smell- Strong nose of molasses, deep sweet malt, coffee, licorice and chocolate. Full house in this nose. One of the better ones out there.

Taste- Wow, this is right up there with my all time favorite tasting imperials. Huge milgled flavors of dark chocolate, roasted fresh coffee beans and mollasses. Sweet and dark like candy. Just an explosion of flavors that meld so well together. Hops are there, but come out more in the aftertaste than the actual consumption.

Mouthfeel- Creamy, viscous, extremely mouthcoating. Thick and chewy, but unlike cough syrup. Medium carbonation level with a bitter aftertaste that gets stronger and stronger.

Drinkability- Abv is noticeable, but doesn't seem like the 11.5% Seems high though. Damn I wish I could get these out here. May have to do some mail order. Top notch stuff that competes with Stone, Alesmith and a few other ones IMO. Will be doing what I can to get more of these.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2007 17:06:15 | More by GClarkage

irishkyle21

Ontario (Canada)

4.88/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours with the darkest brown head. Thick and creamy foam that settles but not without leaving behind a lot of lacing. Has a jet black color.

Smells of sweet roasted malt, caramel, chocolate, coffee, molasses and licorice. The nose itself knocked me on my ass.

The mouthfeel is wonderfully thick and smooth. Tastes sweet and satisfying. Has a good hop bitterness, toasted malt, mocha, a bit of fruits and some alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2007 08:37:33 | More by irishkyle21

nhopkin

Michigan

4.88/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Poured like crude oil into my oversize wine goblet. Small, brownish tan head arose atop the sea of viscous blackness below...

Smell: raisin, booze, charcoal, a decadent melange of aromas waft from this brew

Taste: Starts with a rich, malty, almost fruity sweetness with lots of dark fruit and chocolate, followed by a dry roasted flavor with hints of coffee. Wait long enough and a little lingering bitterness from the hops comes in. A little detectable booziness, but it hides it's strength remarkably well. mmm. Everything and more I'd expect from a giant of a stout.

Mouthfeel: smooth and scrumptious. Like drinking a milkshake...with a lot of booze

Overall: a superlative brew. A phenom. Wicked. Words don't do it justice. And I'm not even that "in" to Russian Imperials.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2009 04:10:38 | More by nhopkin

Pedro07

Michigan

4.88/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Great beer and the first one of the winter for me.

A- Awsome dark richness. Thick old motor oil in my glass. A dark brown creamy head rises to a 3/4 inch height and slooowly falls. Good lacing down the glass.

S- Again, awsome richness. This is a favorite for me. All the molasses, cocoa and roasted goodness one can expect from an RIS.

T- Where do I begin? How can I do it jutice? Roasted malts galore, coffee, espresso, black barley, bourbon-soaked raisins, and on and on. Wonderfully balanced.

M- Velvety, smooth, and exquisitely mouth-coating. Dessert in a glass.

D- Wonderful sipper on a cold winters night. Bell's got this one right.

Not my all-time, but close!

Bro's, you guys got a bad one. Give it another try, you'll love it!

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2009 03:39:10 | More by Pedro07

Converge

Alberta (Canada)

4.88/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

355ml bottle poured into a 16oz tulip. 2012 Bottle.

A - Pours a viscous black oil with a dense brown head on top; dark as hell. Despite the hard pour, the head remained small. Eventually it settles down to a thin skiff leaving slight bits of sticky lace. Looks like a fine stout, with excellent label design to boot.

S - Roasted malt, anise, cocoa, earthy hops and booze. A coffee presence looms in the background, with lots of roasty qualities upfront. There's a big resinous character here that I love. Definitely a greater focus on more abrasive aromas rather than residual boozy sweetness, which to me is ideal for the style. Smells awesome.

T - Absolutely delicious. Everything a big stout should be. Massive base of roasty malt fills the palate immediately, slowly giving way to subtle notes of anise, cocoa, and earthy wood. Finishes with a mixture resinous hops, boozy sweetness, and an assertive blast of espresso. As it warms slight bits of sweetness begin to poke through. Caramelized sugar, bourbon vanilla, dark fruits, and smoky flavors make their way across the palate. Finishes a touch warm, but I don't mind. This is a profile the matches up against the finest stouts I've tried.

M - Remarkably dense and viscous, incredibly creamy and smooth, with an understated carbonation of fine bubbles that lends itself to preserving the creamy texture of the brew. Sticky on the lips, with a mild alcoholic tinge to the finish. Awesome mouthfeel, that compliments the profile beautifully.

D - Certainly one of the finest beers I've ever tried. The profile is a perfect meld of roasty, hoppy and sweet. Insanely drinkable at nearly 11.00% ABV. Absolutely world class beer overall. If it were readily available to me I would have a cellar full of it.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 06:36:26 | More by Converge

buck1futter

Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

2011 Vintage- Bottle- Also had on tap 2 weeks ago at the Bell's tap takeover, at The Olympic Tavern.

A- Typical stout, a little viscus, some ruby on the outer edges when shun under light. No head, this 2011.

S- One of the best smelling beers period, rich in caramel, prune, brown sugar, mead, malt , honey ham....ole man this is a treat.

T-A toasty and roasting, a little burn, with the bottle less heat that was on tap. More chocolate for the bottle, more towards the dark fruit while on tap. Creamy even. This sucker ages well. So much chocolate, delicious.

M-thick but easy to move around, carbonation still holding up well. really nice and velvet like even.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 01:43:38 | More by buck1futter

4amepiphany

Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

I was told this ages very well, but I really wanted to try one fresh. Then that turned into me drinking three fresh. Then I had to get another 6 pack to age. If it tastes this good fresh, I'm willing to wait! Beautiful color, the flavors increase in complexity as it warms up. Oily and thick, which I prefer. I really enjoy this stout.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 05:55:16 | More by 4amepiphany

francisweizen

Australia

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Updated: 2003 version pours at slightly below room temp with a humungous head of tan 5, thus increasing the appearance and aroma to a '5'. Taste is also a 5 to me now, but this stuff is just too thick so I have to drop .5 for drinkabiity and mouthfeel. Still, this is one of the best imperial stouts out there on the market!

Like the previous reviewer my bottle was also very flat. Rendering me with only an almost inaudible 'pfft' as I popped the cap. This beer poured as dark as darkness itself but unfrotunately for me, it had no head. The aroma was a little intense at first, but as this beer warmed up you could small dark roasted flavors, malts, chocolate, candies, and fruits...very nice. The taste was, of course, exceptional but the mouthfeel was a little too thick for the low carbonation of this bottle. This has a good drinkability and it is one of my favorite Imperial Stouts by far. If I could get this with a nice head on it and some more carbonation it would probably rate all 5's. I have heard about this breweries inconsistency so perhaps my next bottle will be the 'straight 5's monster' I think this beer can be!
thanks to sakaroo for the sample...
cheers!,
F.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2003 06:48:53 | More by francisweizen

Loki

North Carolina

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled for my 100th review from a 12oz bottle via a friend.

Poured a black, like pure oil, black as coal with a dark beige head. The head was small at first then build to a sheer mountainous head full of bubbles, craigs, and peaks. Simply beautiful to watch it build. As the head starts to receed over time it leaves a webbing of lacing on the glass that simple defies gravity and clings to the glass. The head does fade but a quick swirl builds a new 1/8 inch head.

Aromas of cocoa, coffee, espresso, something similar to raisins, and molasses. Simply wonderful and begging to be tasted

The first sip was amazing, perhaps breath taking. Harsh and brash like a true Italian espresso with alcohol behind the bitter coffee. Wonderful, thick, chewy. Tastes of cocoa, coffee, toasted malt sweetness, that finishes with the taste of unsweetened coffee. A truly monsterous brew. A wonderful beer. A true pleasure. I believe I have chosen wisely for my 100th review!

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2003 14:56:16 | More by Loki

RoyalT

Ohio

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Black in color with a slightly reddish hue and an awesome, dark tan head that showed great retention and laced the hell out of my glass. I can't say enough about how cool this looks at the pour.

Smell - Big, beautiful roasted malt notes along with some nice coffee and very dark fruiting, most notably figs and dates. There's also some brown sugar to this one along with a hop balance of some kind. This nose is very complex, and I'm sure that I'm missing a lot.

Taste - The bitter coffee comes out huge at the taste. All the other players from the aroma are here as well, but it's the coffee that takes things up a notch. There's also some malty cocoa to the flavor profile. This is not for the faint of heart.

Mouthfeel - Super creamy and milky smooth. This is a full-bodied stout if there ever was one. The bitter nature of this ale will give you the shakes.

Drinkability - I loved this stout, although it may be too bitter for some. I'll give Stone the edge simply because it has a bit more balance (with more big fruits) but this is certainly one of my Top Ten beers of all time.

Comments - A big thumbs up to francisweizen for sending me this awesome offering from Bell's. This is an experience that I'll never forget - and one I hope to repeat : )

Update - I got an '04 bottle of this from my brother-in-law in Madison, WI, and cellared it for four years. For some reason I was in a giddy mood tonight and decided to pop it open.

Oh, Lordy, is this a good beer. First let me say that this has not changed nearly as much as I thought it would after four years of cellaring. It hasn't sweetened up like I thought it would and could probably stomach another four years. Having said that, this is one of the most flavorful beers on the planet and is probably STILL too bitter for most even after four years in the cellar. Damn the torpedoes though I am enjoying the hell outta this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2004 02:50:49 | More by RoyalT

silenius

Illinois

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Holy Moley!

I really wasn't expecting much from this beer since some other Bell's offerings I find too common.

Appearance: The black hole of beers! I shined a 300W halogen light up to it and could not see a bit of light through the glass! Dark tan espresso crema head that after one year of ageing is still very thick, lively and coats the glass with substantial lacing.

Smell: OHHH! My mom's gingerbread cookies, molasses, dark chocolate and espresso. I could tell this would be good!

Taste: Magnificent dark chocolate, molassess, and espresso. The dark chocolate and espresso linger forever.

Mouthfeel: Thick and creamy. As a beer like this should be.

Drinkability: I can't keep myself from continually taking sip after sip. I think this is my first 5 in drinkability. Excellent, excellent, excellent!!

I will be buying more and more!

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2005 23:53:58 | More by silenius

Sephiroth

Indiana

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

The first time I met this beer, I was utterly defeated. Now, I am the master. It goes into a tulip with an inch of coffee like foam. This quickly dissipates to a thin ring which stays around the edge of the beer. It appears to be black, but when held in the light at the proper angle, one can see that it is dark ruby in color.

The nose is very complex. It is roasty and has a vinous quality. I detect just a slight licorice aroma. The nose is very well blended. The taste does not disappoint either. There is coffee, licorice, port wine, and others I am sure. Beneath all of this, I detect me some hops. There is absolutely no hint at the 11.5% ABV. The mouthfeel is great. It is thick and chewy, but is not syrupy. As I am writing this review, the quality of this beer is starting to sink in. The drinkability is high, especially with the way the alcohol is masked. I will consider myself lucky to have this beer available in IN.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2005 08:36:40 | More by Sephiroth

ColoradoBobs

Colorado

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this paired with FFF Dark Lord in a tasting with Crosling. (PROPS TO CROSLING!!!!) Talk about sensory overload!

Vigorous pour into a tulip glass produces a black opaque body under a decent light brown reverse-cascading head.

Smell of dark chocolate covered raisins, prunes, malty malt on malted malt.

Taste of intense sweet malt, chocolate malt, raisins, figs, charred apples(?), espresso, rye bread and pepper. Ridiculously intense.

Mouthfeel is thick and rich, like a melted chocolate malt. It's round, dense, full, smooth and chewy, with a gluteny, bread-like quality.

Very drinkable for 11.5%. Wowow. Dangerous.

Overall, this is the most incredible beer for the money I've ever had: at $2.33 for a 12-ounce bottle (= 19.43 cents per ounce), it is nearly as good as Dark Lord, which is $15 for 22 ounces (=68.2 cents per ounce).
So . . . for those 364 days a year when you can't lay your hands on a Dark Lord, this is a great and very affordable next best.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2006 02:39:54 | More by ColoradoBobs

Phatz

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Jasonm for giving me this beer. I really enjoyed this beer. Sorry to take so long until I reviewed it.

Appearance: This beer pour absolute black! The head is moderate in size but rich in red brown color. A nice lacing is left as you swirl the beer, it simply looks exquisite.

Smell: Smelling this beer just absolutely teases the senses! A magnificent plethora of dark rum tobacco, leather, roasted malts, dark vinous grape aromas and more flood through the nose and straight to the brain sending me instantly into a state of awe! I guess you could simply say that it is a *very* enticing aroma!

Taste: After all the anticipation from the aroma the beer does not disappoint as it enters the mouth. It is vinous and thick. It starts off very roasty and the alcohol and hop dance like pins and needles on your tongue then as your palate adjust you begin to taste the remarkable depth and complexity with deep red flavors of grape and cherries meeting tobacco rum charcoal bitter flavor and balancing brilliantly. There are also hints of sweet like a caramel and coco with vanilla in there too. The finish is very bitter, with a spicy alcohol burn like a great bourbon. The alcohol is not shy and I love that feature as a whiskey fan.

Mouthfeel: There is plenty of rough around the edges that keep you awake and appreciating each sip. It is not *harsh* but it is certainly not easy either. This is for a fan of RIS who likes liquor. The feel in the mouth is thick and smooth. It is so creamy I can hardly imagine any beer could be creamier.

Drinkability: Simply put this beer is a perfect night cap! It is not a session beer (unless you want to hurt yourself). This beer is very big and not one I would call approachable. It is intimidating but for those who want a big ass Russian Imperial Stout stand back and get ready because here comes Bell's Expedition Stout.

Hope this is helpful.
Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2006 05:05:41 | More by Phatz

orfeu

New Mexico

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Knowing that I've got six more of these scheduled for delivery tomorrow (along with several other awesome MI brews, courtesy of BA hoppymeal), I decided to crack open this bottle I received in a trade from BA nflmvp last summer. Poured into a 17-ounce snifter, Expedition Stout is viscous and tar-black. The ghost of a coffee-colored foam cap appears for a brief moment, then is gone, leaving only a nascent tan ring around the glass. Deep chocolate aromas emerge at first sniff; then scents of dark Bing cherries soaked in anejo rum along with a slight coffee aroma as well as a heady cabernet character. The taste starts off with bitter Belgian chocolate bar flavors -- at least 75% cocoa -- and dark fruits (plums, cherries, blackberries) all drunkenly swimming in a bourbon bath. Then -- and this is my favorite part -- there is the most wonderful roasted coffee finish, thick and damn near burnt it's roasted so dark. Lovely vinous aftertaste. Appropriately heavy on the palate, but incredibly silky overall. Low carbonation, dryness from alcohol content, but the booze has melded nicely (I think this bottle may be a little over a year old). This is the first Russian Imperial Stout I've had in a few months, and I certainly feel welcomed back home. Bell's brewed the hell out of this one. Easily one of the finest representations of the style in the world. Exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2006 03:22:17 | More by orfeu

cafemondegar

Colorado

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is a take it or leave it beer. You can either love it or hate it. That is because is a strong, in your face, it-is-what-it-is beer. Poured with minimal rich caramel head, not too high. Has the sweet smell of burnt caramel. It tastes delicious with a hint of sweetness and has a thick, dry mouthfeel that lasts a while. It is rather expensive, but I don't regret having spent the money. Although American style IPAs are my usual choices, I can see my wife & me spending quite a few evenings with this Russian Imperial Stout this winter.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2006 00:50:13 | More by cafemondegar

dogger6253

Minnesota

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours out like motor oil, dark and viscous, almost black. The head is a beautiful mocha color that dissipated to a thin ring around the top.

Smells like chocolate, slight alcohol present blended into the licorice. I also noted hints of citrus and a definite roasted-coffee scent. There are other fruity aromas present too, but I have trouble picking them out, raisins/plums perhaps? Also a definite molasses tone in the aroma. The chocolate and fruits come through more as the beer settles.

The taste is dominated by roasted malt and chocolate with hints of coffee or cocoa coming through. Towards the finish, a very slight hint of alcohol balanced by a fruity sweetness, figs and plums.

Very thick in the mouth, but not overly so. This is what my idea of a stout should be; thick and heavy, yet delicious and easy to sip. I would drink this all night. The alcohol definitely affects you so be aware if you're having a few. The alcohol is masked very well in the taste. This is one of my favorite stouts, by far.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2007 05:08:30 | More by dogger6253

umustdrink

Minnesota

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I've had this one once before and have always thought it to be the best stout I have ever had, it still is.

Served at slightly more than 50 degrees.

A - I poured this one rather aggressively in my tulip so I got a gigantic head. It was kind of fun to watch the head change forms from a solid looking head with TINY little bubbles to a big rocky formation with a smooth top. Head is deep brown in color and gets darker as it gets closer to the actual beer. Lacing sticks in thick patches.

S - Aroma is of lightly roasted malts, more sweet than bitter chocolate and a creamy milky background. Very slight alcohol vapor like scent just barely detectable.

T - Oh yes...this is it. Slightly bitter up front, quickly leading into a dark toasty malt with a creamy chocolate note, grainy in texture. Warming, comforting alcohol as it goes down. Heaven in a glass.

M - THICK consistency with a nice oilyness allowing for maximum taste retention. Parts of it are noticeably grainy, like unmixed hot cocoa.

D - I've never had Darklord, but to me this is the best stout and one of the best beers allover I've ever had the pleasure of drinking. Thank you Bell's!

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2007 02:37:02 | More by umustdrink

brdc

Wisconsin

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This one pours creamy, thick like whole milk, even oily. It is pitch black and it makes a nice dark brown head that looks nice but has almost no retention, although it does lace the glass well.
Nose is very rich, roasted malts, coffee, burnt sugar, milk and alcohol.
It has a very nice, creamy, velvety full body, and it starts sweetish on the palate, finishing dry and bitter, with intermediate layers of roasted malts, hops, chocolate and sugar. Very satisfying with a single small bottle.
I might have a new favorite stout; this is one impressive brew, and every time I go back to it, it amazes me more. The price is unbeliveable for the quality, which makes it better.
Not to be missed.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2007 14:45:00 | More by brdc