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

hoosiersapper27

Indiana

4.34/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance- Black as black can be, 1 finger head that disappears quickly, but there is a ring of foam where the head was.

Smell- Dark fruits with a slight berry smell. Caramel and malt.

Taste-Dark fruits, caramel, malt, hops backbone, port or a dark wine, alcohol but not like liquor.

Mouth feel- Thick and heavy good carbonation not chewy to me.

Overall- BIG BEER not for the weak or fainthearted. Somehow this beer is reminding me of Guulden Draak, I believe its the dark fruits.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 00:06:06 | More by hoosiersapper27

AdamF625

Massachusetts

4.69/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A- black with a thin brown head
S- coffee and chocolate syrup
T-coffee, bitter dark chocolate, molasses, alcohol, sweet fruit flavors
M- creamy, thick, and viscous. low carbonation
O- you can't forget this brew its so thick and sticky the taste stays on your palate for days.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 00:45:42 | More by AdamF625

Beerandboards

New Mexico

4.64/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

12oz bottle, batch 9971, bottled September 13, 2010. So, clocking in at about 2.5 years old

A - pitch black, pour produces about 1.5 inches of toffee colored foam. Dissipates pretty quickly, leaves a fair amount of lacing on the sides.

S - wow. Molasses, vanilla, coffee, milk chocolate. One of the best smelling stouts I've had. Beats out a lot of the BA stouts. Killer.

T - doesn't let me down after the nose. Molasses again, big time. Vanilla. Milk chocolate. There is just the right amount of bitter chocolate at the end. TASTY.

M - creamy, thicker side of medium feel, lower carbonation. Really nice.

O - I have to say, I'm surprised at how good this is. I've never had it fresh, but I can't imagine that this hasn't gotten better with age. I've got another 2010 that I'll sit on for just a bit longer just to see what happens. Bells killed this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 03:00:21 | More by Beerandboards

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

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4.49/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served from a 12oz bottle into a Grey Sail pint.

Appearance- So black. Very little mocha head. Some lacing.

Smell- Booze, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, sweet malts.

Taste- Bitter chocolate, coffee, dark chocolate malts, some light vanilla, mild hop bitterness. Finishes bitter, which is great because it had a very sweet smell. No booze which is astounding.

Mouthfeel- Quite viscous. Very smooth. No heat. Coats the mouth.

Overall- Damn fine bitter RIS. Another good one from Bells!

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 02:28:14 | More by Seanniek91

Lognar

Illinois

4.74/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pour - A deep black brown with a finger of creamy mocha head. Pour it in a cappuccino cup and I would think I was having a cappuccino.

Nose - Tons of malty sweetness. Both baker's and milk chocolate. Roastiness. There are some notes of wood too. It's like booze soaked chocolate cake.

Taste - Again, lots of malty sweetness. Dark chocolate bitterness. Coffee roast and espresso. A bit of roasty earthy bitterness on the finish. Complex and subtle.

Mouthfeel - Thick, creamy, and silky.

Overall - Elegant is the word that comes to mind when I describe this. The aromas and flavors are subtle and play off of one another. This brew (with 4 months on it) was not nearly as in your face as other Russian imperials, and much sweeter as well. I had the same feel drinking this as I do when I have dessert at a good restaurant.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 05:20:25 | More by Lognar

ramay729

Michigan

4.09/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

3 month old bottle poured into snifter, bought an extra bottle to cellar until next year

A: Nice tan head that dissipates quickly, lacing on side of glass, deep black color with brown tinges on side of glass

S: Strong aroma of roasted malt, coffee, chocolate, and caramel. Extremely strong smell and one of the best smelling beers I've experienced

T: Almost sweet taste, without a nice amount of bitterness for the style, deep roasted malt with espresso undertones, dark fruit notes expressed as well

M: Extremely creamy mouthfeel without a lot of carbonation, really enjoyable texture with a thick mouthfeel

O: One of the better Imperial Stouts that I have had, but not the best, looking forward to aging a bottle!

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 02:36:05 | More by ramay729

timc100

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

6 month old bottle

A: Pours close-to-oil black - thick, opaque. Really nice lightly burnt mocha head, very creamy - good lacing and retention.

A: Really hoppy and roasty, can definitely tell it's fresh. Grapefruit citrus and some pine, heavily roasted coffee and bitter chocolate.

T: Follows the nose well, but is more rich and intense. Big espresso and bitter dark chocolate notes, the hops are not as present and enhance the bitter stout characteristics. Very creamy and smooth. Almost an ash flavor on top of the roasted coffee. Fantastic tasting beer, can definitely imagine it settling and balancing with age.

P: Full and creamy. Very soft carbonation, syrupy smooth.

O: A fantastic fresh impy stout, can imagine it getting much better. Awesome beer

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 05:17:55 | More by timc100

Alieniloquium

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle poured into a Firestone snifter. Batch 10068, 12/17/2010.

Appearance - Inky viscous black that yields only the slightest tinge of brown at the edges. Not much of a head. Thin khaki collar around the edge with just a lonely dime-sized island of foam roaming the surface.

Smell - I can smell the molasses from the open bottle. Tons of molasses. A stronger sniff unveils booze, licorice, and ashy burnt malt.

Taste - Ridiculous molasses again. Really creamy in the middle with just a little bit of sweetness and then the onslaught begins. Licorice, dark fruits, the darkest chocolate. Burnt pieces of chocolate, really. Ashy and extremely bitter. Booze comes back at the last gasp and bites the throat.

Mouthfeel - Low carbonation, boozy, nearly acrid in its ashy bitterness. And yet it manages to be creamy and delicious.

Overall - Every complaint I have ever had about fresh Expedition Stout has turned into an attribute in this bottle. Two years has done this very well.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 00:57:33 | More by Alieniloquium

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

StJamesGate

New York

4.21/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Sepia film over that blackest beer I've ever seen.
Blackberry crumble, ash, and fish sauce on the nose - faintly. Warms to some BSDA fruit notes and peat smoke.
Molasses, cold espresso, prune juice, licorice hard candy, with undertones of dark baked pretzels, then gooey pine resin hops.
Christmas pudding finish and long tarry linger with some black malts and port-like cherry.
Full, viscous, smooth, round, chewy, oily, no heat.

Like the Ford of the same name: huge, oily, intimidating and unwieldy.

This is almost too big to enjoy. Every dark flavor of coffee, char and fruit is crammed in here but without the bitterness from either roast or hops to really tame the sweetness. i feel like this is a sugar headache waiting to happen.

Deep and dark, big and smooth, oh so black but maybe too sweet. I'd like to see this one with some age on it.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 11:28:50 | More by StJamesGate

MUSHROOMCLOUD

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

6 1/2 years after I received 2 bottles from mlh1227 - I cracked the second one.

Holy hell...this is still delicious. Not as hot as it was..still complex and rich. Bell's - great job on this one. Feel confident about putting this one away for 5+ years, no deterioration at all.

2006 review:

12oz. bottle from mlh1227. What a guy!!

A - 1 1/2" deep chocolate milk colored head that sits on top of a beer so black that no light will ever pass through. The head is dense and retains for a while at 1/2" before falling to a cap. Full sheet of tan lace clings to the backside of the pint glass.

S - Rich, roasted malt. Coffee. A little boozy (rum) aroma. Mild sweetness. Clay, dirt. Feed store smell -- oats, grains.

T - WOW! Thick with roasted malt. Bitter dark chocolate. Bourbon like heat in the finish. Raisins and rum. Coffee....strong ass coffee!!! Delicious and complex.

M - Huge, thick mouthfeel. Slick. Smooth drinking Imperial Stout. Long, long, long finish.

D - Great drinkability for any beer, let alone a RIS with 11.5% abv! Huge beer! Excellent. Thank you mlh1227 for the sample.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 23:48:10 | More by MUSHROOMCLOUD

Stevedore

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle dated 12/27/12 poured into a Bell's tulip and quaffed today, 3/9/13. Review is based primarily on today's bottle but also uses notes from previous bottles from the same vintage which were consumed fresh.

Aroma: I definitely get the dark fruits- raisins, figs, cherry. It's definitely sweet smelling with quite a bit of heat on the nose. Really good smelling imperial stout- the ones I've been drinking are usually roasty and/or hoppy. But this is straight up dark fruit. Really a nice change of pace. (4)

Colour: Pours a dark dark dark jet black, looks great. It comes out with an absolutely beautiful 1cm dark brown head that dissipates within 30 seconds into absolutely nothing, leaving a very thin brown collar over an abyss of black beverage. The lacing is absolutely thick, and swirling agitates the collar and makes it even thicker. You can't do any better than this brew for its appearance! (5)

Flavour: When I first drank it fresh back in December, it tasted rather medicinal with a straight-up overdone cherry tartness- not complex at all and rather hard to drink. I didn't like it at the time but I decided to give it 3 months to see how it changes over time. And it would appear that just a bit of age really develops this beer. The heat has been covered up by a more complex flavor combining hints of the underlying roasty malt character with the dominant dark fruit flavours as described in the nose- raisins, cherry, figs that contribute quite a bit to the aftertaste. It's not boozy at all and has developed nicely in such a short amount of time. (4)

Mouthfeel: On the lighter side of a thick body. Decent carbonation. Goes down smoothly leaving a nice balanced finish that is neither wet or dry. The aftertaste is probably dominantly tart cherry that goes to town on your taste buds for quite a while afterwards. Not the thickest imperial stout but it's a very smooth quaff. (4)

Overall: It makes sense that this beer develops with some age on it as it would seem that Bell's intended it that way. I'm happy that I hung onto the six-pack I bought last December. I'll probably try it at 3-6 month intervals to see how it develops from here on. It's a nice change from the usual roasty and hoppy imperial stouts (e.g. Founders Imperial Stout, Plead the 5th, etc.), as the dark fruits are the strongest contributor to the flavour. (4)

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 18:43:43 | More by Stevedore

csrbv

Pennsylvania

3.23/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

A--Black with a nice tan head. Looks great!

S--All I get is a ton of smoke--not a fan of the smell.

T--Like burnt bitter chocolate and maybe burnt sugar--very bitter with other bold tastes, but not in a good way.

MF--OK full bodied.

O--I don't get this beer. Maybe I just had a bad 4 pack, but I would have to power though each one until the bitter, and I mean BITTER end. Each time I opened a new one, I would think maybe this time it would be better, but it was a disappointment each time. I'm sure that all the other people who have reviewed this as a 94 are right and I'm wrong.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 20:04:30 | More by csrbv

DrewV

New York

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bottling date of 10/12.

What a brew! An overly aggressive pour may have robbed this one of some carbonation, as it's a bit flat, but every drop of the flavor remained. A bit restrained in the aroma compared to the flavor, but again that may be due to my clumsy pour. Ridiculously creamy with a thick, viscous mouthfeel. Heavy, dark roasted malts and chocolate flavors are supported by a serious amount of hop bitterness. The depth of flavor and balance is off the charts. Almost a meal all by itself. I've had some outstanding Impy stouts, but Expedition Stout is just dynamite and stands alone in the deep, dark, heavy-duty stout category. I envy those of you who have regular access to this gem. A solid A+ rated beer, no less.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 01:27:11 | More by DrewV

writerLJBerg

Oregon

4.39/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

2010 bottle from Pawel. Batch 10105. Thanks!

A; Black and lightless as a brick. Very dark mocha head that settles in at about an inch. Looks like motor oil.

N: Roasted malt, green hops, dark chocolate, dark cherry, prune. Has a pronounced dark fruit sweetness, particularly that of raisins. Lots of raisins. Truly a smell of dried grapes.

T: Deep rushes of dark chocolate. Leather and bark. Cedar, tobacco, raisins. Smoke and roast. Hops lend an earthy backbone with some leafy hints. Coffee overtones. Superb, and reminiscent of HotD Adam of all things.

M: Thick, coating, yet somehow, supremely drinkable.

O: This is just sublime. Really wise to store it for the extended aging and very much worthy of the high score. Might be my favorite non-BA stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 00:05:48 | More by writerLJBerg

PaterMorse

Indiana

3.36/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Very complex, very cool, very much WANTED to like it; but just registered a "miss" for me. At times felt like it was a chore to finish the next pour. And phenomenal as the appearance and aroma are, that's an insurmountable indictment for a beer.

A: Pours a gorgeous engine oil golden-black. Head is a stunner as well (milk-chocolate brown), but disappears way too fast -- leaving very little on the surface unless/until agitated. Nice crimson/brown/black hues remain.

S: Changes rapidly. A little chocolate, coffee on initial pour. Agitate it a bit and it's waffles & syrup. As it settles, earthy, roasty, boozy (but only slightly on the nose).

T: Unfortunately, what's only slight on the nose is a kapow on the taste buds. I felt like I'd chomped down on a cotton swab doused with rubbing alcohol. Taste smooths out over time (kind of)); but the alcohol lingers too long and is too in-your-face.

M: Big body, smooth. And though a diplomatic suggestion is that it "warms" as it goes down, a less diplomatic suggestion is that it burns your eyes.

O: Complex for sure; but just a tad over the top on the alcohol confrontation. In my estimation, Dark Horse's Plead the 5th is higher in ABV but an equal in complexity, mouthfeel & appearance and FAR superior in aroma, taste and drinkability.

Repeat? No, no reason. Not terrible by any means; but nothing so unique or good to warrant another round. Other RIS pours are more enjoyable and equally complex.

Ideal Setting To Have One On Hand? To clean any open wounds or accelerate fire-starting...

Two Word Description: Alcohol Swab

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 00:49:38 | More by PaterMorse

whynot44

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful black beer with a slight burgundy cast with a nice dark tan head that lingers and laces all the way down.

The aroma is complex - roasted malt, espresso, plums, raisins, hints of chocolate and smoke.

The taste is much like the aroma, a fantastic balance of sweet and bitter. Thick malty flavor, some fruity sweetness with dark roast coffee, some dark chocolate and a touch of burnt toast.

Full bodied, rich and velvety smooth with a dry but still smooth finish. There is a definite alcohol presence but not obtrusive, just warming.

Altogether, an outstanding Imperial Stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 07:33:10 | More by whynot44

watsonmd

Georgia

4.84/5  rDev +15%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: black, thick, dark brown tight bubbled head.

S: toffe, coffee, oak, stone fruit

T: upfront roasty malt, coffee and chocolate, with a "cough syrupy" after taste on the first sip, but not so much after that. Perhaps the ABV?

M: Thick, syrupy, smooth and creamy.

O: Excellent. Not a Black Note, but still an excellent Bell's!

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 17:39:22 | More by watsonmd

drrone

Arizona

4.66/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A- Black as night with minimal dark brown head. Hardly any lacing.

S - Beautiful roast nose, with notes of chocolate, coffee and just a hint of fruit. You can smell the alcohol as well, but nicely so.

T - Very nice maltly, chocolately, espressoy dance of favors in my mouth.

M - Thick and rich, but easy to drink. Leaves a nice feel afterwards.

O - Very pleased with this stout. It is everything I was hoping it would be. I am looking forward to ageing a few of these to enjoy in the future.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 03:45:13 | More by drrone

frankiepop

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Classic Russian Imperial Stout. Black beer and damn dark brownish head. Pretty good head. Smell? Smells like stout. Taste - rich and delicious. To break it down, a Imperial Stout should have a good balance of bitter and sweetness. I get a strong well-roasted malty flavor at first with almost a molasses flavor that is quickly followed with a clean bitter thirst quenching finish. That finish is smooth. This may not be my favorite, but it very well could be yours. Expedition is worth a try.

This beer goes well the the fine soundtracks by the Russian composer Prokofiev's work with film maker Eisenstein like his scores for Battleship Potemkin and Alexander Nevsky.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 22:19:34 | More by frankiepop

erickehoe

Michigan

4.59/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Bottle Date: 12/27/12. Poured into snifter.

Beautiful looking beer. Pitch black liquid with 1/2 inch tan head. Some sparkles in the head due to the frothiness. Nice lacing. I poured this hard into the glass. It's a work of art.

Great smoky aroma, supported by toasted malts. Some cookie-like sweetness.

Firstly, I've never seen the multi-colored head this beer offers after each sip. If you look closely, various hues of brown are floating throughout the froth after you set the glass down.

The taste is magical. A smooth, subtle malt beginning is followed by peanut butter and chocolate. A dry, earthy hop flavor appears, accompanied by a nice, Belgian-like yeast. No alcohol flavor, just a bit of warming. Aftertaste of dark bitter chocolate.

The mouthfeel is silky and velvety, like melting milk chocolate. A dry, bubbly carbonation emerges, followed by more smoothness and a warm, drying finish.

This is the best Russian Imperial Stout I have had.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 20:10:06 | More by erickehoe

cradke

Texas

4.44/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours very viscous with limited carbonation. Super duper jet black. Nice lacing. Not enough of a head to rank much higher.

Smell: Very forward roasty malts. A little sweet. Alcohol presence is strong. Feels very full and stout.

Taste: Very roasty grain. HUGE malt notes. Coffee is there. The alcohol is very forward and is brought out a little by the sweetness. Very big flavor profile.

Mouthfeel: Substantial presence but a little lack of carbonation at first. Spreads nicely across the palate and the carbonation grows. Very enjoyable

Overall: I think this beer is better than the some of it's parts. It's a very big, and bold beer with a huge flavor profile. For being a fresh vintage, i would have liked some more carbonation and a little less sweetness. Overall though, a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 03:53:38 | More by cradke

aaronplayford

Michigan

4.24/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Purchased from bells as vintage 2007. The numbers match.

Pours mildly carbonated with a dark tan head.

Smells roasty and warm.

Tastes full, robust, roasty and still slightly bitter and warms after the swallow. Roast and slight bitterness lingered after.

Viscosity is thick but on par for its style.

Overall if you can age a beer 5-6 years and have it still taste this robust and roasty you've really got something. Wish I'd been aging this stuff since I knew what craft beer was.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 04:40:43 | More by aaronplayford

JDizzle

Indiana

4.7/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

From a 12 oz pizour, bottled 9/26/11

Looks really dark, as in black night! Head is dirty brown and chokes the rim and holds on tight for the ride.

The smell is a somewhat of a let down for me. It smells like alcohol and a little chocolate, rasted malts and maybe burnt coffee.

It taste like a full bodied stout that has chocolate notes to it with a big alcohol presence. Chocolate and malt arte there, but is overwhelmed by alcohol.

The taste is very thick with a reasted malt that dominates with a little chocolate and malt, but the alcohol is present more than not. solid effort.

Drinkability is so-so with a bitter aftertaste that lingers from the hops and a bitter chocolate and alcohol aftertaste that lingers a tad too long.

Not a homerun, but a solid effort by Bell's!

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 15:10:39 | More by JDizzle