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

patpbr

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark as night with a tan head and nice lacing. The smell is roasty with chocolate notes. Bold with a chocolate character along with roast and coffee. Dark fruit and sweet malts try to balance it out. Some vanilla and creamy as it warms. Carbonation is low but finishes with bitterness. A strong brew that I may have to cellar. High alcohol will keep me from drinking to many.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 01:29:56 | More by patpbr

tectactoe

Michigan

4.4/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a squid-ink shade of black, letting no light through this one at all, super dark tan head, excellent staying power with thick bouts of lacing left along the edges of the glass. Aroma is full of rich, bittersweet dark chocolate, highly roasted malts and grains, sweet black licorice, and a touch of deep fruit sweetness and ashy hop bitterness. The presence of this beer is very powerful from the aroma alone. Some alcohol detectable, but not too heavily; just enough to provide a nice warming sensation on the tip of the nose.

One sip of this and you know you're in for a treat. Thick, sweet licorice up front, along with sweetness in the form of over-ripe dates and figs. Roasted cocoa beans, bitter espresso and thick coffee, dark chocolate and cocoa beans, bitter, creamy, and milky. An ashy, leafy hop profile asserts itself just in time to balance the extreme sweetness and put everything into perspective. Fading out, the beer leaves a nice combo of sweet and bitter behind on the palate with cocoa, roasted malt, and ashy hops. Alcohol warms and make itself known, but never burns or scares you away - it just adds another element. Super thick, motor oil body with a low-medium amount of carbonation.

This beer is extreme - it's heavy, thick, powerful, and jam packed full of flavor. I believe it's slightly underrated, but I may be biased since it's readily available in my area when in season. Take this one slow, it's a doozy, but it's damn good.

EDIT: 2006 vintage, enjoyed 3/21/2013. Thanks to Chris from bringing this one from this cellar. Bell's wasn't kidding when they said this one would hold up. No head, still silky smooth. Flavors are all there; dark coffee, bitter cocoa, sweet licorice. Mellow booziness with a light oxidation - understandable given the age. Fantastic. Seven years old and still holding up like a fuckin' champ.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 22:42:51 | More by tectactoe

brewtus

Ohio

3.73/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a tulip glass. Pours thick black with a dark tan head that laces well as it slowly fades. Smells oakey, a bit hoppy, and malty. Taste is smokey and a bit bitter. Has a chewy and creamy thickness. Leaves your mouth with a dark chocolate after taste that's pretty enjoyable. The alcohol level is hidden well, if you're looking for a thick solid stout, this is worth trying. Not my favorite but really glad I tried it.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 17:06:49 | More by brewtus

RichieS2

Michigan

5/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured a 12 oz bottle into a Trappist Goblet.

Appearance - Opaque black even when held up to a light source. Had a mocha brown froth with a good amount of lacing. Textbook appearance of I-stout.

Smell - Strong hints of coffee with some detectable undertones of chocolate. Overall very pleasing almost like being in a coffee shop. Again textbook for an I-stout.

Taste - Heavenly to say the least. The beer starts with strong malt sweetness that fills the palate. Then the malt transitions to the more bittersweet taste of roasted malt, which again brings the coffee analogy to mind. The bitter sweetness ends with bitterness equal to that of pale ale. In case you were not keeping track that is 3 tastes in the beer's flavor, each and everyone one of them is not just good but great.

Mouth feel - Satisfyingly thick and warm in the mouth.

Overall - I do not hand out a perfect score easily. This beer has earned it.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 17:10:28 | More by RichieS2

purdueflyguy

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2012 vintage poured into pint glass

Poured black but not quite motor oil black. Was expecting it to be a little thicker looking. Descent mocha colored head.

Not quite as much as much going on as I would expect. Dark chocolate and coffee faint but big roasted malt. A little smokey.

Massive espresso flavors followed by a little bit of chocolate. A little boozy in the flavor but don't really feel any warming surprising for this ABV.

A little too thin as far as the mouthfeel.

Overall not a bad beer but it just doesn't take it to the next level would like to age this and see where it is in a couple years.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 22:11:00 | More by purdueflyguy

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.38/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

12 oz bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Pours a pitch black color. No "really dark brown" bollocks, this one is nearly perfectly opaque. The head is a one finger tan color that gives Ten Fidy a run for its money in terms of darkness. The retention is pretty good, and a thick collar around the glass diameter lingers nicely.

S: I immediately notice a large amount of dark fruits, like raisins, currants, and plums. Beneath that, there's a bit of licorice, anise, coffee, chocolate. and light booze. Very similar to a revved-up version of the Stone IRS - if we can compare it to any other RIS on the market, that is.

T: The flavor seems roastier than the aroma. Roasted malts open the flavor profile with a punch to the face, before a fruity midtaste and alcoholic, vaguely hoppy finish. Even for an imperial stout, the balance is lacking. Really, the palate is just beat down with roast, bittersweet dark fruits, and booze. Not much subtlety here - it's aggressive and even harsh. If there was any beer that was more suitable for drinking after a year in the cellar, this is it.

M: Thick as a brick. I can't think of any other way to describe the bigness of the body. It finishes with a lot of wet slickness and lingering roasted malts. It certainly feels decadent, but again, the big booze detracts instead of complimenting the flavor profile.

O: This one is a bit harsh, frankly. Good news is, aging it will kill that harshness stone dead. Bad news is, I only bought a single bottle. Damnit. Then again, I'm of the school of thought that a beer should be consumed as soon as its purchased, so the middling scores stand.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 23:23:41 | More by ThisWangsChung

messyhair42

Colorado

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

From a Bell's sampler pack I was given, last of the six pack. And incredibly rare to have in Colorado.

From the bottle it has a dark red hue, in the glass it is black as night. pours with a one finger head that fades into a smooth lacing over the course of a few minutes.

Smells like licorice, figs and candy without much of a hop aroma, hops are there, but they don't stand above the rest.

Taste: Rich chocolate, plums, and dark malts. Very long aftertaste with tannins and earthy, musty hops.

Mouthfeel: lighter than I expected, It could be sweeter (heavier) and still be be well balanced. even after warming in the glass for 50 minutes it has good bubble feel on the tongue.

Overall: an excellent beer, highly quaffable for a RIS, I wish I had more than one bottle. will definitely seek out when I'm back east.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 08:08:26 | More by messyhair42

gshak

Texas

5/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I've had this a number of times, and rated it around 4.75-5. Decided this time, to chime in and write a review. Poured from a year-old (Jan '12) bottle into a Meukow snifter at refrigerator temperature. I had the desire but not the discipline to let this one sit for long and warm up. Here we go:
A - With an aggressive pour, the liquid still went flat into the snifter, only for the bubbles to gradually rise up towards the end, generate a thin mocha-colored head, and fade back into a tiny, persistent, ring. Viscous, and pitch-black; upon swirling leaves noticeable signs of alcohol legs. The mocha-tint lets you know where the beer's been through in your glass. Impressive.
S - Chocolatey, very, very chocolatey with hints of molasses. Now, this may not be much to rate the stout on, but there is that almost zen-like statement from this stout (hyperbolic, I know) the subdued appearance, the subdued aromas that portend of awesome things to come. And for that feeling alone, this gets a 5.
T - Yes, yes, yes. A big hit of dark chocolate and sweet molasses coats the mouth. Transitions into a slightly vinous sensation on the palate most likely the alcohol. I want to keep this in my mouth for as along as I possibly can - ah, the sweet, sweet delight of sipping on this beauty. As it goes down, it dries the palate - possibly a combination of hops and alcohol coming into play. I never felt the alcohol at any time, and the hops are only there to balance out the sweetness of the beer. Even so...this is a malt-lover's dream!
M - Thick, viscous, silky, smooth....the ultimate sipper.

As far as non-barrel aged imperial stouts go, this is the one to beat. I do not see how anyone could possibly out do this one. And even among the barrel-aged ones, I can only pick a few that could, possibly, go toe-to-toe with the Bells Expedition.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 22:39:34 | More by gshak

rlee1390

Indiana

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

A-Deep black, brown head that doesn't last long

S-Good deal of chocolate, some coffee and roast/burnt malt. Molasses as well.

T-Starts with a lot of chocolate, coffee as it warms. Some alcohol heat. Burnt/roasted malt.

M-Medium to heavy in body, not much carbonation, tad creamy.

O-Maybe some age would do this brew some good, nice flavors but they didn't come together perfectly.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 19:54:59 | More by rlee1390

AmitC

Indiana

4.4/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle dates 10/22/2012.

A heavy Russian Imperial from Bell's. Had heard good praises on BA.

Pours very thick dark brown. Dark black inside the glass. Head is overwhelming about three fingers thick. Tan shining brown colored. Excellent lacing. Very sticky. Head persists really well. Low to moderate bubbles. Opaque.

Aroma: Hops enter first. Some burnt up roasted malts and alcohol. A very upfront hoppy smell that thins out slowly with time. Overall a comparatively mild smell.

Taste: Front is hop forward, slightly bitter. Some mild chocolate, caramel and malts. Alcohol is felt really well. Punching. Bitter dry finish.

Mouth feel: Full bodied yet feels good smooth may be due to excessive alcohol. Astringency is huge, mostly due to hops, burnt up malts and alcohol. I like that this brew puts hops and alcohol right upfront, unabashedly. Thickness is huge. Low to moderate carbonation.

Overall: Very exciting offering from Bell's. Better than there Kalamazoo and Cream Stouts. Solid stout. A slow drinking beer as is expected. This one is a palate wrecking brew. Will do some serious damage for a stout.

Style Rate: 4.5
Personal Rate: 4.5

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 17:36:54 | More by AmitC

hctap00

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

Bottle packaged on 10/22/12, so this one is fresh. Ignored recommendations to cellar it for a while.

Nice appearance. Black with some dark brown transparency at the edge. Reddish tan head reduces to a lacing that sits on top of the beer, not just around the edge.

Aroma was fairly one dimensional, though it did evolve as it warmed. Initially, I got almost exclusively booze. Maybe some chocolate. Later, the same "dark fruit" smell that I get from Narhwal, only stronger. I think it may be fig. I wish I could place it. Not much complexity.

Again, a bit one dimensional, but still enjoyable. A boozy start, followed by some dark chocolate sweetness, a solid malt backbone that is not very roasty, and finishes with the same fig-like flavor I get in the aroma. Fairly pronounced cherry toward the end, mixed with the booze. Tastes like what I imagine the Jim Beam Red Stag to taste like, but in a good way. Warming alcohol very noticeable.

No complaints with the mouthfeel. Can still feel it in a good way.

This beer had its moments. I would try it again, but definitely want to cellar it.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 06:04:51 | More by hctap00

Optifron

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours jet black with brown, thick, creamy head. Leaves moderate lacing.

Aroma: Chocolate, a touch of hops, smooth French roast coffee

Taste: Dark chocolate, but without the intense bitter. Smoother espresso beans. A nicely balanced sweetness, almost like a touch of lactose.

Mouthfeel: Fantastic. Was the first thing that really stood out when it hit my mouth. Incredibly smooth, creamy but not heavy

Overall: Really impressive. I like smoother stouts, and this really fits the bill. Impressively drinkable for 10.5%. Will definitely be picking up more of this.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 02:46:15 | More by Optifron

Wolfpack2005

North Carolina

2.88/5  rDev -31.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottle to DFH snifter

A-Pours slightly heavy leaving a dark tan 1 finger head that fades quickly, Pitch black in color.

S-Picking up a little bits of roasted malts and dark chocolate. Also a slight alcohol smell as well. Nothing very strong.

T-Strong burnt malt taste up front with a slight taste of old coffee. After the harsh taste fades i'm left with a strong alcohol taste that lingers for a while and is not masked at all.

M-The only redeeming quality of this beer is the smooth mouthfeel and relatively low carbonation, which I like for this style.

O-Very disappointed in this brew coming from such a solid brewery With the high praise it gets I was expecting a lot more. Seems very unbalanced and lacks any sort of complexity. Not a good example of the style. I'll lay one down to see if time helps the flavors blend, but otherwise will probably not buy this one again.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 00:03:54 | More by Wolfpack2005

Neorebel

New Jersey

4.55/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep, oil hue, nearly black into my glass, with an off-white frothy head covering the top. It remains there clinging to the side and holding steady at about 1/2 inch. This beer's appearance is on point - exactly what I am looking for, it's as if this is just a very large espresso I have here. The aroma is nothing short of an absolute delight! A complex array of flavors enters my nose, such as raisin, purple grapes, cream, molasses, coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and a slight woody, earthiness. After a healthy gulp I am pleasantly surprised to find that the aroma was not all hype in the slightest. I initially get some fruit flavors, again the grapes, dark fruit, and also a hint of cranberry, and noticeable hops of the "grapefruit" variety. Those first aspects are then overtaken by bitter chocolate, a splash of coffee, and a more musty, yet sharp "barrel" finish. The alcohol content is not as striking as you would imagine, although the warming sensation eventually does come when you sit for a second. For the mouthfeel, of course it's relatively heavy, but it's not as velvety and full coating as I would like. Overall though its quite delicious and worth picking up because of the more prevalent fruit and hop flavors within this excellent stout. I do wonder what aging this a few years would do to it as well...

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 06:01:35 | More by Neorebel

SkeeterBoganski

Colorado

4.23/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle to snifter.

A - thickfreakness dark; mocha head; significant lacing and retention; also, dark

S - roasted malt; a bit of dark coffee; some slight sweetness via bakers chocolate; just a touch of leather

T - dark chocolate; dark coffee; some espresso; malty; sweet and syrupy; roasted/smokey; a decent amount of hop presence; maybe burnt maple syrup

M - obviously this beer is pretty heavy; full-bodied, but smoothly carbonated; creamy; alcohol heat present but not overwhelmingly so; pretty smooth overall

O - a damn tasty stout that packs a pretty serious punch of heat and roasted malt, coffee flavor; it's drinkable but will sit you down in a hurry because of that 10.5; there are some bitter chocolate notes present but the balance is there for sure.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 01:45:55 | More by SkeeterBoganski

DevilsCups

New York

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

12oz bottle I've been sitting on for some time. Bottled 11/01/11.

A - Pitch black with a nice dark mocha head. Big legs, minimal lacing.

S - Sweet and roasted malts with some awesome milk chocolate notes. Slight bit of smoke. Smells fantastic.

T - Very roasted malts up front with dark chocolate and smokey notes in the finish. Hops are still hanging around, and pleasantly cut through the sweet malts used.

M - Coats pretty nicely. Carbonation is still pretty up there, but works. Leaves a nice smoky chocolate flavor in the mouth.

O - Fantastic. If this was a limited release 22oz every year, people would go nuts over it. Good on Bell's for doing this in sixxers. Fantastic beer. I got this as an extra in a trade, but it will be the main-piece in a future trade. Fits somewhere between Rasputin and Founders Imperial Stout flavor-wise.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 03:29:16 | More by DevilsCups

metter98

New York

4.13/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured with a finger high dark tan head that has excellent retention properties and hardly died down and left lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: There are moderate aromas of roasted malts in the nose along wit some hints of licorice.
T: The taste is similar to the smell, although the licorice becomes more prominent as the beer warms up and lingers through the finish. A light to moderate of bitterness is present.
M: It feels a little more than medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonated. All of the roasted malts make the finish feel dry.
O: This beer is quite drinkable considering the strength because the alcohol is well hidden from the taste (provided you can get past the roastiness).

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 03:46:17 | More by metter98

BrownNut

Florida

3.78/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

Oct 2, 2012 batch, drunk Dec 10, 2012. Bottle to tulip. Served cool.

A - 3.75 - Black. Rusty tan head that dissipates quickly. Want more.

S - 3.5 - The smell is fairly faint. What's there smells delicious, but it's just distant. Gentle chocolate malt, gentle hint of leather. There's a facet that reminds me a little of certain pumpkin ales, surprisingly. Almost some fruit, almost some liquor.

T - 3.75 - Strong burnt char note right out of the gate. Fairly bitter for that reason. Hint of chocolate in the background. It's hard to imagine any kind of delicate fruit taste surviving in this harsh environment but I swear I get a little something - not sure what kind. Pretty hot booze in the throat. I like that but many might see it as too much. Everybody says to cellar this one anyway so that should take care of that. It gets easier drinking farther down in the glass, but still has a fairly bitter char thing going on, more than I think is reasonable. It's over the top with burnt taste while young like this. Looking forward to trying it this time next year and the next.

M - 4.5 - Heavy bodied, viscous, approaching pudding feel. Ends kind of powdery inside the slippery.

O - 3.75

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 00:29:21 | More by BrownNut

whendeathsleeps

Indiana

3.85/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours thick motor oil black, tan two finger head, decent retention, nice lacing.

S- Dark roasted malt, anise, bakers chocolate, woody.

T- Dark chocolate, espresso, boozy, some dark fruits, a little bitterness from the hops to balance things out, let this one warm, it shines then.

M- Like you would expect from the pour, full bodied, thick, silky smooth, a little alcohol warming.

O- A good, not great RIS, the mouthfeel is excellent, I much prefer Ten Fidy to this, but I would go back to this for sure.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 00:07:23 | More by whendeathsleeps

fmccormi

New York

4.28/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Straight pour from a 12oz pry-off bottle to a Cigar City snifter; bottling date printed in black ink along with batch information near the bottom of the back label (“11503 PKGD 10/22/12 A”), indicating a packaging date of October 22, 2012. So, currently about six and a half weeks old.

Appearance (4.0): Well, dark. Very dark. With a one-finger head of extraordinarily fine-grained foam that’s almost milk chocolate-hued, this beer has a black body that turns a deep brown at the edges when held to the light. Decent retention and lacing: while relatively sparse, the lacing is evenly distributed and sticks around pretty well, which is good for a malt-forward beer of this size. Sure looks like an imperial stout to me.

Smell (4.0): There’s some nice molasses with a bit of anise underneath, layered over a nice, not overly acrid roasted malt character—just a nicely balanced dark, roasted malt / sweet, dark, rich, unrefined sugar blend. Dark fruits (raisins, prunes) and caramelized sugar, with some rich fruitcake. Also, there are some floral, citrusy hops in the background, which somehow do not clash with the roasted malt body. Lovely smelling beer.

Taste (4.5): Very solid, rich, malty body: some of that sturdy-but-not-syrupy-sweet molasses sweetness blends into some rich grain character (more of that fruitcake action), which gives way to an almost shockingly smooth roast. French roast coffee, rich and very dark chocolate, caramelized sugar and toffee, and almost none of the acrid bitterness you might expect. There’s some floral hop character in here, too, though it’s easy to miss—kind of flashes across the palate early on and then surfaces again, subtly, as a grassy-floral bitterness in the finish. And somehow, despite being an RIS weighing in at 10.5% ABV, there’s very little alcohol heat. It’s there, sure, but it’s built into the body well and just adds another layer, if you ask me. And that is especially remarkable, considering that this is less than two months old.

Mouthfeel (4.5): Fantastic feel. Rich and thick, viscous but smooth (not syrupy), with a rich, evenly-distributed carbonation that coats the entire mouth and foams nicely on the way down. Voluminous, sleek, soft. Just greatness here.

Overall (4.0): Damn. This is an incredibly solid brew. It’s not a mind-blowing Russian Imperial Stout, I suppose, but kind of like Two Hearted it does everything it’s supposed to do and it does it all extremely well. It manages to be SO SMOOTH while pulling off so much flavor, body, and density. And it’s pretty damn fresh, too. What a great brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 04:41:44 | More by fmccormi

jucifer1818

Florida

4.68/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A:deep, deep, deep black. I can see my refection in this beer is so perfectly dark and black, and it looks amazingly inviting.
light head, tho I cant complain for a beer this strong (which usual has low head retention)
5/5

smell: smells beautiful of chocolate...like chocolaty, light toffee, light fudge malt goodness
its beautiful
5/5

Taste: very forward with the hops, starting strong for a bit before being overtaken by the malt. Smoked malt, very dark caramel, black patent, roasted barley, and dark chocolate malt are all present with a slight hint of coffee malt as well)
no taste of the 10.5% ABV
aftertaste is of freshly grounded coffee and dark bakers chocolate
4.5/5

mouth-feel: slick, grainy, malty, and slight syrupness, yet still easy to drink
4/5

overall: its a fine example of a heavenly stout that goes as black and flavorful as possible.. Could had been a bit lighter on the hops to allow the malt to shine even more, but that's just my own prefrances, this brew balances both aspects of brewing flavors, and finds a beautiful balance for a beer of this heavy level of hoppyness and matlyness

A well earned 5/5

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 07:03:37 | More by jucifer1818

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bell's Expedition Stout. Battle of the Vintages. 2011 vs. 2012.

2012:

Pours a soft black with a half-inch of mocha head. Not much of the foam wants to stick to the glass. Very gluggy out of the bottle, like spent oil. 4.0

Smells like bitter mocha, unsweetened chocolate, giant roast, pine hops, earthy aromas, espresso, and dried red raspberry. Punchy nose with an enormous malt bill. You don't need to point your nose too close to get that delectable stout essence. 4.5

Heavily-charred with dusty mocha powder, burnt notes, alcohol, blackberry, caramelized sugars, pine from the hops, licorice root, and hefty bitterness. Just a beast of a stout, flavors fitting for the coldest and darkest nights. The booze makes it near-spicy deep into the finish with hot breaths from the strength making your mid-section warm and wooly. Quite yummy fresh. I'm excited for the year-old. 4.0

Full body with some gumminess and smacking-lip stick. Big and warm without being hot and undesirable. Carbonation is a staunch-medium. 4.5

Overall - 4.0

2011:

Poured a less uniform black with some browning hue taper along the edges as the liquid filled the glass. Head formed at a similar height as the fresh vintage, but looked a half-shade darker brown. Leaves the glass almost entirely clean, but a firm ring remains. 4.0

Syrupy chocolate nose punctuates a melty-rich malt nose. Sweet coffee-and-cream notes swell in and out around the fudgy dark chocolate and booze. Peatier and sweeter dark malts offer more raisin and prune and dark caramel. Truly, Expedition Stout has decomposed beautifully. 4.5

Chocolate-y and syrupy with milk caramel and loud fermentables. The roast is much softer and the beer is sweeter and less bitter. Less coffee, more decadent. Dark and milk chocolate, CowTails caramel creme, roasted grain, raisin, alcohol, fruit rot, soft pungent cheese, rotted berries, torched sugar, and light minty pine. 4.0

Thick body with a medium-to-light carbonation and warmly-reminding strength. Smooth and coercing. 4.0

Overall - 4.0

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 04:50:04 | More by thecheapies

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from tap into snifter at holy grale in Louisville. Look is amazing...black with thick 3 finger tan brown head. Aroma is roasted malts and a bit of hoppy coffee
Taste is nice...bitter roasted coffee malts followed by a bit of sweetness. Its a bit over bitter but nice. Its a good brew especially for the price and availability.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2012 01:44:53 | More by DrinkSlurm

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.15/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass at cellar temperature.

L – Deep black color with a big 4-finger bubbly brown head. Amazing retention and great lacing.

S – Typical RIS aromas of chocolate, vanilla, molasses, and dark fruits like plums and figs.

T – Starts off sweet with dark fruits, chocolate, vanilla, and molasses. Bitterness begins to build mid-taste and comes to a crescendo at the finish with lots of roasted barley. Alcohol is apparent.

F – Full-bodied with good carbonation for the style, a creamy and velvety-smooth mouthfeel, and a bittersweet and dry finish. Dark fruit sweetness lingers. Alcohol warmth is definitely apparent.

O – This is a very tasty RIS. The alcohol is certainly apparent here, but the beer is not hot by any means. It would probably smooth out nicely with some age. If I get my hands on another one, I’ll hold onto it for a year and see how it does. Still, for a young imperial stout at 10.5% ABV, it is very drinkable. Bell’s strikes again.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 02:02:10 | More by BlackBelt5112203

JamesShoemaker

New York

4.13/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into my snifter. Thanks to kylelenk for two bottles of this brew. I had regular access to this when I lived in Michigan; glad to have another shot at it.

A - black as soot, not a lot of carbonation even with the forced pour. The foam is a nice light brown, lacing up the sides.

S - a little too much cleaning product here. There's something empty about the smell, even when I really stick my nose in there and sniff. Toasty. My girlfriend says "liquor, bourbony," but I don't get it.

T - probably the roastiest, toastiest stout I've ever had. Super burnt tasting malts. I may not want to drink more than one in a sitting, but it's unique enough to earn a 4.5.

M - good, it's ridiculously smooth. I read Jason's review of this before I read mine and couldn't believe he didn't find this smooth. Very little carbonation, hardly any syrup, smooth.

O - I like this beer a lot. It's like the stout version of Two Hearted, the other tried and true offering by Bells.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 01:32:03 | More by JamesShoemaker