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

BostonHops

Massachusetts

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

12oz bottle served in a snifter.
thanks to abanton for the opportunity.

pours a deep chestnut / mahogany, sits a jet black tone... yields a 1/2" mocha head that lapses fairly quickly into a collar around the glass; some lacing evident. nose offers a nice potpourri of a lot of the usual suspects: roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee, with secondary notes of vanilla and some dark fruit elements.

more of the same carry pull through in the flavor. lots of roastiness, chocolate and coffee with distinct cherry / fig notes, vanilla and a touch of molasses. some booze, notably in the finish. chewy, full bodied mouthfeel with medium carbonation.

overall an excellent RIS, packed with flavor and very tasty. to be sure, one of the better renditions out there.

(originally reviewed: 02-12-2012)

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 04:45:00 | More by BostonHops

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle, bottled on 1/18/2012, poured into a tulip glass.

A- Pours black, topped with a finger of creamy brown head that recedes to a collar and leaves little lacing.

S- Sweet boozy aroma, brown sugar and vanilla, lots of dark fruit, a bit of coffee and chocolate.

T- Chocolate, coffee, lots of roasted grain, eventually yields to a balanced sweetness from booze, fruit and molasses/brown sugar as well as some vanilla, has a very bitter finish with lots of coffee and roast.

M- Full-bodied, moderate to low carbonation, has a smooth feel.

O- A very nice stout, has some really tasty flavors and is very drinkable and balanced.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 09:17:50 | More by WillCarrera

atigerlife

Hawaii

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

Pours black. Small dark brown head that dissipates rather quickly.

Aroma of soy sauce, dark chocolate and burnt dark malts.

Taste of dark malts. Soy sauce. Stewed plum, dark chocolates. Lots of flavors all melded together. As it warms, more comes out....Smokey, hops, coffee.

Mouthfeel is heavy, lightly dry at end. Cleansing.

Overall, wow! Very impressive. Nice sipper. Extremely well made.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 02:28:57 | More by atigerlife

jmarsh123

Indiana

4.35/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours black with a minimal tan head. Slight ring of lacing.

Smells of bold roasted malts, some bitterness, baker's chocolate and coffee.

Big boozy flavors. Bitter roasted malts along with some serious sweetness along with dark fruits, figs and chocolate. Big and juicy up front, but still finishes somewhat dry.

Thick and luscious mouthfeel. A tad sweet, but it works with the thickness of the mouthfeel.

Very good easier to get stout and I love my big beers in smaller format. Always a go to every year.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 21:59:23 | More by jmarsh123

MichPaul

Michigan

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

I have had this beer before, and just now having another one. What a great Stout! Big taste and keeps up with all the other Michigan Stouts as far as I'm concerned.
This beer pours nice thick and black with quite a thin head.
Not much of an aroma to speak of, but this seems quite common with stouts.
As I said earlier, what a big taste! Very strong and complex, with a medium to strong bitterness.
Overall, I LOVE this stout. This has a nice kick with a 10.5% ABV. If you like the thick, strong, complex type of stouts, you gotta search this out. I know I will be buying this every year it comes out.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 03:05:59 | More by MichPaul

Homebrew35

Connecticut

4.48/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep drown creamy one finger sized head. Inky black body.

Smells of rich milk chocolate, espresso, light roast, sweet pleasant alcohol, vanilla and rum raisins.

Tastes like a big and rich dark chocolate beer. Espresso beans, coco, vanilla, rum, dark fruits and toffee.

Medium full, fairly dry finish considering the rich semi-sweet flavors. Low carbonation. Mid palate and somewhat in the finish I get a gritty sensation, maybe it's a roasty grain, it's a texture that's kind of off putting.

Overall this is an awesome beer. Everything is great about it, with the exception to the minor texture or feel I get mid palate. Alcohol is well hidden, big flavors, great price and very drinkable.
Batch dated sept 09
$3.30 a small bottle

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 17:43:36 | More by Homebrew35

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Single bottle from Knightly Spirits in Orlando. Poured into a Bell's branded nonic class I picked up at Knightly on the cheap.

Simply put, this brew looks amazing. To borrow from the great film"This is Spinal Tap", how much more black could this beer be? The answer is none. None more black. The pour yielded a full inch of deep mocha foam that would not quit, and left behind a mighty series of lacing rings in its wake. It earned the 5 simply because I can't find any fault here.

Nose is also pretty damned rockin', though not this brew's greatest attribute. Roasted grain, coffee, chocolate and cream - a bit of dark fruit as well. Not as potent as I've run into, but still pretty great.

Man this is one tasty stout - wish I had brought back more. Methinks a summer sojourn to Buffalo or somesuch is in order to get a few extra bottles, because as far as stouts go, this is one of the greats. Rich coffee, caramel, a nice finish of wood and toasted grain, dark fruit and a nice creaminess. Lots to think about, lots to enjoy.

The feel is just superb - silky, creamy, coats the tongue like a champ. Carbonation is mild and compliments the brew nicely.

I was excited to try some Bell's brews, and Knightly had a great selection, but I was underwhelmed/normal whelmed by the previous offerings (Pale Ale, Best Brown, respectively). But this brew really impressed me. There isn't a specific extra detail they added to the brew (anise, barrel-aging, coffee, etc), so it might not be the most unique, but it is superbly crafted and highly enjoyable. Well done to Bell's!

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 22:03:00 | More by JohnnyBarman

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.7/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Served in a pint glass at Mellow Mushroom in Charlottesville. From notes. Reviewed 9 July 2011.

A: Obscenely beautiful head. Very creamy, dense, and dark brown. Fades slowly. Great, comprehensive lacing. Black as emptiness and utterly impenetrable by light.

S: Sweet alcohol. Some fruit. Some coffee. Some vanilla. Deep, strong, and impressive. Boozy.

T: Pretty much one of the best beers I've ever tasted. Immensely dense and chock full of flavour. Fruit, roasted malts, meat, soaring alcohol. Smack-worthy and utterly magnificent!

M: Round, smooth, sweet, slinky, drinkable, and excellent.

O: Go as far as it takes to find this beer. You couldn't ask for a better imperial stout. Utterly marvellous.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2012 05:33:49 | More by AgentMunky

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.25/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer is approximately 2.5 years old at this point (from 10/09) and I'm excited to see how it's held up.

The beer pours a near jet black with a razor thin, oily tan head. There's still some lacing, but generally it's a dense, saturated stout blackness. Very fine, dense bubbles leave a thin head of carbonation that fades in seconds. The beer smells intense with a strong fruitiness, coffee, chocolate & vanilla, and some metallic undertones. There's almost no hint of ethanol.
The taste doesn't fail to disappoint with intense stout flavors including bittersweet chocolate, tobacco, and a light fruitiness (mainly consisting of pit fruits such as cherries and plumbs). As the beer warms up to a proper serving temperature the alcohol pipes though the darkness with a vengeance. A buttery, smooth mouthfeel, which is characteristic of a good sipping stout, dominates every sip. This beer is very bold and oily, something I actually didn't expect. The bitter aftertaste brings balance to the syrupy sweet body.

Hard to get beer, and unfortunately I had to trade for it, but it's very tasty for being in a 12oz bottle....Reminds me of an oskar for the price, volume, and general tasting experience...just isn't in a can.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 02:33:52 | More by ThePorterSorter

mobius387

Wisconsin

4.28/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

bottle date 12/17/10

poured into a pint glass

appearance: dark as tar, small light brown head, pours smooth

aroma: soft notes of chocolate and smoke, nice but not very strong

palate: big big body, but so so smooth. for such a big bodied beer with a high abv this drinks amazingly well.

taste: huge chocolate, smokey and coffee taste. they compliment each other perfectly, better than in most stouts.

overall: this aged greatly. like it much more than i did a year ago. wish i bought more at that time!

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 00:40:59 | More by mobius387

lnashsig

Texas

4.63/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2010 vintage, poured from bottle into CBS Snifter. Pours a rich black color, nice tan head that recedes quickly. Some lacing. Beautiful so far. Smell- rich dark chocolate, molasses, roast, some mocha. Still plenty boozy. Man, after 2 yrs I would have thought this would mellow more. Its truly built for looong term cellaring, and I will be laying the rest that I have for awhile more. Taste- rich dark chocolate just coats my mouth. A touch of espresso hits the tongue and sides of mouth, followed by a nice roasty bitterness. This is just so complex. The booze doesn't present itself on the taste, it is really covered by the rich dark chocolate taste. Mouthfeel- still nice carbonation, super creamy and thick. This is a great beer. I am looking forward to seeing what else happens over time.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 01:07:42 | More by lnashsig

howard12

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Serving Type -- Bottle, dated 1.18.12

A -- Dark, dark brown almost black

S -- Molasses, Coffee, Chocolate, some hop, mcintosh apple

T -- Bitter chocolate/espresso with hops slight vanilla but only very slight

O -- Legit carbonation, bitter but smooth, espresso; will buy again, certainly

definitely a fan of the beer

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 01:53:28 | More by howard12

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

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

Waxed bottle, batch 9435, bottled November 11, 2009. Thanks Hooliganlife!

Appearance. Pours a deep brown, close to black with a skim of brown, bubbly head.

Smell. Fruity booze, dark cherry, almond and bitter chocolate, roasty malts.

Taste. Molasses and roasty malts, some licorice and baker's semi sweet chocolate and a little pear. Smooth and tasty.

Mouthfee. Medium-full body with low+, fine carbonation. Very nice.

Overall. A fine RIS. Very drinkable, smooth and full of flavour.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 18:34:28 | More by Rutager

derkfromwi

Wisconsin

4.18/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled 1/18/12 Poured into Duvel glass

A: Half-finger mocha head that retains around the edges of the glass nicely, jet black color, good carbonation, and a little bit of lacing

S: Chocolates, nice blend of malts, dark fruits, espresso

T: Same as above, bitterness, some earthiness, a bit boozy

M: Smooth and silky, good carbonation, medium-full bodied, warming

O: Very good RIS, got a few to see how it ages and maybe re-review if it changes much

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 04:09:10 | More by derkfromwi

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

4.23/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

big assed props to my bizzle in crizzle andrenaline for including this in our lastest trade
A - tar black with a thumb of dark brown head after, dissipated slowly and retained at a good level given the ABV
S - sweet milky chocolate and dark roasty aromas, leafy hops are strong enough to come through with some light musty aromas
T - silky milk chocolate and cold pressed espresso, bitter roastiness and leafy hops, light earthiness with a pleasant ABV kick on the finish
M - thick chewey feel, quickly moves to a tingly warm ABV heat that thins the feel out through the finish, but leaves the mouth coated
O - this is such a tasty mix of big malts, chocolate, coffee, and hops compliments that i could drink this on the reg, too bad for me that Bells is not available in my area code

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 06:59:12 | More by joemcgrath27

neckbracesub

Indiana

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

Only brewed in the fall & winter of each year, this is one of Bell’s Brewery’s most absolute potent stouts, and it has the flavor to back it up.

I had my first taste of Expedition last October and I have been in heavy search of it wherever I go since. Dark and complex, this is a near-perfect beer (aside from some of the bitter aftertaste) that will delight the senses.

Bell’s is one of the most diverse and consistent breweries in America, and this is one of their royalty.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2012 00:23:06 | More by neckbracesub

jsulko

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into a snifter glass

Pours a dark black with a chocolate head that lingers for a bit.

Smell is dominated by chocolate and coffee with a hint of malt

Taste is chocolate with dark fruit presence o the finish. Slight coffee like bitterness on the finish.

An excellent stout, don't know if it is good enough to warrant the high price point.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 04:38:27 | More by jsulko

Etan

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Spiegelau tulip.

A: Pours a deep black with a decent milk-chocolate colored head. Head recedes quickly but not entirely.

S: Potent aroma of chocolaty alcohol. Overripe strawberries. Sharp fruit-like acidity mixed with roasty notes. Very sweet.

T: Incredibly smooth. Starts with an onset of bright milky chocolate. Fruity alcohol cuts through, eventually turning into bitter char, dark chocolate and burnt coffee. Alcohol is anything but hidden, but not unpleasantly so. Giant bitter roastiness in the finish, with some subtle notes of vanilla and raisins in the back.

M: Silky, creamy, nice and thick, with subtle carbonation.

O: A very smooth, sweet, and complex RIS. The roastiness in the finish was a bit extreme and wasn't exactly pleasant, but it didn't stop me from enjoying the beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 23:21:25 | More by Etan

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

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

A - Pours pitch black, finger of dark mocha head with some retention and no real lacing.

S - Rich chocolate, espresso, sweet cherries and figs, vanilla and molasses.

T - The ABV is noticeable off the top, the chocolate and espresso notes conthrough alongside some leafy greens. ABV sweetness complements some musty cocoa on the finish.

M - Medium bodied ale, with a prominent ABV heat, though not to be interpreted as burning going down, and finishes with a touch of dryness.

O - Super tasty RIS, loads of flavour, rich and chewy. This is a bold beer with an ABV kick that could knock the toughest critic down.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 21:39:25 | More by andrenaline

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz Bottle from 2009 - Thanks to pushkinwow for this

Appearance - Black/brown colour with a small size fizzy/frothy brown coloured head. I can't see much carbonation due the darkness of the beer and there is some good lacing on the sides of the glass. The head lasted for around 5 minutes.

Smell - Chocolate, coffee, malts, smoke, roasted/burnt nuts, dark fruits

Taste & Mouth - The beer has an average amount of carbonation and I can taste lots of chocolate, coffee, and some burnt/roasted nuts. There is also some smoke mixed with malts and it ends with a chocolatey burnt/bitter aftertaste.

Overall – Another fantastic beer from Bell's. It seems like it has aged very well and the booze hits you pretty hard. I would like a touch less charcoal/burnt flavour but the dark fruit notes help balance it out. A great beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 18:13:35 | More by spinrsx

eric5bellies

Australia

4.05/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Drank from my Duvel tulip

A - Pours an oily, black ebony with a two fingered tanned head that retains real well.

S - Smells of Cocoa, roasted malt and dark fruits.

T - Chocolate hits up front, followed by some nice roasted malt and burnt caramel flavours. The finish is warm with alcohol.

M - Full body and low carbonation

O - Very impressed with this stout and would have another.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 13:26:48 | More by eric5bellies

kscaldef

Oregon

3.93/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2010 bottle. Pours very dark with minimal carbonation evident. Just a whisp of mocha foam rises. Coffee and chocolate aromas with prune and raisin notes. Tastes of very rich chocolate and finishes with coffee. Mouthfeel is thick, nearly flat. Slight harsh tannins. Quite drinkable for such a strong beer, but a little subdued.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 05:16:45 | More by kscaldef

chanokokoro

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle poured into a snifter

A: Dark tan two finger head, oily black beneath.

S: Smells of roasted malt, raisins, chocolate, and anise.

T: Slight chocolate roasted malt finishing in a pleasant burnt light caramel sweetness accented by the heat from the abundant alcohol.

M: Viscous and very creamy especially for an RIS. Appropriate level of carbonation.

O: A solid offering. I wish the flavors were just a bit more bold and robust.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 04:45:14 | More by chanokokoro

One2Remeber

Florida

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

Poured into a pint glass

A: Dark khaki tan head, rich in texture. Black body with a faint brown hue.

S: Black licorice, sweet juicy fruits (cherry), dry smokey chocolate powder. Tons of roasted barley. There is a distinct 'fresh leather' aroma.

T: Creamy up front, to a delicious floral hop presence mixed with a dark fruits. Finishes with a licorice candy/boozy finish.

M: Intense viscosity, turns to syrup on the back end. Silky smooth up front. Mild carbonation and no lingering alcohol taste makes for easy drinking.

O: Not crazy over the top with flavor making it more enjoyable than most; it is trying too hard! I would put this up against any RIS.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2012 03:44:48 | More by One2Remeber

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Expedition Stout, a brew I've had multiple times over the years and never bothered to review. Time to remedy that. Thanks to pmsawyer for gifting me with this aged bottle. Poured into a snifter, the brew appears black with a brown head that fizzes fast. Just a few bubbles remain atop.

The smell is heavy of roasted grains, raisiny alcohol and a bounty of licorice notes. As it warms up, some smooth semi-sweet chocolate character evolves towards the back but there is a solid inclusion of raisiny alcohol that tingles the nose with almost a solvent touch.

The tastes hits upfront with licorice and roasty bitter chocolate. Some hop inclusion accents a dark fruity alcohol character. More sips reveal more and more solvent alcohol with some raisin, plum and a bit of roast that is earthy and faintly of coffee.

This is quite a bold, warming sipper that really hasn't mellowed with more than a year of aging. It is medium to full bodied with an enjoyably low level of light carbonation. It is a fairly enjoyable brew but I much rather enjoy a stout that focuses more on roast and dryness than big fusel alcohol that is fruity. To each their own but this one doesn't quite do it for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 19:25:20 | More by stakem