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

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

lokieman

Texas

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

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a tulip...

A: Pours a viscous, black...motor oil in a glass. My bottle actually gave a little "glug, glug" as it poured. Very fine looking stout...

S: Burnt chocolate and caramel is the first thing I get. Also detecting a little alcohol astringency with a little vanilla sweetness rounding out the nose. Smells like a big ass bold RIS with sharp teeth. Ready to dive in head first....

T: Chocolate, tobacco, vanilla, fine Texas BBQ...this beer is deep. So complex with wave after wave of sweet then bitter...then a gust of alcohol followed by caramel sweetness. Very complex and intriguing.

M: As the pour suggests...very viscous and creamy. Clings to your tongue and your lips. The mouthfeel on this beer is exactly on par with the best RIS's out there. So chunky and enjoyable.

O: This is a huge beer. I told a friend the other day that this is Brooklyn Black Chocolate but more complex and bigger. It's a little hot fresh but I have a couple bottles I'm going to let hang out for a while. I think some age will pair wonderfully with this beer. Very grateful to have snagged a few bottles of this big, tasty RIS and I hope to come across more in the future.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 06:15:51 | More by lokieman

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

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

A- Pours essentially black and thick. Small, chocolatey brown head that is gone quickly with good lacing.

S- Main scents are a sweet, black licorice type smell with dark roasts underneath. Maybe slight hints of anise. Definitely some dark chocolate notes.

T- Not as sweet as the smell, with very deep roasts. Almost has a burnt toast taste. Coffee and chocolate notes are present. Deep malt character.

M- Thick and creamy with little carbonation. Slight alcohol heat is present towards the end of the drink. Weight compliments flavor profile.

Overall, not a great, but a very good stout. Slightly deeper than most with burnt malts. A very solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 00:24:24 | More by boilermakerbrew

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

had this on draft at the Oasis Brew pub in rockford. This beer is reivewed from notes taken on 1/27/12.

Appearance: black bodied beer with a dark brown head almost 2 fingers of head that lingers for a while and falls down to a ring around side of the glass. Lots of lacing on the side of glass.

Smell: heavy roast and lots of malt. smells good!

Taste: same as nose. Lots of big roast notes and moderate bitterness; tastes very similiar to coffee. Also in the mix is tobacco, tar, molasses and dark chocolates. The beer has a mild sweetness to it. The beer finishes moderately bitter and the flavors all just linger for what seems to be forever.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied beer with low carbonation. Its thick and chewy. It drinkable considering the big heavy flavors that are present in the beer.

Overall: This RIS by Bells is a Beast! Its a beer that would be more enjoyable for someone with a well tested palate. Not a beer for someone new to this style.

---

3/25/2012

serving: bottle

poured into snifter.

Vintage 2007(September 17th) batch number 8145

Appearance: black bodied beer with one finger of dark brown head. head drops to a ring and thick lacing on the glass. This beer still looks good after many years of age! 4.0

Smell: The nose is really subtle at this point. roasty malts and dark fruits. maybe a hint of sherry from oxidation. 4.0

Taste: This beer is now sweeter and less roasty. It still has got decent roasty notes and some smoke, but it got some serious milk chocolate notes. Little bit of raisins, fudge, molasses, and brown sugar. There is a hint of sweet cherries and bitter black licorice in the aftertaste; its aged fantastically. Still got lots of depth and compexity. 4.5

Mouthfeel: full bodied beer with low carbonation. The carbonation is still holding up well and the beer has become quite silky smooth. There is not any sharpness to this beer at all. Really nice and mellow stout after some time on it! Wow. 5.0

Overall: This beer does improves with aged without a doubt! I was skeptical, but now that I have tried some vintage Expedition stout, I think that its the only way that I want to drink it! Put some away and see for yourself...if you have the patience to wait 4 years and 7 months! This beer just made be a believer of aging big stouts! 4.5

---

4/21/12

serving: bottle

bottle into snifter.

Vintage 2008(September 16th). Batch number 8728!

Appearance: Black bodied beer with one full finger of dark brown head. Head drops to a moderately thick cap with a few large bubbles. This beer looks very similiar to the 2007 vintage! 4.0

Smell: Huge dark fruits especially raisins. The beer is more smokey than roasty, but it got both going on in the nose. Some sweetness imparted from the malts. Black licorice is in there too. The nose is quite robust at this time! 4.5

Taste: Nice balance of smokey, roasty, and sweet. Dark fruits is the big player right now. Raisins, figs, and plums. A little chocolately sweetness with moderate black licorice notes. The beer finishes with moderate bitterness that overpowers the black licorice. 4.25

Mouthfeel: full bodied beer with low carbonation. The carbonation is still holding up well; the beer is silky smooth and mellow. There is not any heat from the alcohol. 4.75

Overall: Bells must brew Expedition Stout specifically for aging. My opinion after drinking/reviewing 3 seperate vintages of expedition stout... age or forget about this beer for a least 3 years; its really better with age than it is fresh. The beer really comes into its own with lots of time! 4.5

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2012 01:54:57 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

perrymarcus

Massachusetts

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

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 04:31:59 | More by perrymarcus

TheBeerologist

Rhode Island

3.8/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Opened a bottle from batch 10068 - bottled 11/11/2010 and poured into a snifter.

Pours nice and thick, dark brown/black with a thin brown head. Looks like a great RIS.

This smells sweet and malty and strongly of raisins and tastes pretty much the same. Still a little hot after 15 months. The carbonation is nice, present but light, with a sticky sweetness.

Overall, I am underwhelmed at this point. It is a good solid RIS but I really prefer it fresh and cannot wait to get some from from a recent batch to review again.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 00:14:22 | More by TheBeerologist

afrokaze

California

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

Thanks to hmmm for this one! Love my Stone IRS Snifter for big stouts. Enjoying this along with True Grit.

Deep ruby brown but not quite black with a finger of tan head with decent retention and some lacing.

Layers of deep roast coffee, earthy malt sweetness, dark chocolate, plus a bit of rum/bourbon barrel-ish character that I know isn't really there.

Tons of roasted chocolate malt, earthy grains, toffee, hints of vanilla and toasted marshmallow, plus a noticeable amount of alcohol.

Mouthfeel is nearly perfect, lots of body and appropriately low carbonation. A bit chewy and sticky but not overdone. A nice bit of burn but maybe a bit too much.

Really amazing for a regular release RIS. Reminds me of Ten Fidy in body and ABV (obviously), pleasantly hot but I can imagine it being an A+ beer in a year or two. Wish I could get this on the regs out here on the best coast.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2012 05:16:53 | More by afrokaze

iabeerbaron

Iowa

3.15/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Picked this beer up at Dirty Johns in Iowa City, IA. Beer pours a dark black color with a thick dark brown head. Smell is of roasted malts and caramel. Flavor of chocolate, malts, coffee, and carmel. Very intense flavor and very intense beer. Not sure if I was ready for this one yet.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 19:30:01 | More by iabeerbaron

will1256

Minnesota

4.53/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Batch number 9554 (January 2010).

Pours jet black with no light whatsoever making its way through the side of the glass. Half finger of tan head quickly dissipates, leaving very little lacing.

Nose is excellent, lots of coffee, vanilla, chocolate, and hints of dark fruits/cherry.

Follows the nose - first taste is coffee and sweet chocolate with a hint of vanilla, slight roasty bitterness at the middle and finishes with more coffee, chocolate and a bit of booze-soaked cherry. The cellar has been kind to this one - definitely smoother and more mellow than the fresh stuff, which can be a little hot imho.

Nice full body, low carbonation, exactly right for the style.

Overall a fantastic RIS, one of the best ones out there. Wish I had a few more to see what another few years would do.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 03:39:37 | More by will1256

BeRanger

Michigan

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

Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Founders Snifter.

A: Pours jet black, a rim of mocha colored head. Slight spotting, no real lacing.

S: Smells of Chocolate, Vanilla, subtle cherries, roasted malts and a little bit of alcohol.

T: All the flavors come through wonderfully, no real alcohol taste - the chocolate and vanilla kind of linger on the back-end. It finishes very smooth.

M: Full-bodied with low carbonation.

O: Wonderful stout by Bells - this is a great warm-up to the Bells Black Note I was able to score today. This is certainly another must have on release - glad to see such great beers by Bells that are readily available in their respective markets.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 00:34:06 | More by BeRanger

jtingue

New York

3.88/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle dated 11/1/11. Poured into a tulip.

Appearance. Pitch black, with a slightly red tint when held up to the light. Pours with a huge 4 fingers of frothy brown head. Lacing is great.

Smell. Coffee and chocolate are dominant. Some roastyness and grassy and earthy hops in the distant background.

Taste. Starts out roasy with some lingering yeasty flavors. An intense sweetness builds with an equally intense chocolate flavor. Some moderate bitterness comes in to dull down the sweetness. Roasted malts join this into a sweet finish.

Mouthfeel. Very thick in body. Carbonation is moderate.

Lots of huge flavors here. Cant wait to see how this is with some age on it.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 00:17:01 | More by jtingue

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

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

Bottled Sept 26, 2011.

Beer is jet black and a large cocoa coloured head sits atop. Dissipates at a moderate pace, leaving some lacing.

Smell contains roasted malt (actually some burnt scents), some alcohol, vanilla, coffee. Nice.

Taste is excellent. Lots of roasted malt, nice dark chocolate flavours, burnt caramel, and what tastes exactly like roasted marshmallows. There is an ice cream place near me that makes a roasted marshmallow flavour and this tasts like a much less sweet version of that in some respects. I love that flavour and this beer! Alcohol is present and noticeable, especially at the end, but in just the right amount. Just fantastic.

Full bodied, low carbonation, rather oily.

Overall, a terrific beer. The smell is nice but the taste is just excellent. I look forward to experiencing the apparently excellent aging abilities of this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 03:19:51 | More by jrenihan

Greencoat

Ohio

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

Re-review. I found a six pack of 5 year old Expedition Stout on the shelves of a tiny deli. No regrets.

A - Motor oil pour with a chocolate milk colored head. Slight legs on the glass. Absolutely gorgeous.

S - A world of difference from a fresh bottle. All alcoholic heat is muted, and instead milk chocolate, molasses, and fig dominate. Wonderful sherry notes that are only achievable with age.

T - Holy moly. The taste follows the nose. The tannic, angular bitterness from the fresh bottle is nowhere to be found. Everything has been brought together in a glorious state of absolution. Bravo.

M - Chewier than a wookie. Alcoholic burn is non-existent. Extremely creamy.

O - I don't alway rate beers absurdly high, but when I do - they deserve it. Apparently 5 years of being ignored does this ale great justice. Now if I can make it to 10...

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 06:52:35 | More by Greencoat

ales4baldo

California

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

P-Nice star to show the meaning of the beers name.

A-Nice and dark, wouldnt say a full pitch black but super dark. Nice dark mocha head. Got about a half fingers worth.

S-This beer smells super good. Sweet chocolate and vanilla and cherries. Subtle alcohol in the mix doesnt make a strong showing.

T-Wow, lots of flavor. Like a bomb going off in your mouth. Get a nice sting from the alcohol with a sweet front and a dark chocolaty finish. Vanill and little coffee are very present. This stout is incredibly hoppy as well.

M-Has a full body and very heavy palate. Carbonation is rather high for this one but its not bad, adds a crisp touch which is nice. Lots of flavors on this one.

O-Really good stout. Recieved this as an extra in a trade, hopefully i come by another one next winter and let it age.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 03:26:40 | More by ales4baldo

ms11781

Massachusetts

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

Batch 10068, bottled on 11/11/2010. 12oz bottle poured into a snifter.

Pours a solid, jet black. A vigorous pour yields a massive 3 and half finger dark brown head. The head recedes and leaves a nice soap-like tan cap. Nice wispy lacing is left on the glass.

The nose is extremely roasty, burnt almost. There is some burnt coffee and bitter dark chocolate that come through as well. There is a certain earthiness to it as well, not from the hops but from something else. Perhaps it's just the intense roasted notes.

The taste follows along with the nose. It's roasty, extremely burnt, charred even. But it's really pleasant. There is some nice dark, bitter chocolate that comes through before a hit of some dark fruit. The fruit doesn't really show itself enough to put a finger on the type, however. The earthy notes that were in the nose come across here as well, but in the end it seems like maybe the roasted notes are just a bit rough around the edges and it makes it seem that way.

There is a huge mouthfeel here. The carbonation is low and the body is thick. There is a slight warming from some alcohol at the back of the throat.

This is an excellent beer. The roasted and burnt characters are really intense but they sort of walk right up to the line of unpleasantness but don't cross it. And that, in turn, makes it extremely enjoyable for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 03:21:22 | More by ms11781

secondtooth

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a sleek black with ruby undertones. Carbonation is slight, with a light crown of tan foam. Lace is slight and almost undetectable.

Nose is deeply earthy, with notes of fruit, candied pears, toffee, and peaty malts. Complex.

Taste is profoundly rich, with heavy burnt dark chocolate malts developing across the palate. An exquisite Russian Imperial stout, worth seeking out for an enjoyable evening sipping experience.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 13:51:12 | More by secondtooth

NuclearDolphin

Minnesota

4.78/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a 16oz Pint Glass

Appearance - Pitch Black in color, Stouts don't get any darker than this! Head is a very dark brown with a fluffy 3 finger width with excellent retention

Smell - Cocoa, Roasted Malts, and figs. I may be crazy when I say this but it can smell mashmellows in here too. It also has a very sweet scent to it and comes off as more of a Russian Imperial Stout/Winter Warmer hybrid. This is a pretty awesome smelling beer

Taste - Chocolate, Figs, and Coffee along with a very hefty malt backbone. The overall flavor comes off as being fairly sweet and delicious. The alcohol is very well masked at 10.5% ABV. This tastes absolutely delicious!

Mouthfeel - Very Thick and creamy beer. The carbonation has a slight kick to it which adds a bit more flavor. To summarize, it feels excellent on the tongue and palette; It's really hard to top this in terms of mouthfeel

Overall - Simply put, you need to try this beer if you're able to get your hands on it. Any beer enthusiast should give this beer a try at least once.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 05:51:29 | More by NuclearDolphin

curasowa

New York

3.9/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark, dark brown/black, very similar to used oil, with a thin, tan cap of foam that slowly fades away.

Aroma: Roasted malt, burnt coffee and dark chocolate. The burnt notes become more assertive as it warms.

Taste: A thick and creamy roasted malt bomb. Very heavy and coating with lots of roasted flavor, with more cocoa and a touch of bitterness showing up on the back end. The finish is lingering with residual roasted malt, but isn't is heavy as I though it would be.

The Rest: Wow, this is one heavy beer. It's has so much body, it right on the border of being excessive. As a result, it hides its 10.5% very well. You only get some warming after a few swallows. While I enjoyed this beer, It is definitely a one-serving beast.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 22:06:03 | More by curasowa

AaronHomoya

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I finally opened a bottle I'd had laying around for a few years. Probably 4-5 years old, and may have been a bit past it's prime.

Appearance was still an impressive, deep black with a very dark tan head. Little carbonation or head was left, perhaps partially a function of the age. Smell was rather sweet, with dark chocolate, soy sauce, smoke and tobacco notes. The taste was also sweet. A lot of malt, chocolate and some alcohol warmth. A few hoppy, earthy bitter notes were detectable in the finish, along with a little coffee. Mouthfeel was very thick and oily, lacking in carbonation. I need to try this one again fresh.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 15:13:04 | More by AaronHomoya

CTAID

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours jet black into snifter with 1 finger tan head. Smells like a malt bomb - lots of coffee, a little chocolate maybe, slight booziness, minimal hops on the nose. Taste is just plain old big - lots and lots of flavors. Creamy burnt caramel smokiness, lots of heat, pretty typical of RIS's. Real sipper. To be honest, there was a bit too much booze for me. I know, it's a strong beer, but I've had many examples of Russian Imperial Stouts that haven't been quite as abrasive. So maybe this is a beer that I'll have to age for a while. Mouthfeel is nice, low to moderate carbonation (closer to low) which is pretty fitting. I will return to this beer later, hopefully with something nicer to say about it.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 08:02:53 | More by CTAID

WMEugene

Virginia

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

A - Pours a dark black color with a thick tan head that dissipates to a think layer. Good lacing.

S - Roasted malts, cocoa. Something herb or spices in the nose. Very nice. A bit of alcohol as well.

T - Thick dark roasted malts, cacao and coffee notes. Faint hops and herbs/spices. A bit of alcohol as well.

M - Full bodied. Awesome drinkability. Great carbonation levels. Nice aftertaste.

O - Bells Expedition Stout is a fantastic Russian Imperial Stout. Another well done beer by Bells...well worth the time, expense and effort!

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 01:22:06 | More by WMEugene