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

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

RandomBattle

New York

3.94/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz. bottle (not sure as to the vintage), poured into a Bell's tulip. Bam!

Appearance - Oily and inky black RIS body, with almost no head, granted I did pour it very carefully.

Smell - I seem to get a large amount of dark fruits, think plums and dates, along with soy sauce. This beer specifically, I have always gotten soy sauce from, not unappetizing just there. After revisiting I get some nice roasty chocolate odors with some subtle hops.

Taste - Nice bitter dark chocolate flavors, followed by dark fruit flavors. Even though I always smell soy sauce in this one I never taste it. This beer has such a wonderful bittersweetness that is amazing and I feel separates it from other RIS'.

Mouthfeel - Full, mouth-coating, and smooth. This beer is liquid velvet. A treat and a sipper.

Overall - This beer is great and thankfully I can get it online when it's available since Bell's doesn't distribute to NY.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 01:26:41 | More by RandomBattle

SometimesIfart

Michigan

4.58/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A -Pours an impenetrable black with a three finger bubbly white head. Left a ton of lacing.

S - Huge chocolate on the first sniff, followed by some cocoa. A second sniff yields sweet dates and chocolate covered cherries. The smell ends with moderate boozyness.

T - Sweet dark coffee up front along with dark chocolate covered cherries and dates. Alcohol also makes it's presence known.

M - Creamy body with light carbonation.

O - Overall, this was a great stout. Only complaint is that I wish the sweetness were toned down a bit. It would do wonderfully with some age.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 07:50:40 | More by SometimesIfart

JCaweinstein

Ohio

4.19/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Like all imperial stouts this beer is pitch black. The dark tan had head dissipated very quickly to a thin ring around the edge of my snifter. I can some carbonation coming up the edges, not very much but it's there.
The aromas that I'm picking up are all coming from the malt base. I get chocolate, roasted malt as it warms I was able to pick up the fruity esters of the yeast and alcohol.
Again the flavors are malt related, chocolate, roasted malts and as it warms the alcohol. The roastiness lingers on he palette for a good long while.
Full bodied for sure. It's mouth coatingly smooth with malt flavors that run deep. The finish is rather dry and it lingers for awhile.
This is a very good malty based imperial stout. This has a nice roastiness and cholateyness about it. The feel is great and I'm excited about the prospect of this aging in my cellar.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 20:48:48 | More by JCaweinstein

anjah

North Carolina

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

I got this aged three years from peabody's personal favorites collection. Nice, sweet smell and very dark color but not much head. Pretty strong but goes down smooth and rich with notes of chocolate/cocoa. Only complaint is that the after taste is a bit bitter.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 03:34:12 | More by anjah

mtbdonn

United Kingdom (England)

4.43/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

I nice extra from a great trader, Envelopes, poured into my favorite Struise tall tulip glass.
A-I started pouring a little agressive with the initial lack of head and it ended up overflowing (Idiot, I hate wasting beer!) So big lacing, but did carry through consumption.
S-Aroma has a ton of roasted malts, a bit of coffee, and some dark fruit in the finish. Maybe a little smoke?
T-Very complex, usual suspects like coffee, molasses, and chocolate, but big combination of roasted malts which seem to take on coffee and chocolate notes with each different sip. I know they advertise big hops, but a bit too much hop bitterness on backside for my stout tastes. Very little alcohol from the 10%+ ABV.
M-Smooth, a little thick, creamy, nice carbonation, finish is a touch dry.
O-Overall an awesome beer! Now to pursue more!

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 19:21:22 | More by mtbdonn

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a black color with a 1 inch head. Smell is of chocolate, coffee, a bit of sweetness. Taste is the same, chocolate, some hops, a bit of coffee, alcohol is well hidden. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall is a solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 10:07:31 | More by tone77

joeseppy

Illinois

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

Typical stout appearance. Nice fluffy mocha head. Btl 10/2012

Initial pour has cola aroma and as it warms, turns into a milky sweet coffee with roasty malts.

Chocolate upfront with a hoppy alcohol back. Coffee through the nose lingers. Milk chocolate, smoky malts, raisin, brown sugar and alcohol heat. Some bitter black licorice.

Mouthfeel of smoky malt, creamy pureed dark fruit and a burnt dry hop bitterness. Crisp carbonation.

One of the most complex of stouts. Craftsfully mastered. Age will gracefully transcend this to another level of greatness year after year. Will patiently age the rest of my stash. Yum-Yum.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 05:26:58 | More by joeseppy

MCain04

Illinois

4/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

4 month old bottle poured into a 13 oz snifter.

Appearance: Dark brown, almost black. Pours out a 1-2 finger dark tan head. Decent retention and lacing.

Smell: Roasted dark malts with some booze. This promises to be warming and filling.

Taste: Extremely roasty up front, with chocolate, a little bitter coffee. Pretty hoppy... not sure how I feel about the citrus, tart, acidic, sour notes. Pretty dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-high carbonation. Smooth, full body. Decently chewy. Was honestly expecting it to be boozier, this one is pretty drinkable.

Overall: A decent stout. I have another one of these with a year on it, and will put down one of this year's for a little while to see how 1, 2, 3 yrs taste with this. For $3, this tastes pretty good. For the same price though, get a founders imperial stout, you'll be happier.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 21:16:32 | More by MCain04

alysmith4

District of Columbia

3.21/5  rDev -23.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

Was expecting so much from this beer, considering it's high ranking and glowing review (and gift!) from my neighbors. Perhaps I just don't care for this style, but I found it way to syrupy. The malt profile doesn't seem to balance out the beer at all, and I found myself making terrible faces every time I took a sip. It's a cross between coffee and cough syrup, in my opinion. Not my favorite. The appearance however, is lovely!

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 03:05:32 | More by alysmith4

MattSweatshirt

Texas

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

Bottle from October.

Pours out viscous and black from the bottle and looks lovely in a glass. Pitch black with a mocha head.

Lots of roasty goodness in the smell. Dark chocolate, dark fruit, and some alcohol.

It tastes fairly bitter like a Yeti. Rounds out with some sweetness. Big roast character, dark chocolate, and dark fruit.

Smooth and full chewy mouthfeel.

A great stout. I feel like an aged bottle would be heavenly.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 22:58:34 | More by MattSweatshirt

schoolboy

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a great big stout. It does not hit you when you open it or smell it, but the taste and especially the aftertaste are really where they should be.

It is a typically nearly opaque almost black color with a little head and beautiful lace. The aroma is subtle and roasty. The taste is a bitter hops blast of a stout. The sweetness is balanced by the bitterness. This I consider correct for the style.

The aftertaste is a wonderfully mouth full of bitter. It's the best part. I don't think I ever had this before and I don't know what I was waiting for!

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 00:52:51 | More by schoolboy

niday2288

Illinois

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

A - Midnight black and very thick pour from the bottle with light brown head that sticks around and laces beautifully as you imbibe.
S - Nose is roasted malt with some bitter hops
T - Roasted Malt, coffee and cocoa
M - Thick and oily, like a beautiful, tasty oilslick
O - One of my favorites for this style. There are better, but not many in my mind.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 02:42:47 | More by niday2288

kevanb

Illinois

4.29/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle dated 1/18/2012 poured into a Bell's Tulip.

The beer pours a lovely jet black color, very opaque, hues of cola brown when struck by the light, a very thin, fizzy, caramel colored head appears but dissipates almost immediately leaving behind no lacing. The aroma is really great, loads of dark fruits, cherry, raisin a touch of plum leads to a nice sweet malt layer with just a touch of burnt coffee that lingers ever so nicely. The flavors are even more complex and rewarding, Cherry and raisin are very pronounced, touches of plum and fig behind them, with a bit of sweet vanilla that leads to some rich dark grain. Roasted coffee and a bit of charred wood comes out towards the finish that is wonderfully bitter with just a nice lingering alcohol heat. The body is rich and full, medium carbonation which is a bit higher than I expected it to be, but not distraction with a nice easy finish with a pleasant warming as it goes down.

Verdict: An exemplary Russian Imperial stout and in my opinion, the benchmark for the style. The flavors have continued to increase in complexity and depth and the alcohol has mellowed substantially, a real treat to savor and enjoy on a cold winter night. Anyone who loves a good stout really needs to seek this beer out.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 03:29:40 | More by kevanb

screamking

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Purchased at The Party Source, 12oz poured into snifter.

Look-pours dark very dark, close to black with a creamy light brown head. 4.5

Aroma- malt, whole bean coffee, small bit of cinnamon, over baked sugar cookies. 4.5

Taste-Big roasted coffee bean, heavy on the dark chocolate, less malt then expected,little bit of char at the end. 4.5

Feel-thick/syrup, alcohol is there, dryness in the finish. 4.25

Overall-this is powerful stuff, I think it could use some age on it which I intend to do. That being said it is a very good representation of this style. Warms you to the bone. A heavy hitter for sure. 4.25

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 01:09:41 | More by screamking

Fanhitter

4.53/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Served in a glass, poured from a bottle aged 10yrs+

Looks a thick, sepia-black brew, as to be expected. The head on this was a solid half inch of creamy, thick, brown bubbles. The pour itself was a thick, syrupy event.

Smells faintly of berry, sweet grape and currant. With a blindfold on, I'd say this was a barleywine. As it warms however, the coffee/chocolate nose becomes more prevalent, but a musty sweet smell exists until this is gone.

Tastes like a creamy, single origin dark chocolate with a faintly sweet sip. The aftertaste is far sweeter than the draw, and maltier too. A bitter/burnt cold SO coffee flavor is present as well, finished with a very faint port grape flavor. It's big, and pairs nicely with the birthday cake on the table. Happy birthday DAD!

Mouthfeel is syrupy, but oily rather than sticky. It's easy to drink, but this begs to be savored. Coats the tongue, but not the teeth.

Overall, I remember getting this bottle (and others) for my birthday many years ago and not being into it, as, at 21 I was a die-hard Guinness drinker. Still love the Guinness, but can appreciate bigger flavors and age has done this well. Gives me a serious lesson on aging big beers, especially after the resinated cake of solids on the bottom needed a drop of water to break up. Even though I'm still not the biggest fan of big imperial stouts, I'd love to try another aged bottle of this.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 23:46:03 | More by Fanhitter