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

Georgiabeer

Georgia

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

I've reviewed this before from the bottle, but I was interested to see how this beer was on cask. To be honest, I was a little dubious about a beer this big, and with these flavors being able to make the transition nicely, but I was certainly wrong- it was very good indeed. I had this at the Atlanta Cask Ale Festival, and we're not talking a skimpy pour, but a good 1/2 nonic at least. Poured black, and quite bubbly, with good carbonation and quite a decent head, even with no sparkler and gravity poured. Nice aromas of espresso and licorice. Oh my, this tastes good! Beautiful and well integrated notes of espresso, licorice, chocolate, and roasted grains with a firm creaminess underpinning these flavors. The cask lends this beer a wonderful silkiness that puts it over the top. Very nice indeed!

Serving type: cask

08-21-2011 03:31:41 | More by Georgiabeer

wedge

North Carolina

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

Cask @ Busy Bee

Pitch black under a thin, creamy tan head. Aromas of lightly boozy fruit (apples and berries) esters and chocolate. Big, rich chocolatey malt flavor...sweet berry, espresso, molasses...loads of big, rich malty goodness. Thick, smooth, lightly bitter mouthfeel. Drinkable, but dangerous. Good stuff for sure...

Serving type: cask

10-24-2010 01:11:43 | More by wedge

atsprings

North Carolina

4.7/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

2009 vintage on cask at The Busy Bee served in a standard pint glass a deep opaque black with a thin light tan head that diminishes to a ring and leaves slight lacing on the glass. Aroma is a nice amount of roasted malts, fresh ground coffee and baker's cocoa. The taste is loads of smooth roasted malts, bitter cocoa, molasses, espresso, dried fruits and a hint of oak, incredibly complex! The beer is unbelievably smooth and easy drinking for its strength. I really have to say, this is possibly the best cask beer I've ever had, I certainly want more!

Serving type: cask

10-24-2010 00:31:18 | More by atsprings

JackieTH

Minnesota

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

Appearance: Black motor oil opaque and thick with a dark mocha head. Very inviting.

Smell: Dark chocolate, coffee and roasted malt.

Taste: Espresso and rich dark chocolate with a welcome bite of hop and the espresso bitterness coming through to balance. A hint of anise makes an appearance. A very foreboding brew and the pleasant warming of the 10.5% alcohol helps lighten the mood a bit.

Mouthfeel: Heavy, luxurious. Layered.

Drinkability: Challenging but delicious.

Serving type: cask

10-04-2010 15:48:24 | More by JackieTH

Durge

Connecticut

4.18/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Another nice find at Stub & Herb's in Minneapolis, MN, which I was glad to have had prior to dipping into the even more prized "Black Note" version - this black beauty shows an opaque brown/black with a good head of brown foam and decent lacing. The nose picks up seaweed malt and decidedly herbal hops. Very nice and not over the top at all. The flavor jumps out a surprising licorice which now makes a lot of sense from the aroma but I missed it I guess. But this is a licorice malt flavor fest, intense yet mellow enough to neutralize the 10.5 ABV just enough for some drinkabiity. No session beer, but it's hard to slow down too much once you grab a hold of this taste wallop. There is that herbal hop idea that adds a real nice highlight to this full bodied, viscous feeling stout. Wow. I do enjoy this. Very little carbonation as you might expect from a cask but this holds together very well. I start to pick up some berry notes and definitely some coffee and marshmallow sweetness as my palate adjusts to the dominant licorice malt theme. Intense but not a "choker". Highly recommended for the curious and fun loving BA, but not your mother's stout.

Serving type: cask

08-07-2010 19:03:19 | More by Durge

Buebie

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

poured into a small a snifter at the Muddy Pig this evening. Set me back only $5 for the 10 ounce pour. About an inch of brown head and great big clingy lace rings all the way down, with decent retention. Inky creamy texture, very smooth with little carbonation disturbance.
Pitch black with no light penetration.

Smell is very malty in a bakers chocolate and coffee, with a hint of swetness and creamy milk. Aromas though are a bit subdued as compared to the bottle.

Taste is filled with large amounts of chocolate and a little coffee as well as bitter grains and plenty of malt. This here is amlt bomb indeed. Through the finish a dry sweeping of earthy hops.

Awsome brew to have on cask.

Serving type: cask

05-13-2010 05:36:07 | More by Buebie

Telix

Michigan

4.55/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I was lucky enough to have this served from a cask at Slows BBQ in Detroit, MI.

A: The pour is a tarry jet black, with a nice 1/2" puffy, bubbly head. There is a bit of cool looking lacing around the head, but not much in the remainder. It's perfectly attractive, but most stouts aren't anything unique.

S: The aroma is mild, with a bit of roasted nuts and booze. I wish it were bigger, to be honest.

T: Extremely complex and inviting you to drink more. A super creamy maltiness forms the backbone, as bright sharp citrus notes shine through and give it an awesome acidity and tongue bite, aided by a controlled booziness. Some roasted coffee notes are in the background. I realized that THIS is what a coffee stout should be, really, not those beers that taste like cold coffee in a bottle, but this complex beverage with hints of tropical fruit, roasted malts, honey and caramel sweetness.... truly epic goodness.

M: Creamy, thick, somehow avoiding syrupyness even though it lacked much carbonation in the cask. So smooth, I almost think it has to have some oats. Great.

D: I could sit and sip this all day. It's such a smooth, creamy, complex ale, truly exceptional. The booziness and ABV might get to you after a bit, but it's not meant to be a session beer.

Serving type: cask

02-18-2010 19:33:04 | More by Telix

glid02

Georgia

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

Cask at the Atlanta Cask Ale Festival.

Pours black with a surprisingly large one-finger brown head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of mild dark malts with a nice roastiness and hints of pine hops.

Tastes much more robust than it smells. Smooth roasted malts with large unsweetened chocolate flavors kick things off. Hints of anise enter into things midway through the sip along with very mild amounts of pine hop flavors. Roasted malt flavors mosey back in before a solidly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is great. I was looking forward to trying this on cask simply because of the mouthfeel and I was not disappointed. A great thickness with grainy and soft carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall this is a more intense smell away from being a great beer however as it is it's still knocking on the door. Well worth a shot.

Serving type: cask

02-06-2010 03:01:53 | More by glid02

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I have previously reviewed this beer in bottle but the cask was something different and I thought it was entitled to a new review.

A-jet black in color that lets no light through. thick creamy dark coffee colored head that has solid retention and leaves nice lacing

S-light roasted malts, hints of milk chocolate and some molasses

T/M-it is extremely smooth and creamy, very robust and full bodied, almost chewy. the taste brings big dark chocolate, a light roasted malt, some molasses, alcohol is slightly present, hints of dark fruit towards the finish.

D-amazing! so creamy, so chocolate, and huge flavors!

Serving type: cask

01-15-2010 05:05:55 | More by cpetrone84

BigBigPickle

Illinois

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

Was at Sheffield's in Chicago for the Hopslam release party and they tapped a firkin of Expedition Stout prior to the Hopslam.

A: Dark brown, casading down the glass - it looked almost like Guiness (bad lighting). Great toasty brown head with tremendous staying power and fantastic lacing. Looked like a glass of chocolate!

S: Malt, sugar - Brown sugar, very big coffee.

T: Bourbon - Heavy Coffee - Brown Sugar. A little maple syrup with a very peaty taste. Also a backing of carmelized brown sugar.

M: Wow!!! All I can say.

D: Only one. I could not have had another, Too much to handle, but what an experience!

Serving type: cask

01-12-2010 15:42:12 | More by BigBigPickle

blakesell

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Got a pint before Dave Boston's tragedy of losing a whopping 4 gallons from an exploded bung on the cask.

A-poured thick as motor oil and frothy as all get out. A Coffee black/brown frothy head that lingered like an uninvited guest that just won't leave. It seemed like hours and was at least a full 20 min before the head died down sufficiently. The tension mounted as the head retained.

S-Slight rasin, plum, Chocolate, coffee, cream? must be lactose sugars

T-A little sweet, frothy from the force carbonation of the cask. Chocolate malt, Black Patent, non-malted barley, hints of smoke. finish thick and sweet but still black like my lungs back when I smoked clove cigarettes. Sticky on the lips like back when I smoked them as well. Alcohol creeps up and quick. I'm wondering if it's the same percentage it has always been, but 11.5 isn't shabby by a long shot. Oh, hoppiness comes out in the finish as well.

M-Thick like a mouthfull of blood after getting hit with a baseball bat. I'm a little morbid today, let's go closer to thick like eggnog, with almost as much creaminess. I'm glad I had water nearby as well to balance it out so I could drink it all and soak it in over the duration. Slight drying finish.

D-This is by far the best cask conditioned beer I have ever had. I could have drank this all night but only dealt with one due to the tasting after. I regret that I have but one palate to blow away for my community.

These are the stouts that myths are made of.

Serving type: cask

04-21-2007 04:58:29 | More by blakesell

Bierguy5

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On cask at Boston's here in good old Dayton, OH. Pitch black in color, with no highlights at all. An incredible, huge frothy tan head that never goes away. Incredible retention, and great patches of lace.

Nose full of roasty malts, tobacco, chocolate and some darker fruits. Floral and citrusy hops in the background. Not as pronounced nose as the bottle or draft version.

Great roasty, chocolate flavors, and dark fruity flavors at the end. The fruits seem to have a slight sourness to them. A good amount of floral bitterness that helps to round all of it out. Very nice.

Full body, nice soft, gentle carbonation, and a creamy mouthfeel. Overall, a fantasic beer, made very interesting in cask form.

Serving type: cask

04-20-2007 01:06:48 | More by Bierguy5

mcallister

Ohio

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

Sampled on cask at Boston's in Dayton. Been waiting a month for them too tap this and off the pour it's not dissapointing at all. Black as midnight with a 2 inch creamy, fluffy mocha head that has retention that won't quit. Head has not faded after a good 5 minutes and counting...and counting....and counting....and counting.

Chewy caramel aromas with a dark chocolate backing, vanilla, black currant, coffee, hints of strawberry milk? huh, mollasses, and many other dark fruits. Delightful and pleasing to say the least.

As usual a huge masculine, robust, bold beast of a beer. Full of bitter as hell and full of dark bakers chocolate. Caramel with hints of roasty barley stand forward on the mid palate. But damn the bittering hops and pure tannin from the ground coffee and barley shine through the entire palate spectrum.FInish lasts longer than most insect lifetimes. Black and red currants, mollasses, gooey and resiny mouthfeel, hot fudge, creamy and delicious.

On cask it looks as though I will be drunk soon very soon from multiple glasses.

Serving type: cask

04-19-2007 23:19:27 | More by mcallister

FtownThrowDown

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Many thanks to Peanut at the Dilly Deli for hooking me up with this great, rare treat!
The weather is breaking, my favorite beer on cask, how can it get any better.
Pours black with a mocha head that is about an inch and a half and never goes away. There is plenty of lacing "caked" to the side of the glass. This is what a beer should look like.
The smell is not up to par with the bottled version. Hard to pick out a lot of anything in the nose besides loads of roasted malt.
Taste is the most surprising of all. This is hot! The alcohol is so present in this beer that I was taken back by it. An immediate warming sensation engulfs my mouth/nose. Lots of roasted malt and cocoa are present in the taste. But for the most part the taste is dominated by this hot, alcohol taste. It lacks the complexity of the bottled version.
Mouthfeel is incredible. It's an alcoholic chocolate malt. Thick, creamy, smooth. The mouthfeel adds to the drinkability. It makes it very easy to get through. A little too easy.
Expedition never ceases to please. A truly world class beer and one of my favorites.

Serving type: cask

02-20-2007 13:59:26 | More by FtownThrowDown

GoldHorde

Minnesota

4.36/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bell's Imperial Russian Stout: Expedition Stout

Another excellent stout! Mouth feel is correct - just a bit on the thinner side of cream (hinting towards a Porter style) but that just adds to the deep flavor gamut's mystery. A gargle of it just makes you want to get a V8 of huskies together for a 3,000 kilometer mush! The flavor is complex; coffee first, chocolate, smoke & caramel with a very faint echo of bourbon.

A = pours opaque black with a mocha tan head with open lacing
S = feigns at Porter style with a wet smoke (rain on burned wood after a fire)
T = again, feigns at Porter style but delivers the deeper, more complex character of the Stout
M = thinner than cream, but within Russian Stout style.
O = A great beer!

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 04:44:10 | More by GoldHorde

TheSixthRing

California

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Bottled on date of 10/22/12

Appearance - Pours midnight black with a dark mocha colored finger width head. Good retention, resulting in a layer of thin microbubbles across the surface. Lacing is solid to spotty, with good stick.

Smell - Strong cocoa aroma and an anise undertone. Mild earthiness. A faint soapy aroma.

Taste - Follows the nose. Chocolate layers and a mild coffee roast, resulting in a strong mocha flavor upfront. Faint anise in there somewhere. Earth and leafy character that, to me, comes across as acrid and a touch soapy near the finish.

Mouthfeel - Full-bodied, with a light but lively carbonation, giving this beer a loftier feel than what actually is. Smooth, easy finish.

Overall - Reminds me a bit of the Victory Storm King... a beer I found too soapy on the back end to find enjoyable. While not as soapy, the Expedition Stout does have a touch of that character that I can't look past. This is a good beer, but there are plenty of imperial stouts I'd rather have. It's certainly nothing I'll go out of my way for again. To each their own! Maybe this would be better with a year or two of aging on it, but I'll probably never know.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 05:25:33 | More by TheSixthRing

Roman5150

Michigan

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

bottle into tulip, 6 months on age

appearance: Jet black, dark thick beer. Tan foamy head 1 finger thick, lots of lacing.

smell: dark chocolate, roasted coffee, espresso, chocolate syrup, earthy hops, dark fruit

taste: chocolate syrup, roasted malt, coffee, espresso, some dark chocolate, dark fruits, figs, alcohol is so well ridden this is a dangerously drinkable beer. some minor hop presence but it is very chocolate and coffee dominant... Amazing.

mouthfeel: full bodied and well balanced

overall: One of my favorite stouts, or beers of all time for that matter. I have one aging along with a Stone IRS to see who the ultimate champion is. This is one damn good beer, i'm still trying to find Bell's Blacknote Stout, but I don't know how it could even top this.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 05:08:56 | More by Roman5150

Teleweizen2

New Jersey

4.16/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - pours a completely opaque and mirror-like black. A fingers worth of bubbly deep tan foam with some decent retention. Leaves spotty lacing with each sip.

S - the aroma is deep and complex. Silky notes of chocolate syrup, mocha, and cocoa nibs. Decent amount of roast quality coming through in the form of city roast coffee and hints of charcoal. All wrapped around a piney and woody hop profile.

T - notes of bakers chocolate and mocha on the front palate. Notes of toasty grains and espresso beans. The leafy bitterness of hops come through in the middle as well as notes of sticky pine needles and suggestions of oaky wood which linger long after the finish.

M - super silky texture. Full bodied. Medium carbonation.

O - very nice imperial stout. Has the consistency of hot chocolate. Glad to have finally tired this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 02:32:59 | More by Teleweizen2

Siriusfisherman

Montana

4.2/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

L: Black with ruby glints on the pour, thin, creamy mocha head. Good Lacing.

A: Sweet roasted coffee and chocolate notes, dark cherry, caramely dark fruits, graham cracker. Some boozy alcohol notes detectable as well as some very astringent, resinous hops.

T/M: Big coffee bitterness up front, sweet caramel and dark fruit works in with some chocolate notes and graham cracker malt. A big battle between the dry roasted malts and sweet caramel malts in the finish. Very warming, creamy finish.

Overall, a very tasty stout, it's reputation likely suffers from being compared to the likes of FBS, but it is certainly a great beer. I look forward to aging the rest of the six-pack.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 02:40:39 | More by Siriusfisherman

DougT

Ohio

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

a: Completely black, no light can escape this one! 2 finger, chocolate brown, creamy head settled into a light covering of froth. Foam clings tenaciously to the sides of the glass even down to the last sip.

s: A little subtle at first, but once the foam subsides a nice blend of roasted malt, dark bread, and chocolate.

t: First sip the hopps popped out. Then it settled into some sweat flavors, dark chocolate, dark fruit, with some hopp bitters in the end. Flavor lingers long after the sip is complete. You can tell there's alcohol, but more in the warming sensation than in the flavor. To me that shows a well balanced brew.

m: Creamy, full bodied, just a little effervescence, coats the whole mouth well and lingers. Could use a little more carbonation, but I think it's style right.

o: One of the best Imperial Stouts I have had. Very strong, over 10%, you can feel it but it is not at the top of the taste profile. Hoppy but well balanced, not hoppy to the point of loosing the beer flavor. Malty, yeasty, creamy with good flavor and that hopp bitter in the end to lat you know it's Imperial.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 03:50:26 | More by DougT

SadMachine

New Jersey

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

'09 bottle acquired in an IP trade w/ Ahappyhiker2, thanks man!

A- Poured into Stone IRS snifter. Pours pitch black, viscous, and with a thick light-brown head that has incredible retention (especially w/ the age), and leaves generous lacing.

S- Surprising start to the nose as it is reminiscent of a bourbon barrel aged stout with lots of booze and a bit of vanilla. Dark bitter chocolate, Belgian candi-sugar, molasses, brown sugar, and dark alcohol soaked fruits are also perceived.

T- There are huge chocolate flavors right off the bat, both dark/bitter and sweet/milk. There is a healthy dose of roasted malt/coffee in the mix, particularly in the finish. There is also a distinct vinous flavor in the finish.

M- The mouthfeel is thick, viscous, and creamy with nearly no perceivable carbonation. It is less boozy than expected from the nose, which is a positive.

O- I have not had this fresh, but this is drinking fantastic with ~3.5 years on it! I would have been happier if some more of the complexity in the nose came through in the flavor, but it still tastes superb!

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 04:20:00 | More by SadMachine

gcamparone

Rhode Island

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

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter. Acquired as an extra in a trade from ? I forget!

A-Pours a jet black body with a beautiful dark brown head that reduces to a bubbly film and leaves thick lacing.

S- Milk chocolate and cream, rich cocoa, vanilla fudge.

T- Roasted malt, rich milk chocolate, fresh coffee beans, bittersweet chocolate on the finish that lingers and leaves an excellent roasty aftertaste.

M- Rich and creamy, thick with low carbonation. Like drinking a beer milkshake.

One of the best stouts I've tasted and definitely a benchmark of the stye. Rich, creamy, and delicious.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 02:48:53 | More by gcamparone

downeyj4

Michigan

4.65/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is probably one of my favorite imperial stouts. It really has everything that you would want in an imperial stout, but isn't thick like oil sludge. All of the flavors balance out well. It has a great amount of roastiness and bitterness, but still finishes nicely. It surprised me when I found out the ABV, or else I would've had a few more pints.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2013 05:31:49 | More by downeyj4

Broman

Ohio

4.6/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance- Black as night. Virtually no head. What was atop disappears quickly.

Smell- Nice firm malty aroma. Notes of chocolate and what seems to be coffee are prevalent. Not overpowering, but still a very inviting smell.

Taste- Heavy malts and chocolate consume the mouth. Unexpected and welcome bitterness are noted as well. Slight alcohol tate is noticeable and lingers through the aftertaste. Upon belching the chocolate malts return.

Mouthfeel- Slight carbonation is noticed. Medium to heavy body on the palet. The longer it rests on the tongue the more prevalent the alcohol becomes. No immediate or straightforward flavors.

Overall- Great stout. Easy to drink and enjoy, the alcohol bite reminds you not to enjoy to many. Basic and straightforward with its flavor and not overwhelming. Enjoyable and tasty up to two, but time to switch after that.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 05:12:24 | More by Broman

Sunn

Iowa

4.7/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

I'm new to the craft beer scene. I started with stouts and got sick of them. I switched to IPAs and got sick of them. When I first had this beer I was so sick of stouts I'd rather drink real motor oil than this Castrol impersonator.

BUT! After a multi-month binge on IPAs I burnt myself out. I looked into my fridge to see a few Expedition Stouts left. My brain compartments told me to drink it and I did. And it tasted DAMN good.

I'm really glad I held onto this beer and gave it another shot. It's INSANELY roasty at the beginning, but you're soon greeted by this silky smooth dark fruit flavor that balances the beer out extremely well. I feel like Barry White should be playing in the background while I write this review.

This beer's sexy. Yeeeaaah.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 02:12:24 | More by Sunn