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

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

brewsclues

Pennsylvania

3.29/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the Sharp Edge (Pittsburgh, PA).

Appearance: Pitch black, tan head. Pretty nice to look at. Stout-y!

Smell: Whoa, did we just sit down next to a campfire?

Taste: Did someone just throw dark, bitter chocolate and molasses on a campfire and put it in my pint glass? (Thought so.)

Not subtle. Too smokey. Too bitter at the end. Massive, bold tastes in all the wrong ways.

I'll admit: I don't get this beer. I'm sure the 2,602 people who have reviewed this as a 94 are right and I'm wrong. I think this is a slightly above average beer, even for a stout. Another example of an "extreme beer" that sacrifices subtle and complex characteristics that ease into your palette for an "in-your-face" marketing pitch. I enjoy stouts and I could barely finish this beer without a splitting headache - you know, the type you get from smoke inhalation.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2013 05:44:50 | More by brewsclues

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

KYGunner

Kentucky

4.34/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Dark black in the glass you catch no other hues or coloring in the light. A thin yet creamy brown head rests atop the darkness and sticks to the edges.

Sweet whiffs of chocolate malt mix with a malty graham cracker scent. Touches of vanilla and coconut give the impression it's barrel aged.

Nicely thick and viscous the taste is of burnt coffee and burnt malt. There is a sweetness of chocolate but its fleeting. The burnt flavors are strong and smooth but there is a slight tinny alcohol after taste. Very warm going down its a great cold weather ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 22:06:55 | More by KYGunner

nUgZ

North Carolina

4.24/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12 ounce bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a very dark brown color with a minimal head and a little lacing.

S: Dark chocolate, coffee, roasted malts, and some smoke.

T: The taste is very much like the smell with the addition of some bitter hops. The alcohol is somewhat detectable.

M: Full bodied with ample carbonation. More carbonation than I like in a RIS.

O: Very enjoyable. I would like it more with a little less carbonation, but overall it's a very solid RIS.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 01:08:41 | More by nUgZ

Carloco

Illinois

4.73/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A --> Beer poured darker than chocolate brown. Very caramel looking, with a very small head.

S --> Aroma is that of chocolate, syrupy, MAJOR coffee, vanilla?, and get almost a tad cinnamon

T --> Taste is coffee, chocolate vanilla, slightly bitter, very malty

M --> the mouthfeel is THICK with not much carbonation. Wonderful flavors, stay in your mouth for a while due to the thickness.

O --> Overall VERY complex beer. many different flavors and great aroma. I should have aged it a little because I hear it is even better, but regardless was awesome. Only criticism I have is that you definitely taste and smell the 10% alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 22:45:11 | More by Carloco

danieelol

Australia

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

With great thanks to joecast.

Black as night, slightly tanned head.

Honey-stout nose.

Great roast character. Strongly hoppy too. Bit of sweet malt coming through.

Can definitely see how this could be considered a benchmark of the Imperial Stout style.

Mouthfeel is thick like chocolate jelly.

Just a very solid archetypal imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 05:02:40 | More by danieelol

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Opaque black with a thin dark brown head. Some lacing.

Aroma: Molasses, caramel, roasted coffee and dark chocolate. Not all that aromatic.

Taste: Starts with big roasted flavor and then gives a big blast of dark coffee and bitter chocolate. Don't taste the 10.5% ABV but leaves a nice warmth in the throat. A hint of earthy hop flavor that adds some bitterness. A bit of an unbalanced brew but I'm sure aging would remedy that (this is a relatively fresh bottle). Not getting much in terms of the usual dark fruits I expect from the style.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with average carbonation (almost too much). Pretty decent drinkability.

Final Thoughts: Definitely one to check out if you are a stout enthusiast. Would I drink it again? Maybe, a bit of a high price point.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 05:31:35 | More by JamesMN

Jayman931

Mississippi

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

12 oz bottle served in a snifter

Very dark....don't think you can get much darker...Mocha head that gets lighter in color near the top and middle. Good Head retention. Don't drink it cold....let it get in the 60s.

Very Pleasant smell....nice roasted malt character

I really like this beer....unsure how anyone rated it poorly....great mouthfeel extremely well balanced....very small bitter finish...you would never guess it was 10.5%

I'll buy a 6 pack at least once a winter. Quality beer

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 05:07:42 | More by Jayman931