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

blackie

Virginia

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

Probably my introduction to the Midwestern beer world, or maybe it was Two Hearted. In any case, a review is long overdue.

a: Pours a nice brick-mocha head with decent retention. The beer is a deep brown in color, essentially black.

s: Rich roasted malt aromas coupled with earthy, pine hops. A touch of creamy bittersweet chocolate and espresso. Welcome ethanol note. Very rich.

m: Carbonation on the low side, and very smooth. The body is very full, and everything balances out very well. Creamy. Can't ask for much more here.

t: Roasted malt backbone with a big dose of piney Centennial hop flavor...perhaps killing some complexity. A range of creamy roasts makes up the bulk of the flavor, with a touch of smoke coming through. Moderate bitterness in the long espresso finish. A great RIS, but this fresh the depth is lost to the astringent roast and fresh hop combination.

d: easy enough for the style

batch 8295

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2008 04:32:42 | More by blackie

champ103

Texas

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

A: Pours an opaque, viscous, ink black. A small tan head of less then a finger forms, but sticks around as a cap. Not much lace.
S: The aroma is of roasted malt. Milk chocolate and some liquorish. Smoke, dry wood/oak aromas as well. A huge nose.
T: Roasted malt and chocolate again. The malt seems sticky and chewy. Sweet toffee and some liquorish. A little one dimensional, but good.
M/D: A full and thick body that is low on the carbonation. Creamy and velvety smooth. This is a good beer to sip on, but one is more than enough for a night.

This is a good RIS. One of the thickest I can remember trying. Something I would recommend for the stout lover.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2009 23:50:25 | More by champ103

alexgash

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

100th review time. I've been hanging onto this one for awhile. I drank it's five carton mates last winter, and it was all I could do to not touch this one. This bottle was from the 2001 batch. This beer/batch is also now the number one beer on my short, but growing list. This is also my first (and last?) all "5s" beer. It pours as black as any beer or used motor oil I've ever seen. The head, which is on the smaller side, is a dark brown (probably the darkest head I have seen). Beautiful. The nose is insanely complex: chocolate, rum, raisins, plums, alcohol, oak, soy sauce, ???. I'm getting dizzy. Taste is ahhh. Big, rich dark fruity malts start off, then chocolate caramel takes over, then smoky oakiness, and then, finally, roasted bitterness. Alcohol is there, but it doesn' feel like 11.5%. Mouthfeel is thick, chewy, yet beautifully smooth. I could drink this until detox.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2003 17:26:03 | More by alexgash

GClarkage

California

4.88/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

11/24/07- Received via trade with Lou91.

Presentation- 12oz bottle with a code marked 6672 on the bottom of the back label. Not a clue what that means. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

Appearance- Very black in color. 3/4 inch milk chocolate colored head. Head has nice staying power. Lace streaks and spots and patchwork remain after the finish.

Smell- Strong nose of molasses, deep sweet malt, coffee, licorice and chocolate. Full house in this nose. One of the better ones out there.

Taste- Wow, this is right up there with my all time favorite tasting imperials. Huge milgled flavors of dark chocolate, roasted fresh coffee beans and mollasses. Sweet and dark like candy. Just an explosion of flavors that meld so well together. Hops are there, but come out more in the aftertaste than the actual consumption.

Mouthfeel- Creamy, viscous, extremely mouthcoating. Thick and chewy, but unlike cough syrup. Medium carbonation level with a bitter aftertaste that gets stronger and stronger.

Drinkability- Abv is noticeable, but doesn't seem like the 11.5% Seems high though. Damn I wish I could get these out here. May have to do some mail order. Top notch stuff that competes with Stone, Alesmith and a few other ones IMO. Will be doing what I can to get more of these.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2007 17:06:15 | More by GClarkage

woosterbill

Connecticut

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

12 oz bottle (presumably 2009) into a Duvel tulip.

A: Black as a dark steer's tuckus on a moonless prairie night, with a two-finger head of creamy dark-brown foam. Solid retention and some spotty lace. Beautiful and extremely dark stout.

S: Dark fruits, roasted malt (slightly more coffee than bittersweet chocolate), and some smooth vanilla. Huge, sweet, and roasty. Terrific.

T: Extremely creamy flavors of raisins, prunes, licorice, port, and coffee. Good balance of big sweetness and bitterness. Some alcohol on the finish, but not too much considering the strength and relative youth. Gorgeous beer.

M: Mouth-filling and eminently creamy. Wonderful.

D: Delicious, but not the easiest to drink - lots of booze, lots of sweetness.

Notes: This is undeniably a huge beer, but it's remarkably well refined as well. The dark fruits are especially prevalent, but never overbearing. I'm really surprised this one isn't in the top 100, as IMO it's distinctly better than a number of stouts that are on there. I'll enjoy drinking (at least) one each year for the next half-decade.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2010 00:43:17 | More by woosterbill

drpimento

Wisconsin

3.88/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Shazam! KIck ass, mo fo. now this is truly big beer. again, maybe it's just my thang, but I pick up hop type hallertau yeast flavs; too fruit for me. Not a bigb head, but lots of lace. almost visquous. roasty dark chocolate, dark overruoe fruits. Would imagine that this beer would age like a dream. creamy body

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2007 06:43:26 | More by drpimento

tdm168

North Carolina

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

A - black and as thick as oil with a thick, short cap of brown head that sits atop this brew forever

S - licorice, dark fruit, coffee, roasted malts

T - big roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, faint dark fruit, very bitter

M - full bodied, warm, smooth, perfectly carbonated and oily

This is a really solid beer. The bitterness is a bit intense and detracts from the rest of the flavors. The overall flavor profile is impressive. Rich, chocolate, roasty, bitter coffee, underlying dark fruit -- really enjoyable. I would have this again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 01:25:18 | More by tdm168

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

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

12oz bottle, received in a trade with tavernjef, served in a snifter.

A - black as the night with a light brown head that thinned to a layer, leaving spots of lacing behind.

S - molases, black licorice, espresso and bittersweet chocolate aromas fill the nose.

T - all of the aromas I listed are blended into the taste with a slightly bitter bite on the finish. The alcohol warms, but is not tasted.

M - thick and rich, very nice.

D - a most enjoyable sipper.

Final Note: not for the novice stout drinker!
thanks again, tavernjef.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2007 01:15:13 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

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

On nitro-tap at Al's of Hampden on 2/17/11.

A - Poured a slick, black and oily liquid with almost a finger of dense tan foam on top that receded to a patchy film byt deposited ornate doily-like lace all around the glass.

S - Wonderful melange of molasses, chocolate, coffee, licorice, earthy hops, leather and sweet tobacco. Aroma is deep and complex.

S - Initial taste is intensely bitter and complex with rich chocolate notes, a subtle coffee presence and hints of tobacco and leather. Herbal, earthy hop notes mingle with bittersweet molasses in the backend until the expedition concludes with a bold roasted malt character and assertive bitterness in the finish.

M - Luxurious mouthfeel with a silky, smooth yet chewy texture and moderate alcohol tang. Plenty of bitterness on the palate, although the nitro pour really softens it up magnificantly.

D - Some stouts just aren't as good on nitro... and this ain't one of 'em! One of my favorite RISs just got even better! Delicious!

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-23-2011 19:03:08 | More by ffejherb

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

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

A - Looks like a hefty stout. Pitch black in color with a nice bubbly head.

S - Smells of Alcohol, slight coffee and chocolate. Man it smells good.

T - Really? Wow the ABV burn is high on this one! Taste of slight chocolate with a mild bitterness of coffee maybe a slight dark fruit which is covered by the Alcohol.

M - Very heavy. A sipper for sure.

D - Well the price is similar to Founders which seems a bit smoother but I did like it as an imperial stout. Heavy but good beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2010 06:05:44 | More by DrDemento456

merlin48

Kentucky

4.58/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served at room temperature into a Fuller's pint glass, this pours an inky, opaque dark brown with a fascinating head that is only 2 cm, but appears to give garnet hues on the tan fringe. Nice sheets of lace are left behind. Aroma is inviting, with a big mocha chocolate punch, some wood smoke, and a hint of alcohol. Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, with medium carbonation. Taste is delicious. Creamy, milk chocolate dominates the palate, with burnt coffee, wood smoke, walnut nuttiness, raisins, and some English hops for bittering balance. Alcohol remains well hidden until it emerges a bit near room temperature. Finish is dry and bitter, with a bittersweet chocolate aftertaste. Exceptional flavor here, and very nice balance. One of the best stouts I've ever enjoyed.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2004 01:14:45 | More by merlin48

Vancer

Illinois

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

Well, here we go: what a start – pours like used motor oil, black as nite, yum! Just a thin ring of tan lace around the edge of my paper cup. This brew has a viscosity level not normally seen!

TONS of chocolate malt, coffee, anise, plums, raisons – a fruit blender of aromas. Bold coffee, burnt charcoal/toast start in the quaff, but a bit too sugary sweet in the finish. Also pops with an alcohol medicine finish.

Dry, powdery and gritty brew, full bodied rich and thick. Just too darn syrupy for a real long drinker. It really needed more hops to balance this bad boy out.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2006 16:10:05 | More by Vancer

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured a very deep broen color witn minute tannish coating.
Smell is very significant for alcohol, with some bittersweet chcolate in the background.
Taste is too sweet and syrupy. The alcohol is definitely present, with an almost syrupy sweetness. There are some hops present but they are too astringent.
Left a not pleasant taste in the mouth.
Just drinkable at best. Not worth the money.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2008 00:42:20 | More by tgbljb

Mebuzzard

Colorado

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

Thanks to Knownfactor for this bottle, and two more.

Pours black, perhaps some brown edging, but overall this thing is dark. That's the good part. No head at all. I could be persuaded to say it has a collar...

Aroma is boozy up front. This takes away from the nice prune and black plum, dark chocolate and molasses aromas. Too bad.

Again, booze really hinders the flavors. I know they are there. The cocoa is thinned out and the dark, soft fruits are too soaked. It has some sharp agents, too. Anise and quick roasted malt give it a bit of a kick. This one *needs* age on it. Ok with me.

Overall a nice beer. Too boozy right now to warrant higher ratings, but it has great potential.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2011 07:14:04 | More by Mebuzzard

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.85/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a nonic. Pour was black as night. Half-inch coffee colored head quickly dissipated into a quarter-inch layer of foam that maintained decent cohesion. Consistent, sticky lacing coated the sides of the glass throughout the tasting. Strong scents of malt, coffee and alcohol. Taste similar to nose, but also extremely sugary sweet (maybe molasses); burnt taste lingers at the finish. Somewhat of a syrupy mouthfeel with a hint of carbonation. Not bad, but drinkability is somewhat compromised by the thick mouthfeel, pronounced flavor of alcohol and bitter finish that lingers in the mouth. What's weird is that I typically enjoy many of these features in an RIS, but the combination just didn't come together for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2008 22:33:42 | More by Jwale73

mynie

Indiana

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

Completely opaque blackness with an incedibly small brown head and little lacing. Par for the course, so far as micro stouts are concerned.

Smells like a mix between soy sauce and worcestershire. Meaty with nodes of cheese and roated malt. This beer is going to be a meal.

Tastes like a good smoked porter, only without the smoke and with a tart alchol zip. Meat and potatoes upfron, salt and bread in the back. Yummy.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2005 01:15:05 | More by mynie

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

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a small snifter. This bottle has to be at least two years old right now, I could not hold out anymore. I found this to be to sweet fresh.

Bell's Expedition is a dark pitch black oily looking beer. It looks mean and tough coming out of the bottle with a gooey togetherness. Thick with staining power, don't spill this. A gorgeous dark mocha colored head rose up about an inch or more with a thickness and milkshake look on top, creamy, lasting. Coats of dirty lace on the way down.

Expe has mellowed nice in just two years time. The nose discovered Chocolate cake with enough roasted malt scent to stop a horse. Caramel and slight toffee With the roast comes some smoke and molasses. Really not getting any coffee from this, perhaps that's the 1st thing to go with time, the hops are next with minimal screen time. Just a hint of dark fruit with some figs among others. This smells great.

Big amounts of roasted malt on the palate with some smoke and sweetness. The chocolate is huge and rich, bittersweet. There is some coffee espresso with some warming. Taste with figs and molasses and just a bit of wood. Some alcohol in the back but hidden over two years. In the after, I get some soy sauce which is more noticeable cold. When fresh, this was a bit to sweet and off putting, that's not the case now, great integration.

A big bold thick feel on this one, somewhat robust, creamy and large. The feel is almost bordering on syrupy, but it goes down like a charm, what's going on here? Just a bit of alcohol after all is said and done and a touch of heat, not hot at all. Hidden very well but not 100%. The hops are not completely faded as there is some bitter sense hanging around. Sweet but subdued.

Drinkability takes a slight hit due to a high ABV, but I wont dock points for that, this is a Russian after all. Whatever I did not like about this when young (alot) is completely opposite now. I would not do more than one of these a night though and won't drink it in a bottle younger than two years. You need to take your time with this to see what it holds.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2009 05:27:09 | More by onix1agr

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4.45/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Damn! Had you set a glass down of this in front of me I would have said that this was my homebrew Russian Imperial Stout. It was almost identical!!
Start with the pour. Came out like motor oil. Black, black, black....and with no head at all!! Exactly like my homebrew. I figure I did not let mine condition at room temp enough, and the cold cut-off any carbonation. Just like this bier. No carbonation, head, or lacing at all.
The nose was roasty, rich, and exhibited dark fruit notes. Mmmmm!!
The mouthfeel was nice!!!! Medium to full body, with a real smooth feel on the tongue. Again, NO carbonation whatsoever...
Flavor was rich, full-flavored....coffee, roasty....dark fruit flavors like figs, currants and raisins.... with a bit of a hoppy finish. Way good!!
Again, SOOO much like my homebrew. Does that mean my brew is real good, or is this bier lacking something...lol???

Still, enjoyed verrry much!! Thnx to jeffboo!! Prosit!!

overall: 4.3
appearance: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | mouthfeel: 4.5 | drinkability: 4.5

514

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2003 16:27:43 | More by Bierman9

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

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

4.78/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

The beer poured pitch black with slight ruby highlights. The head was brown and rose huge as the beer was poured and fell slowly to lace the glass.

The aroma was chocolate, coffee and caramel with a huge dark fruit aroma in tow.

The flavor was excellent with well bittered chocolate and coffee flavors and dark fruits with hints of alcohol. Very complex and interesting.

The finish was dry with chocolate and coffee and alcohol warming. The body was full and the mouthfeel was well rounded and smooth.

12 ounce bottle smuggled past the NC 6% limit by AKSmokedPorter. The label on the bottle is upside down...

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2004 01:01:28 | More by GCBrewingCo

dbrauneis

New Jersey

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

A: Pours an opaque jet black in color with some light amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a two finger tall dense and creamy mocha head that slowly reduces to a half finger thick layer covering the entire surface of the beer with a slightly thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of dark roasted malts, chocolate, dark fruits, licorice, coffee, and some hops.

T: Strong flavors of roasted malts with bittersweet chocolate, coffee, and dark fruit sweetness. Fairly strong flavors of hops that impart a moderate amount of lingering bitterness. Light to moderate flavors of alcohol in the finish.

M: Medium to full bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Moderate amounts of alcohol heat in the finish.

O: I wish that the alcohol was a little more well hidden in this beer - there are some very nice aspects to this beer and it would likely mellow out a bit with age. Not the easiest beer to drink, definitely requires some slow sipping over quite a bit of time.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 23:00:58 | More by dbrauneis

Metalmonk

North Carolina

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

Pours a creamy head of tan froth that leaves big patches of lace over time. Color is dark as night in hell. A beauty of a thing.

Aroma is char, wet coffee grounds, dark baking chocolate, fast-food chocolate shake. Couldn't get my nose out of it. An excellent representation of the style.

Oh damn...that flavor. So insanely delicious...something to be enjoyed and savored...something to sink right into. Black cherry...chocolate fudge...old-fashioned drugstore malts...premium coffee...fudgy and coffee-bitter in the finish. Milky, creamy, gooey mouthfeel with barely any carbonation but just enough to keep it from plodding over the tongue.

One of the best beers out there, in any style. Who needs barrel-aging? Not Bell's Expedition Stout. This thing is just about perfect as is. A regular supply would make life that much sweeter. If you don't like them big, sweet, lovingly-brewed and freakin' delicious, then 1) this is not for you, and 2) what's your problem? Live a little.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2008 21:48:28 | More by Metalmonk

KarlHungus

Minnesota

4.9/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This brew pours a motor oil black color. The head is brown with a with crown. The aroma is of chocolate, cream, crackers, butter, with Bell's house aroma peaking slightly though. The taste is chocolate, and club crackers, with some really nice bitterness in the finish. The bitterness slowly fades during the aftertaste. The mouthfeel is perfect for an imperial stout; full bodied with just enough carbonation to make things interesting. Overall, this is the best impy I have had to date.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2005 01:22:04 | More by KarlHungus

GbVDave

Illinois

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

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a 20oz imperial pint.

A:Pure pitch black with a cocoa colored two finger head. Lots of sticky lace all about the glass.

S: Big aromas of bready malt, coffee, bitter dark chocolate, and hops.

T: Right off the bat I'm struck with a big biscuity-bready maltiness that's mingling with spicy hops and alccohol. There's a dark sweet fruit undercurrent and a spicy sweetness that I compare to maple candies.

M: At once creamy and also spicy/prickly. Sweet and bitter.

D: A wonderful stout that's so complex, that anymore than one and you're just asking for friggin' trouble. Wow!

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2007 01:32:52 | More by GbVDave