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

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Black colour with off-white head. More tangy than roast chicory for a stout. Malty though carbonation was significant. Hint of cherry midsip. Spicy tangy aftertaste. Unpasteurized. Had it 2.5 years later and still excellent stout, chocolate malt, smooth, rye for edge.

Seven and a half years later I had on tap and the colorur was brown witha little head. Big chocolate Sweet-spicey, not as edgy so I am keeping up the bottle review.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2004 06:27:25 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Burnt pecan brown with generous reddish gold highlights. In fact, with sunlight behind the glass, it's just possible to determine that Rye Stout isn't opaque. A heavily creamy crown of toasted tan foam sits atop the beer and is beginning to lay down a thick layer of barely broken lace. A quality stout look through and through.

Ditto for the nose. I'm a little disappointed that I can't identify rye in the aroma, but I imagine it would take a huge amount of that grain to overcome the roasted barley, and that the beer wouldn't taste very good as a result. Along with black coffee and bittersweet chocolate, I think I can pick out a little spiciness that I'll happily attribute to rye malt.

Once I get over the fact that this isn't a huge, meaty, mouth-filling stout, I'll be fine (color rarely lies). Actually, I'm having a hard time getting over that initial disappointment because, even though I have no problem with a lighter than average stout, I need more flavor and more flavor linger than has been provided. I blame the body.

The flavor profile is a study in subtlety. Cocoa and weak coffee are still in the lead with very little evidence of spicy rye. I'd like to see more barley malt and much more rye malt. Neutrality reigns in terms of bitter versus sweet, another characteristic that keeps my excitement at a relatively low ebb. This is clearly good beer, but just as clearly, it could be so much better than it is.

The body is along the lines of an American porter. Nothing to sneeze at, but certainly not worthy of a Bell's stout. I know that Larry had the challenge of trying to distinguish the '10 Stouts of November' from one another several years ago, but at least 50% more heft would be welcome here. Although the 6.7% ABV is unnoticed on the palate, it effectively keeps the beer out of sessionable range.

Rye Stout has to be classified at a letdown, in large part because I've come to recognize the brilliance of Bell's beer and have very high expectations whenever I crack one open. If I read the tea leaves correctly, Rye Stout is a one time only re-release to pay homage to an old friend of the brewery. That's fine by me since I'd rather drink the other Bell's stouts, but I'm still glad that I was able to make its aquaintance today.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2006 19:25:31 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Have passed this one by many times and just decided to get around to trying it this evening. I am always a fan of bell's and being the stout lover that I am figured it would be a nice fit. This one poured out a nice deep dark brown with a good opaqueness to it. A nice small tan colored head rose up above it and lasted for a few moments before settling down to just a thin layer of lace that covered the top and left behind a good amount of side glass presentation in its wake. Some slight reddish tints on the sides and bottom of the glass, but this one was nearly black in its presentation.

The aroma was subtle, not nearly as strong as I thought it would be. Light aromas of coffee and smoked wood were the dominant players here with a touch of a spiced note playing in the back of it. Not the big smoky aroma you would have expected, much more subtle. Good amount of sweetness mixed in as well, hints of caramel and lots of malt. The flavor followed suit pretty much exactly. Nice smooth creamy feel, with a good carbonation gave it a very full body. The flavor of roasted coffee came rolling through first, with a good dose of caramel thrown in on top of it, lightening it up. The middle seemed to have that nice smoked wood flavor that I was looking for, except it was very sweet, with caramel playing a good bit of a roll here. The slight bitterness of some hops presented itself in the finish, really just drying it out and leaving you with a long sweet, wood like flavor that blended well with the coffee. Very sessionable, as it was not thin and very well carbonated, and low on the ABV. I would love to have tried this on tap, and would have no issue throwing down more then one.

Overall, this was not bad; however, it was a little underwhelming for me. I expect everything from bell's to really push through and hammer down styles; I was just not so sure this one was really that big of a winner. Definitely worth a try, no doubt, just not as big as I hoped it would be.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2011 20:57:41 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark black that doesn't appear to be too viscous. A pretty decent-sized medium brown head. Plenty of rye and roasted malt in the nose. Flavor is similar along with a little bit of coffee. Medium to full body with good carbonation. Drinkability is pretty high. Good take on the rye beer category; one of the more unique ones I've had within the style.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2010 11:09:16 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Batch 7235

Appearance: Pours a dark brown color with ruby highlights; not the blackest stout I have ever seen; the modest tan head forms nicely but drops quickly leaving little lacing

Smell: Understated, but there is a bit of roast, chocolate and dark fruit

Taste: Opens with a black bread flavor that is joined by chocolate and dark fruit by mid-palate, with a sour tinge that I will put down to the influence of the rye; after the swallow, the flavors mellow out with not much of distinction lingering around

Mouthfeel: Meidum body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: I fear I should have consumed this a while ago, but it got buried in my cellar; a decent but unremarkable stout

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2008 00:21:36 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a deep pitch-black color stout with a small dark brown foamy head with average retention and minimal lacing. Aroma of roasted malt with light peat notes. Taste is very particular with some good peat notes and deep roasted malt. Body is quite full with a very nice creamy texture and good carbonation. Very singular since I am not used to rye being used in a stout but still very interesting.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2010 03:32:34 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.68/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bell's delivers again. Very sweet, smooth, creamy, and characterful. About as black as you get with very little light permiating. A thin, dense head remains to the bottom of the glass. Smooth and sweet in the same Oatmeal Stout sort of way. Sweetness depends on big barley additions, roasted grains, and lactose. Smoothness depends on oats and milk sugars. Rye (pumpernickle rye bread) flavors add a grain, earthy, dusty character. A grain-husk bitterness rides into the finish. Lowly hopped and to offset the sweetness only--contributes little to the finish brew. Quite clean in the finish with a light residual milky flavor and texture.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2006 15:40:38 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep brown with a light mocha colored head that is gone pretty quickly,aroma is marshmellow-like and slightly nutty.Taste has a sour note to it with with a roasted malt favor that comes thru in the aftertaste with an almost cola like flavor as well.It was a nice beer to try but not really something I would go out and get again.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2004 19:42:13 | More by oberon

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Label features a pencil sketch of a sullen old women, casting her eyes downward, perhaps grimly reflecting on a miserable life, soon to end, or sadly summarising the pathetic events she has yet to endure. Haven't these guys learned anything about marketing from the Swedish Bikini Tean????
Perfect ebon color, large fizzy brown head. Aroma is richly roasted and spicy, with hints of graininess. Heavy mouthfeel, but smooth on the palate. Sits sturdily in the mouth, leaving a nice, pleasant finish, and an abiding sweetness, with hints of cherry, coming through in the middle. A very satisfactory stout, and an accomplished experiment from Kalamazoo.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2003 15:50:14 | More by feloniousmonk

drabmuh

Maryland

3.85/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I actually worked a beer fest earlier this year and poured this beer for 4 hours, I must have had a gallon of it but I didn't bother to review it, on tap tonight at Meridian Pint, this particular stout is brown and hazy with almost no head and no lacing, low carbonation.

Beer has a mild aroma, with perhaps a little smoke / peat in it. Mostly just mild roast and malt.

Beer is medium bodied and finishes drier than it probably should. There is a ghost of an aftertaste of smoke, subtle smoke that creeps in from the back of the beer. The forward is mildly rye flavored with a little barley sweetness. The roast character in this supposed stout is completely absent.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2010 04:57:26 | More by drabmuh

zeff80

Missouri

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out an opaque, jet black color with a small, tan. head of thick foam. It left thin rings of lace.

S - It smelled of rye, chocolate, toffee and sweet caramel. There was a slightly floral nose, too.

T - This is a sweet and bitter stout. It tasted like a blend of a milk stout and an oatmeal stout. Bitter oat flavor with sweet caramel, toffee and molasses.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium-bodied stout with a dry finish.

D - This is a very good stout. The rye added a sweetness to a bitter stout.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2010 02:13:08 | More by zeff80

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 7235, February 2006; Sampled August 2008
Quite the viscous appearing brew, it definitely pours with a certain thickness to it. I easily rouse a full three fingers of a light brown colored head that fills my 25cl tulip glass to the top. The beer is a deep, almost black, concentrated brown color that shows just a hint of light in its depth when held up directly to the light. The aroma has quite a bit of spicy grain character to it, though this is not the most prominent note. Instead a nice, mellow roasted character is most notable; aromas of dark chocolate, toasted whole grain bread, smooth espresso, an earthy burnt note. A touch of fruitiness (almost a bit of prune juice) and a sweet malt note are just noticed in the nose towards the finish. While the aroma is mellow, smooth and well integrated, I would never have guessed this was two years old from the nose.

A fullness to the body does not keep this beer from having a quaffable character; this definitely has a viscous rye character to it though. A smooth roast character delivers flavors of roasted prunes, blackened raisins and a rich, deep, darkly toasted grain character that comes off with quite a bit of a biscuit / cracker character. Up front, there is a nice cocoa quality to this beer that doesn't quite become lush chocolate flavors before a touch of roasted grain acidity kicks in. This last is quite light and the acidity actually helps to counter-balance the viscous body of this brew. This really has a nice fruitiness to it as it warms up and it definitely reminds me of a dark, sweet dried fruit (like those mentioned previously plus some fig). A significant nutty note (almost toasted hazelnut really) is in the finish and adds quite a bit of another dimension to this brew. This nutty note is likely a touch of oxidation showing through, but it adds a really nice touch here.

This has held up quite well and I am quite enjoying the cocoa notes and the bright, concentrated fruit flavors that are offset by the smooth roast character.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2008 00:19:48 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Batch #9370, acquired from hawks10 so a big "Thank You" goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is kind of faint but contains, roasted rye malts, and touches of chocolate, coffee, spices and hops.

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of chocolate, coffee and some dark fruit and spices. Then the bready and hearty rye malt character comes in. The hops presence is decent for the style and provides some balance. The after-taste is bready and slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium-to-heavy body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, slightly filling, good kick, good representation of the "rye stout" sub-style, this is a good beer to drink when you want something that's a bit different than you're normal stout.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2010 04:54:50 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Found this one to be pretty interesting. This beer pours out like most stouts do with a deep black color and brown head. The lacing was pretty good on this one. The smell of the beer had a deep roasted aroma and had a pretty good amount of rye on the nose. The taste had an impressive amount of spicy rye too. The mouthful was at a good thickness, overall I enjoyed this stout quite a bit.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2011 15:03:30 | More by Knapp85

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had a pint at the Bell's Cafe. I enjoyed the earthy, roasted character, but overall the stout was just a little too thick and sweet for my liking. This is a pretty big, thick stout, but didn't have the complexity I'd want from a higher-ABV American stout.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2011 22:48:00 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A 12 oz bottle shared with Mughugger and others during the ill-fated PtE Tasting.

A: The stout is a dark brown ale with a moderate sized head that retains nicely.

S: The aroma coming off of the stout is chocolatey roasted malts and a bit of rye spiciness.

T: The stout has a very sweet chocolatey caramel flavor, clearly the result of a pleasant malt mixture. The flavors meld together seamlessly, allowing the stout character and a bit of rye sharpness to come together nicelessly. The rye sharpness is a nice undertone that keeps the stout together.

M: The velvety smooth stout is a joy to drink, chocolatey yet silky smooth. A delicious ale.

D: The ale is smooth and sweet, delicious without going overboard on the roasted malt element. This stout is sessionable and very good.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2007 03:38:25 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Available at Vintage Estates in Boardman, OH...appears a dark caramel brown near black with a nice tan head leaves even thick bands of lacing with each sip from my saturated pint. Aromatics contain creamy doughy chocolate with a hint of Irish cream coffee, evident spicy rye in all it's grainy herbally goodness. Flavor has a slight vinous feel to it quality soft chocolate notes streak across the palate with mellow herbal hop layers and subtle spicy rye finish characteristic unfiltered doughy Bell's touch as well. Mouthfeel is medium to fuller bodied low key gentle carbonation silky smooth going down great brew. Drinkablity...I love all stouts outta Kalamazoo another reason to love Bell's brewing I could definitely enjoy a few of these.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2006 13:52:28 | More by WVbeergeek

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in an American pint glass)

A-This beer pours an opaque deep brown body with a faint light shining through in the very base of the glass. A coco colored creamy head fades a bit and no sign of carbonation in the deep abyss.

S- This beer has a slight tart dark chocolate note with some alder smoke hint is very well balanced.

T- The very light tart but earthy chocolate malt note has some black malt flavors but no black roasted grain qualities. There is a light spicy finish that is a bit salty. The finish is spicy but not really hoppy. As the beer warms there is a slight note of dark roasted rye also.

M- The medium-full mouthfeel has a slippery finish but the beginning of the beer has a velvety feel.

D- This beer is very interesting and it has more layers to its complexity with every sip.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2006 02:42:05 | More by rhoadsrage

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle obtained via trade with CRJMellor. Thanks for the opportunity... "The Batch ID that you entered '7235', is a Bell's Rye Stout. Your Bell's Rye Stout was packaged on February 9, 2006."

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed 1/2" brown head over the cloudy, barely translucent dark brown brew. Head holds on well, with average to good lacing. Aroma is hearty dark grains, almost some smoke in there, very nice. Taste is sweet dark malts as well, reminds me of a milk stout, which is always cool. Mouthfeel and drinkability are both very good, smoothness and coffee bitterness keeping the sweetness in check well. Wouldn't mind seeing more of these Bell's Stouts out this way, for sure.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2006 23:29:38 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Capone's...
Appears a near black With dark brown edges and a crimson hue. A thick, tan head slowly fades into a floating cap.
Smell is of cocoa, milk sugar, caramel, rye, and wheat.
Taste is of the aromas with a sugar and wood like bitterness pulling through. Definite presence of lactose, along with the rye makes it interesting.
Mouthfeel is creamy, smooth, bitter, sweet, and...a bit weird. I'm really on the fence with the whole thing. The beer screams that it wants to be toasty but it's not. It's dry from the rye.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2009 22:17:45 | More by weeare138

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours an opaque black/brown, small tan head forms, some nice lacing. Smell is roasty, with some rye spice, wheat, caramel, and a little citrus. Taste is roasty chocolate and coffee, caramel, some citrus and rye spice in the finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation. Nicely done, first for me for a rye stout. Thanks DrJay!

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2006 02:03:49 | More by Viggo

Bighuge

Minnesota

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

Nice opaque appearance with some yeast sediment noticeable. Thick brown head that is a bit fizzy. It disappears quickly. Smells of oats to me. Very inviting aroma. Very creamy mouthfeel. A slight spiciness is present, presumably from the rye. Medium body. Just a little viscous but not overbearing. At times, I think it tastes a bit like a chocolate candy bar. But I don't get that in every taste. Not overly bitter. Easy drinking. Quality Stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2002 23:30:10 | More by Bighuge

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark pitch black that's completely opaque with only the faintest of dark mahogany edges and a one finger frothy beige head with decent retention, only slowly fading into a lasting ring. Slight spots of lacing left behind.

Sweet caramel malt aroma with hints of toffee and sweet rye. Slight roasted notes with some dark fruit notes and subtle burnt toast.

Slightly viscous medium body with a nice balance of roasted malt and sweet caramel and rye malt notes. Hints of toffee, roasted coffee bean and hazelnut with a nice hoppy dry finish. Very nicely balanced with subtle alcohol heat. Very drinkable with lots of silky chocolate malt and sweet ruye notes balancing out the roasted notes and alcohol heat.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2009 05:49:41 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours less dark than expected, a dark brown moreso than used motor oil black like in many of the Bell's stouts. Aroma, could discern the rye portion of this. Other than that, it was pretty average in every way. Average roasting, sweetness etc. . .

Taste, solid. Some toffee which probably helped with the darker brown appearance. Still not really getting what makes this a rye stout, just can't taste or smell it. Mild chocolate malt. Seemed like it was more of an oatmeal than a rye stout at times. Hint of smoke.

For a Bell's stout (cherry, expedition etc. . . ) it was below average, but easily above average for every other stout out there. Enjoyable and would drink again. I think the next bottle I'll drink as my first beer of the day to try and get a better grasp on the rye aspect.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 17:31:54 | More by Beerandraiderfan

glid02

Georgia

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours one shade from black with a one-finger tan head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of smooth roasted malts with good amounts of baker's chocolate and lighter amounts of spicy rye. Also present are slight hints of smoke.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Sweet roasted malt flavors kick things off. Midway through the sip equal amounts of dark and milk chocolate flavors make an appearance. Before the end of the sip mild amounts of spicy rye flavors work their way into things and carry through to a mildly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel is very good. It's got a very smooth thickness with grainy carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I had no problems finishing my glass and could have another.

Overall I had higher hopes for this beer however I found the rye influence to be more muted than I would have liked. Still, an easy drinking beer with a good deal of complexity that's worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

09-06-2010 16:14:45 | More by glid02