Bell's Special Double Cream Stout - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

Todd

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottle with a cryptic "6236" on the back, along with a statement that this brew is a blend of 10 different malts. Sweet.

Pitch black opaque beer with a finger thick, creamy coffee colored, tight bubbled lace. Sticky lace. Nice retention.

Roasted aroma of chocolate, sweet coffee and a slight cinnamon bun finish. Oxidation.

Whoa! This brew has got one hella-creamy mouthfeel. It's very smooth with a fluffy thickness on the palate. Malts are very complex with a roasted / molasses twang, oxidized / sherry, wood, chocolate brownies, burnt edges, baked raisins, hints of prune, coffee syrup, suggestions of toffee and a dry-ish chocolate grain finish. Notes of a mixed-bag of baking spices. Alcohol becomes more noticeable (warming) as the beer warms, gets a bit prickly, which also pulls out more of the oxidized / sherry characters. Hop bites through, along side the roasty twang, with a light citric character. Lingers dry with notes of wet cardboard.

A wicked tasty brew, but like most Bell's beers that I've tried it's far too oxidized and kills what would otherwise be an devastatingly delicious twist on the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2004 19:43:18 | More by Todd

Jason

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: 12 oz brown bottle with a code of the back label that could be possibly be some sort of freshness date.

Appearance: Super foamy but not gushing, the froth had no problem at all sticking on every inch of the glass. Black with evident brown hues on the edges.

Smell: Smells pungent of cream soda extract with a vague roasted malt in the back.

Taste & Mouthfeel: Slick and creamy mouth feel off of a heavy body, smooth crispness. Sweet up front, you would swear they put a bucket of cream soda extract in this brew. The sweetness soon gets hit by some hops bitterness and a straight-up roasted grain flavor. A bite from the alcohol hits the palate with a spiciness. Slightly astringent finish and on the dry side as well.

Notes: Big and bold with jabs of complexity, this is certainly not for a weak palate. An above average sweet stout … nothing close to some of the imported or Island sweet stouts.

Thanks to sakaroo for the sample.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2004 22:52:22 | More by Jason

johntfox

Florida

4/5  rDev 0%

05-21-2013 17:31:08 | More by johntfox

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4/5  rDev 0%

05-20-2013 14:11:47 | More by InspectorBob

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev 0%

05-19-2013 18:05:27 | More by drgonzo2k2

mwar

Kentucky

3/5  rDev -25%

05-19-2013 13:41:18 | More by mwar

JohnG190

New York

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-19-2013 02:48:40 | More by JohnG190

stortore

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

05-17-2013 10:41:55 | More by stortore

Zbeetleman

California

4/5  rDev 0%

05-15-2013 06:24:55 | More by Zbeetleman

dvmky

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-14-2013 00:44:50 | More by dvmky

jkane101

New Jersey

4/5  rDev 0%

05-14-2013 00:29:50 | More by jkane101

ADTaber

South Carolina

4/5  rDev 0%

05-13-2013 23:10:21 | More by ADTaber

vrbulldog22

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

05-13-2013 18:28:45 | More by vrbulldog22

csfcmitchell

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-13-2013 16:03:44 | More by csfcmitchell

jkball01

Kentucky

3/5  rDev -25%

05-13-2013 16:03:19 | More by jkball01

ToddHolder

Illinois

4/5  rDev 0%

05-11-2013 01:36:52 | More by ToddHolder

mickgeo

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

05-10-2013 23:54:27 | More by mickgeo

tastymug

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

05-09-2013 22:47:11 | More by tastymug

beernads

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

05-08-2013 07:32:42 | More by beernads

markcp

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

05-07-2013 21:09:06 | More by markcp

mportnoy

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-07-2013 00:11:26 | More by mportnoy

lsolanilla

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +18.8%

05-06-2013 18:26:00 | More by lsolanilla

TheSixthRing

California

3.8/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Bottled on date of 10/18/12

Appearance - Pours Near black with a tan finger width head. Good retention. leaving a thick film of microbubbles on the surface. Lacing is spotty with good stick.

Smell - Predominant cream aroma with milk chocolate and hints of coffee.

Taste - Sweet milk chocolate and cream upfront and throughout, with touches of roast coming through on the back end. Finishes with a renewed sense of sweet cream that rides deep into the aftertaste. Simple, but flavorful.

Mouthfeel - Medium in body with low to moderate carbonation. Creamy on the tongue. Goes down with nice smoothness.

Overall - You're not getting any surprises with this beer. It hits all the notes you'd expect a 'double cream stout' to hit. When it's all said and done, though, the cream sweetness is just a tad too much for me to call this beer great. I don't think I could drink more than 2 of these before I'd have to throw in the towel. Hard to believe this is dairy free, which amazes me.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 03:38:01 | More by TheSixthRing

RaulMondesi

California

3.46/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Raul was lucky enough to acquire this random offering, so he'll do it like he does.

Like The Cheesecake Factory, you don't have to get dressed up to drink this thang. Throw on your $12 Tommy Polo from Tily's and call it a day. Simply aite, just aite. Raul is drinking it, and that's about it. No explosions, no oral fireworks, just aite down the line.

Peace!

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 03:02:03 | More by RaulMondesi

amcaleh

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

05-02-2013 12:34:47 | More by amcaleh