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

semihobo

Michigan

2.98/5  rDev -25.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

12 ozer, batch 8733, purchased recently at the general store in Kalamazoo.

Body is a thick black, can't see anything going on in the glass. Head is mostly composed of very fine bubbles, with a few big ones in the middle, like cooking pancakes. A very dark color on the head. Quite pretty.

Smell is complex, not so sweet. Toffee, decomposing wood, tobacco, smoke, very earthy.

Taste is drier than expected, with a sour acidic bite on the finish. A more prominent roasted note than on the nose, still earthy. Add black walnuts to the list of tastes and smells... I believe the label when it says "10 different malts." Baker's chocolate and coffee. A small hint of minty sweetness toward the finish before it is overtaken by a bitter finish, fairly astringent. Earthy hops on the finish.

Nice body, very thick, lots of dextrins. Lush carbonation.

I kept tasting and smelling a familiar smell and it hit me toward the end of the beer... the compost pile my parents kept when I was growing up. Not exactly what I dream of in a beer.

Drinkability would be down for the fact that I just don't like this beer that much, but it stays at average due to the complexity of this beer... I could keep finding new things well into a six pack, I suspect.

This is like an art piece by a well-regarded contemporary artist you don't really like... I don't enjoy it, but I appreciate that it has complexity and value to someone else.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2008 04:05:08 | More by semihobo

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

Ljoreilly

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

05-02-2013 00:15:55 | More by Ljoreilly

SocalKicks

California

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

05-01-2013 05:32:39 | More by SocalKicks

myron317

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-01-2013 01:15:38 | More by myron317

hollywood_15063

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%

04-30-2013 02:20:34 | More by hollywood_15063

Devilman

Illinois

4/5  rDev 0%

04-27-2013 22:32:02 | More by Devilman

menacho1

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

04-26-2013 06:02:05 | More by menacho1