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

AmitC

Indiana

3.9/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into my snifter glass.

Pitch black in the glass and extremely dark brown color while pouting. More than a finger thick head of tan color that soon withers off into a ring. Decent lacing.

Aroma is very subdued. Toasted and burnt malts. Toffee and slight caramel with some hint of bitter hops. No alcohol presence.

Taste: Again is very much the nose and well balanced with nothing standing out. Dark chocolate, burnt malts and caramel. No hint of coffee. No creamy feel. Sweetness is countered well by the hops.

Mouth feel : Medium bodied with somewhat lighter tones. Smooth, easy to drink. Moderate to high carbonation but without any astringency of any sort. Dry finish with no lingering effect.

Like a few others have noted - there is nothing extraordinary about it. Plain stout.

Style rate: 3.75
Personal Rate: 3.5

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 15:30:30 | More by AmitC

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a glass mug.

A: Dark brown with three-finger, off-white, creamy head that lasted a long time. Really nice lacing.

S: Chocolate and roasted malt. Good but mild.

T: Light to moderate sweetness and moderate bitterness. Nutty with milk flavors. Slightly bitter roasted malt flavors are stronger in the finish.

M: Medium bodied with fizzy carbonation. Smooth.

O: This is a good stout, but the nose is mild, and nothing about the taste sticks out to me. Above average, but not exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 00:20:38 | More by SolipsismalCat

SometimesIfart

Michigan

3.95/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A - Pours pitch black with a three finger mocha head. Left nice lacing. Spot on for a stout.

S - Chocolate, coffee, dark roasted malt. Pretty weak actually.

T - Chocolate, dark coffee, dark roasted malt, milk, molasses.

M - Light carbonation with a very light, extremely creamy body

O - Overall, this was a good stout, Though not as good as I expected. I would have again.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 21:25:55 | More by SometimesIfart

Dave1999

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours pure black with a very nice looking tan head which remains for a long time.

The smell is quite weak, coffee and dark malts.

The taste is better, nuts, milk and coffee.

The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy with very little carbonation.

Overall very enjoyable, could easily drink a few of these.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 00:08:22 | More by Dave1999

PorterIV

Virginia

4.23/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very solid stout. Malty/Roasty aroma - you definitely get the roasted barley. Thick mouthfeel and very roasty. Excellent on a cold, rainy fall day. This is a winter seasonal beer and should be enjoyed seasonally. Overall, another solid offering form Bell's.

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2012 04:03:38 | More by PorterIV

tdm168

North Carolina

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

A - black with a short-lived brown head

S - the nose is very faint with some subtle roasted malts coming through

T - coffee, burnt sugar, toffee, roasted malts, faint bitterness

M - medium to full bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This is a nicely balanced, complex milk stout. The roasted malts are intense and the coffee flavors add a nice balanced bitterness. There's a nice creaminess and some toffee notes throughout. This is a very enjoyable beer. I'm not sure I would be able to have more than one of these at once, but I will definitely be having it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 01:20:23 | More by tdm168

ElderPuma

Wisconsin

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

Pours dark black with a finger of tan head that dissipates quickly. Tries to lace on the way down but doesn't quite stick.

Smells roasted, toasted, and quite a bit of coffee with some earthy and spice hop notes as well. Unlike most beers in this style it isn't overpowering which I find as a plus since it allows for more aromas that I think are typically lost behind the dominant aromas to appear.

Taste is rich and bold coffee that finishes with a good crisp roast flavor.

Mouthfeel is fairly well balanced in the sense that it is not as thick as it would appear. All things considered it is probably a touch on the light side for a stout. Maybe a bit too carbonated for the style as it tends to detract from the flavor on the finish.

All in all a good example of a typical coffee stout.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 02:28:30 | More by ElderPuma

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2012 Bell's Double Cream Stout.

What a silky looking brew! Gluggy brown-black liquid with some visual viscosity sleeps under a hefty and rich beige head. The consistency of the head is creamy and foamy and it's just coating the walls of the glass completely.

Mega-roasty and dusty with cocoa. Acidic component from a roast coffee aroma really shines with brightness. Slight green cherry note offers a little more tartness. Major malt-ness pushes any glimpse of a hop whiff aside.

Roast coffee and a bit of chocolate pair with a light char. Not as sweet as you might expect, and with a light berry tartness. Notes of cocoa powder and cranberry layer out on the back of the tongue. Heavily malty with converted grain flavors that all categorize on the dark and delectable side.

Doubly creamy, for sure. Smooth and buttery on the tongue with a mousse-like carbonation that plays in the art of fine bubble creamery. Great feel.

Very nice stout with some potency. A great November/December beer. A Bell's beer I always indulge in.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 03:24:46 | More by thecheapies

JWU

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a tulip glass.

A- Deep, dark. Pretty much black. A finger of creamed coffee colored head, which laces nicely.

S- Not much, some roasty malts are there.

T- Deep roasty malts with heavy notes of dark chocolate cake, coffee, slightly burnt, but not offputting. A very slight hint of booze. Hard to believe there is no lactose in here.

M- Creamy, creamy, creamy. Light to medium carbonation.

O- Very, very good stuff. The depth and complexity of flavor and mouthfeel at this ABV are impressive.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 23:58:38 | More by JWU

SkeeterBoganski

Colorado

3.9/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled last at brewery:

Appearance: darkest of the beers we tried, and that's saying a lot (darker than bourbon barrel stout, etc.) medium head; minimal lacing;

Smell: cocoa and malty nose

Taste: slightly bitter; faint hints of hops; easy-drinking stout with a creamy aftertaste

Mouthfeel: easy mouthfeel, very subtle

Solid overall.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2012 01:12:13 | More by SkeeterBoganski

gtermi

Texas

4.23/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Beer pours a nice dark black body with a nice thick tan head that quickly fades.

S: I am picking up a lot of chocolate, roasted malt, coffee, toffee and a sweet malt.

T: There is a strong amount of roasted malt, some chocolate, coffee bitterness and as the beer lingers, it becomes much sweeter.

M: The beer is very easy to drink and has a tiny amount of crispness on the tip of the tongue and the back of the throat.

O: This is a very tasty beer and fits perfect with the season. Nothing better than a stout when it is cold outside.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 08:02:56 | More by gtermi

RWLawman

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours the color of coffee, with a thick creamy head that narrows as you drink, but still retains a half-inch head for the majority of the experience.

S - Mostly chocolate, a little roasted malt, and a slight hint of alcohol.

T - Follows the nose, mostly. I taste a lot of chocolate, light roasted malts, and cream. Though the cream is present, I expected a little more for a drink titled, "Double Cream" I'm sure it's better on a nitro-tap.

M - Smooth and creamy, but there is some carbonation in there.

O - For an out of the bottle cream stout, I thought this was pretty good. On nitro-tap, I think this beer would be a knock out. I would have also liked a little more decisiveness in the flavor...either more chocolate, or more cream. Since it's a cream stout, more cream would be great.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 02:04:48 | More by RWLawman

jtd1969

North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - dark dark brown with a quickly head that is tan in color but dissipates quickly.

S - sweet burnt sugary smell, maybe a tad dark fruit

T - chocolate creamy, light roastiness, some booze, light on coffee end

M - nice hop character, creamy and light, light carbonation

D - good beer I think it could be a little more rich. However, I recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 00:43:33 | More by jtd1969

tylerzander

Arizona

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Pretty dark this one, with just a tinge of garnet highlights along the edges when held up to a light; pours with a very minimal paper thin tan head that dissipates immediately

S - rum raisin booziness pretty apparent despite 6.1% ABV; dark crystal malts up front but some roastiness lurks in the background; some milk chocolate as the beer warms and some smooth caramelized/burnt sugar

T - chocolate maltiness from the variety of specialty malts lingers without any sharp/bitter roastiness, although some roastiness comes through to help temper the residual malt character; what you smell follows through to the taste: caramel, slight ethanol, smooth chocolate, some dried raisin/plum dark fruit flavor

M - nice low carbonation enhances the complex malt body, befitting of the descriptor "cream stout;" has a full-bodied mouthfeel without excessive sweetness

D - good as a standalone beer, as every sip is eagerly anticipated, but one 12 oz serving seems to adequately satisfy my desire for a full bodied double cream stout at the end of an evening

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 08:11:36 | More by tylerzander

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.63/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a snifter, batch 9376. I've been sitting on this for a while (for the style anyways)

A: Pours pitch black with a finger of dense tan foam. Head recedes slowly to a film, good retention.

S: Milk chocolate, caramel, and malted milk balls. Oxidation is apparent, but not unpleasant.

T: Similar to aroma, milk chocolate, caramel, and malted milk balls dominate. I get some roasted malts and dark chocolate in the background. Slightly oxidized, but not terribly so.

M: Medium to light mouthfeel with creamy carbonation.

O: A nice mix of chocolate, roast, and caramel. Easy to drink, yet quite flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 02:17:28 | More by coreyfmcdonald

metter98

New York

3.98/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is very dark brownish red it in color. It poured with a thin beige head that quickly dissipated, leaving a delicate lacing covering the surface and a thin collar around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light to moderately strong aromas of dark malts in the nose; the smell becomes stronger as the beer warms up.
T: The taste has flavors of dark malts along with faint hints of roasted malts and chocolate.
M: It feels medium-bodied and smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is very drinkable but still packs in a lot of nice aromas and flavors without being full-bodied.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 01:53:00 | More by metter98

dbrauneis

New Jersey

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

A: Pours an opaque jet black in color with hints of brown when held up to the light. The beer has a quarter finger tall creamy tan head that quickly reduces to a small amount of extremely thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate to significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of dark and roasted malts with some lighter notes of chocolate & coffee. The smell of this beer improves as the beer warms up. Just the faintest hint of vanilla as well.

T: The flavor of this beer is mostly malty with lots of dark malts and some lighter amounts of roasted malts. Some lighter and more subtle notes of chocolate and coffee. Not sweet and there is a light amount of lingering bitterness.

M: Slightly heavier than medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth and lightly creamy.

O: Very enjoyable but not sure I get why it is called a double cream stout... I think I had expectations of a much creamier mouthfeel based on the name. Nice flavors and very enjoyable. I'd get this one again if I had easy access to it.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 18:49:16 | More by dbrauneis

jaasen64

Massachusetts

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

12oz bottle thanks to Veldrid. Poured into Founders snifter. 250th Review.

A- Pours a very dark slightly purplish black, mostly opaque but slightly translucent around the edges. A very thin mocha biege head when pouring it that quickly recedes to leave almost no head.

S- Lots of roasted chocolate malts, some light lactose sugars, some light smokiness and a hint of soy sauce. A little bit above average aroma strength.

T- Creamy chocolate, roasted malts, a tiny bit of coffee, some light cream, finishes slightly bitter with creamy chocolate that lingers for a little bit.

M- Fairly thin for a stout, decent carbonation, smooth, easy to drink. A little bit to thin for the style

O- This was a decent cream stout. Has a very nice roasty chocolate taste that is easily drinkable but is a little bit too thin for the style. If Bell's was readily available to me I would probably drink this fairly often.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 00:49:04 | More by jaasen64

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a thin, clear dark brown with very little cascading head and absolutely no lacing. Mouthfeel is decent, but not nearly as creamy as I expected. The aroma however has very nice lactose sweetness; creamy and full of roasted and toasted (smoked?) malts as well. Flavours are well balanced and smooth, with definite cream and caramelized malt sugars followed by a nicely dry hop finish.

I expected "spectacular" and was disappointed, but like anything Bell's, still believe this to be better than most...

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 04:44:01 | More by hopsolutely

schoolboy

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is one of the last Bell's ordinarily stocked in stores around here that I had not reviewed. I'm sure I had it a few times over the last couple years.

It has a very roasty and a nice balance of hoppy and malty, about what one would expect for and American stout.

This quality brew looks great in the glass and is a good stout to have when you are looking for a little something extra.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 00:05:30 | More by schoolboy

sukwonee

Washington

4.05/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Dark Brown/Black with quarter finger head, little lacing.

S: Coffee dominates, followed by chocolate, roasted malts, I think I get a bit of bourbon oak smell for some reason.

T: Coffee, chocolate, roasted malt. Taste disappears rather quickly. Not sure why this beer is called double cream stout. I don't taste any milk chocolate... it's not much sweet either.

M: Medium body, with medium level of carbonation

O: Very solid. I would drink this often if it was available nearby.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2012 03:07:21 | More by sukwonee

BeerDawgs

Georgia

4.4/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A 12oz bottle bottled on 11/14/11.

A - A big black brew, with 0 clarity, lots of thick creamy head, and tons of sticky lace on the glass

S - Extremely sweet, faint hint of alcohol

T - Smooth, creamy, complex. Starts very sweet, then gets bitter, and then a spicy aftertaste. Alot going on in here, very tasty! Nice little alcohol kick at the end too...

M - Thick, full bodied, creamy mouthfeel. It definitely is a blast to your senses

O - An extremely tasty beer with alot of complexity for a 6/1% brew. Bells always impresses

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 00:42:01 | More by BeerDawgs

chugalug06

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Two-finger head, tan-chocolate foamy head. Brew is thin black color.

Tons of camp-fire smoke. Silky roasty nuts too. But, much too smoked.

Milky, smokey, nutty, and chocolatey. Dry, thin, slight dryness, and near brutal bitterness for a cream stout. Nice smooth carbonation.

Recommended brew, but there's nothing double or exciting about it, other then bitter-thiness. It was missing sweetness and depth and was over smoked thin nuttyness.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 04:00:01 | More by chugalug06

RuckusDu

Colorado

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

A - maybe a little over a finger of light tan head on a deep black body. Requires less than 5mm to see through. Some good lacing. Bubbles of all sizes.

S - A lot of chocolate. Bitterness from some hops. Mellow. Some vanilla as well. Simple.

T - Again just a little too sour for me on the flavor. Like a sour milk sour which is not good. There are some stouty flavors such as chocolate and vanilla.

M - Not really all that creamy to me. Medium body and moderate carbonation make this not bad, but they say it will be double creamy.

O - Pretty pedestrian to me. Sure, overall it is pretty good, but nothing stands out and makes me want to go get more.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 01:02:29 | More by RuckusDu

jmarsh123

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours deep brown almost black with a finger of tan head fading into a ring with some decent lacing.

Aroma is slightly mild. Some espresso and vanilla.

Tastes almost like drinking a chocolate coffee milkshake. Big bitter chocolate flavors up front. Some roasted malts and earthy hops come in near the back and it finishes acidic and dry with a good roasted espresso flavor.

Medium mouthfeel with good carbonation levels. Very very creamy. The best part of the mouthfeel.

My favorite of Bell's stouts. Easily approachable with lots of good flavors going on.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 22:02:13 | More by jmarsh123