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

elNopalero

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +23.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This was my first beer of the New Year. And, as a bit of retrospective shoegazing, one of the first craft beers I ever tried. (Of course, at that point in my life I hadn’t developed the palate to fully appreciate it. Loved the Solsun at the time, though, so I was on the right path!) Certainly now I’ve reached a point in my life where I can enjoy the Bell’s Cherry Stout—although I’m still awaiting the stage where I’ll be able to afford a case of it.

This pours a creamy dark-cherry black with a healthy layer of cocoa colored foam. There’s a roasty dark chocolate aroma that’s braced by a slight, nuanced dark cherry note.
There’s a strong roasted malt flavor that would be welcome in any stout but what sets this apart is the added complexity that comes from the dark cherry. It’s understated but appreciated as it lends this beer a lot of character and depth. For a stout the beer isn’t heavy, and there’s some cherry tartness on the finish.

This beer isn’t a ‘cherry-bomb,’ it’s not a sweet, syrupy fruit beer, and (in my experience) it’s not going to be the ‘gateway’ kind of beer for non-beer drinkers. I had this at a party and was careful to share sips with others curious about it who were expecting something lighter, fruiter and sweeter by suggesting they smell it, think of dark cherries, and let it warm. This is a real treat of a brew and I’m glad I can enjoy it to the extent that I do.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 04:08:43 | More by elNopalero

josephwa

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +34.9%

05-22-2013 20:50:03 | More by josephwa

phunkychickita

Maine

3.75/5  rDev +6.5%

05-20-2013 16:57:56 | More by phunkychickita

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -0.6%

05-20-2013 14:15:17 | More by InspectorBob

drgonzo2k2

California

3.75/5  rDev +6.5%

05-19-2013 14:30:24 | More by drgonzo2k2

NJB145

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +20.7%

05-19-2013 00:58:44 | More by NJB145

mverity

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -0.6%

05-16-2013 21:34:56 | More by mverity

Demarais20

North Dakota

3/5  rDev -14.8%

05-16-2013 07:58:00 | More by Demarais20

MSandahl23

Indiana

4/5  rDev +13.6%

05-15-2013 20:21:22 | More by MSandahl23

GameOfThrones

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +6.5%

05-13-2013 03:26:58 | More by GameOfThrones

Jade

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +6.5%

05-10-2013 23:57:58 | More by Jade

dalepryor

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev +6.5%

05-07-2013 21:48:27 | More by dalepryor

Devilman

Illinois

4/5  rDev +13.6%

04-27-2013 22:30:47 | More by Devilman

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.25/5  rDev -7.7%

04-23-2013 04:48:57 | More by Kelp

Bluecane

North Carolina

2.75/5  rDev -21.9%

04-21-2013 05:57:14 | More by Bluecane

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +6.5%

04-20-2013 04:10:42 | More by Jason1337

BMMillsy

Florida

3/5  rDev -14.8%

04-13-2013 03:14:40 | More by BMMillsy

Herky21

Iowa

3.25/5  rDev -7.7%

04-11-2013 14:09:16 | More by Herky21

FreshZ

Missouri

3.75/5  rDev +6.5%

04-09-2013 16:32:33 | More by FreshZ

Mosul

Arizona

4/5  rDev +13.6%

04-06-2013 06:46:05 | More by Mosul

rsenters29

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +6.5%

04-05-2013 02:42:07 | More by rsenters29

yankeefan287

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +6.5%

04-02-2013 02:36:44 | More by yankeefan287

bacasnax

Florida

4/5  rDev +13.6%

03-31-2013 23:26:34 | More by bacasnax

Jamison85

Indiana

2/5  rDev -43.2%

03-27-2013 05:05:38 | More by Jamison85

hoppymcgee

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -0.6%

03-27-2013 03:37:45 | More by hoppymcgee