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

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had this one on tap at the Khyber during PBW. While I appreciate the attempt, this one doesn't quite work for me. This was the 2007 version too. The sour cherries def come through but add a little unsettling tart funk that I didn't enjoy. Glad to have tried it though.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2012 16:47:35 | More by jwhancher

Durge

Connecticut

3.65/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A nice find at The World of Beers in Fort Myers, Florida, this one is a pitch black brown color. This stout carries a decent chocolate-tan colored cover and modest lacing. The aroma is a unique blend of tart cherries and chocolatey malt. Pleasant and enticing with a lemony hint. The flavor brings a more challenging blend of bitter cherries with charcoal malt, with very little chocolate. Bitterness really takes over here but the malt base remains and carries a modest herbal hop. Tasty but takes some taste bud adjustments. Medium bodied with a pretty cohesive feel that includes a bit of chalkiness. Carbonation is very subtle but a bit prickly. You do get use to this and I would say it’s a neat, unique stout worth trying.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2012 03:06:49 | More by Durge

Flux

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On-tap at Bell's Eccentric Cafe, served in pint glass.

A- dark reddish brown to black. Not a lot of head and very minimal lacing.

S- Definite cherry aroma, and a little green/tart smelling. Roasted, chocolate and biscuit malt aroma. Minimal hop aroma.

T- Upfront tart cherry with chocolate roastiness.

M- Felt thin for a stout, low carbonation.

O- I'm all for adding fruit to a stout but it would be nice to pick up more on the malts without all the sour cherry taking over. I love a good sour beer, but not when i'm expecting a nice rich, deep, complex, roasty, and malty stout.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2011 03:42:05 | More by Flux

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

on tap at khyber in philly

Pours a deep black color with a thick layering of off-white head. Some spots of lacing on the glass with a few wisps of film on top.

Complex nose with chocolate and roasted dark malts. Plenty of cherry with faint tartness, some darker fruit tones as well. Slight warmth with sweetness.

Heaping amounts of tart cherry up front with skin and unripe notes. Chocolate and roasted malts come through with a decent amount of sweetness. The backbone holds together for a bit, but the tart cherry seems to overwhelm most of the profile. Finishes sweet and sour.

Fuller medium body, decent carbonation, sticky and chewy on the tongue. This smells delicious, but the overwhelming tart cherry became a turn off for me.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2011 05:23:27 | More by xnicknj

adam42381

Florida

3.68/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at World of Beer Fort Myers. Poured into a shaker pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a dark cola brown with a 1 finger creamy dark tan head. Nice lacing.

Smell: Dark roasted malt, coffee and a touch of cherry.

Taste: Dark roasted malt up front followed by coffee in the middle and ending with sour cherry at the finish. Aftertaste is a mix of sourness and coffee. A little bit too much sourness for me.

Mouthfeel: Medium-to-full-bodied with a good amount of carbonation.

Drinkability: Decent drinkability. You could knock back a couple without any problem.

Overall: Good beer overall. Not my favorite, but the cherry adds an interesting element. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2011 23:58:16 | More by adam42381

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.83/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Bell's tap Takeover at Mellow Mushroom in Charlottesville, VA.

Quarter-finger of tan head, dark brown body with garnet highlights.

Stouty nose with malt and some roast character, but no cherry...

Cherry taste, but kriek cherry, not that cough syrup stuff. Kind of a 'Flemish Stout'? Interesting-- tart, almost vinegary character.

Mouthfeel is thick enough to not be vinegar, but not much else there.

Overall exciting fruit stout, good for lambic/Flemish fans.

Serving type: on-tap

07-19-2011 02:37:19 | More by zaphodchak

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Transcribed from notes dtd Sa, 18 Dec 2010.

It was presented to me with a foamy finger-and-a-half of deep-brown head that fell pretty quickly. Color was a deep, inky blackish-brown with limited light penetration. Nose had a strong sour cherry bite. Mouthfeel was medium with a tart, sour cherry bite right away on the tongue. I am not one of the current sour/lactic/pedio/brett freaks and I actually generally eschew such beers, but this was pleasantly tart. The cherry really dominated the taste, overpowering the stout flavors. Finish lingered with cherry and a dryness that left me thinking of wine. I would not want a steady diet of this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2011 00:49:56 | More by woodychandler

AgentZero

Illinois

1.95/5  rDev -44.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A - Nice looking brown beer with a small khaki head that left some splotches and chunks on the side.

S - This beer smells pretty bad, like cherry cough syrup on top of malts mostly.

T - Wow, taste is horrible. A fruit beer is one you can generally give to non-beer drinkers and they will like it. Everyone hated this, medicinal-cough syrup like flavor accounts for the "cherry" in the Cherry Stout. The "stout" would be a mess of burnt malts. Whole thing is a disaster.

M - Creamy, medium bodied, lower carbonation.

O - Train-wreck of a beer. Must be better in bottles because that B rating is much too high.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2011 17:17:58 | More by AgentZero

projectflam86

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a deep dark brown color with a thick coffee colored head that leaves nice lacing.

S- I can definitely pick up the cherries in the nose. Lots of roasted scents and dark fruits.

T- Loads of tart cherry flavor. I didn't expect the cherries to be as dominant or for the overall flavor to be as tart as this. Some roasted flavors in the finish with a touch of alcohol heat.

M- Medium/full bodied with decent carbonation.

O- Overall, this was a very interesting beer. I thought going in that this would be a stout with a hint of cherry. But I was wrong, this is definitely a cherry dominated brew.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2011 23:14:32 | More by projectflam86

chinchill

South Carolina

3.65/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - an appealing red-tinged opaque black, but with no head.
{Possibly improper handling by Hopjacks (Pensacola, FL) -- the gut next to me returned his Magic Hat beer because it was completely flat.)
S - sweet and fruity stout with a clear cherry note.
T -substantial (sour?) cherry flavor. Tart and a bit salty. Decent finish.
M - smooth but not quite creamy; light but detectable carbonation. .

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2011 20:30:49 | More by chinchill

vande

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - black. nothing to be seen through.

S - some fruity/sour type funk going on here.

T - tart, hidden cherry mixed in with the roasted malt...reminded my gently of a jolly pumpkin type funk on this one...

O - Pretty good... I'd like to compare it to the bottle at some time...

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2011 00:06:56 | More by vande

EricCioe

Montana

3.7/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had this on tap at Pints & Quarts as the leftovers from the Bell's Takeover the Taps event the night before.

This pours almost black with red highlights around the edges, an off-white small head, and a little bit of lacing. On the nose the cherries jump out, tart and huge, but under that there is some caramel malt. In the mouth the tartness becomes even bigger, the cherries are just huge in this beer, but there is caramel lurking underneath. The finish is long on tart, but the mouthfeel is a little thin to me. I'm glad I had it, and I would have it again, but to me this is a one-and-done beer because of the cherry intensity.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2011 20:34:03 | More by EricCioe

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A pint on Tap, I've been dodging this beer for a while now.

Bell's Cherry Stout is black like all the others, a big black stout with a thin layered light tan cap up above that left no traces. Swirls could not even bring up a inch of foam. Smell is all cherry, tart cherry, although I know it's not the real deal, just juice. A blast of cherry backing a smallish stout with some chocolate in the back, slight roast, not in the big picture though. Getting some licorice and malt with the cherry. Feel is tangy, slightly tart, not funky. Body is medium with a lively carb, perhaps too much, it was a bit bitey. Another great one from Bell's but one that is a single go for me.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2011 04:39:44 | More by onix1agr

oglmcdgl

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A pint on tap at terrace taproom.

A- comes to me filled to the brim so no head but my buddies had a small cap of tan head that settled instantly leaving on a thin ring. Very dark brown almost black with a red brown glow at the edges.

S- sweet and tart cherries with a dark roasted malt hit behind. All things considered a rather simple and light nose.

T- there's no missing the sour cherry in this one cherries are big and bright with a good tart and sour twang before the deep dark malts kick in and hit you up with the chocolate and a touch of coffee. The cherries never give up the lead but as the brew warms the malts make a slightly bigger impression. Tart finish.

M- a bit above medium in body with a bright carb that adds to the good pucker that comes with this one.

D- I was surprised by this one that's for sure. Did not expect this much of a sour cherry presence but I dug it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2011 01:52:01 | More by oglmcdgl

Tone

Missouri

3.9/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark black color. 3/4 inch head of a tan color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of roasted malt, sweet malt, citrus, and slight hop. Fits the style of a Fruit / Vegetable beer. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. There is also a slight acidic feel. Tastes of citrus, hops, roasted malt, and sweet malt. Overall, great appearance, good aroma, and good mouth feel. The body is a little lacking though. The cherries are not strongly noticeable, but I enjoy that more than most probably would.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2011 02:06:42 | More by Tone

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Ginger Man, NYC, NY

Dark brown with ruby tints, nearly completely opaque, capped off with a nice brown head. Aroma of malty chocolate, sour cherries. Mildly sour black cherries obviously right up front on the palate and lingering throughout. Roasty malts in the background. It's hard to get a fruit flavor that doesn't clash with roasty dark malts, but Bell's does a pretty good job of it here. Medium-to-heavy body, not too thick. Moderately drinkable, though not many people seem to be into stouts that have a sour twist to them, so take that as you will. Overall, very tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2010 18:29:38 | More by Rifugium

cdizinno

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: Poured into a pint glass at the local Flying Saucer.

A: Deep, dark brown with a tan head.

S: Dark chocolate, cherries, and alcohol.

T&M: Better than the bottle I had last year. Complex, tart cherry taste with a bit of dark chocolate residue throughout. You can really feel the alcohol burn throughout though. Thick bodied with a fairly smooth mouthfeel with the exception of the tart cherries.

One taste is good enough but defintely worth trying.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2010 21:16:55 | More by cdizinno

Spica66

Indiana

4/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

To me, this beer is more like a porter than a stout. Not very creamy. Not very dark. The tart cherry flavor is at first a bit exciting to the tongue, but it gets old quickly. I can't see having more than one of these at a time. The smell of the cherry is nice the whole way through.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2010 18:41:59 | More by Spica66

Cascade99

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A- Served from draft; poured with a thin beige head that disappated fairly quickly (most likely due to glassware and method of cleaning). Appearance was opaque.

S- Aroma was sweet malt and smelled of fruit. I wouldn't say cherries, but smelled closer to a plum. The aroma was not over-the-top, but rather fairly subtle.

T- Sour. I assume due most likely to the cherries. Not sure if actual cherries or extract is used, but there is definitely sourness to the beer. Also noted roasted coffee tones, but the sourness over-powered the other flavors. The sourness was more than expected and I felt was too much for the beer. If from the cherries, a little less would go a long way for this beer. I would not say that the beer tasted like cherries, but that is expected, as the addition of this fruit can have other impacts to the beer other than the simple taste of cherries.

M- Mouthfeel was medium. Slightly lighter than expected, but within the style guidelines.

D- This is one that one is enough. Overall, the sourness of the beer would lend itself to a single serving.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2010 02:57:27 | More by Cascade99

jampics2

Ohio

2.55/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

On tap at the Winking Lizard.

Black with no head and ruby red edges.

Smells of roasted malt and cherry. Not appealing, smells like subdued notes of cough syrup.

Ewww. This is just not good. Dark roasted malt. Sweet and sour cherry. Booze. Just a mess, really. I'm surprised this beer is still made by Bells - this really sucks.

Mouthfeel was ok. Nice carb and crisp feel.

Drinkability was bad - this tastes horrible and I do not want to take another sip.

Worst Bells Beer ever, including that smoked anniversary beer my 21 year old palatte wasn't quite ready for years ago...

:(

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2010 16:46:50 | More by jampics2

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.47/5  rDev +27%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep opaque sable with a fairly thick tan head. Aroma is rich and smoky with undertones of coffee, cherries and unsweetened chocolate. Smoky, slightly sweet flavor has a firm and slightly sour cherry tone as well as hints of coffee and chocolate. Silky smooth texture is just a little tingly.

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2009 17:27:16 | More by Cyberkedi

JamesS

Indiana

3.6/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a nice dark color, with hints of red in the stream. Almost no head and no lacing, though, poor for any beer, especially for a stout, although the little bit of head did have an interesting pink tinge to it. Little scent, a bit of burnt grains and coffee, along with a very slight sour cherry aroma, but that's it. Too many flavors crossing paths, giving it a poor taste. The slight stout taste that would probably be good normally is completely over run by the sour cherry and alcohol taste. It's more of a stout flavored cherry drink. I don't think I'll ever have any more of these.

Update: I wonder if the sixer I got over a year ago was bad. I had it on-tap in Pittsburgh and it was quite good. Still not as much stout taste as I would like, but it wasn't overly cherry. Nice dark color with good head. Went down smooth with some good stout characteristics.

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2009 13:27:00 | More by JamesS

ArrogantDeadGuy

Virginia

4.8/5  rDev +36.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: This brew poured into a pint glass was pitch
black with an almost devil's food colored
head. The dense head was brown and deep red
throughout. Gorgeous.

S: The aromas were faint but after some drink-
ing the typical stout aromas came through...
malty with a little coffee and a bittnerness
provided by the cherries, I imagine.

T: Typical quality stout at inception and when
the beer makes it to the back of your tongue
it turns your face into a knot. The bittner
ness is intense. It is quite a feat in that
such a strong flavor is imparted with a
delay and that the flavor is so fleeting.
The bitterness is not lingering on the
pallet and is not so overpowering that it
eclipses the other roasted malt characters.

M/D: I drank three and the last sip was as
impressive as the first. The creamy and
smoothness of this beer was fantastic. I
was very happy to see a fruit and porter
marriment that didn't go sweet but rather
allowed the bitterness of Michigan
cherries to compliment a brew style that
is often at its best when there are bitter
notes and flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2009 16:34:40 | More by ArrogantDeadGuy

Seanibus

California

1.75/5  rDev -50.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1

Apparently, someone likes this beer, but I cannot count myself among the crowd. This was one of the strangest and least appealing beers I have ever had.

Pours hazy cloudy black with an enormous purplish head. The smell is slight and roasted. But, Oh, the Flavor - the Flavor is overwhelmingly sour cherry, it simply blasts everything else away. The mouthfeel is fairly smooth, but that intense, overwhelming cherry flavor makes this beer nearly undrinkable

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2009 17:18:59 | More by Seanibus

psulovesbeer

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass with a little
Head and thick lacing as the blackness disapears.
Smells smokey with a hint of the cherry
Taste is a very smooth stout creamy and toasty but then bam cherry comes through in a great way
Feels full and creamy in the mouth with the cherry wanting more and more
Very drinkable except the high abv

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2009 22:52:43 | More by psulovesbeer