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

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a beautiful dark brown pour into a snifter with enough room for the dark brown head to rise to the top without spilling over (excellent lacing). scents of cherries, maple, smokey, coffee, tobacco. a bitter roasty flavor with a touch of sourness. caramel, cherries, toasted oats and grains, chocolate, coffee. medium bodied with a lot of constant carbonation creating a nice fizzy feeling going down. this would have been perfect this winter, but seems a little out of season with the heat rising. still a very refreshing fruity stout, so it'll be ok for the remainder of the spring season. i'm glad i made the dive and spent so much on the six pack!

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 21:45:19 | More by facundoCNB

matthageman

Illinois

2.18/5  rDev -38.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

I didn't realize how powerful the cherries would be. It took over the flavor and made the beer undrinkable. I felt burned after paying $16 for a six pack. I've been sitting on the other 5 for about 2 months, offering them to people that come over. There is an audience for this, but it's not me.

Edit: I let it sit for about 6 weeks and found it much more palatable. I've got a few left and I am going to age them a little longer.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 02:50:31 | More by matthageman

mooseo

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into tulip.

A - Jet black with a dark mocha head which quickly dissipates. A subtle red hue in the remnants of the head.

S - Roasted malt and coffee notes with some milk chocolate and dark cherries. Mmmm.

T - Mildly sweet roasted dark cherries with some tartness throughout. Hints of chocolate and roasted coffee flavors come in mid palate and into the finish but are subdued. Finishes with some roasted malt and tart medicinal cherry flavor.

M - Syrupy and oily, medium bodied, light carbonation. Dry finish.

O - A fine stout. The balanced roasty/chocolate/coffee/cherry aroma is rather deceiving as the taste is dominated by tart cherries. Not bad at all, but I hoped for a more robust, balanced beer. Still worth trying at least once.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 02:21:49 | More by mooseo

barczar

Kentucky

3.6/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a fairly viscous deep brown, opaque with deep brown highlights and a tiny, bubbly reddish head that dissipates like a diet soft drink.

Aroma is slightly medicinal initially, then chocolate and roast malt with an underlying cherry scent.

Tart cherry dominates the flavor and lingers in the finish. Tones of roast malt and chocolate play weak supporting roles.

Body is moderately light for the style, and carbonation is moderate.

Not at all what I've experienced as a cherry stout before. The aroma hides the tart flavor and seems to indicate a much more sweet malt presence. Interesting, but a bit more tart dominant than I initially expected. I like it much more as it warms.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 04:55:48 | More by barczar

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bell's Cherry Stout

Pours a dark brownish color with the slightest pink tinge to an otherwise khaki colored head. Aroma of sweet cherries and roasted malts. In the flavor, a blend of roasted malt notes mimicking coffee, cocoa and mild astringent bitterness, paired with tart cherry flavor. Interesting how tart the cherries have become (this beer was aged 5 months). Tart, sour, roasty, mildly bitter and quite tasty. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth. Overall, a pretty nice stout, with tart cherry flavor. Solid.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 15:39:45 | More by Stinkypuss

littlelorib

Virginia

2.8/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Dark brown, very close to black with a thin lacing of cafe au lait colored head that dissipates rather quickly. Smell is of cherry with a faint trace of malt. The taste is just plain strange. The tart cherry is overpowering almost everything in the flavor. There is some malt sweetness in the mix, but it is overwhelmed by the cherry. The cherry that's there, especially with that sweet-tart flavor going on, ends up feeling medicinal. Mouthfeel is syrupy thick, which just feeds into the medicinal comparisons.

Overall this beer just doesn't work. I must say that the sweet and tart flavors aren't as out of balance as they were two months ago when i tried my first one, but now its just more medicinal. I don't think its getting any better as it ages.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 23:36:28 | More by littlelorib

derkfromwi

Wisconsin

3.6/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled September 2011

A: Very thin brown head that disappears quickly, really dark brown, you can notice a reddish tint around the edges, some carbonation

S: Dark chocolate from malts, cherries, a bit of earthiness

T: Tartness, cherry and malt blend in the middle that is kinda weird and a bit sour, gets a little better towards the end of the beer, some chocolate malts in finish, aftertaste of malts is better than middle to finish

M: Alright mouthfeel, creamy, light carbonation, medium bodied

O: I like cherries and I like stouts, but this didn't blend well, not bad, but I probably couldn't drink more than one in a day

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 06:49:06 | More by derkfromwi

ehammond1

California

2.6/5  rDev -26.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Bottle (2011)

Thanks for sharing this one, NoSignsOfPain!

Very nearly black with zero clarity and a moderately sized brown head that leaves spots of lace down the glass.

This is far more a typical stout than it is any kind of fruit beer, in both aroma and flavor. The roast and chocolate notes are dominant, with a hint of cherry syrup sweetness. I don't think the fruit flavor adds much worthwhile to the beer, as the addition comes off medicinal, even in the aroma.

The flavor has similar failings, and isn't anything particularly enjoyable. The roast and chocolate flavors are certainly present, though somewhat muted, while the cherry flavor comes off as artificial, cloying, and medicinal.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

One of my least favorite Bell's offerings. That being said, I don't often think the addition of cherry is beneficial to most stouts.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 23:32:33 | More by ehammond1

vette2006c5r

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Cherry Stout pours a very dark, black color, with a very small brown head. There is a dark roasted malty coffee like smell, with chocolate notes, and just hints of a tart cherry smell. The flavor starts with a nice roasted malty flavors, with good hints of chocolate, then the tart cherries flavors kick in. It finishes with a rather tart cherry note. It can be a bit hard to drink, the after taste is strong, and doesn't blend well. Overall I found this a very good beer; you must love cherries to enjoy this, and there is a nice complex flavor, the aftertaste is a bit abrasive and doesn't fit well, but there is a moment with each sip that all the flavors mingle, and make this beer worth it.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 03:10:49 | More by vette2006c5r

blackcompg

Illinois

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

Poured from their 12oz bottle...

Appearance - Poured a half finger of cinnamon brown head, color of the stout is an opaque dark brown. The head diminishes in less than a minute. Lacing is very minimal.

Smell - Cherries and roasted malts, with a touch of dark rich coffee.

Taste - Starts with juicy tart dark cherries, more juicy tart cherries at the center with dark chocolate and rich roasted malt, slightest hint of black coffee astringency. Finish is lingering cherry juice tartness, roast flavors and toasty dark breadcrusts. The juicy tart cherry flavor dominates the entire sip from start to finish along with a good roasted malt backbone, and tart cherries linger between sips.

Mouthfeel - Medium with some craminess, and a nearly medium carb accentuates the juicy tartness of the cherry flavors, making it harder to find the dark chocolate and coffee nuances. Drinkability is somewhat interrupted by the tart presence of the cherries, making the mouth water with each sip.

Overall - This is a very unique and very tart cherry forward stout. It is very good if you like cherries, but would be very difficult to have more than one if your not a big fan of tart cherries. I do like this, the cherries almost yield a wine-like feel, but many may not want to session something like this.

Serving type: growler

02-09-2012 05:00:06 | More by blackcompg

drabmuh

Maryland

3.48/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into a Bell's glass because I can. Beer is black with a thin lazy brown head of small bubbles, low retention, low carbonation, low lacing.

Aroma is roasty and sour with cherries and fruits. Interesting.

Beer is medium to light in body, tart on the corners and sweet up front, the flavors are interesting but not a combo that I particularly enjoy. I had enough after a bottle and won't be going back for more.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 21:35:55 | More by drabmuh

hooliganlife

Missouri

3.48/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

batch 8730 (sept 2008)

pours a rather thick jet black with a light dark cocoa head. very light retention.

fairly cherry forward, almost kriek like combined with a strong stout. heavy on the dark roasted malt.

fairly heavy on the cherry, almost a bit medicinal. hint of tartness as well. bit of sweet cherry syrup. very charred and roasted on the finish.

fairly thick feel with a moderate carbonation. only downfall is the syrupy feel associated with the cherry.

not bad, not something i would seek out again though.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 19:32:20 | More by hooliganlife

rapidsequence

Virginia

3.13/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle from a gifted mix pack.

Appearance: Pretty opaque black color with a very short lived light brown head. Just a few little spots of lacing. Color good, head bad.

Smell: Bittersweet chocolate and roast. Doesnt smell particularly of cherry, but there is a definite sour note. Well maybe a little cherry. If I didn't know it was a cherry stout, I'd tell you it was infected.

Taste: The cherry is integrated much better into the flavor than the smell. Its a really tasty, chocolatey stout with nice balanced roastiness. The cherry adds an interesting tart flavor. Almost no sweet cherry flavor at all, and what is there tends toward a fakey cough syrup cherry flavor. Finishes tart, dry.

Mouthfeel: A little too much carbonation for a stout like this, and the tartness accentuates the thin, dry feeling.

Overall: I think there's a really good stout under there. The cherry does more harm than good.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 02:27:59 | More by rapidsequence

jsanford

Georgia

3.1/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a Tulip Glass.

A - Pours a very dark brown with reddish highlights and a creamy mocha-colored head that settles to a thick haze.
S - Aromas of dark roasted malt, cocoa powder, coffee, and some tart cherries. Cherry isn't too noticeable in the nose, more of an overall "tartness".
T - A weird mix of a dark, slightly smoky Stout base and a sweet and tart Cherry beer that never seems to mesh completely. I think I'd like the beers separate, but this isn't what I wanted from a "Cherry Stout".
M - Smooth and creamy, with a medium-full body and moderate carbonation.
O - Not my favorite offering from Bell's, too bad since I had it on cask a couple of years ago and was blown away.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 03:46:07 | More by jsanford

rbmjr1

Indiana

3.73/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I like the way this beer looks. Around the edges where it touches the glass it looks like red wine.
It has a slight tartness that I like. It could have even more for me.
Somehow, though, I'm not really moved one way or the other. It just tastes like an average dark beer with a slight tartness.
However, I do like the idea of drinking a beer that gives me the feeling of drinking a glass of red wine. The same way some saisons have a champagne vibe.
I'm glad I tried this. I somewhat liked it. But at almost $14 a 6 pack I doubt I'll ever buy it again.
The first one I drank was cold. The 2nd was room temp. I liked it better warm. It tastes a little more tart on top and a little more chocolate down low. It really reminds me of red wine now.
I bumped up my overall score a half a point.
I'm still not blown away but I am intrigued by the wine similarities. Your wine drinking friends might like it. It still costs a little too much. But, if you really want to reel a certain wino pal of yours into the beer sphere this might prove a sufficient lure.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2012 05:26:05 | More by rbmjr1

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.28/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Review from notes, 20JAN12.

Batch 9993, bottle Oct 2010. An extra in a recent trade with laymansbeerfan, thanks man! Poured into a New Belgium Globe.

A: Pours opaque and fairly viscous, ruby red highlights along the edges of the glass as well as in the dark brown head.

S: A lot going on here; vanilla, dark fruit, obvious & prominent cherry, caramel, sugary bready sweetness, and chocolate. While its all nice, the cherry pops to the forefront and keeps it from blending really well, overwhelming the roasted malt/stout characters.

T: Cherry juice is really prominent, again overwhelming everything else. Tartness and moderate acidity stay prominent on the palette, and as it warms the cherries take over completely.

MF: Dominated by the thinning feel of cherry juice...has some puckering tartness and some dryness on the finish.

O: Its a 'mysterious dance' alright. Combining this one with some chocolate-covered coffee beans seemed to cut through the tartness a little..still pretty overwhelming, but a beer I was glad to be able to try!

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 15:01:32 | More by Scotchboy

teromous

Virginia

1.85/5  rDev -47.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A: It pours a maple-syrup brown-black color with a nice tan head that quickly fades to a thin foamy ring with islands on the top of the beer. There is some lacing.

S: My first whiff is a metallic scent, like a rusty iron can. Unfortunately I get nothing else from the scent. I have to give it a 2.0 because it doesn't have any real smell other than metal, but it's not bad enough to call it awful.

T: The taste is very interesting...it's a bit hard to describe. When I first sip it tastes like it's going to be a normal stout, then this sour flavor pops out. It has a kind of sickly spoiled flavor to it. It kinda tastes like somebody mixed prison hooch with beer. It does have a prominent sweetness and sourness to it.

M: The mouthfeel is a bit syrupy and unpleasant. This beer is not easy to drink at all. It's a sipper, but it's rough going down as it leaves some awkward flavor in the aftertaste.

O: Overall I think a person could get some enjoyment out of the malt sweetness, but the fruit flavor has an alarmingly pungent flavor that is off-putting. Not really the same as what I get from Lambics, but just...off. I don't recommend the beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 22:36:29 | More by teromous

RappAttack

Virginia

2.6/5  rDev -26.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: an opaque brown with a small red around the edges of the glass

S: Heavy smells cherries, a little cocoa mixed in

T: A very cherry tast, tart with a light cocoa finish

M: low carbonation

O: This was not a favorite of mine. It could be that i just dont like cherries but wow this stuff is sour. I have had other cherry flavored beers such as mad elf and quite enjoyed it but the cherry in this beer I find to be overpowering. The combination of the cherry and the stout...iness remind me of cough syrup.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 04:40:19 | More by RappAttack

stxSS07

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes.

A- Pours dark brown with zero head an minimal lacing.

S- Dark cherry skins, cherry juice, vanilla, and some chocolate.

T- Big tart cherry notes followed by a heavy porter roasted malt character. It's like two different drinks in one sip...not very well integrated.

M- Thin for a stout. Light mouth feel with above average carbonation.

O- A strange stout. Like someone dumped a bit of wine into a heavy porter/light stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 10:09:37 | More by stxSS07

DovaliHops

California

3.6/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown with extremely small, tan/off-white head that disappears quickly. Scent is somewhat sweet with a bit of vegetable aroma and some cherry. Hints of vanilla and coffee as well. Taste is chocolate with some coffee and burnt malt. There is also some tart cherry flavor...wasn't expecting it to be tart (kinda like the cherry stout collab. from Stone). Mouthfeel is kinda light...borderline medium. Drinkability is fair. Overall, this beer is somewhat strange. I love sours/tart beers, and I love rich, dark beers. I also love beers that fall safely between. This one doesn't seem to fit in the "safely between" category. Still an okay beer though that I would like to try again.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 09:43:54 | More by DovaliHops

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.53/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for hooking me up

Review adapted from notes taken 8/8/11

Appearance: Nearly black, tan head - the head fades quickly, leaves some lacing (not much)

Smell: Cherries and char - the cherry aroma is very powerful - not a dry, fermented cherry aroma, but rather sweet cherry juice - malts are very burnt, roasted - some chocolate, some coffee - kind of like chocolate-covered cherries, just more sweet and burnt than fruity

Taste: A lot of cherries and a lot of chocolate - very burnt - cherries are a bit tart, astringent - at first, this kind of tastes like a burnt cherry cough syrup - becomes more pleasant over time - still, too much cherry, a little too burnt, lacking depth in the malts, but still not bad

Mouthfeel: Medium to heavy, very sticky, smooth, but feels like it needs to dry out

Overall: Not great, but not bad

I think I may like the concept of a cherry stout more than the actual cherry stouts I have tried. This one seems to have a lot of potential, but it needs some more balance between the cherry and the malts.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 18:39:49 | More by angrybabboon

tut2528

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

smell: sweet cherry aromas and there is a mild touch of malt and molasses... very basic and the cherries really dominate the nose

taste: very sweet, yet very tarty cherries dominate. Malt is mild and chocolate is rather lacking as well. Hops come through at the very end but really isn't all that appealing.

Overall: Pretty disappointed in this brew. I was hoping for more complexity and this brew is overpriced IMO. Everything seems to be lacking except for the tarty cherries.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 03:16:56 | More by tut2528

smakawhat

Maryland

3.53/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle into a snifter glass. Packaged October 4th 2011.

A very dark milk chocolate forming collar but a head that doesn't stick around. Body goes to a dark brown walnut with red hued edges. Some nice spotted leopard like lacing on the glass.

Bouquet is cherry but a little medicinal, and much like artificial hard candy smelling. Clean smelling, nice malts, not much roast character. Hints of sweet spice but very little. Otherwise fine.

Surprisingly tart tasting. An interesting light bodied tartness mixing in with just a hint of coffee like roast. Finishes clean not unlike the sense from the nose. Light bodied texture, slightly wet but has a hint of juicy character to it from the fruit.

Overall, not bad. Interesting.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 03:13:20 | More by smakawhat

phichifiji00

California

3.68/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into tulip glass.

Appearance: Dark brown, no head, no lacing.

Smell: bready, subtle cherry aroma.

Taste: sour cherries, malty, subtle tartness.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied, moderate carbonation, crisp.

Overall: A tasty cherry stout. The cerry is very prevalent in the taste, but subtle in the aroma. Drinkability is good.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 18:03:15 | More by phichifiji00

BB1313

Ohio

2.98/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Pours a dark brown, almost black with red hues; not much head and lacing to speak of. Nice aromas, lots of roasted chocolate and malts. There's a hint of fresh cherries. Now once you start sipping, the cherries come to life. Very tart, almost sour at some points. It's a very interesting contrast between the roastiness and the cherries. Very unique. Mouthfeel is pretty good, light but smooth. Nice carbonation. Interesting beer. Props for keeping everything in balance.

I love cherries, and I'd say this is a okay use, but this isn't something I could drink alot of due to the tart sourness. It's not really something I'm used to identifying with a stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 22:19:28 | More by BB1313