Bourbon Barrel Aged Hell Hath No Fury Ale - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

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BA SCORE
93
exceptional
-
76 Ratings

rAvg: 4.22
pDev: 10.66%
Reviews: 43
Hads: 33

Ratings Help

Brewed by:
Bell's Brewery, Inc.

Michigan, United States

Style | ABV
Belgian Strong Dark Ale | 8.40% ABV

Availability: Limited (brewed once). on-tap (30), growler (10), bottle (3).

Notes:
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.

An American take on a Belgian Dubbel aged in bourbon barrels.

View: Beers (75) | Reviews (159) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by bobhits:

bobhits

Kentucky

2.93/5 rDev -30.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Hell Hath No Fury is to me the ultimate starter Belgium beer. It's got some Belgium characteristics but it takes on just a sweet and simple strong ale flavor that I feel is pretty enjoyable though completely underwhelming.

Reviewed based on my serving at Beer Trappe today:

Pours a near black body, no head but that's a result possibly of just how the beer was poured, no room left for the head. Very thick, yeast and protein clearly adding to the darkness. Held to the light a deep murky amber/brown color.

The bourbon comes off in the nose in full force. The aroma is subtle compared to some, but it dominates the aroma. It actually here works extremely well with the dark fruity nature of the Hell Hath No Fury.

The problem for me is that the woody bourbon nose doesn't really shine as brightly in the taste. The bourbon is what holds this beer together and keeps it from being fully disappointing, but there is just something greatly lacking here. There is no alcohol kick, no hops to finish it off, just some wood mixed in with an overly sweet and absurdly one dimensional base beer. For what it's worth, dark fruits, molasses, subtle wood and alcohol from the bourbon, and slightly burnt malt flavors as well.

The beer lacks any real character in the mouth as well. Nearly flat, rather full bodied, but lacking anything to keep the drinker interested.

Overall I don't dislike this beer as much as the review may sound. I've had it twice on tap now, once a year ago where I discovered it doesn't pair with a cigar and then today. The problem is that I expect some character to a bourbon aged beer. The bourbon helps in this regard, but it never takes it up that final notch to really give me anything to write home about.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2011 23:06:21 | More by bobhits

More User Reviews:

ROBSTARR

Michigan

4.5/5 rDev +6.6%

02-15-2013 22:40:45 | More by ROBSTARR

bonSreeB

Alabama

3/5 rDev -28.9%

12-27-2012 16:00:26 | More by bonSreeB

LambicKing

Virginia

4/5 rDev -5.2%

12-03-2012 02:08:53 | More by LambicKing

stephensinner

Missouri

4/5 rDev -5.2%

11-23-2012 02:42:16 | More by stephensinner

PoolFishGolf

Virginia

4/5 rDev -5.2%

10-08-2012 01:06:44 | More by PoolFishGolf

t0rin0

California

4/5 rDev -5.2%

08-22-2012 00:08:50 | More by t0rin0

EL48823

Michigan

4.25/5 rDev +0.7%

06-28-2012 20:47:02 | More by EL48823

lbriones5

4.25/5 rDev +0.7%

05-17-2012 22:27:39 | More by lbriones5

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

4.5/5 rDev +6.6%

05-11-2012 03:44:30 | More by coreyfmcdonald

Lynn

Ohio

4.5/5 rDev +6.6%

03-12-2012 21:29:30 | More by Lynn

sludgegnome

Pennsylvania

4.25/5 rDev +0.7%

03-10-2012 21:44:18 | More by sludgegnome

bishocr

Illinois

4/5 rDev -5.2%

02-21-2012 15:09:15 | More by bishocr

MapleCity219

Indiana

4.5/5 rDev +6.6%

02-18-2012 03:49:00 | More by MapleCity219

Cramerican

North Dakota

4/5 rDev -5.2%

02-15-2012 02:07:07 | More by Cramerican

GRG1313

California

4/5 rDev -5.2%

02-09-2012 17:45:32 | More by GRG1313

page101

Michigan

4.5/5 rDev +6.6%

01-16-2012 00:15:31 | More by page101

Stoutsman

Kansas

4.5/5 rDev +6.6%

01-14-2012 22:06:48 | More by Stoutsman

tut2528

Illinois

4.7/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

had a full growler of this one either last year (or the year before), sorry about the delay.

S: immediately i get a oak and bourbon aroma that is well balanced by dark fruits, chocolate, and alcohol

T: a very flavorful beer. like the nose, it has a dominant bourbon and oak that that is balanced about by a caramel backbone that has a splash of vanilla notes. the creamy finish puts an added content to it that allows one to want to take another sip.

overall, this is a damn good beer and the alcohol is very well hidden in the taste

Serving type: growler

01-12-2012 04:06:41 | More by tut2528