Le Contrabassiste - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

chrisbokmuller

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

01-09-2013 00:28:19 | More by chrisbokmuller

jarrgal

North Dakota

3.25/5  rDev -13.1%

06-10-2013 12:01:12 | More by jarrgal

Jas45678

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

06-01-2013 01:07:51 | More by Jas45678

vrbulldog22

Ohio

4/5  rDev +7%

05-13-2013 18:29:32 | More by vrbulldog22

Arsenal0328

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +13.6%

05-05-2013 20:59:10 | More by Arsenal0328

amcaleh

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

05-02-2013 13:41:39 | More by amcaleh

TheConnMan

Michigan

4/5  rDev +7%

02-05-2013 22:03:11 | More by TheConnMan

PHBoiler

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +13.6%

01-24-2013 04:22:09 | More by PHBoiler

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +0.3%

01-18-2013 04:26:50 | More by spycow

silversumo

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev +0.3%

11-30-2012 20:25:36 | More by silversumo

SportsandJorts

Michigan

4/5  rDev +7%

11-17-2012 19:38:34 | More by SportsandJorts

buschbeer

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

10-29-2012 17:21:39 | More by buschbeer

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.03/5  rDev -19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Though much darker and toastier than I'm used to seeing out of the style, this more robust biere de garde applies some artistic liberties above the dry fruitiness of the underlying French farmhouse character.

Medium brown in color, the active beer streams carbonation from the bottom and fuels an off-white head with an understated sturdiness and light pocketed lacing. Much darker than the style suggests, the ale takes on appearances of Belgian brown ales or dubbel ales.

Muted aromatics reveal subtle tones of bread crust, peppercorn, fruit, and grain. The base beer's pilsner malts allow for a bready note to support the toast, spice, and fruit while pulling in nuances of peat and coffee-like roast.

Similarly, the taste starts grainy-sweet, seemingly of creamed corn in a fatty middle palate. That's where the toasty, coffee, peppery note promote a bolder tone deeper into taste. A nondescript fruity taste seems of "Juicy Fruit" bubblegum, but is buried under the pepper, peat, and toast.

Medium bodied throughout, there's a residual sweetness and body that gives the beer a fatty corn-like texture during the bulk of the middle palate. But aided by dry toast, spicy pepper, and alcohol warmth, the beer finishes dry.

This biere de garde does a lot of things at once. I can see this type of flavor existing before coal-fired steam was introduced as a drying and kilning agent for malts. Prior, the wood fired practices may have imparted these darker, toastier, and smokier flavors to nearly all beers. Perhaps this is the motivation for this third installment of their Jazz series. Even with that, this beer remains lacking in authentic farmhouse character and results in a simpler taste and keeps the beer somewhat banal.

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2012 16:45:55 | More by BEERchitect

ortie

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

10-17-2012 19:47:34 | More by ortie

eawolff99

Colorado

3/5  rDev -19.8%

10-14-2012 00:20:57 | More by eawolff99

deebo

Minnesota

3.43/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap as part of Bells tap takeover at bulldog uptown in mold
A-served in tulip this one has just a hint of filmy tan head. Reddish brown and pretty clear
S-lightly smoked malt, hints of fruity yeast
T-the smoky quality of the malt is there but definitely not overpowering. Some black peppery spiciness, hints of yeast with a long tingly bitter finish
M-high carbonation, medium bodied, bitter with a lingering finish
O-a decent brew but a bit off in its combination of flavor and mouthfeel.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2012 21:50:24 | More by deebo

bhayle

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +20.3%

03-06-2012 03:16:10 | More by bhayle

escapegoat

Georgia

4/5  rDev +7%

02-12-2012 03:03:13 | More by escapegoat

PhineasGage

Iowa

4/5  rDev +7%

01-27-2012 19:08:38 | More by PhineasGage

dsaylor

Georgia

4/5  rDev +7%

12-14-2011 04:07:36 | More by dsaylor

zoso1967

Michigan

5/5  rDev +33.7%

11-26-2011 00:37:34 | More by zoso1967

sideshowe

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7%

11-17-2011 13:55:50 | More by sideshowe

tbeq00

California

4/5  rDev +7%

11-14-2011 06:51:48 | More by tbeq00

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Bell's last weekend.

Pours a mostly-clear brown-amber color with a short white head. Some spotty lacing as it goes down. The nose is pretty tame, bringing just a bit of malt and bread crust. The flavor is more complex and fits the style quite well, bringing some nice earthy elements and a slight fruity touch. Bread is the main characteristic. Some sweetness. Medium body and moderate carbonation. A good example of a style I'm not particularly fond of.

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2011 21:59:03 | More by Thorpe429

TheBear11D

Michigan

3.53/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Bell's on 6-18-11

From notes:

Pours a nice dark orange to amber with a frothy nearly white head that left proof of its existence throughout.

The nose features bread, yeast and semi-sweet malts first with floral hops and a bit of spice.

The flavor follows suit pretty closely to the nose. Bread, yeast, floral hops and some spice.

Medium body that is a little dry.

A decent beer from Bell's, but I can see why this is not a regular for them.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2011 02:24:30 | More by TheBear11D