Bell's Cherry Stout: Review

Bell’s Brewery, Inc

Comstock, Michigan, USA

Bellsbeer.com

7% abv

12oz bottle
$16.99 a six pack

Packaged on 10/4/11

Stout brewed with Michigan cherry juice

The few beers that I have had with cherries added to the mix I have not truly enjoyed.  So, let’s see if Bells can pull it off.

Appearance: black body with a toasty tan ½ finger head that leaves very little lacing if any.

Aroma: to me there is not much on the nose, I do pick up the cherry juice, but the stout notes seem settle,

Flavors: oh yes, the cherry flavor is pleasing with a stout background giving it some body. 

Mouthfeel: smoother than I expected, some nice stout like bitterness but not powerful, lingering cherry and roasted notes on the palate.

My Strength Rating: 6 – medium-full overall to me

To the Point: leave it to Bell’s to do it right with the cherry flavor.  I cannot think of one beer with cherry added to it that I would drink again but, I would do this and good thing since I bought a six pack.  I think the wife may even like this stout and she does not like to many stouts. 

The questions is - 'is it worth the price?'

I think the Kristoff Maduro Cigar would make a very good pairing.  I am enjoying the rest of this stout with the Padilla Limitado 2006 Maduro Belicoso.  

Dark Horse Plead the 5th Imperial Stout Ale: Review

Dark Horse Brewing Co.

Marshall, Michigan, USA

Darkhorsebrewery.com

Late Winter Seasonal

No dates on the bottle

Must be from last February

That’s when it’s released

Bottle Size: 12oz

Abv not available (darkhorsebrewing.com)

12% abv on beeradvocate

Appearance: black body with a ½ finger dark tan head, don’t forget to swirl the last inch of ale to mix in the sediment, looked thick on the pour, dark tan curtain with each sip, does not leave much on the glasses except some syrupy legs.

Aroma: dark roasted malts, coffee, dark chocolate, burnt sugars, not powerful but pleasing

Flavors: espresso with roasted molasses, dark chocolate character, bitter notes on the mid and finish but it does not stand out, these notes all come together for one tasty Imperial Stout. 

Mouthfeel: thick, almost syrupy, silky slide, this is a sipper

My Strength Rating: 7.5/8 – a solid medium-full leaning toward full bodied stout, the dark roasted notes linger on the palate for a tasty aftertaste.

To the Point: A super-good Imperial Stout, not overwhelming as some Imperial Stouts can be, has some solid flavors to sit back and enjoy. 

Stone Russian Imperial Stout: Review

2011 Classic Release

Released: May 31, 2011

Escondido, California, USA

Stonebrew.com

Bottle size: 1pt 6oz

10.5% abv

Freebie from Super Fine Wine & Liquor in Canton, Michigan with my $200 order back in summer. 

Appearance: pitch black body with a nice tight dark tan head that leave tones of lacing on the glass. 

Aroma: dark chocolate, coffee, roasted grains; the aroma builds as it warms

Flavors: follows the nose; dark chocolate, dark roast coffee, roasted grains, hint of black licorice, touch of dark brown sugar and/or roasted caramel malt, not very sweet

Mouthfeel: thick,  the hint of black licorice is more on the finish and aftertaste, good hop bitter note on the finish and aftertaste, low carbonation typical of the style,

My Strength Rating: 7.5 – medium-full dark tones, firm bittering on the finish, lingering roasted notes,

To the Point: very good Imperial Stout, I might buy a couple to age. 

Cigar Pairing: a sweet, coffee focused maduro or a spicy habano works too (which I just lit up to enjoy the second half of this bottle).

Krusovice Cerne: Review

Kru Ovice Cerne

The Royal Bohemian Taste

Original Hohmisches Schwarzbier

Kralovsky Pivovar

Czech Republic

3.8% abv (beeradvocate)

Bottle Size: 1pt .9oz

This bottle is dated 18-06-2008

It was at a discounted price and the sucker that I am said, ‘this would make a good experience for putting on the beer blog.’

Reading the ingredients I am not a fan of this beer right off the bat.  It is made with artificial sweetener

Appearance: very dense black body with a good tan head.  Some lacing is left on the glass. 

Aroma: I should be able to tell if it is bad now.  Smell’s good for a 3 year old bottle of beer.  Dark bready note and a general sweet malt hits the nose.

Taste: I wish I had a fresh one to compare it too.  Not all that bad which, is also saying not all that good either.  A muddled dark bread taste with that artificial sweetener coming into play.  Tastes like a nasty tasting diet soda made with pumpernickel bread. 

Time to water the grass with the rest of this beer. 

Remember this was a three year old bottle.  I think there could be something good here except for that artificial sweetener stuff.  I just looked at the beeradvocate site and the beer got a B – good – score from 187 reviews.  Reading some it sounds like something I may, a big may, try again if it is fresh. 

Dark Horse One Oatmeal Stout Ale: Review

Dark Horse Brewing Company

Marshall, Michigan, USA
Darkhorsebrewery.com

12 oz bottle

8% abv

Appearance: beautiful black body with fine legs dripping down the side of the glass.  The head is a rich deep tan color and is thin overall as it is for the style. A creamy look to the tightly bubbled head.   

Aroma: toasted malts, roasted coffee, and nothing special for it is fairly mild.  I was expecting more from the way it looked.  ‘Don’t read a book by its cover.’

Flavors: dark roast coffee, 70% dark chocolate like, smoked hardwood, toasted grains, roasted/slightly burnt molasses, a bitter note from the hops.  The taste improves as the ale warms. 

Mouthfeel: good smooth style, light carbonation, a moderate bitter bite on the mid-palate.  There is a solid linger roasted coffee and dark chocolate dust on the palate.  

To the Point: a very drinkable and enjoyable Oatmeal Stout. 

Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale: Review

Founders Brewing Co.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Foundersbrewing.com

9.8% abv

50 IBU’s

I feel a personal connection to this ale for some reason. 

Make sure to swirl the bottle with the last 1/3 of ale in the bottle so to kick up the sediment and this will improve the head on the ale.

Appearance: deep hazy flat amber with a one finger light tan head that leaves plenty of lacing on the side of the glass.

Aroma: sweet roasted caramel, buttered light brown sugar, light hoppy note, fairly light from what I expected.  When the ale warmed up I noticed a bourbon ball candy note.  Yeap, the nose becomes a little boozy as it warms.  

Flavors: sweet roasted caramel and stone fruitiness with a dusting of coconut on the front; floral, kind of piney, bitter hops on the mid-palate and finish.  Sweet soil earthy tone with a slight bourbon barrel oak cask (probably the alcohol is making me think of that).  It is a sipper. 

Mouthfeel: sticky hops making it slightly syrupy, bitter notes cling to the palate for a linger aftertaste nothing overwhelming, low carbonation, good medium-full body, soft wool like texture, big malty body with

My Strength Rating: 6.5 – medium-full, the alcohol kicks it up a bit.

To the Point: a nice combination of malty tones and then the hops kick in to add some interest.  Not for everyone. 

Pair this with a cigar that has a coffee like profile. 

Just read on the Founders web site that they used molasses and then it is oaked aged. 

Founders Dry Hopped Pale Ale: Review

Founders Brewing Co.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Foundersbrewing.com

5.4% abv

35 IBU’s

Bottle Size: 12 oz

Appearance: foggy amber with a dirty golden hue, off-white head, nice 1 ½ finger head that leaves some lacing on the glass.

Aroma: very light hoppy scent that is slightly floral

Flavors: a delicate floral hoppy profile with very light pine and a twist of orange meat.  Lightly earthy, pleasing to drink, nothing bold and wow stuff here but, that is okay. 

Mouthfeel: light for a pale ale, refreshing, crisp, a lingering grapefruit rind aftertaste, nothing overpowering here.

My Strength Rating: 5 – tasty yet nothing complex here.  A straight forward dry hopped ale. 

To the Point: would make a refreshing pale ale to drink on a warm day.  A good pale ale to drink before dinner or with. 

Bell’s Expedition Stout: Review

10.5% abv

12oz bottle

$19.00 a six pack

Bell’s Brewery, Inc

Comstock, Michigan, USA

Bellsbeer.com

This bottle has been in my fridge since last spring.  Let’s see how it is doing.  I have three more bottles.  I thought I would age this batch.  This is a winter seasonal brew. 

Appearance: this stout has a black body with a big roasted brown head and loads of lacing on the glass.  Plenty of sediment on the bottom of the bottle so, make sure to do a good swirl of the bottle to get all the goodies into your glass. 

Aroma: dark roasted coffee and grains, sweet toasted brown sugar, smoky, 

Flavors: Alcohol bite, a little medicinal, toasted and almost burnt molasses and grains, dark chocolate bite (90% like), dark roasted coffee. 

The alcohol bite and medicinal note is not as big as it was back in the spring when I sampled a couple of these from this six pack.  My notes say that the alcohol and medicinal notes overwhelmed the flavors. 

Remember this is a sipper.  Make sure you have the time to drink this bottle. 

Mouthfeel: thick with a creamy feel, the burnt roasted notes linger on the palate, a little alcohol warmth. 

My Strength Rating: 8.5 – a good full bodied Russian Imperial Stout

To find the date the beer was made go to the Bell’s web site and they have a batch finder on their home page.  On the back label on the bottle there are some numbers on the bottom of the label.  My number is 10068.  They say it was made on November 10, 2010. 

To the Point: age this stout, it is starting to mellow already, I think in another six months that alcohol bite should be tamed and the flavors will just improve.  This is also a great stout to have with a cigar. 

Arcadia Ales Jaw-Jacker: Review

Ale brewed with Cinnamon, Allspice, and Nutmeg

No pumpkins were harmed in the production of this ale.

Arcadia Brewing Company

Battle Creek, Michigan, USA

Arcadiaales.com

6% abv

26 IBU’s

Appearance: a hazy amber colored body and a thin tan head.

Aroma and Flavors: Well, it is brewed with cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg and guess what it tastes and smells like?  Okay, I’ll tell you – cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg.  Yeap, liquid pumpkin pie. 

Mouthfeel: fairly smooth, a fine carbonation feel, linger spice on the palate.

My Strength Rating: 5 – it’s all about the spice.

To the Point: a very tasty fall seasonal.  Pick some up while you can.  Perfect for Halloween and Thanksgiving.