Bell's - Expedition Stout - 2011

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Batch 10759
Bottled 11/01/11
Enjoyed on 9/25/12

Not quite a year old.

The initial taste is super smooth.
The middle has a hint of licorice to go along with standard roasted malt.
The aftertaste is not great. Its like the aftertaste of a bad cigar.

Did the finish always taste like this? I'll probably sit on the remaining two bottles I have for a while to see if that sorts itself out after awhile. 

Bell's 25th Anniversary Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Packaged on August 12, 2010; Stored in various places in two apartments.

Now very nice and malty. Lots of caramel flavor. Only slightly bitter. I can't really remember what this was like before it aged, but it was still enjoyable now.

Bell's - Amber Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Bell's Batch 10,000

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Hmm. Not sure why I didn't review this last year when I initially got the six pack.

This is fairly unremarkable. Pretty malt driven, with a slight bitter finish. Eh. I'll probably drink the other one I have left soon.

Bell's - Cherry Stout (2010)

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Thanks to my super detailed notes from my last tasting, I have an excellent comparison point for over a year of aging (don't be fooled by the date of the post). Based on the batch number of 9993, this was bottled on October 28, 2010.

The cherry taste is still really strong in this, providing a fair amount of tartness. The roasted malt is almost secondary at this point. Its fine, but nothing I'd go out of my way to get (or age again).

Bells Oberon Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

The last beer left from the wedding. Does this mean the honeymoon period is over?

An inoffensive wheat ale. A little on the sweet side, but I think it goes down really easy. A really good brew for the summer.

Bell's Cherry Stout

Well, its certainly a stout. And it certainly tastes like it has cherry juice in it. I'm still split whether that's a good thing.

Interesting enough to get on tap if you ever see it. Probably not worth it for a six pack.

Bell's Hopslam

I think this was probably the first "expensive" beer I ever bought (i.e., more than $10 for a six pack). I remember buying a six pack of this 3 or 4 years ago at our old corner liquor store for $15. Old me would probably kick myself for buying an entire case of it this year.

A case was probably overkill.

It really is good though. Although the bottle says its a "biting, bitter, tongue bruiser", its really not that bitter compared to say, Ruination or even Hoptimum.

The simcoe hops definitely come through in the aroma. Its more of a floral, mango, funky, cat piss kind of hoppy than piney, bitter, etc.

I just need to remind myself next year that a six pack is probably sufficient.

Oh yeah, the most ridiculous detail on the label is that the dude pummeled by the hops is clearly wearing sneakers. I appreciate the detail, but really, sneakers?

Bell's Hell Hath No Fury Ale

Not bad not great. A belgian style stout of sorts.

Bonus Mandy Thoughts:
Its too sweet. With a cough syrup aftertaste. I'd rather rob-u-dose.

Bell's Porter

Bell's Third Coast Old Ale

Hmm. This had an unexpected taste. The smell was really familiar but neither Mandy or I could place it (and not one of those "oh, it smells like raisins!" comments). The taste is um... a slightly fruity. Not too thick. I guess this was okay? For being 10.2% abv, it doesn't really show.

I also looked up the batch number (9385) on Bell's website. Turns out it was bottled on my birthday last year. Happy One Year Aging beer I am currently drinking! Sorry you will not survive to see two years.

Bell's Expedition Stout

Good beer. A little bit expensive.

Bell's 25th Annivesary Ale

Hmm. I think I like it. Slightly fruity, slight citrusy hop taste. Not heavy or thick. Not over the top at all.

Bell's - The Oracle

Yet another imperial IPA from Bell's.

Woo. Pretty bitter. Lots of piney hops taste. More malty/sweet than hopslam?. A lot more bitter than hopslam. Comparable to Arrogant Bastard in how bitter it is. I don't think I'd buy a six pack, but I'd definitely drink it again.

Bonus Mandy Thoughts:
Its pretty good but I like Two Hearted Ale better. Which is good because I imagine that this would take one and a half years of your salary to buy.

Bell's Batch 9000

Larry Bell says this is not an imperial stout. Not sure I agree. Its fairly similar in taste to Dogfish Head World Wide Stout.

Lots of molasses and some licorice in the taste. Really sweet. Pretty tasty.

Bell's Special Double Cream Stout

From the back of the fridge. I guess I bought the six pack probably in the fall.

There's a weird acidic taste to this. A lot of carbonation and not all that sweet.

I'm not sure if this just didn't age well in the back of the fridge or if it always tasted like this. Will not buy again.

Bonus Mandy Thoughts:
You just want my quote because you know I won't like it because its dark. Are you writing that down? I think I've tried this one before and I didn't like it then and I don't like it now. Its fizzy and that's all I like about it. I should have my own beer blog. Leah [the dog] thinks I should too.

Bell's Two Hearted Ale

A highly enjoyable IPA. Incredibly distinctive taste in my opinion (if you've ever had it). Very drinkable, a nice floral nose. No real malt taste, just nice pine and citrus notes from the hops. A nice dry, bitter aftertaste.

Also, Mandy's go-to IPA. This is probably the most purchased 6 pack in our household (except for my recent Raging Bitch buying spree).

Bell's Consecrator Doppelbock

I can't believe this is the first Bell's beer I've written about here.

A nice roasted malt taste. Its pretty sweet. Its fairly heavy, which for me is saying something. Not terribly interesting. Doppelbocks probably aren't my things.