Expedition Stout - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- Stout - Russian Imperial
Ranked #18 - ABV:
- 13.4%
- Score:
- 99
Ranked #269 - Avg:
- 4.47 | pDev: 6.26%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 31, 2022
- Added:
- Dec 13, 2004
- Wants:
- 144
- Gots:
- 120
SCORE
99
World-Class
99
World-Class


Notes:
This 12 month barrel-aged version of our award-winning Expedition Stout thirsts for travel, but is perfectly content to sit in your cellar, maturing, until you are ready. The tough part? Deciding if you want to enjoy it now or wait until later. You can't go wrong either way.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
4.44 by not2quick from Missouri on Mar 31, 2022
4.51 by HabaJohnTheReal1 from Illinois on Feb 21, 2022
4.38/5 rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by Mitchster from Michigan
Many thanks to Erland for sharing this one. Pkgd 11/17/21. 13.4% ABV, 12oz bottle.
Pours out to a syrupy thick ink black, forming a thick dark cocoa head with average retention, sparse lacing. The nose is definitely full of bourbon but on top of that classic expedition nose we all love...prunes, dark chocolate, raisins, figs, soy sauce and black walnut. Mouthfeel is smooth and syrupy, dense bodied. Medium light carbonation, ~2.25 carbs or so. Taste is a recap of the nose. The bourbon is well balanced with the other complex stuff going on here and gives it a more warming presence that traditional Expedition. Bitterness is mild and earthy, hops are kept in check by copious malts. Considering the rich complex malts, there is no sourness or astringency here...this easily happens in lesser RIS's if the roasted malts are overdone. One is enough. It's a heavy hitter and very rich. This might be great over dark chocolate ice cream. Hrmmm. Might have to try that.
Feb 20, 2022
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by Mitchster from Michigan
Many thanks to Erland for sharing this one. Pkgd 11/17/21. 13.4% ABV, 12oz bottle.
Pours out to a syrupy thick ink black, forming a thick dark cocoa head with average retention, sparse lacing. The nose is definitely full of bourbon but on top of that classic expedition nose we all love...prunes, dark chocolate, raisins, figs, soy sauce and black walnut. Mouthfeel is smooth and syrupy, dense bodied. Medium light carbonation, ~2.25 carbs or so. Taste is a recap of the nose. The bourbon is well balanced with the other complex stuff going on here and gives it a more warming presence that traditional Expedition. Bitterness is mild and earthy, hops are kept in check by copious malts. Considering the rich complex malts, there is no sourness or astringency here...this easily happens in lesser RIS's if the roasted malts are overdone. One is enough. It's a heavy hitter and very rich. This might be great over dark chocolate ice cream. Hrmmm. Might have to try that.
Feb 20, 2022
4 by ryand14 from Michigan on Feb 11, 2022
4.32 by DMarlinJ from Michigan on Feb 03, 2022
4.27/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by Franziskaner from Missouri
Black in color with no light penetration. There's a fingernail of brown around the rim. The aroma is of piney hops and dark malt. I'm tasting piney hops and sweet bourbon. The mouth is thick and chewy.
Jan 24, 2022
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by Franziskaner from Missouri
Black in color with no light penetration. There's a fingernail of brown around the rim. The aroma is of piney hops and dark malt. I'm tasting piney hops and sweet bourbon. The mouth is thick and chewy.
Jan 24, 2022
4.31 by Fubudu187 from Illinois on Jan 22, 2022
4.76/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
by barnzy78 from Illinois
12oz bottle
PKG 11/17/2021, 13.4% ABV
I swear I’ve had this before…but no review (?)
L: jet black body, thin brown head
S: bourbon barrel, dark cocoa, roast, char, caramel
T: very oaky, boozy bourbon, dark chocolate, roasted barley, vanilla, toasted coconut, caramel, earthy hops, tobacco leaf, leather
F: full body, sticky & smooth, ample carbonation, a boozy sipper with a dry finish
O: I thought I had this one before, but nothing seems familiar; either way it’s one I’ve always wanted to get my hands on and I guess I finally did! Such a great beer!
Jan 16, 2022
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
by barnzy78 from Illinois
12oz bottle
PKG 11/17/2021, 13.4% ABV
I swear I’ve had this before…but no review (?)
L: jet black body, thin brown head
S: bourbon barrel, dark cocoa, roast, char, caramel
T: very oaky, boozy bourbon, dark chocolate, roasted barley, vanilla, toasted coconut, caramel, earthy hops, tobacco leaf, leather
F: full body, sticky & smooth, ample carbonation, a boozy sipper with a dry finish
O: I thought I had this one before, but nothing seems familiar; either way it’s one I’ve always wanted to get my hands on and I guess I finally did! Such a great beer!
Jan 16, 2022
4.9 by bigpoppa67 from Wisconsin on Jan 14, 2022
3.77 by BigIronH from Michigan on Jan 11, 2022
4.23 by StoutAtTheDevil from Alabama on Jan 04, 2022
4.33/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by michaelsmith11 from Illinois
I have to say I liked this one much better once it warmed up. Before it warmed up it there was a big chocolate taste with some barrel. After it warmed the other flavors started to pop. The chocolate faded a bit and vanilla and coffee flavors became more present. The barrel also came to the forefront. A bit thin but very good overall.
Jan 03, 2022
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by michaelsmith11 from Illinois
I have to say I liked this one much better once it warmed up. Before it warmed up it there was a big chocolate taste with some barrel. After it warmed the other flavors started to pop. The chocolate faded a bit and vanilla and coffee flavors became more present. The barrel also came to the forefront. A bit thin but very good overall.
Jan 03, 2022
4.79 by Meddwol from Michigan on Dec 31, 2021
4.55 by mdaschaf from Indiana on Dec 25, 2021
4.6/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by jkblr from Indiana
12oz bottled 11/17/2021 poured into a snifter at 47° Fahrenheit 13.4% ABV. The beer pours pitch black with zero light penetration and minimal light brown head. The head recedes to an irregular ring and leaves a few tiny spots of lacing. The aroma is moderate in strength featuring bourbon, dark chocolate, vanilla and coffee. The taste is bittersweet roasted malt with notes of dark chocolate, vanilla, deeply charred oak barrel, bourbon, coffee and chocolate fudge. Moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with just less than medium carbonation and a mostly dry finish. No alcohol presence in the aroma or taste, which is incredible for the ABV. Overall, excellent to world class. The balance is key. All the tastes are wonderfully integrated.
Dec 24, 2021
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by jkblr from Indiana
12oz bottled 11/17/2021 poured into a snifter at 47° Fahrenheit 13.4% ABV. The beer pours pitch black with zero light penetration and minimal light brown head. The head recedes to an irregular ring and leaves a few tiny spots of lacing. The aroma is moderate in strength featuring bourbon, dark chocolate, vanilla and coffee. The taste is bittersweet roasted malt with notes of dark chocolate, vanilla, deeply charred oak barrel, bourbon, coffee and chocolate fudge. Moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with just less than medium carbonation and a mostly dry finish. No alcohol presence in the aroma or taste, which is incredible for the ABV. Overall, excellent to world class. The balance is key. All the tastes are wonderfully integrated.
Dec 24, 2021
4.54/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
by drdiesel9483 from Ohio
Look - Just fantastic black and thick with a big thick tan head and some great lacing. How a BBA stout should look
Smell - caramel, vanilla, chocolate, molasses
Taste - Chocolate booze with a tobacco followed by some caramel vanilla, and a nice barrel
Feel - pretty thick full body with a light fuzzy carbonation
Overall - Really great classic standard Barrel aged Russian
Dec 22, 2021
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
by drdiesel9483 from Ohio
Look - Just fantastic black and thick with a big thick tan head and some great lacing. How a BBA stout should look
Smell - caramel, vanilla, chocolate, molasses
Taste - Chocolate booze with a tobacco followed by some caramel vanilla, and a nice barrel
Feel - pretty thick full body with a light fuzzy carbonation
Overall - Really great classic standard Barrel aged Russian
Dec 22, 2021
4.27/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by minstrelwb from Indiana
Just misses the full-bodied taste of the best bourbon barrel stouts.
Dec 21, 2021
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by minstrelwb from Indiana
Just misses the full-bodied taste of the best bourbon barrel stouts.
Dec 21, 2021
4.5 by bpfrush from Wisconsin on Dec 13, 2021
4.75 by Bartleby91 from Wisconsin on Dec 12, 2021
4.48 by BLPasch from Michigan on Dec 11, 2021
4.49/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by ZebulonXZogg from Illinois
Pours a thick oily black, vigorous pours doesn't get much of a head, small brown that faded immediately. Boozy aroma some vanilla, coffee, molasses a hint of chocolate. Taste get all that, flavors improve as it warms. Thick'n chewy, smooth, easy drinking. I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever seen this, better than I'd hoped!
Dec 09, 2021
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by ZebulonXZogg from Illinois
Pours a thick oily black, vigorous pours doesn't get much of a head, small brown that faded immediately. Boozy aroma some vanilla, coffee, molasses a hint of chocolate. Taste get all that, flavors improve as it warms. Thick'n chewy, smooth, easy drinking. I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever seen this, better than I'd hoped!
Dec 09, 2021
4.18/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by snaotheus from Washington
2021-11-27
12oz bottle served in a pair of Georgetown sample glasses. Packaged 10/16/18. Received from @Whyteboar in a LIF associated with BIF #14.
Pours black, brown along the edges, with essentially no head. Smell is boozy, bourbon, vanilla, oak, and very dark chocolate / dark roasted coffee.
Taste is boozy and super anise-y. Lots of roasty bitterness, lots of boozy sweetness. Fairly soft and well-balanced, actually.
Mouthfeel is thick and fluffy. Overall, very nice.
Nov 28, 2021
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by snaotheus from Washington
2021-11-27
12oz bottle served in a pair of Georgetown sample glasses. Packaged 10/16/18. Received from @Whyteboar in a LIF associated with BIF #14.
Pours black, brown along the edges, with essentially no head. Smell is boozy, bourbon, vanilla, oak, and very dark chocolate / dark roasted coffee.
Taste is boozy and super anise-y. Lots of roasty bitterness, lots of boozy sweetness. Fairly soft and well-balanced, actually.
Mouthfeel is thick and fluffy. Overall, very nice.
Nov 28, 2021
4.57/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
by Treyliff from West Virginia
2018 Vintage
12oz bottle poured into a tulip
A- pours jet black in color with a one-finger creamy dark khaki head that reduces to a thin ring around the glass
S- huge barrel aromas on the nose; spicy oak, barrel juice, caramel and vanilla. Bold aromas of chocolate brownie batter, dark chocolate, molasses, mocha cream, anise, charred malt, figs & raisins. Just a hint of underlying piney hops and booze
T- bold barrel notes lead the way with strong barrel juice, peppery oak and complimenting notes of caramel and vanilla. Mid-palate brings out notes of brownie batter, chocolate fudge, herbal coffee, charred malt, black licorice and figs. The finish gives more bold barrel juice and a hint of piney hops. Lingers of bourbon and brownie batter
M- heavy body with moderate carbonation leads to a thick and creamy mouthfeel that continues into a velvety warming finish
O- an already world class base beer gets taken up a notch with bold barrel notes that matches the dark roasted notes of Expedition, well done
Oct 22, 2021
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
by Treyliff from West Virginia
2018 Vintage
12oz bottle poured into a tulip
A- pours jet black in color with a one-finger creamy dark khaki head that reduces to a thin ring around the glass
S- huge barrel aromas on the nose; spicy oak, barrel juice, caramel and vanilla. Bold aromas of chocolate brownie batter, dark chocolate, molasses, mocha cream, anise, charred malt, figs & raisins. Just a hint of underlying piney hops and booze
T- bold barrel notes lead the way with strong barrel juice, peppery oak and complimenting notes of caramel and vanilla. Mid-palate brings out notes of brownie batter, chocolate fudge, herbal coffee, charred malt, black licorice and figs. The finish gives more bold barrel juice and a hint of piney hops. Lingers of bourbon and brownie batter
M- heavy body with moderate carbonation leads to a thick and creamy mouthfeel that continues into a velvety warming finish
O- an already world class base beer gets taken up a notch with bold barrel notes that matches the dark roasted notes of Expedition, well done
Oct 22, 2021
4.63 by beermanben from Wisconsin on Oct 05, 2021
4.34 by Hefewiseman from Florida on Sep 25, 2021
4.5 by Rkitchen from Michigan on Jun 19, 2021
4.5 by GFK from Michigan on Jun 15, 2021
4.38 by jaxon53 from Connecticut on Apr 25, 2021
4.19 by forum8417 from New Jersey on Apr 21, 2021
4.43/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by browner from Florida
Annual beer grab and generally availed in the Midwest. Pours dark very strong profile which settles down with a 1 year cellaring ( da) . More complex after a year.
Apr 20, 2021
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by browner from Florida
Annual beer grab and generally availed in the Midwest. Pours dark very strong profile which settles down with a 1 year cellaring ( da) . More complex after a year.
Apr 20, 2021
4.25 by jnorris404 from Alabama on Apr 20, 2021
4 by ADTaber from South Carolina on Apr 05, 2021
4.49 by warnerry from Michigan on Apr 04, 2021
4.79/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
by Whyteboar from Michigan
Vintage 2020/5/18
This officially serves to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that not *everything* from 2020 was a dumpster fire.
Appearance is amazing, maybe because I was so ready for a beer, but few beers have looked better. Black with dark brown highlights and a thin brown head.
The aroma was malts and plums and raisins and more malts. The taste. I literally said “wow” - (I was so ready for this) just so smooth without sharp edges typically found in RISs, maybe the bourbon, maybe the aging, can’t say, but wow.
The feel, obviously IMO, but it struck me as ideal for the genre. Viscous but not too much. And I mentioned smoothness earlier, oh yes.
So glad they are in Michigan. Thanks Larry for this.
Mar 19, 2021
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
by Whyteboar from Michigan
Vintage 2020/5/18
This officially serves to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that not *everything* from 2020 was a dumpster fire.
Appearance is amazing, maybe because I was so ready for a beer, but few beers have looked better. Black with dark brown highlights and a thin brown head.
The aroma was malts and plums and raisins and more malts. The taste. I literally said “wow” - (I was so ready for this) just so smooth without sharp edges typically found in RISs, maybe the bourbon, maybe the aging, can’t say, but wow.
The feel, obviously IMO, but it struck me as ideal for the genre. Viscous but not too much. And I mentioned smoothness earlier, oh yes.
So glad they are in Michigan. Thanks Larry for this.
Mar 19, 2021
4.08 by greenspointexas from Texas on Mar 09, 2021
4.28 by goleeoh from Michigan on Mar 04, 2021
4.66 by WCKDVBZ from South Carolina on Feb 20, 2021
4.43/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by Cyoung1313 from Ohio
2018 vintage. Pours dark black with minimal brown foam head. Huge barrel on the nose with notes of chocolate, coffee and slight vanilla. Taste is coffee, chocolate and barrel, all working together well. Medium bodied with a slick mouthfeel. Barrel stays with you for a little while. Overall excellent brew.
Feb 12, 2021
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by Cyoung1313 from Ohio
2018 vintage. Pours dark black with minimal brown foam head. Huge barrel on the nose with notes of chocolate, coffee and slight vanilla. Taste is coffee, chocolate and barrel, all working together well. Medium bodied with a slick mouthfeel. Barrel stays with you for a little while. Overall excellent brew.
Feb 12, 2021
4.08 by mrmsmith from District of Columbia on Feb 09, 2021
4.84 by Yungcoolship from Wisconsin on Feb 08, 2021
Expedition Stout - Bourbon Barrel-Aged from Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Beer rating:
99 out of
100 with
798 ratings