Cherry Stout | Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Brewed by:
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Michigan, United States
bellsbeer.com
Style: American Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.00%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
"A mysterious dance of tart Michigan cherries with the dark, roasted malts of a big and bold stout." and "Stout brewed with cherry juice."
Added by Mitchster on 01-09-2002
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 2,603 | Reviews: 1,039
Reviews by techfed87:
3.72/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Poured into an English pint glass. Pours a dark brown/amber red head. Has a very delicate scent of cherries to it that gives off a flavor that is distinctively more complex.
Taste comes off first as conflicted, being of the sweetness of the cherries and the bitterness of the malt; however both seems to blend together as the flavors progress.
Usually I don't appreciate sweeter beers, but this one seems pretty good. A nice, solid stout.
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look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Poured into an English pint glass. Pours a dark brown/amber red head. Has a very delicate scent of cherries to it that gives off a flavor that is distinctively more complex.
Taste comes off first as conflicted, being of the sweetness of the cherries and the bitterness of the malt; however both seems to blend together as the flavors progress.
Usually I don't appreciate sweeter beers, but this one seems pretty good. A nice, solid stout.
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More User Reviews:
3.38/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Pours seal brown with good opacity and a minimal cap of mocha foam. Aroma smells of molasses and toffee--no cherry to speak of.
The tartness of the cherry juice is definitely noticeable in the taste, however. There’s also an aggressive prickliness on the palate that I can’t place. It would have to be terribly poorly concealed alcohol for this ABV, yet it doesn’t taste quite like spicy hops either. Whatever it is, it’s definitely there, and it’s dominant. The malt flavor is mostly molasses with a bit of roast, but it’s not very pronounced. Some peat comes through in the finish once it’s warm enough. The body is a little thin for the style, but not aggregious, with a slick mouthfeel.
Overall, this is more of a novelty beer than anything. The cherry taste is contrived and achieves no synergy with the rest of the flavor profile. The harsh prickliness is offputting, and there’s just not enough else there to overcome its flaws. If you want cherry, find yourself some New Glarus or a good sour ale.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Pours seal brown with good opacity and a minimal cap of mocha foam. Aroma smells of molasses and toffee--no cherry to speak of.
The tartness of the cherry juice is definitely noticeable in the taste, however. There’s also an aggressive prickliness on the palate that I can’t place. It would have to be terribly poorly concealed alcohol for this ABV, yet it doesn’t taste quite like spicy hops either. Whatever it is, it’s definitely there, and it’s dominant. The malt flavor is mostly molasses with a bit of roast, but it’s not very pronounced. Some peat comes through in the finish once it’s warm enough. The body is a little thin for the style, but not aggregious, with a slick mouthfeel.
Overall, this is more of a novelty beer than anything. The cherry taste is contrived and achieves no synergy with the rest of the flavor profile. The harsh prickliness is offputting, and there’s just not enough else there to overcome its flaws. If you want cherry, find yourself some New Glarus or a good sour ale.
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4.18/5 rDev +18.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Into a pint glass -- It poured a thick and dark black with a little bit of red. The head was super attractive and also reddish, and it smelled great as soon as it poured. Out of a limited selection of Bell's beers, I chose a fruit beer. Here's why: Michigan is where sour cherries are from, Sour Cherries are one of my favorite fruits, I love a good stout , and Bell's stouts are amongst their most well regarded beers. This 12oz bottle did not disappoint. A big stout with the traditional roasted flavors, big amounts of coffee and chocolate, balanced and countered with the sourness from the cherries. Not too much sweetness, and seriously, it smells just great. Not a beer I would drink several of in a row, but it definitely lives up to its reputation and I can't wait to get into more of the Bell's.
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look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Into a pint glass -- It poured a thick and dark black with a little bit of red. The head was super attractive and also reddish, and it smelled great as soon as it poured. Out of a limited selection of Bell's beers, I chose a fruit beer. Here's why: Michigan is where sour cherries are from, Sour Cherries are one of my favorite fruits, I love a good stout , and Bell's stouts are amongst their most well regarded beers. This 12oz bottle did not disappoint. A big stout with the traditional roasted flavors, big amounts of coffee and chocolate, balanced and countered with the sourness from the cherries. Not too much sweetness, and seriously, it smells just great. Not a beer I would drink several of in a row, but it definitely lives up to its reputation and I can't wait to get into more of the Bell's.
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4.18/5 rDev +18.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I really liked this like no other Bell's...
The thing that made me stop actually pouring the beer in mid-stream was the dark, ruby-red color of the liquid, it was unlike anything I have poured to date. The smell was an altos perfect blend of cherries, cocoa, and the booziness that it contains at 7% ABV. The mouthfeel is very thick, creamy, and certainly heavy without being oppressive as I have tried in others. The taste was part sweet, part tart, and with only a touch of heat from the booze - truly outstanding. Bell's is one of those brewers I wish I could try more, but rarely get the chance. I'm glad this showed up in my local beer store.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I really liked this like no other Bell's...
The thing that made me stop actually pouring the beer in mid-stream was the dark, ruby-red color of the liquid, it was unlike anything I have poured to date. The smell was an altos perfect blend of cherries, cocoa, and the booziness that it contains at 7% ABV. The mouthfeel is very thick, creamy, and certainly heavy without being oppressive as I have tried in others. The taste was part sweet, part tart, and with only a touch of heat from the booze - truly outstanding. Bell's is one of those brewers I wish I could try more, but rarely get the chance. I'm glad this showed up in my local beer store.
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4.54/5 rDev +28.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a deep burgundy color, like the darkest cherry one has ever seen. Somewhat opaque, yet it's difficult to see through it. Smells of tart cherry, not typical of a stout. Some hop character off the nose and slight alcohol astringency. Tastes nearly like it smells, though if you have the expectation that this stout will be traditional, you will be left disappointed. At first I didn't like the taste because I had the expectation that it would be a smooth, chocolatey stout. As I kept drinking it, I found that it was really outstanding no matter how weird it seemed. The cherry flavor was upfront, but there was mild hop bitterness and hints of unsweetened chocolate as well but predominately cherry. The feel was smooth, typical of a stout. Overall, it's definitely worth a try. It's a bit out there, but you could end up like me and really enjoy it.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a deep burgundy color, like the darkest cherry one has ever seen. Somewhat opaque, yet it's difficult to see through it. Smells of tart cherry, not typical of a stout. Some hop character off the nose and slight alcohol astringency. Tastes nearly like it smells, though if you have the expectation that this stout will be traditional, you will be left disappointed. At first I didn't like the taste because I had the expectation that it would be a smooth, chocolatey stout. As I kept drinking it, I found that it was really outstanding no matter how weird it seemed. The cherry flavor was upfront, but there was mild hop bitterness and hints of unsweetened chocolate as well but predominately cherry. The feel was smooth, typical of a stout. Overall, it's definitely worth a try. It's a bit out there, but you could end up like me and really enjoy it.
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3.78/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Appearance – Dark brown clear body with a two finger head.
Aroma – Cherry, coffee, bitter chocolate.
Taste – Sweet, light cherries atop rich roasted malt.
Mouthfeel – Smooth and very creamy.
Overall – A well balanced beer that did not lose its stout character in the fruit.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Appearance – Dark brown clear body with a two finger head.
Aroma – Cherry, coffee, bitter chocolate.
Taste – Sweet, light cherries atop rich roasted malt.
Mouthfeel – Smooth and very creamy.
Overall – A well balanced beer that did not lose its stout character in the fruit.
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4.07/5 rDev +15%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
"Good"? Really guys?
Pours a dark oily black with some dark purple tints. Head doesn't stay long in the snifter but is pretty to look at. SRM of mmmm... 41.
Aromas of roasted malts and coffee, backed faintly by smashed cherries and cranberry juice.
Mmm. Roast malts come through first, giving an almost coffee-like character to it. Tart fruits - cherry, plum, prune, dark skinned grape - all come soaking through as its left to linger in the mouth. At the end we get a total emulation of blackberry pie, with some cherries added. Why this get poor reviews i dont know. Maybe people don't like pie?
Feel is leathery but smooth, insanely tart, and leaves a parch on the palate. Carbonation is moderate to heavy.
I dont know what to say. I will gladly enjoy the rest of my six pack for months to come. Worth the $16? Yeah, i suppose. At a few dollars cheaper I'd go broke - and i know you know what I'm talking about.
Edit : After letting it age a year, here's what changed :
Hiss does sound as the cap is popped, but there's no head to this beer. Bottom of bottle pours a sludge of sorts. The nose is chocolate covered cherry and coffee beans. The flavor is super bright cherry surrounded by mostly roasted coffee. Coffee just jumped out here from before. Zero chocolate, maybe only a hint of cocoa powder if at all. Oxidation is present. Mildly, but present. Cherry is ever tart. Feel is super buzzing.
For best results, drink fresh, it's about as good as its gonna get. I'll see if I can't throw the others in the dark for four years or so.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
"Good"? Really guys?
Pours a dark oily black with some dark purple tints. Head doesn't stay long in the snifter but is pretty to look at. SRM of mmmm... 41.
Aromas of roasted malts and coffee, backed faintly by smashed cherries and cranberry juice.
Mmm. Roast malts come through first, giving an almost coffee-like character to it. Tart fruits - cherry, plum, prune, dark skinned grape - all come soaking through as its left to linger in the mouth. At the end we get a total emulation of blackberry pie, with some cherries added. Why this get poor reviews i dont know. Maybe people don't like pie?
Feel is leathery but smooth, insanely tart, and leaves a parch on the palate. Carbonation is moderate to heavy.
I dont know what to say. I will gladly enjoy the rest of my six pack for months to come. Worth the $16? Yeah, i suppose. At a few dollars cheaper I'd go broke - and i know you know what I'm talking about.
Edit : After letting it age a year, here's what changed :
Hiss does sound as the cap is popped, but there's no head to this beer. Bottom of bottle pours a sludge of sorts. The nose is chocolate covered cherry and coffee beans. The flavor is super bright cherry surrounded by mostly roasted coffee. Coffee just jumped out here from before. Zero chocolate, maybe only a hint of cocoa powder if at all. Oxidation is present. Mildly, but present. Cherry is ever tart. Feel is super buzzing.
For best results, drink fresh, it's about as good as its gonna get. I'll see if I can't throw the others in the dark for four years or so.
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3.95/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bottled: 11/13/15.
Black, no light coming through up to the light. A finger of dark tan head that quickly settles to a ring. Good looking carbonation when rocking the glass. The aroma is of brown sugar or thick molasses, milk and dark chocolates, some dark dried fruits like raisins or prunes, and the tartness from the cherry juice is in the background.
Flavor is a nice tart cherry almost immediately that lingers followed by that molasses and chocolate. The beer is really quite tart but not in an off putting way. The feel is average carbonation, a little sticky, medium body. Overall, pretty nice stout. If you like tart chocolate covered cherries with a sticky molasses touch, you might like this.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bottled: 11/13/15.
Black, no light coming through up to the light. A finger of dark tan head that quickly settles to a ring. Good looking carbonation when rocking the glass. The aroma is of brown sugar or thick molasses, milk and dark chocolates, some dark dried fruits like raisins or prunes, and the tartness from the cherry juice is in the background.
Flavor is a nice tart cherry almost immediately that lingers followed by that molasses and chocolate. The beer is really quite tart but not in an off putting way. The feel is average carbonation, a little sticky, medium body. Overall, pretty nice stout. If you like tart chocolate covered cherries with a sticky molasses touch, you might like this.
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4.48/5 rDev +26.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
if you like the taste of tart sours and stouts you should try this beer. it really is good I really enjoyed it
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
if you like the taste of tart sours and stouts you should try this beer. it really is good I really enjoyed it
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3.58/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Utterly black with a serious mid-sized light brown head. The aroma is a pleasant mix of cocoa and cherries....roasted notes and distant espresso roast. The taste has a notable slight tart cherry flavor, combined with a roasted barley stout taste. Nice combination, but the cocoa from the aroma didn’t follow to the taste. Full in body and drinkable.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Utterly black with a serious mid-sized light brown head. The aroma is a pleasant mix of cocoa and cherries....roasted notes and distant espresso roast. The taste has a notable slight tart cherry flavor, combined with a roasted barley stout taste. Nice combination, but the cocoa from the aroma didn’t follow to the taste. Full in body and drinkable.
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2.38/5 rDev -32.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Look: black, with a slight red/brown tint on the edge.
Smell: faint cherry and coffee. Not much aroma.
Taste: sweet, overwhelming cherry. Cherry masks any other flavors. Maybe a slight roastiness hiding under a thick blanket of cherry.
Feel: medium body, mild carbonation.
Overall: not pleasant. Looked and felt much better than it tasted. Dumped after a few sips.
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look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Look: black, with a slight red/brown tint on the edge.
Smell: faint cherry and coffee. Not much aroma.
Taste: sweet, overwhelming cherry. Cherry masks any other flavors. Maybe a slight roastiness hiding under a thick blanket of cherry.
Feel: medium body, mild carbonation.
Overall: not pleasant. Looked and felt much better than it tasted. Dumped after a few sips.
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3.61/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
L: A deep brown with hints of ruby. A large amount of luscious chocolate-milk brown head.
S: Cherries, booze, dark malts
T: Tart cherries, dark and roasty malts, a quite a bit of booziness. The tart cherry flavor is a nice twist on the typical stout. Sweet but not too much so. But I don't really understand why this beer tastes so boozy.
F: Medium-full bodied. Low bitterness. Low-ish carbonation.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
L: A deep brown with hints of ruby. A large amount of luscious chocolate-milk brown head.
S: Cherries, booze, dark malts
T: Tart cherries, dark and roasty malts, a quite a bit of booziness. The tart cherry flavor is a nice twist on the typical stout. Sweet but not too much so. But I don't really understand why this beer tastes so boozy.
F: Medium-full bodied. Low bitterness. Low-ish carbonation.
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4.25/5 rDev +20.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very much enjoyed this thick beer. Fantastic balance between sweet and tart. The Cherry is there, but not overwhelming. Smooth and sweet but not sugary.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very much enjoyed this thick beer. Fantastic balance between sweet and tart. The Cherry is there, but not overwhelming. Smooth and sweet but not sugary.
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2.11/5 rDev -40.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Did you ever bite into a chocolate candy that's part of an assortment and get the nasty one filled with a fruity gel? If you like those candies, this one's for you. Starts with a nice stoutly flavor then ruined, for me at least, by the sour cherry flavor. Loves Bell's but not this one.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Did you ever bite into a chocolate candy that's part of an assortment and get the nasty one filled with a fruity gel? If you like those candies, this one's for you. Starts with a nice stoutly flavor then ruined, for me at least, by the sour cherry flavor. Loves Bell's but not this one.
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3.53/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours deep dark brown with a tan head that dissipates. Smells of dark roasted malts, chocolate, and tart cherry. Flavor follows but I can't help but notice a medicinal like aftertaste. Overall, this is a good stout, but may have to revisit from the bottle to give a better opinion. Cheers
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours deep dark brown with a tan head that dissipates. Smells of dark roasted malts, chocolate, and tart cherry. Flavor follows but I can't help but notice a medicinal like aftertaste. Overall, this is a good stout, but may have to revisit from the bottle to give a better opinion. Cheers
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4.03/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bottled 11/13/15; drank 11/28/15 @ the Yarchives.
Poured from the bottle into a glass.
Black/purple appearance.
A rough pour yielded a small dark khaki head; decent lace.
Blackberry, fresh earth, raw oats & faint booze heat notes in the nose.
Medium thick mouthfeel.
Tart cherry, cream & raw oat flavors up front; sweet cherry & milk chocolate notes on the finish. A bit messy but certainly flavorful & enjoyable.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bottled 11/13/15; drank 11/28/15 @ the Yarchives.
Poured from the bottle into a glass.
Black/purple appearance.
A rough pour yielded a small dark khaki head; decent lace.
Blackberry, fresh earth, raw oats & faint booze heat notes in the nose.
Medium thick mouthfeel.
Tart cherry, cream & raw oat flavors up front; sweet cherry & milk chocolate notes on the finish. A bit messy but certainly flavorful & enjoyable.
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3.44/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Thanks to AKSmoked Porter for this bottle,pours a oily looking black with no head or no carbonation looked like a oil slick no trace of head here at all.Nice aroma though of tart cherries and bitter chocolate,big tart cherry flavor hits right away with some baking spices notes, with a taste of earthiness in the finish.Felt like a oil slick in the mouth as well Iam not sure what that feels like but this is it,a little cloying in sweet/sour dept as well.Probably the worst offering I have had from Bells but it was nice to try.
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look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Thanks to AKSmoked Porter for this bottle,pours a oily looking black with no head or no carbonation looked like a oil slick no trace of head here at all.Nice aroma though of tart cherries and bitter chocolate,big tart cherry flavor hits right away with some baking spices notes, with a taste of earthiness in the finish.Felt like a oil slick in the mouth as well Iam not sure what that feels like but this is it,a little cloying in sweet/sour dept as well.Probably the worst offering I have had from Bells but it was nice to try.
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3.71/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.36/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Oily black pour without much head.
The aromas are a bit restrained and a little difficult to coax out. Reminds me of cookies with cherry on top, a hint of smoke and black olive.
The flavors are muddled between deeply roasted malt (light smoke&coffee) and tart cherries. For me, not the smoothest transition of flavors.
I've had this on-tap and other bottles and it has shown better in the past. In this price range it's hard for me to not pick up their old ale instead.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Oily black pour without much head.
The aromas are a bit restrained and a little difficult to coax out. Reminds me of cookies with cherry on top, a hint of smoke and black olive.
The flavors are muddled between deeply roasted malt (light smoke&coffee) and tart cherries. For me, not the smoothest transition of flavors.
I've had this on-tap and other bottles and it has shown better in the past. In this price range it's hard for me to not pick up their old ale instead.
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4.76/5 rDev +34.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A: This brew poured into a pint glass was pitch
black with an almost devil's food colored
head. The dense head was brown and deep red
throughout. Gorgeous.
S: The aromas were faint but after some drink-
ing the typical stout aromas came through...
malty with a little coffee and a bittnerness
provided by the cherries, I imagine.
T: Typical quality stout at inception and when
the beer makes it to the back of your tongue
it turns your face into a knot. The bittner
ness is intense. It is quite a feat in that
such a strong flavor is imparted with a
delay and that the flavor is so fleeting.
The bitterness is not lingering on the
pallet and is not so overpowering that it
eclipses the other roasted malt characters.
M/D: I drank three and the last sip was as
impressive as the first. The creamy and
smoothness of this beer was fantastic. I
was very happy to see a fruit and porter
marriment that didn't go sweet but rather
allowed the bitterness of Michigan
cherries to compliment a brew style that
is often at its best when there are bitter
notes and flavors.
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look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A: This brew poured into a pint glass was pitch
black with an almost devil's food colored
head. The dense head was brown and deep red
throughout. Gorgeous.
S: The aromas were faint but after some drink-
ing the typical stout aromas came through...
malty with a little coffee and a bittnerness
provided by the cherries, I imagine.
T: Typical quality stout at inception and when
the beer makes it to the back of your tongue
it turns your face into a knot. The bittner
ness is intense. It is quite a feat in that
such a strong flavor is imparted with a
delay and that the flavor is so fleeting.
The bitterness is not lingering on the
pallet and is not so overpowering that it
eclipses the other roasted malt characters.
M/D: I drank three and the last sip was as
impressive as the first. The creamy and
smoothness of this beer was fantastic. I
was very happy to see a fruit and porter
marriment that didn't go sweet but rather
allowed the bitterness of Michigan
cherries to compliment a brew style that
is often at its best when there are bitter
notes and flavors.
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Cherry Stout from Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Beer rating:
3.54 out of
5 with
2,603 ratings
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