Bell's 30th Anniversary Cherry Stout Reserve

The regular Cherry Stout is sour cherry.

 

Sounds pretty excellent to me. The regular Cherry Stout has some tartness, but has good balance between cherry tartness and bittersweet chocolate flavors.

 

Picked up a four pack today. $13.99/4pack. Will be cracking one open tomorrow.

 

The oak chips are a bit more pronounced in this variation, leaves behind that oily slick mouthfeel of a true barrel aged brew. I absolutely love this version.

 

I'd be curious to know how this compares to the BBA version I have from earlier this year.

 

That one was whiskey barrel, I thought it was overpriced and a little thin.

 

Still, the whiskey barrel aged version was better than their regular Cherry Stout, and probably better than this oaked version, though I will give it a try.

 

I preferred the 30th anny version over the whiskey barrel version, although both were very good.

 

Anybody know whether the Whiskey Barrel version is the same as the Bourbon Barrel version that has been released in the past? Despite the name change I don't see that it has been listed as a new beer on this site, though on Rate Beer it is listed as a different beer.

 

I figured... I saw it at my local in Philadelphia for $32.29+TAX. It's amazing the kind of price gouging that's going on.

 

Had a bottle last night. Thought it was ok, but glad I only purchased a single bottle. The oak (and dryness from the oak) was definitely prominent. Haven't had their regular cherry stout for years, so I cannot compare to that one.

 

I thought that beer was quite good but not nearly worth the $8 I paid for it. Kind of like Velvet Merkin, great drinkable brew, but not at the asking price.

 

I picked up a four pack of the 30 year anniversary version for about $15. I have to say it’s a solid deal if you find it in that range. I’ve paid more for less.

 

$13.99 USD for a 4-pack in Austin, TX.

 

$4 for a single. I think you have to be in the right mood for this one.

 

Love their cherry stout and love beers aged with just oak-there are too few of them. I'll pick it up if I see it.

 

I'll pick up a single of this tomorrow. Frankly I've seen too many conflicting reviews to start off with more than that, including a lukewarm account from the guy selling it.