Bells Special Double Cream Stout

SteelbackGuy · Post by **SteelbackGuy** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 7:33 pm

Holy frig, this stuff is good.

Plesant suprise....

anyone else here almost soil themselves when they tried this?

it goes down so easy for a 7.5%......damn!

mds · Post by **mds** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 8:57 pm

I thought it was pretty good but I think the Kalamazoo stout is way better.

JerCraigs · Post by **JerCraigs** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 9:30 am

Haven't tried that. Their Expedition is one of my Top 5 rated beers on Ratebeer though. I hope to get down to michigan and check them out some time.

A · Post by A » Mon Feb 28, 2005 3:56 pm

Bells, IMO, is one of the most overrated breweries I've tried. Not that they are bad, they are actually reasonably good. But not phenomenal.

Case in point #1: Expedition stout is like drinking malt syrup. Too thick, too flat.

Case in point #2: The two-hearted ale is quite drinkable, but tastes *exactly* like a homebrew of ours that was made from pale malt extract with a ton of cascade hops in it.

Case in point #3: Batch 5000. Ugh......

joey_capps · Post by **joey_capps** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 4:28 pm

A wrote:Case in point #1: Expedition stout is like drinking malt syrup. Too thick, too flat.

Don't try Three Floyds Dark Lord then. It's makes Expedition seem like a light spritzy brew.

Joe.

A · Post by A » Mon Feb 28, 2005 4:30 pm

Interesting you say that - I'm driving to Chi-town at the end of March and was going to stop by Three Floyds on the way.

Even though I find the Dreadnaught to be akin to cough syrup, and now it sounds like the Dark Lord may not be my cup o' tea either

Rob Creighton · Post by **Rob Creighton** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:41 pm

I've spent a reasonable amount of time in Michigan with a fairly wide group of craft brewers and it's interesting to see reviews of what is considered to be the 'premier' products in the State.

I've never once been impressed by a Bell's beer but I have always been dazzled by the hype associated with the brewery. Over hopped, out of balance, sweet, cloudy, chunky, thin...You name it, I have encountered it while standing at the bar at the brewery in Kalamazoo. What Larry seems to have captured is the essence of the American craft beer movement - more hops, more alcohol, less filtration, more variety (10 stouts at once?) and more attitude. It has charmed a wide crowd but I don't believe there is an endless market for marginal beer (IMO). So many other breweries in the state make great products (inc. Kraftbrau right across the street) that I would chose over Bells but such is the beauty of choice.

I guess the joy is being able to go there, order a pint and exclaim, 'What the hell is that'!?!

SteelbackGuy · Post by **SteelbackGuy** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 10:43 am

In any event, I thought it was great.

Not over hopped, and not over sweet, not over anything.

Just good.

Maybe I had a really good bottle. I thought it was fantastic......guess I am the only one!

A · Post by A » Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:19 am

No worries, lots of people love it

My personal choice for an imperial stout has to go to North Coast Old Rasputin. Now *thats* a well balanced Impy.

SteelbackGuy · Post by **SteelbackGuy** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 12:01 pm

Haven't had it or the Dark Lord, though I have a bottle of Dark Lord here that has been waiting for a special day.....hopefully soon!

joey_capps · Post by **joey_capps** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:19 pm

SteelbackGuy wrote:Haven't had it or the Dark Lord, though I have a bottle of Dark Lord here that has been waiting for a special day.....hopefully soon!

Len,

I be over tonight.