Tweet

 

Old Review
12 oz bottle thanks to the great BA spointon. Served up in a tulip.

A: Pours a nice black body that lets no light through whatsoever. The head was a nice brown finger, but it faded immediately. I mea it went away at least 2 minutes after the pour. The ring it faded to was incredibly thin and creates no lacing because there is really nothing to offer. It appears there is quite a bit of carbonation going on in here. Not a bad looking brew but its really blowing my mind.

S: Smell is actually a lot like the look, not awe inspiring at all. There is some nice roasted malt in here with a touch of coffee peeking through. I am actually not getting any cherry aroma coming out. Thats a bit disappointing. I just want something that is in the name to come out in the flavor and aroma, and its not showing up in the aroma. On the back end there may be a touch of hops bite coming through.

T: Taste is actually a nice suprise from the above categories. The malts are nicely roasted and bring out a really nice dark chocolate flavor. Unsweetened and a touch bitter. The cherries are dark and compliment nicely with some ever so slightly tart cherry meat. The cherry is very there and I can see how some could have a problem with this but I think it works here. Touch of black coffee follows with some more nice roast and bitterness, complimenting the slight kiss of hops in here. This is tasty stuff.

M: This is medium in body and it does mess with me a touch because I really do like my stouts on the heavy side. This does have a pretty hefty carbonation quality that works nicely here. ABV is not a factor at all, doesn't play a role. Aftertaste is some residual cherry and chocolate. Not bad at all.

D: This is not bad. I mean the flavors work for me and it goes down pretty easy. The feel is a bit off for me and the look and aroma are bit of a let down. Still it doesn't fall below the average area, just a lot of it is average at times. With that said, I am glad I gave it go and I would not mind having this again. Not bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 04-13-2009 01:21:59

Served In: Tulip

Reviewed 9/9/04 - Color is a beautiful deep brown color with a deep red tone when put up to the light nearly black otherwise with a small tannish dark top of thickened froth that sits awhile then fades to leave some sticky spots of lace.
The cherry smell is there in a deep sweet, nearly sour tone, but not over powering like a cider or lambic and has a nice heavy roasted malt aroma with some chocolate and molasses taking over in the background.
Tastes tangy, quite so that the cherry is a bit much, not as balanced as it used to be, or at least from what I remember from the first time I had it. Just right for a cherry lover though, a deep sweet cherry tanged bite really pops and grabs the palate. Roasted malt with some chocolate and molasses tones are hidden way underneath the cherry.
Good feel thats smooth and milky clean with a largely set cherry sour bittering kick. Not as easy to drink as I remember. Still good but now that my tastes have changed the tang of the cherry seems over the top now for me.

Served In: Pint Glass

12oz Bottle
$12.00 6-Pack
Bell's General Store

Bottled 10/9/07
7% abv

As Bell's Cherry Stout is being poured the stream from bottle to glass has a weathered mahogany look but in the glass is pure black. A creamy one finger brown head formed on the pour and fell rather quickly to a skimming with thick edges. Leaves some sticky chunk lacing on it's way down.

Very appealing aroma. Begins with hints of malted milkballs and leads directly into perfectly roasted malts and a milk chocolate/cocoa mixture. There's very mild alcohol wafting in and out. The addition of cherries adds a quick flash of sweet but finishes mostly tart. Unique mouthwatering aroma with the combination of roasty and tart.

The flavor has all the qualities of the aroma with a few little welcomed extras. Malted milkballs start things off before the roasty comes into play with the cocoa. Dark cherries come through mid palate and compliment the roastiness. As this beer moves through the cherry becomes tart and somewhat puckering. There's even a touch of smokiness hinting around in there. The tartness on the finish makes this beer very unique. The tartness is enough to get you salivating after the swallow.

Really nice mouthfeel. Body is on the heavier side of medium. Tongue coating creaminess as this beer works it's way through. Great velvety texture with low carbonation. This beer glides through at its own pace and lets you pick out each flavor rather easily.

This stout goes down very easy and produces a nice warming sensation on the swallow to warm you up on these cold fall nights.

Another damn fine stout from Bell's. I have yet to drink one of their stouts that hasn't impressed me. This one is very unique and the tartness works perfectly with the standard stout flavors. Wish I would have picked up more than a sixer.

Reviewed: 11/15/07

Price: $12.00 Served In: Pint Glass

Pours a black color with red hues around the edges. A good brown head with good retention and decent lacing but both don’t last through the sampling.

The smell is mostly malty with roasted and sweeter malt tones. Some fruit aromas as well, with no surprise, cherries and a touch of caramel as well. More of a sweet cherry aroma (versus tart etc). Some minor citrus hops helps bring this out. Mostly clean on the yeast side.

The taste is a bit of a change. The cherry flavor is well represented and very tart. Mostly represented at the front with a bitterness that enhances the flavor. But roasted malt and some chocolate coffee flavors come out and subdue the taste more a more mellow dessert like flavor. The tart doesn’t exactly go away it just co-mingles and leaves a acidic aftertaste that is more of a deterrent. Overall would like a bit more malt.

The body is a medium flavor and a lighter carbonation which is acceptable. Overall the tart is such a strong presence that is masks some of the stout flavor. Though unique I would agree that it is more of a fruity beer then stout.

Served In: Pint Glass