Expedition Stout

Bell's Brewerly Expedition Stout. Ok may well be one of my favorite beers out there. Its like eating a good chocolate desert after a rich steak dinner. It is sweet, thick dark, rich and not toooo hoppy. At 10.5% ABV expect to only finish one before you have to consider whether you need a second, if your not driving and plan on staying warm in front of a fire with close friends, have another. This is a good beer. Price is fair, found em for about $3 a bottle locally. I have had several of the Bell brews and plan on writing them to express my appreciation for their contribution to the craft of beer making.

Cheers

Java Stout

Bell's Brewery, Comstock, MI. Im not usually a big one on coffee brews, I like by beer strong but simple, barley and hops. But the recommendation was heeded and I bought a bottle. Less then $2 for 12oz I lose less on a scratch-off so I figured, what the hell.

As expected it is dark. Smells like beer, can't really detect the coffee but smells good. First sip, yep, theres the coffee. Not strong but right up front. Fortunately I like coffee. Nice head, glass clinging kind. Nice brown hue to it, did I mention the beer was dark? Maybe I didn't make myself clear, yesterdays coffee left in the pot overnight dark. I like it :) Like coffee, there is a bit of a bitter nutty aftertaste that hangs on your tongue. Not unpleasant, just there. This is a stout and true to its name, not very hoppy, sweet and a little milky, which goes well with the coffee taste. Good beer. I would recommend this with ice cream, chilled or room temp on a cold night. Not a beer to quench thirst but more like an end of the evening treat.

Not a very big beer, 7.5 ABV but tasty. I would buy it again.

Until my next beer....Cheers!

Hopslam

Ok, new beer. But before that let me tell you about The Liquor Store. Yes thats the name, a mom and pop (well mom and son) operation and the young man I met was an enthusiastic beer person. He and I swapped stories over the cooler that was filled with an assortment of smaller brewery beers in the single 12 oz bottles as well as the other beers like bud and lite and you know what I mean. Anyway I took home a couple and here is my review of the first.

HOPSLAM Brewed in Comstock , MI. brewed with honey, though I don't know how much as the beer is anything but sweet. Hop slam is right, I don't know what hops they used (but I will try) but it is tangy and has A LOT of it. The beer is pale like an amber bock with a tight fizzy head. Boasting 10% ABV makes this a pretty big beer in taste and punch. Its a good beer, one I might suggest to a friend but I have had better. I would rate it around 5, maybe 6 as I have just finished the first half.

Oh and cheap too, I think I paid about 2 bucks for the bottle, better then most beers you find in a bar.

Well until next time, Cheers!