On tap at Ambulance, supersized bourbon-barreled barleywine segues syrupy caramelized bourbon vanilla warmth into molasses-sapped chocolate dalliance, leaving tingly cognac, brandy, burgundy, port and sherry tones in the deep recess. Spruce-hopped mineral graining and leathery dried fruiting of original Third Coast base hidden far beneath the surefire cherry-bruised bourbon vanilla resonance.
Tag Archives: BELL’S BREWERY
BELL’S LAGER OF THE LAKES PILSNER
On tap at Plank Pizza, crisply clean Czech-styled bohemian pilsner retains light maize musk for herbal-hopped lemon spritz, toasted cereal graining and honeyed biscuit base.
BELL’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY CHERRY STOUT RESERVE
On tap at Growler & Gill, luscious 30th Anniversary dessert treat circa 2018. Bold oak-chipped stout enriches syrupy black chocolate malting with tart red cherry bluster. Subtle wood-charred hop bittering underscores viscous mocha cherry beauty. Black Forest cake, creamed coffee, bruised cherry, dark cocoa, chocolate truffle and raspberry puree illusions fill out the busy full body.
BELL’S MANGO HABANERO OBERON
On tap at Ambulance, peppery habanero heat overshadows juicy mango tang. Pureed mango insistence abruptly usurped by constant chili burn. After a few sips, the heat ‘n sweet blend melds impressively, leaving candied citrus licks and light herbal tones in its wake.
BELL’S ARABICDABRA
On tap at Growler & Gill, serenely aromatic Arabica coffee bean roast gains mildly creamed lactic milking. Dry nut-charred espresso and cacao nibs illusions deepen persistently mellow coffee roast bittering of amiable mocha moderation. Superbly understated.
BELL’S ROUNDHOUSE INDIA STYLE RED ALE
On tap at Growler & Gill, fabulous raw-honeyed dry ale surrounds red, orange and yellow fruiting with mellow candy-spiced toasted caramel sweetness to contrast grassy hop astringency. Delicate floral-pined resonance increases peachy pineapple, mango, tangerine, nectarine, cherry and apple tang that’s mildly dehydrated by local Michigan honey.
BELL’S POOLTIME ALE
On tap at Liberty Craft House, moderate chartreuse-hazed witbier adds tart Montmorency cherry subtlety, wispy green bell pepper sweetness and fennel-tinged rhubarb pie snip to stylish lemon-twisted orange tang and calm white wheat bottom. Light medicinal alcohol whir in the recess.
BELL’S TRAVERSE CITY WHISKEY BARREL AGED 355 EAST STOUT
On tap at City Tap – Cleveland, rich whiskey-bent Imperial Stout spreads subtle barrel-aged Traverse City bourbon sweetness across milky brown chocolate fudging, dark-roast coffee beaning, vanilla-spiced creaming, dark cocoa leaning and cola nut preening. Luxurious.
BELL’S OATSMOBILE ALE
Splendid “session pale ale” tosses spelt-dried oats pungency at clean-watered mineral graining, leaving dank rye breading on the back end. In the midst, orange-desiccated passionfruit, pineapple, peach and mango illusions flutter.
KALAMAZOO BREWING / BELL’S BREWERY
KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN
Two worthy brewpubs and one excellent microbrewery dot this midsize Western Michigan University metropolis perused August ‘06. KALAMAZOO BREWING, located in several large interdependent brick buildings just outside the center of town, is rightfully celebrated for its terrific line of Bell’s bottled stouts and ales. Its brewpub, open since 1991, offered free samples of Beron Wheat, Sparkling Ale, and Porter (reviewed in Beer Index with at least 50 more Bell’s beers).
On a larger scale, since the 90’s, Kalamazoo’s lineup of Bell’s beers, especially the stouts and other ‘big’ beers, have been featured on taps all across America. Easily one of the country’s best breweries.
BELL’S OBERON ALE
Briskly citric-spiced, highly-hopped medium body retains lively lemony orange zesting, spritzy mandarin orange Seltzer spray, tart white peach snip and illusive dark fruitiness over mild roasted grain base. Corn-sugared caramel malting contrasts herbal florality beneath the mildly creamed oated wheat surface.