Beer Review: Bell's Cherry Stout

Serving Type: Draft

ABV: Seven percent

Appearance: This Bell's brew is the darkest I've ever had from the well-known brewery in Michigan. It has a dark black look to it with slight cherry-colored tones throughout the dark abyss you end up staring into. The head is tan and a bit fizzy, but fizzles out before you notice anything. Luckily, the beer is still carbonated.

Smell: The Michigan cherries used in the brewing process are the most dominant scent. Bringing up the rear are a few hints of roasted malts that you'd expect in just about any stout.

Taste: On the front I got a slight taste of the malts, but on the back of the tongue was where this beer did it's work. The sourness of the cherries wakes you up. Personally, the sourness became a bit hard to deal with towards the end of the glass, but it was pretty good at the beginning.

Overall Rating:  

I loved the sour cherry flavor in this beer. I would've preferred the malts to be a bit more present in the flavor of this beer. It seemed like I had to struggle to finish this beer. Fellow Michigan brewery Founders makes another cherry beer called Cerise that is available in the Summer. I'm looking forward to trying that.

Beer Review: Bell's Hopslam Ale

Serving Type: Draft

ABV: 10 percent

Appearance: Hopslam has a copper-like glow to its body. I've really never seen a color like this on a beer before. The head was actually very white and thick as well. It has beautiful lacing all the way trough the drink, too.

Smell: Hops, hops and more hops. Just check out the name of the beer in case you've forgotten. Behind that is a slight scent of honey. This was very  pleasant instead of a complete hops bombardment.

Taste: Tasting this beer is like having your sinus cavity stuffed full of hops. The hop taste is fairly strong, but the honey does a fairly decent job of balancing out the flavor. I just wish the honey was a bit more powerful in this beer.

Overall Rating:   


In my opinion, I've had better beers than this. It also comes with a lot of hype within the craft beer community. I think that if there was a bit more flavor than just the overbearing hops it's that much closer to a perfect beer. Some of you might already think that and that's fine. Just because I don't think a beer isn't the greatest beer in the world doesn't mean it can't be for you. I'm also not the biggest fan of the hoppiest beers out there.

Beer Review: Bell's Winter White Ale

I've had a rough start to the season of winter ales. I haven't given a rating higher than two-of-five stars to any of the ones I've reviewed. Maybe that changes with the beer I'm reviewing today. This beer isn't one to be judged by its cover. Not to worry. Bell's Brewing has a good track record with me as the Oarsman (summer session) is one of my favorites.

Serving Type: Draft

ABV: Five percent

Appearance: Winter White doesn't look like what you'd expect any ordinary winter ale to look like. Most of them are in the form of a dark red or brown. This beer is hazy and golden. Just like a witbier, except that it's not. It's hazy and has a pretty thick, white head. The lacing on the glass is also pretty to look at.

Smell: It smells like a Belgian witbier, but with a few of the spices you get from a normal winter ale. The spices linger in your nostrils and sing a few Christmas carols while they're up there.

Taste: I think this beer has the perfect spice taste of all of the winter ales that I've tried. Something new that I came across is the slight hint of a citrus fruit behind all of the spices. Very interesting and creative on the part of Bell's.

Overall Rating:   

I really loved this beer. They say not to fruit your beer. I say that's a bunch of hogwash. Some of the best beers out there are brewed with fruit. It just so happened in this case that a fruity taste was just what I was looking for to compliment the spice of winter ales.