Bell’s Black Note Stout
From Bell’s Brewery – One of the most sought-after stouts in Bell’s history, Black Note Stout blends the complex aromatics of Expedition Stout with the velvety smooth texture of Double Cream Stout and ages the combination in freshly retired oak bourbon barrels for months. The resulting harmony of flavors captures the finest features of all three components: malty notes of dark chocolate, espresso & dried fruits, all buoyed by the warmth and fragrance of the bourbon barrel. Aimed squarely at the stout and bourbon aficionados, Black Note makes a grand statement about the art of the dark.
Bell’s Brewery – Bell’s Black Note Stout – 750 ml. bottle poured into a goblet. 11.5% abv. Thanks Adam M.
Appearance: Pours a slick looking cola brown with spotty bubbles.
Aroma: Strong boozy whiskey, chocolate, fresh herbal note.
Taste: Mild burnt roast , whiskey, char. Dark chocolate.
Mouthfeel: On the thin side of medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: This is a beer I thought I would never get to try because of how hard the midwest was hoarding this beer. I’m glad I did, but the hype on this beer didn’t come close to my enjoyment. I just want to be honest, this is how I approach the super hyped, highly sought after beers. My expectations get raised. Maybe it’s not fair to the beer?
I love Bell’s Expedition, I love big Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stouts, but I don’t think this particular one comes close to my top 3. This reminded me of Big Sky’s Ivan The Terrible for me, which was good, but not a slam dunk. I’ve heard it’s awesome on tap, so hopefully one day I can revisit. I surely won’t be trading my cellar for it.
September 8, 2012 @ 4:15 pm
Nobody cares about your opinions Kevin. And, if you truly have no problems with opinions why did you take the time to write down that basically somebody else’s opinion was wrong? Get a clue.
August 30, 2012 @ 2:48 pm
“This is a beer I thought I would never get to try because of how hard the midwest was hoarding this beer.”
Really? Before we the Midwest was “hoarding it hard” people across the country were offering up their cellars for it. It is hard to blame someone for asking for what was offered up freely beforehand.
Let’s also not forget the two bottle limit, not like a lot of honest folks had multiple bottles. Hell, I gave all mine away.
No problem with opinions but statements like that benefit no one.