I noted a few weeks ago that my primary shop for craft beers, Total Wine, just recently began to carry Bell’s Brewery products. Since then I have probably gone a little overboard and sampled just about everyone they’ve had on their shelves. Being the ridiculous stout fan that I am, I figured what better way to start the reviews than with Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout.
I’ve got to be honest, I was the slightest bit worried that upon opening the first beer at home, I noticed the note regarding “brewers licorice.” Now, I make no claim to be a brewer of any king, so I have no idea what that actually means. All I know is that I’m not the biggest fan of licorice — my taste buds were prepared for the worst.
Appearance
Mmmm… black gold. The Kalamazoo stout pours like a jet black oil slick. The head was nearly as dark and fairly large.
Aroma
Perhaps it was a bit too chilled, but the aroma was subtle. There were the expected scents of coffee and roasted malt. A small amount of dark chocolate sweetness was present, but overall it was very light on the nose. So far, there was no evidence of licorice that I could pick up.
Taste
The taste? In a word, wonderful. The coffee and roasted malt are the key players in the overall flavor of the beer. There’s an interesting and not at all unwelcome hop bitterness in the finish. Again, though, no sense of licorice. Phew.
Overall
The Kalamazoo Stout is a tasty beer. It’s a fine example of what a milk stout should be — smooth and creamy. It’s not genre defining, but definitely a beer I’d pick up again.
Rating: 3.5/5
