Bell’s Brewery Kalamazoo Stout
What the brewers say
“Kalamazoo Stout offers a blend of dark chocolate and coffee flavors with just a hint of brewer’s licorice. One of our oldest recipes, it balances a significant hops presence against a roast-malt body.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Sweet roast, vanilla, coffee, and chocolate come through nicely. Low hops character with slight citrus notes. A hint of caramel sweetness. Smells like a vanilla latte. Moderate esters (cherry?) and a touch of damp wood.”
Flavor: “Very nice roast character with slight burnt-like sharpness. The sharpness mellows out with a medium chocolate sweetness. Sweet fruitiness carries through. Hops character is moderate and present in the finish, but not harsh. Finishes sweeter than expected, almost saccharine-like. Perhaps milk chocolate? As it progresses, it dries out a bit with some coffee and roast.”
Overall: “A nice American stout with a bitter hops finish that balances out the sweetness of the chocolate and pairs nicely with the roast of the malt. A little too sweet, but interesting with an enticing aroma. Otherwise, a standard American stout.”