Bell's Double Cream Stout

Name: Bell’s Double Cream Stout

Brewer: Bell's Brewery, Inc. (Michigan, U.S.)

Type: Milk Stout -- Sweet Stout / 12 oz bottle

ABV: 6.1 percent

Label (5): 3

Look-Cs (20): 15

Snout (15): 13

Texture (20):  18

Flavor (30): 26 

X-Factor (10): 7

TOTAL: 82

If this stout were a book, it would be a Stieg Larsson novel. 

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Bell's Brewery, one of my favorites in the States, consistently turns out admirable stouts. While the West Coast can take credit for the craft beer revolution, beginning in the 1970's, Bell's is the oldest craft brewer east of Boulder. 

A bit on the history of "craft beer":

Prohibition in the U.S., as one might imagine, forced many breweries into bankruptcy. In 1920, all breweries had to decide whether to cut and run, or to get creative with new products. The largest companies at the time, such as Blatz, Pabst, Schlitz, and Anheuser-Busch, stuck it through by producing malt syrup (ostensibly for baking cookies, but actually used in home-brewing), "near beer" (malty beverage with less than 1% alcohol), and brewing alcohol for medicinal purposes (as licensed by the government). The smaller companies generally had little choice but to cut their losses.

 When the country finally emerged from that dark period, brewers continued to merge and acquire until eventually nearly all American beer was produced by a handful of large corporations. These beers tended to be "lighter" tasteless lagers. 

As beer drinkers became increasingly frustrated with the lack of options and quality, they began brewing at home. These home-brewers looked toward traditions in Britain, Ireland, Germany, and Belgium for guidance. Significant immigration from some of these nations effectively created a strong beer culture in the U.S., as far back as the mid 19th century, and their brewing prowess offered a natural source of inspiration. A handful of these recreational, home brewers took to selling their product, and so began the pleasant revolution.

Small breweries and brewpubs popped up throughout the United States, with the West Coast leading the charge. Portland, Oregon is recognized internationally for having more microbreweries located within its city limits, than any other city. There are around 1,500 craft breweries in the United States today, and countless home brewers. Bell's has emerged as a refreshing reminder of the diversity and quality of brewing all over the United States.

I have been impressed by all of Bell's Stouts, but the Double Cream Stout asserts itself as complex and intensely warming -- an ideal milk stout. The richly black hazy beer pours with a nice, foamy tan head with a bit of lacing. A small, even cap remains throughout drinking. There is a burnt reddish hue that is noticeable around the edges in the light. The comeliness in the appearance is quickly outdone by its scent, which is at once creamy, chocolatey, nutty,-- fruity, and intensely floral. The powerful aroma evolves throughout drinking, so be sure to inhale throughout the experience.

Cream and carbonation are perfectly balanced to create a velvety mouthfeel, while providing enough bubbles to guide you through the journey of flavors. Sweet yet robust, viscous yet smooth, the Double Cream Stout kept me delightedly engaged in the challenge of identifying what I love most about this beer.