Always have a plan B, that's my motto. There's a saying that no plan survives first contact with the enemy. Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get. Shit happens. The best laid plans of mice and men ofttimes go astray. These are all variations on a theme, and that theme happened to me just this past Thursday.
You see, I had planned to catch up on things with my son at Taco Mac Thursday night. Still fire beers were beer of the month, and they had a Stillfire pint glass free with purchase of a featured beer. Since I do not have a glass from Stillfire (yet) and I had not seen my sone for while this seemed like a great idea. Unfortunately, things seldom go as planned in life, and unforeseen events at work commanded my attention. Taco Mac would have to wait.
Enter Plan B, or should I say, Plan BBB (as in Bell's Bourbon Barrel Aged Expedition Stout). I had been saving this special beer for a special occasion, and tonight just seemed like the right time to treat myself. I had kept it refrigerated in my office/guest bedroom beer fridge. It was definitely calling my name.
Bell's Bourbon Barrel Aged Expedition Stout has an alcohol content of 13.4% by volume, making it stronger than the standard version of Expedition Stout which has an alcohol content of 10.5% by volume. Bell's says the beer has 'unlimited' shelf life, and my bottle stamped PKG 10/16/2018 supports that at the 7 1/2 year mark. My bottle showed absolutely no degradation, though I did keep it refrigerated almost all of that time. Bell's calls this a 'specialty' release, but offers no information on frequency of release.
About Kalamazoo Brewing Company
Founded in 1985 by Larry Bell, Bell's began as a tiny homebrew supply shop in downtown Kalamazoo, where the first commercial batches were brewed in a 15‑gallon soup kettle. From those humble beginnings, Bell's grew into one of the most respected and influential craft breweries in the country.
Today, Bell's operates a major production facility in Comstock and the beloved Eccentric Cafe in downtown Kalamazoo, a community hub that reflects the brewery's quirky, creative spirit. Though Bell's joined the Lion/Kirin family in 2021, the brewery continues to brew with the same Michigan identity and independent ethos that built its legacy.
Tasting Notes
Bourbon Barrel Aged Expedition Stout pours to a jet-black color with a very light wispy head and a nose of dark chocolate, dark fruity prune and raisin, and boozy bourbon. Taking a sip, the beer is full in body, luxuriant as it rolls across the tongue with a thick mouthfeel. It's dark chocolatey, lightly coffeeish, less dark fruity than it was in the nose but there's a bit of prune and raisin there. Then the booze pops in the finish, a little woody and high octane boozy. It hints at vanilla and combines with dry roasted malt (which may have mellowed a bit) to deliver a truly spectacular finish yet remains mellow and smooth.
Value & Verdict
Bourbon Barrel Aged Expedition Stout is currently not listed on the Total Wine website, though they do list a Bourbon Barrel Aged Raspberry Expedition in Ann Arbor Michigan (though out of stock) for $21.99 the 4-pack. I will assume the non-raspberry version runs the same price.
Without doubt one of the best beers I have had all year. I may have bought the single from Half Time or Total Wine; I cannot recall. Either way, the next time I see it I am buying at least a 4-pack, and you should, too.
