It may very well be that imperial stout is the boldest beer style going. As hoppy as an India Pale, as alcoholic and high in gravity as a barleywine, and as roasty as a, well, imperial stout. Among the many fine examples of the style I've come across in my tastings, one example stands out as being the boldest of this robust style: Bell's Expedition. To my taste, that doesn't make it the best. I enjoy North Coast's Old Rasputin just as much for example, even though it is not as formidable as Expedition. Still there's no denying this is a world class brew, and one of my all-time favorites.
Now is the time to grab some Expedition, as it is a September to May seasonal. Kalamazoo brewing, the makers of Expedition, indicate that the beer is produced with twice as much malt and five times more hops than their impressive Kalamazoo stout. It has an amazing original gravity of about 1.1 and a 10 percent alcohol content by volume.
This beer was incredible the first time I tried it in 1997. Indeed, one of the most intense and complex beers I have ever sampled. Emptying the contents of the bottle into a glass revealed a beer jet black in color with a tall tan head which receded slowly. The nose was packed with hops and licorice. As I sipped the beer, a complex parade of licorice, chocolate, roasted barley, caramel, hops, and alcoholic warmth marched across the tongue into a grand finale of an exploding piny hop finish. I would guess that this beer would be in the range of 90 to 100 IBU's. It seems quite a feat for the hops to almost dominate such an intensely malty brew, but they did, and left a lingering bitterness on the tongue for quite some time.
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
I described a more recent sampling thusly:
Almost no carbonation, brownish black color, big perfumy nose. Spices reminiscent of Our Special Ale. Burnt candy sugar flavors, heavy licorice overtones, ginger, orange, citric hoppiness, dark malt, spruce, bitter hoppiness all combine to create a beer of amazing complexity. I don't get the barleywine caramel and butterscotch flavors I did the last time I had this beer, but I do get imperial stout characteristics I didn't get last time.
Value & Verdict
As of May 2026, Expedition Stout sells for $20.99 a six-pack at Georgia Total Wine locations, though they are apparently out of stock until next release.
Bell's Expedition Stout goes well with another Bell's Expedition Stout. It's not a beer I would recommend for food pairing. It's just too powerful, and the palate should be clean for appreciating its complexity.
