This is another great stout from Kalamazoo brewing, makers of perhaps a
wider variety of stouts than any other brewer in the United States. Founder
Larry Bell began the company back in 1985 out of his homebrew shop in
Kalamazoo, Michigan. From very small beginnings, Bell expanded production to
6,000 barrels by 1994. Last year, 2000, production was four times the 1994
figure, officially putting Kalamazoo out of the microbrewery classification,
which is generally accepted as around 15,000 barrels or less. The company is
now the largest craft brewer in Michigan.
Still, Kalamazoo handcrafts all of its brews and the results are always
exceptional. Unfiltered and bottle conditioned, robust and extremely
flavorful, Bell’s beers are sometimes eccentric, always delicious, and
usually expensive (though worth every penny).
Kalamazoo classifies this as a “double” cream stout, but I find it to be
closer to a dry or extra stout. It is closer to an extra in body, roasted
character, and alcohol content. A classic cream or milk stout (Watney’s, Sam
Adams, Mackeson, Lancaster) will be relatively smooth and less roasty than
Bell’s Special Double Cream Stout is. Special Double Cream is available
September through May and is one of the breweries winter seasonals.
Bell’s Special Double Cream Stout pours to a deep dark color with a foamy
tan head of rather large bubbles and a rich chocolate nose. There’s lots of
bittersweet chocolate character here, some roastiness too which intensifies
in the finish. The beer is fairly smooth drinking and reminds me of the
Cherry Stout without the cherries. A good alcohol kick weighs in at 7.5 % by
volume, making this a brew to warm you on a cold winter’s eve. The chocolate
character and dry finish would make this an excellent dessert beer. Try it
with a thick slice of chocolate cake.
Update 1/4/2014:
Yeah, Ok, Bell's beers are expensive here in Georgia (or
anywhere for that matter). But they are one of the few breweries I will give
a pass on that because, well, they're so damned good. Special Double Cream
Stout is loaded with notes of chocolate, vanilla, silky-milky smoothness in
the palate, and light phenols on into the finish. it's a wonderful beer,
even if a bit lower in alcohol than it used to be (my bottle, packaged on
11/7/13, says 6.1% ABV and on the label:
Brewed with a blend of 10 different
malts Double Cream is an incredibly rich stout composed of dark, sweet and
smooth tones intermingles with a soft, roasty finish.
Magnificent!
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For
reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft