Time To Sound The Bells - Bell's 30th Anniversary
STOUT DAY IN THE USA
To walk into a brew pub at three in the afternoon to see a bar top the length of an old school stretch caddy full of men pounding snifters of the dark goodness was a sight on its own. But in the corner of this vivaciously decorated, although poorly lit for the daytime, location reside the true eye catchers of the afternoon. Sprightly situated are four lively lovelies consuming libations. These are the type of young women who would fit in better in one of those SoBe night clubs a few miles away on a late-night bender instead of sitting in the corner of a dive during this ungodly hour for some mid-day philandering… but who am I to judge? More power to ya ladies! But their alluring presence is only short lived (at least in relation to my visit), and in the true beauty of Miami life, they are quickly replaced with a bevy of even younger looking debutantes with an equally insatiable desire to partake in some casual boozing in the daytime.
I reluctantly, but unwavering, have two entirely different pursuits this fine day. First, it's Stout Day in the good ol' U S of A which means, "Yes please!" Secondly, this wonderful establishment is serving a glass of the one liquid black gold I seek, Bell's 30th Anniversary Imperial Double Stout. By the looks of it, from my aforementioned description of the deuce & a quarter bar slab in front of me, I can see I'm not alone.
KALAMAZOO TO A PINT FOR YOU
As I sit back to relax and eagerly await my anticipated brew, it strikes me that I just ordered the 30th anniversary beer of a craft brewery. How is this possible? Have they really been making craft beers for over 30 years? Has this one brewer really been making brews for 30 years? The answer is simple, yes! But the part you have to understand is that back then it wasn’t the scene it is today. You couldn’t just walk into a pub in Florida and order a craft brewer from Michigan and expect a cold frothy beer in seconds. Things didn’t work that way; the big boys weren’t having it, but now you can and I’m taking full advantage of the situation.
Bell’s Brewery, Inc., originally named The Kalamazoo Brewing Company, was founded by Larry Bell in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1983 and it all started with a 15 gallon soup pot. Well, technically, it started as a home brewing supply shop but why deviate from what we all came here for. It wasn’t until September of 1985 when they sold their first commercial beer, hence the whole 30th anniversary thing (just trust me with the math on this one). Originally producing 135 barrels (1 barrel = 31 gallons) in its first full year of production; it most recently produced over 310,000 barrels in 2014. Plenty of soup to go around for all, my friends! They currently produce 8 year round beers, most notably the Two Hearted Ale, an India Pale Ale named after the Two Hearted River in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which was rated as the 2nd best beer in the United States according to the American Homebrewers Association. They also produce several specialty releases such as the Hopslam, The Oracle, Expedition Stout and Best Brown Ale to name a few. But I’ve digressed, because, as I’ve stated, I was here for one thing and it has finally arrived!
BLACK AS THE NIGHT IS GLORIOUS
This beer is jet black with a thin amber tanned head which caps it off like the fitting crown this kingly beer deserves. Alright my beer heads, let’s get the facts out of the way. Style is an American Double/Imperial Stout. ABV is 11%. Full-bodied. Dark, roasted malts are obvious and the brewers used Polaris hops to add brightness to this otherwise black hole of rich, liquid malt magma.
The aromas are chocolate, coffee roast, and dark candied fruits. It’s a warming and lush brew, but the alcohol isn’t the least bit aggressive. The richness on the palate coats and paints the mouth like an oil slick. You get all the dark roasted chocolate notes with dark fruits, like blackberries heated over an open fire, dancing around in the background. I’m taking my time with this bad boy! It’s definitely a beer that can be drunk young, so its drinkability is solid right now, but I can also see this brew continuing to develop and becoming richer with some aging and cellaring.
It may have taken Bell’s thirty years to get to this moment but I’m thankful they did. I commend them on the journey which led them to this spectacular brew, and continue to anticipate my next encounter with one of their creations.
