Bell's Expedition Stout

Mmm, Expedition. So. Very. Good. 10.5% a.b.v. Russian Imperial Stout, according to some, the first commercial version in the U.S., going back to 1985.

Enjoying this exemplary indulgence on tap right now. Wrote about it from a bottle in January, 2003. Here's what I said:

"Dark as sin, and pours out a nearly violent, volcanic rich cocoa-colored head.

Aroma is simply incredible: maple syrup, anise, dates, dark rum, dark chocolate, and it doesn't end either, it spins on and on!

THICK texture! It's a liquid candy bar, sweet, full, chewy, but no Butterfingers here, this is heavy, substantial stuff!
Full body, persistent finish: this ripple of flavor will not let go! It's tenacious, is what it is!
This is Kalamazoo's Imperial Stout and it's way over the top, outdoing most, if not all the ISs I've ever had.
One of the thickest and chewiest Imperials in memory!"

Eight years later, more imperial stouts have come along, and they've garnered attention, hype and appropriate accolades. I still love Expedition, probably more than the others. Nothing, not even Darkness, has upturned my appreciation. Deep and dependable, full and decadent, but not overblown and torturous. And it's another world entirely when it's aged a year or more.

 This is a fresh(-ish) keg. I've aged some kegs in the past, and featured them in my stout/porter events. That was fun, wasn't it? Oh, yeah.