Bell's Black Note Stout 2017

Bell's Black Note Stout 2017. Stout aged in bourbon barrels. Alc. 11.2% by Vol. Shelf life-unlimited. Bell's Brewery, Comstock, MI.

Here's one that has eluded me for some time. Originally only available on draft for special events and festivals, it was finally released in bottles a few years back. I never saw one, though, until recently, and at last I get to take my notes on this highly hyped stout.

Solid blackness, the perfect hue when pulling the side out of the sleeve. Slim, toasted tan head on top.

In the nose: Big time. Sweet, sweet. Molasses, maple, anise, charcoal, ash. Deep, intense, magnificent. It's locked into a deep, dark, soulful groove.

In the mouth: Bam. Barrel-aged bourbon essence from the beginning. So dark, deep, rich, intense and delicious, the floodgates are lifted and the fury lets loose. Large chocolate and espresso deposits are set free and fill the senses. Coats the edges of every orifice. I'm all stuffed up.

This one is big, big, big. And good, good, good. Sweet, full, vast, rich. Boom. Bombastic. Busting out at the seams. Hits the right notes, again and again, a percussive thunderation of notes upon notes. Boom, boom, bam, bop. It is yum, and it's yum + yum times yum.

But.

Is it worth $10 for a 12 ounce bottle? Naw. It ain't. Just ain't. Good stuff, but I can't see how the price is justified.

Although, I am too quick to call them out on price. One day after writing the above, I went to another store and found bottles at $6.99 a piece. You just have to know where to go.

One of the most sought-after stouts in Bell's history, Black Note Stout blends the complex aromatics of Expedition Stout with the velvety smooth texture of Double Cream Stout and ages the combination in freshly retired oak bourbon barrels for months. The resulting harmony of flavors captures the finest features of all three components: malty notes of dark chocolate, espresso & dried fruits, all buoyed by the warmth and fragrance of the bourbon barrel. Aimed squarely at the stout and bourbon aficionados, Black Note makes a grand statement about the art of the dark.