02 Bottle. Pours a magnificent brown with some lighter ruby tinges peeking through. One of the best looking heads Ive seen on a beer, big and creamy and has a wonderful beige/mocha appearance. Aroma is equally huge, sweet and coffee like, with a slight hint of carroway. Tons of lacing in the glass. Begins surprisingly sweet, but just when it may get too sweet, there is the classic bells stout coffee flavor to the rescue. Flavor dries out and there emerges a big, medium sweet, lighlty acidic flavor of alcohol mixed with grains and lots of spice. As the beer warms, the rye flavor is quite noticeable. At first, I passed this one off as just a Kalamazoo Stout with some rye flavor. But this beer has its own personality. The sweetness stays on the palette, even as the coffee flavor comes through. Decent amount of hops throughout, with some roasted barley as well. As it warms to around 58-60, there is a distinct and tasty rye flavor on the finish. It reminds me of Sam Smiths Oatmeal mixed with Kalamazoo Stout (with a rye aftertaste). Good.

2002 bottle shared with Muzzlehatch on 2/18/06. My above rating is pretty on par. Didnt find any alcohol, but the rye and a very dry chocolate covered coffee-bean note are truly wonderful, balancing light caramel sweetness, hints of dry vanilla and still a soothing, if slightly leaner texture. Oxidation is only lightly present and quite enjoyable (nutty, dry marzipan like notes and touches of madeira).

Bell''s is liquid crack for Stout lovers like me. This beer pours almost black with a medium thin light brown head. Very little lacing. Nice bittersweet aroma of chocolate and black cherry. Flavor is a smooth blend of roasted coffee and what I am assuming must be rye. Points for pulling off something unique so well.