Bell's Expedition Stout

This 10.5% ABV Russian Imperial Stout is from Bell's Brewery in Comstock, Michigan. The bottle lists its shelf life as "unlimited."

The beer pours deep black, with a short head of dark brown. The aroma is dark roasted, lots of dark chocolate, with dark dried fruits, especially raisins. The taste hits the same notes as the aromas, but the dark roasted is amplified in the taste, adding in strong char in an intense first burst of flavor, followed by a more mellow wave of the dark chocolate and fruits. There is much sweetness, but the finish is dry, with a moderately strong bitterness. The beer drinks very smooth, full-bodied, with a soft wave of carbonation.