Kalamazoo Brewing Company
(short notes)
Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
I've visited the brewpub twice. These notes are drawn from both a visit in September 1999 and more recent notes on bottled samples. A good friend of mine, Scott, is from Kalamazoo, and obviously loves the place. I have had odd, mixed results. I've had fantastic bottled product shipped by friends, purchased in pubs in the upper midwest, or delivered by hand by Scott. Yet, the two times I've visited the pub itself (August 1996 and September 1999), I've been disappointed. Indeed, in the 1999 visit, they had exactly two beers on tap, and neither terribly exciting at that.
| Amber | Am. Amber Ale |
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| Amber to red in color. Caramel quite obvious in aroma, and caramel flavor dominates the subtle flavor profile. Finishes sweet, as expected, from the crystal malts. Sampled at the brewpub September 11, 1999. |
| Oberon | American Wheat |
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| Amberish color, buttery/malty aroma. Nice wheat malt flavor which lends a typically dull style some character. Sampled at the brewpub September 11, 1999. |
| Third Coast | Old Ale |
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| Reddish amber with a slight haze out of the bottle. Reticient light tan head. Deep maltiness in the aroma, some crystal notes, and a hint of sherry in this slightly aged bottle. Flavor initially opens thin, but the malt builds up on the palate, which slides into an interesting depth of character with hints of crystal in the background. A light finishing bitterness struggles to balance it out, and a soothing alcoholic warmth completes the package. This is an interesting beer, but it's fairly straightforward, almost workmanlike for an Old Ale. There's little to excite beyond what one expects. That's not to say that it is unworthy; it is a very good beer that I would happily buy again. Bottle sample, tasted on January 13, 2001. |
| Expedition Stout | Imperial Stout |
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| Now here's a beer. Tar black in color, lightly carbonated, with very little head. Amazing deep chocolate, roast, maltiness, and alcohol compete in a complex aroma. The flavor opens with a strong basic maltiness with hop flavors in the background, then coffee and roasty notes emerge. A combination of roastiness and bitterness finishes this beer. It's huge, deep, and nuanced. You can't go wrong with this one. Bottle sample, tasted on January 13, 2001. |
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Bell's Special Double Cream |
Stout |
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Another excellent stout from a brewery that specializes in excellent stouts. Read the rather dated full review of Bell's Special Double Cream. |