Bell's Double Cream Stout 6Pk

Bell's Double Cream Stout 6Pk is a 6.1% ABV American cream stout from Bell's Brewery in Michigan, sold in a six-pack of 12 oz bottles. Brewed with 10 different specialty roasted malts and entirely dairy-free, this stout achieves its signature silky body through malt complexity alone — a distinction that sets it apart from many cream stouts that rely on lactose.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.1%  |  Origin: Kalamazoo / Comstock, Michigan, USA  |  Style: American Double Cream Stout  |  Brewery: Bell's Brewery, Inc.

Production & Heritage

Bell's Brewery was founded in 1985 by Larry Bell in Kalamazoo, Michigan, making it one of the earliest craft breweries east of the Rocky Mountains. The Double Cream Stout is built on a foundation of 10 specialty roasted malts — including chocolate malt, caramel malt, black malt, and Munich malt — layered to create depth without any dairy additions. The word "cream" in the name refers entirely to the luxuriously full mouthfeel produced by this complex malt bill, not to any milk sugar or lactose in the recipe.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich cocoa and roasted malt rise from the glass first, followed by undercurrents of dark coffee and a subtle earthiness. A faint sweetness reminiscent of caramel rounds out the nose.

Taste: Toasted malt dominates the entry, transitioning quickly into layered espresso and milk chocolate at mid-palate. Mild vanilla notes add depth as dark fruit and a restrained herbal bitterness emerge toward the peak, keeping the sweetness in check.

Finish: Medium in length with a smooth, silky texture that coats the palate. Lingering cocoa and roasted malt fade into light phenolic notes and a clean, dry close.

How to Drink Bell's Double Cream Stout

Best served at cellar temperature, around 50–55°F, to allow the full spectrum of roasted malt flavors to open up. Pouring into a tulip glass or snifter concentrates the chocolate and coffee aromatics. A Black Velvet — equal parts stout and champagne — plays off the beer's creamy body with effervescence. A Stout Float made with vanilla ice cream amplifies the existing vanilla and cocoa notes into a decadent dessert drink. For a cocktail-style approach, a Black and Tan layered over a pale ale highlights the Double Cream Stout's dense malt character by contrast.

Best For

• Cold-weather evenings by a fire pit or fireplace
• Pairing with a rich chocolate dessert course at dinner
• Introducing a hop-focused craft beer drinker to dark ales
• Gifting a six-pack to a stout enthusiast exploring Michigan craft beer

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bell's Double Cream Stout taste like? It delivers a rich, layered profile led by toasted malt, espresso, and milk chocolate, with supporting notes of vanilla, dark fruit, and a balanced herbal bitterness. The mouthfeel is notably silky and smooth despite containing no dairy.

How does Bell's Double Cream Stout compare to Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro? Both aim for a creamy, smooth stout experience, but Bell's achieves its texture entirely through 10 specialty malts without using lactose, while Left Hand Milk Stout includes milk sugar for body and sweetness. Bell's tends toward a drier, more roast-forward finish, whereas Left Hand Nitro leans sweeter and softer on the palate.

Is Bell's Double Cream Stout good for beginners? Yes — at 6.1% ABV it sits at a moderate strength, and the smooth, chocolate-forward character makes it an approachable entry point for anyone curious about dark ales without overwhelming roasted bitterness.

Where is Bell's Double Cream Stout made? It is brewed by Bell's Brewery, Inc., which operates facilities in both Kalamazoo and Comstock, Michigan. Bell's is one of the pioneering Midwest craft breweries, established in 1985.

What foods pair well with Bell's Double Cream Stout? Chocolate lava cake mirrors the cocoa notes and creates a seamless dessert pairing. Smoked brisket or barbecue ribs stand up to the roast malt intensity. Sharp aged cheddar provides a salty counterpoint to the malt sweetness. Mole-sauced dishes share the beer's chocolate and earthy undertones. Vanilla bean crème brûlée echoes the stout's subtle vanilla character.

What sizes does Bell's Double Cream Stout come in? It is commonly available in a six-pack of 12 oz bottles, which is the standard retail format.

Is Bell's Double Cream Stout worth the price? It positions as a well-priced craft stout within the everyday premium tier, offering a malt complexity — 10 specialty grains — that rivals more expensive limited-release stouts at a fraction of the cost.

Why Bell's Double Cream Stout?

The defining achievement of this beer is producing a genuinely creamy, full-bodied stout without a single dairy-derived ingredient. Where many cream stouts lean on lactose as a shortcut to richness, Bell's builds its texture from the ground up with a 10-malt recipe that delivers cocoa, espresso, and vanilla in balanced proportion. Backed by nearly four decades of brewing heritage from one of America's foundational craft breweries, the Double Cream Stout remains a benchmark for what malt-driven complexity can accomplish in the style.