Since I can't always guarantee that this post will be timely given my schedule during the posting of the first preview article, I have decided to make this a Fan Post series (until Kurt hires me and pays me in a six pack of Founders KBS to put these on the main page). I hope that this still gets regular viewership over here, and I really want the opinion of the commentariat on these, as well.

Anyway, for the second series, the New York Yankees will come to town. Even though Derek Jeter is still on the shelf for this game, he is the spark for the second beer in our series: Bell's Third Coast Old Ale (note: I'm not 100% sure on the rules of what I can and can't do with pictures, because I'd like to put a picture of the beer in each article, but until the moderators tell me what is legal and what's not, I'll just link a picture and post it in the comments).

A word to the wise: this beer is not for the faint of heart. This is a heavy, dark, powerful beer. It is officially classified as an American Barleywine, but I feel like it shares more characteristics with a stout than anything. It has several complex aromas (chocolate, caramel, citrus, and a nice smokiness are ever present, along with some great maple sweetness that makes an appearance), and it finishes with a nice little hoppy aftertaste that prevents it from having that sickly sweet feeling most of these high gravity, ultra powerful barleywines have. It comes in at 10.2% AVB and about 55 IBU, so this is definitely a sipping beer with dessert on a cold day as opposed to a session beer. Have this beer with some apple cinnamon bread pudding or a rich slice of chocolate cake next to a roaring fire while curled up under a blanket.

Bells Brewery is located in Kalamazoo, MI, and I don't think this is the last we'll be seeing them in this series.