Chicagoist's Beer Of The Week: Bell's "Hell Hath No Fury"

By Jason Baldacci in Food on Nov 9, 2012 10:05PM

With all of the momentum the craft beer scene has in Chicago these days, it's hard to imagine that just a few years ago, the beer drinkers in town were lamenting the loss of Bell's Brewing Co. from the state of Illinois. Since coming back to town, though, Bell's has become a powerhouse once again, to the point that you can find their beers in almost every corner tap in the city. Today, we honor an old favorite by showcasing one of their lesser known brews.

The "Hell Hath No Fury" is a Belgian-Style Dark Ale. While Bell's is not normally known for brewing Belgian styles, they do a number on this one by blending two different yeast strains together to impart a complex array of flavors. They say that the inspiration for the beer was an Abbey-Style Dubbel, but the "Hell Hath No Fury" is a little dark in color for that specific style, as well as a bit too roasty on the palate. We do get the classic notes of figs and raisins you'll usually find in a Dubbel, but the "Hell Hath No Fury" has more prevalent juicy fruit tones like concord grape and blueberry, in addition to the hints of bitter cocoa and coffee that shine through on the finish. The little hop notes that we pick up are earthy, but they're just strong enough to balance out the caramelization of the malts. At 7.7% alcohol content, this beer isn't necessarily quaffable, but it's definitely one we could sit back and get cozy with throughout the course of an evening.

When it comes to food, the "Hell Hath No Fury" could be very fun to pair. We'd definitely opt for something hearty, such as a stew or something that's been braised. Lamb or beef would work wonderfully, and be sure to get some root vegetables involved. Pot roast, perhaps? There's a lot of potential for a great dessert pairing as well, but you'd have to mind those flavors of blueberries and concord grape, since the "Hell Hath No Fury" isn't as close to coffee as a stout or porter usually would be. We'd stay away from any foods that are too spicy and lighter dishes, as this hefty brew would likely trample over anything that's too delicate.

You can find the "Hell Hath No Fury" on tap this week at the Rocking Horse in Logan Square.