Bells Batch 5000 Ale

Formerly brewed at Bells Brewery
Style: Smoked
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Bottle at Papsø’s - Thanks to CaptainCougar. Cloudy red/brown - white head. Caramel, fruity, nice light smokey, lovely smooth body, sweetness, bacon, sticky body, light syrup, toasted, light roasted.

Sampled at MN Ratebeer Winter Gathering in Maplewood, MN and supplied by hellomynameis. From a 12-oz bottle pours a hazy caramel amber brew with a thin off-white head that has some good retention and lacing. Aroma is "smoke’n" with scents of smoked and moist pork jerky, a touch of maple syrup, a touch of chocolate and brown sugar. Taste is medium to full bodied, with flavors of smoked pork, bacon, some chocolate, brown sugar and molasses. Finish is semi-dry with a smoked pork aftertaste that is hard to go away.

Had at Willblake’s place. Pours a deep dark woody brown, haze, and a thin head. Very sticky sweet caramel. light soy, oily nuts, and a smooth deep smokiness- light campfire- heavy on the smokey meats and smoked salmon aromas. Thickly sweet flavor, molasses, caramel, chocolate nutty hints, good balance of woody and meaty smoke. Huge thick body for a smoked beer. Held up surprisingly well with very little oxidation. Damn tasty overall.

Dark brown, muddy color. Smallish head. Aroma is smoky and woody. Big smoked flavored ale. Malts are surprisingly sweet, nutty and woody. The hops are really masked by the smokiness but they are fairly mild and piney(?) It’s hard to tell. It nicely smoked and malty and hides the 9% alcohol very well. It aggressively smoked, with being over the top about i. This is NOT a beer for everyone, but it is a must try for smoked beer fans. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth, Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Poured a murky brown color with a small, light tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of smoked meats, charred wood, nuts, sherry, and caramel malts. Taste was smokey, a bit salty, with roasted malts, tobacco, cocoa, and more caramel. Alcohol was fairly strong. Thanks Paul!

MN Ratebeer Winter Gathering, January 12, 2008. Thanks to Hellomynameis for bringing this and everyone for somehow managing to stretch a single bottle between all of us! Murky brown color with no head. Slightly oxidized aroma with caramel and a bit of smoke. Screaming Bamburg-style smoke in the flavor. Sweet malt and some caramel. Freakin delicious.

Sampled 9/2003. Pours a ruddy brown/black with some violet and burgundy tinges on the glass. Very little head, typical of bells stronger beers. Highly unfiltered, bottle conditioned, unpasteurised! Smells of sweet ripe red fruit and some caramel, faintly smoky on the nose. Begins with a very full, rich raspberry honey flavor, backed up with lots of fresh caramel malt. Taste has plenty of barley malt as well, and then, the smoke flavor. WOW. this is amazing. Subtle at first and climaxing stronger but still balanced. Tastes like raspberry smoked beef barbecue. It is salty and meaty, yet retains a pleasant flavor and has the texture of moist beef jerky. It then fades into some nice, but light hops and finishes clean and smooth. Alcohol Very well masked, carbonation is minimal. Beer has a wonderfully full complex body. A pleasure to drink this.

Sampled again 6/2005 at RBSG. Still holding up spectacularly well. Smooth, silky, chocolatey and plenty of salty, rich smoke. Awesome beer that has really proved itself to me.

Amber pour. Aroma is smoky as hell with some bacon notes and bandaids. Flavor is really sweet with a good smoked bacon flavor profile. This one showed no signs of oxidation at all.