Bells Batch 4000 Ale

Formerly brewed at Bells Brewery
Style: American Strong Ale
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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Bottled. Hazy ambber coloured. Dark fruits, almonds, liqueur and toffee aroma. Sweet flavour with the same notes as in the aroma. Mature.

My first Batch. The thing is, however, I am writing this from memory. So I probably will exaggerate. I don’t recall it as being as intense as 6000, but it was an incredible experience. I was new to Michigan beer, and this one blew me away with the hops and malts. Fantastic.

Bottle shared by sick_boy282... thanks Alex, you’re my hero! Pours a cloudy brown color with small head and no lacing. Aroma is malty and slightly sweet. Flavor is rich and malty but very smooth and enjoyable. I was very impressed with how well it’s help up over the years! Thanks again Alex!

Rusted ruby. Nice soapy off-white head. Fades to nothing. Alcoholified sweet brownies. Dry port. Soda-like malt, dry edges. Brownies. Oxidation, but okay in here. You can tell its died down perhaps, but it has a nice blend of flavors and has certainly held up exceptionally well over the last many (8?) years...

Big thanks to Jason for sharing this one. Aroma of complex and chewy caramel malt, dried dark fruits, and some fruityness. There was some oxidation that reminded me of smoke. Ruby-orange in color with a super thin head. Chocolate and caramel, fruity malts and again, I’m picking up oxidation in the form of smoke/cardboard. The cardboard isn’t strong and doesn’t bother me much. Medium body, fairly creamy and fairly sweet.

MUCH THANKS JASON for the rare opportunity to revisit this beer from my pre-Ratebeer days! Poured a hazy brown hue with a small frothy off-white head and some lace. The aroma has notes of vanilla, caramel, dried apricot, fig, grainy malts and of course a heavy oxidized vapor (which is a good thing for this beer). The flavor profile is fruity and rich with malts. Moderately nutty and caramelized as well. Finished off with a biscuity and slight cardboard (for ageing I would guess) aftertaste. The feel is the weak point of the brew, dry and soft, a bit sticky after you are done. This has aged wonderfully turning into an olde ale. If you get the chance, don’t pass it up!

UPDATED: MAR 19, 2008 Pre-Great Taste sampling at 1FastSti’s house

This came out about halfway through the night at the same time as a Goose Island Batch 2000. It was an interesting contrast to try both - this one wins by the slighest of margins only because my sample was slightly larger.

Aroma / Appearance - Barley, malts and some type of fruity nose that I couldn’t quite identify were the primary contributors to the aroma of this rich smelling beer. The amber colored body seemed to have a small head, but by the time I got around to rating it there was none to be seen.

Flavor / Palate - Oak, vanilla and a rich warming alcoholic sensation washed over me on the first sip. The few sips I had were a mixture of caramel, baker’s chocolate, cherry pie and caramel butter. Without being too thick, the mouthfeel filled out everywhere. Overall the balance was amazing. I am surprised that it has held up so well after so long.

Light tan/copper color small well laced off white head. Aroma is very sweet brown sugar and carmel malts light alcohol. Palate is well coated and creamy. Flavor is nutty carmels mellow well blended. Very good. Thanks a bunch to Jason for sharing.

(12oz bottle, thanks artusory) Opaque/cloudy amber body with small white head. Aroma is moderately sweet, floral, caramel, light butterscotch. Taste is moderately sweet, caramel, earthy/floral, some orange/cherry. Sticky, medium-full body.

Bottle from trade with walleye. Thanks Jim. Hazy amber body with a small off-white head. The aroma is a wonderful example of how oxidation can benefit a beer. Lightly oxidatized malts with nuts and caramel. The flavor is toffee, nuts, touch of chocolate and roast at the end. Just a touch of acidity. The mouthfeel is very soft, light and smooth.