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Bells Batch 5000 Ale

 (RETIRED)
Score
9797
OVERALLStyle
Formerly brewed at Bells Brewery
Style: Smoked
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

bottled
available

on tap
unknown

Local Distribution

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RATINGS: 229   WEIGHTED AVG: 3.69   SEASONAL: Special   EST. CALORIES: 270   ABV: 9%
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Bell's Batch 5000 Ale is a smoked strong ale, brewed to celebrate Kalamazoo Brewing Company's 5000th batch. It is brewed with 26 % German, beechwood-smoked malt. It is very lightly hopped which showcases the rich caramel tones of the malt body that balances the assertive smoke flavor throughout. Batch 5000 would be a wonderful pairing for robust cheeses, sausages and smoked salmon. While drinkable now, Batch 5000 has an ageing potential of several years. The interplay of flavors will mature and develop subtly with time. Avoid any extreme temperatures, and keep at a cellar temperature below 65 °F. Single Batch Release - January, 2002 only.

3.9
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 18/20
rayl101 (150) - Brownstown, Michigan, USA - DEC 29, 2011
12oz bottle. Pours clear brown with no head, just a small ring. Aroma is smoky, reminds me of bacon. Body is medium-full. Flavor is smoky with sweet caramel, and a little candied fruit in the finish.

3.6
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
nightrider (676) - encinitas, California, USA - JUL 31, 2011
Pour from a bottle on this beer gave a murky amber brown. Pretty decent smoky aroma in your nose. Strong almost harsh quality in your mouth with plenty of malt cola like qualities for flavor. Sweet malt pervades through the sample with some caramel and molasses. Happy to try it.

3.5
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
lushawn (2161) - Somerville, Massachusetts, USA - JUL 24, 2011
My notes on this beer are primarily on speed dongs and fast fallacies. This seemed to have held up remarkably well though. Consumed mid 2011. Some doughy molasses and high meat smoke. Though smoke character seems to have faded. Good. Wish I could have tried this fresh, but I was even younger and stupider back then.

3.8
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
EricE (1232) - Fairfax, Virginia, USA - JUN 19, 2011
Bottle courtesy of ryan. Clear orange-yellow pour with very little carbonation. Tons of smoke on the nose with notes of toasted caramel. Flavor has a light sweetness and is meaty, almost with the flavor of miso. Smokiness throughout with a bitter finish.

3.5
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
GT2 (3440) - Washington DC, USA - JUN 13, 2011
355mL thanks to ryan. The pour is a flatter, clear, deep amber. Yellow bubbles. Nose is toffee, caramel, miso soup and seaweed. Lots of savory miso soup (odd). Taste is savory with big miso soup, mild smoke, ash, orange mint, sweeter toffee. Very soft smolder. Not too smokey in that sense. Comes across much more as a soft smolder atop olderbarleywine.

3.7
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
Travlr (4544) - Washington, Washington DC, USA - JUN 11, 2011
Bottle courtesy of ryan, thanks! Bright and clear amber brown, no head. Aroma of cigars and cigarettes. Taste starts sweet than rapidly sets itself on fire and smoulders. Fascinating.

3.3
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
phaleslu (3182) - Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - MAR 17, 2011
12 oz. bottle from drewbeerme- thanks again, Andrew! The pour depends on what part of the bottle you get- the first half is a clear cola brown and the second half is a super muddy brown, neither of which have any head to speak of. Aroma of smoke, cream, caramel malts, rusted metal, and pork. Flavor of smoked pork, cream, caramel malts, fruit, and tons and tons of brown sugar. Smoky, sweet, milky mouthfeel with no carbonation and a medium body. Weird beer, and wonder what this would have been like closer to January 2002. Still glad to try it.

3.8
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 16/20
AgentSteve (1585) - SF Bay Area, California, USA - OCT 28, 2010
Pours department ruddy brown. Nose is light smoke and malt. Flavor goes more To the smoke side, like a camp fire with dried fruit.


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Rating Notecard:
Beer: Bells Batch 5000 Ale Rating Avg: 3.69 No. of Ratings: 229
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