Bells Batch 6000 Ale

Formerly brewed at Bells Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

In short: A maderised past-due-date barley wine that still kicks some major ass
How: Bottle 12oz. From dmschefke. Many thanks Dave. Consumed when… old.
The look: Opaque redish burgundy topped by a very small beige head
In long: Nose is extra-fruity for a big American barley wine. The carbonation is ultra-soft and the body ends-up being rather slick. Flavours include thick fruity caramel, toffee, sherry-like flavours (although it is probably due to the implicit maderisation of such an old beer), dark fruits (raisins and such), some tobacco leaves, unexpected mint notes, . I’m really surprised at how much I got resinous hops from this old brew. That thing was probably hopped as hell when fresh. I was told that this brew was properly cellared, and that’s probably true. I don’t think a “living room aged Bells 6000 bottle” is still worth drinking. I actually really really enjoyed that old past due-date beer. It kicks the ass of most fresh barley wines I’ve ever had. Wow! If all past due-date products were so good my fridge would be filled with delicious dairy products.

well, this one is my fault, i traded for this with someone for a bells batch 7000 and held it too long. It had a bit of a soggy oatmeal taste which I am sure was not the original intention. Ohter tastes were of vanilla, hops, chocolate, coffee, and caramel. Very thick and syrupy mouthfeel. Not quite the experience as everyone else has described.

Bottle Generously shared by MrBunn. Pours a deep coppery brown with minimal head. Aromas are Brown sugar ALL the way. Very sweet and rich, molasses rears its head, with tones of caramel and just plain sticky goodness that envelops the senses. Nice alcohol bite rounds out the finish. All I can say is I wish I had a case, or a hundred.

Bottle with huge thanks to Dave. Pours a medium to dark brown with a little bit of head and aromas that are dominated by brown sugar with a little oxidation present. Dark fruit is also detectable. Flavor is simply wonderful, especially considering the age. Oxidation is not very present, but ABV is as is brown sugar and dark fruit. Freaking amazing.

Bottle Pours out a cloudy brown topped with a small head. Aroma was great lots of sweetness caramel, pit fruit and molases. Tast was just the same lots of sweetness. Very thick and rich just as you would hope a 6 year old BW to be. This was very nice. A big thanks to footbalm. I would love another.

12 oz. bottle - wow, thanks tom for bringing this guy!! pours thick dark brown with slight white head; huge nose of molasseses, figs, dank fruit, sugar; after the big nose, the flavors don’t quite match, but there is plenty of goodness in there; lovely texture and quite gentle going down; hey Bells, take a break from the impys and brew a few more BW’s ;)

12-oz. Thanks, Pantanap! (Hope I’m getting the credit right....happy to adjust it). Murky dark brown with bright caramel highlights. Headless, laceless. Not much leg showing. Big caramel, coffee, graham cracker nose. Creamy, medium, somewhat sticky body. All the aromatics come back for the mid-palate. A little bit of oaky vanilla shows up near the end. This description certainly does not do justice to what was the beer of the day, and that in some very good company.

Tonight deserved a rarity from the cellar. 12 oz bottle. Pours a hazy chocolatey brown color with a small khaki head. Nose is outstanding, dark fruits, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, light spice and alcohol. Initial taste mirrors the aroma with some more complexity. Initial taste demonstrates its medium syrupy body with caramel, toffee, sweet malts. Developing into a coffee, chocolate and dark fruits. Raisans and mollasses also become apparent. Right upon the finish you get toffee creaminess. Hop balance was still there and beautiful. Everything was well balanced and developed nicely. Body is medium, average head retention. Palate duration is above average. Extremely tasty and very drinkable.