Bells Batch 6000 Ale

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

Great Taste of the Midwest 2008
OK. This had to be the highlight of the Great Taste event. My buddies and I are walking by the Bells tent, and notice a guy with a Bells t-shirt on uncorking a 3 liter bottle. My friend says, "Who is that", and someone quickly answers, "It’s Larry Bell". Well duh. He then proceeds to open the bottle and pours each willing participant a sample of the long awaited Batch 6000. Tasters then eagerly placed their cups (like pigs coming for the teat) below while Larry poured each a sample. When tasting, I noticed that the hops were still alive here. A wonderful concoction that I’d love to have any day.

Clear chestnut body, very fast disappering creamy beige head; Huge hoppy nose, a little soapy but very good; Big soft and sharp body, not really balanced; Thin and soft finish, simple bitter and sweet.

(Bottle thanks to Puddintane) Pours a muddy brown with some copper hints. Small head. The aroma is compact and complex malty with tones of caramel, dark sugar and dark juicy bread. Rather vinous and still a bit hoppy with notes of grapes, tart fruits and dark fruits like raisins, figs, prunes and oranges. Some resin and wood. Undertones of mint, earth, leather, apples and tobacco. The flavour is medium to heavily sweet and medium bitter with tones of caramel/toffee, citrus like oranges and grapefruit, resin and hints of chocolate. The mouthfeel is round and light sticky. The finish is hop dry alongside some light syrupy notes. Near full-bodied. Fantastic aged BW aroma but the flavour is rather simplistic.

Small sample from a large bottle at Great Taste of the Midwest on 8-9-2008. "Who is that guy [pouring the beer]!? "That’s Larry Bell!" "Oh..." Pours brown with small amount of tan head. Citrus, especially orange, in the surprisingly hoppy aroma. I can’t believe how hoppy this beer is in both aroma (especially) and flavor after years of aging. Wonderful aroma. Watermelon-sweet taste. Full body. Lively and silky in the palate.

Tap at maduro. Hazy brown/red pour with a thin off white head. Raisin and caramel aroma. The flavor is similar with cherry and booze as well. Long boozy finish.

Had this on tap at a local bar. Poured a very very dark amber, almost to the point of being jet black. The aroma was very overpowering, with a very strong alcohol smell. Flavor was suprising given the aroma, was very smooth and bold but not overwhelming. Overall a great beer.

12 oz. bottle thanks to Axilla for sharing. Poured hazy brown in color with a medium sized tan head. Aroma of toffee, caramel, and hops. Tastes of grainy malts, toffee, and molasses. The hop character is still present, and comes in at the front end, fades a little and returns in the finish. Smooth easy drinking barleywine.

Caramel brown with no head. Sweet caramel aroma, matched in flavor with additional notes of dates and honey. Very nice beer.