Bells Batch 7000 Ale

Bottles courtesy kp and Sephiroth - Thanks!! Pours straight black with a thin dark tan that holds its own for a while. Aroma is phenomenal! Loads of chocolate, caramel, roasted nuts, vanilla, and some dark fruit...blended beautifully. I pour imperial stouts colder than most people would, and allow the beer to warm, so I can see how the beer evolves. This IS had one of the stronger noses I’ve ever noted at a cold temperature. Flavor is pretty darn good as well...loads of chocolate, toffee, roasted (bordering on burnt) coffee (which I didn’t expect given the aroma), dark fruit, and some vanilla accents. This was still a pretty hot drink (thought it would have mellowed a bit more over time, though I can’t say how this beer was 2+ years ago)...the alcohol was pretty evident, and warms the palate. Could have done with a bit less ’burnt’ coffee flavor... Moderately oily, and relatively thick, but not over the top. Very good Imperial Stout overall, though the aroma outdid the flavor... Looking forward to future bottles, which I think I’ll allow to sit a while still!

Drank from the bottle at the Brewery in 2007. Very strong, overpowering, and while full of flavor, not an enjoyable experience.

Thanks to my good friend Alldaydrinker for this special privilage. Pours out a visibly viscous black colour with a very late forming brown head that fades quickly to a thin film clinging to the edge of my glass. The is exploding with potent notes of anise, caramel, dates and molasses. There are subtler notes smoke, chocolate and vanilla. The flavour is perfectly balanced for an impy stout. Initial flavours of rich caramel, chocolate, dates and coffee tranasition into flavours of smoke, tobacco, anise, raisins and alcohol. The finish leaves a lingering of roasted malt and coffee with an extremely long residence time. This evolves as it warms, unveiling complexities unnoticed intially. The texture is silky smooth with gentle, yet ample carbonation, and a viscosity that coats tooth and gum. Its rich, yet dry in the finish and not overly sweet. Also, rather than harming the integrity of the beer, the booze complements the beers character. OUSTANDING!

12 oz. bottle courtesy of a trade with Sephiroth. Pours black with a moderate light brown head that lasted until mid-glass and left a layer of lace after each sip. Pleasant aroma of toffee, chocolate, and dates. As much as I enjoyed the aroma, the flavor is even better with lots of toffee, chocolate, dates and raisins with just a bit of coffee detected as well. The alcohol at 12% was extemely well hidden with only a trace of warmth at the swallow. Full bodied and delicious. I’m glad I got two bottles in my trade with Sephiroth!

Thanks Miketd. A little bitter and not the over the top ’sweet’ stout that is done so often, but a well balanced and highly drinkable big beer.

Thanks for this one wj94!! This is what I look for in a stout. It’s pretty sweet with a complex blend of molasses, raisins and maybe some vanilla? Palate is super clean, and near perfect. Loved this brew, even more than expedition stout.

Bottle, courtesy blankboy. Big thanks for shipping this one just because! Pours like old motor oil. Thick, caramel-colored head, with plenty of lacing. Big caramel aroma, and licorice. Lots of chocolate, and molasses, maple syrup, pine...some interesting tar-like qualities. Roasted nuts, too. Expecting a mighty fine tasting beer. Big, BIG roasted coffee flavor, with an infusion of delicious caramel. Toffee, warming chocolate. Bitter, roasted finish. Just fantastic. Oily body, with an oozing body that sticks to the mouth like taffy; extremely chewable. Dangerously drinkable at 12%. Just a really good beer, would love to try this in a few years.

bottle via trade with Tytoanderso. Pours a thick syrupy black. tiny head of khaki & tan colors. Almost dubbel like aromas, dried fruit, fig, caramel, chocolate, bourbon, some sourness. Had trouble finishing this one. Huge definately a sipper but something was holding me back. sourness?