Bells Batch 7000 Ale

Bell’s Batch 7000 hits "center mass" on the imperial stout target. The aroma, appearance, and flavor match quite well. The sheer alcohol content somewhat detracts from the enormous malt and hop flavors, otherwise perfectly balanced. Unlike Kalamazoo Stout, the roast does not overwhelm the finish, and the hops endure. I wouldn’t mind even more hops, perhaps an "imperial" version of Anchor or Sierra Nevada porter.

12 oz bottle: Pretty dark, almost black but a very dark brown w/ a lasting tan head with some orangey redness. Initial aroma is dark fruit (prunes/dates) w/ a mix of chocolatey, roasty, and toasted malts. Some woody and cherry notes as well as alcohol esters. Lightly nutty & raisiny when warmed, and seems more woody as it warms further. Lots of malty sweetness in the flavor throughout. Finishes semi sweet w/ a bit of roasty coffee flavor. Some dark cherry fruit flavors along w/ some chocolate malt. Light alcohol flavor, but very light. Roasty aftertaste w/ some notes of dates and figs. Caramel and toasty malt flavors come through as it warms as well as a bit of a cherry wood flavor. Full bodied, low carbonation, well hidden alcohol although slightly warming, smooth and rich body. Damn, I wish I has more of this one! Fantastic beer to say the least. Thanks to kramer17801 for this one!

Thanks to Rebecca for the bottle. Big old chocolate head, amazing lacing, pitch black body. Nose has cherry twang, molasses,caramel, marshmallow, alcohol, chocolate, some dark fruits. Kinda hot, chocolate, caramel, burnt malt, sweet cherries, slightly sjmoky. If this wasn’t so hot it would be great. Amazing body/carbonation level

Rerate: If there is a beer that has a better aroma, flavor, or leaves a better flavor on the tongue i have yet to see it. One of my all time favorites. Got this on a road trip through Michigan. I wasnt thinking and only got a single instead of the whole six pack. This was excellent. This seems more complex than expedition, but i think i like it better because of that. I think i liked this one more than the expd. because the alcohol seemed more masked, maybe its just me and my palate has evolved. This was very thick and syrupy. If I could find this again I would pick it up very quickly.

From 12oz Bottle. Oily black pour with an even layer of toasted tan head. The aroma is quite delicious. Tons of dark fruits permeate through the heavy coffee aromas: dark ripened prunes, cinnimon spiced raisin, and pumperknickle bread tickle my nostrils. A hint of anise and plum also mix with a molasses and dried apricot sweetness. Some vegetal notes of celery seed in there as well. Thick, heavy, almost syrupy body splashes the lightly bitter flavors of dark fruit across my palate. Toasted dates, caramelized raisins, and seared almonds wash over the tongue during the first wave of flavor. The second wave brings on a dry french roast coffee that comes as a bit of a surprise after the fruity start. Delicious! I love how this beer is able to incorporate the massive fruity characters into the richness of the toasted coffee dimensions as well. It really gives this beer a uniquely creative touch.

For my 600th review,needed something special. This was the third time I’ve had this but the first one Ive sat to review. High malt, dark fruit, raisin and alcohol in the aroma,dark opaque brown black color, huge chewy malty raisiny chocolate and alcohol taste. this bottle ,unlike the others I tried had a touch of vinager sourness,but I’m not going to dock it for that because the others didn’t have that. a stunningly wonderful brew

12-oz. bottle from artusory. Pours a thick, staining opaque liquid with a small thick frothy brown head, lined lacing, somewhat diminishing head. Aroma is dark, rich chocolate and coffee, malt, perfumey hops and alcohol, molasses and dark fruit (prunes, raisins). Thick and chewy chocolate and coffee dark roasted malt, burnt almost, maple and a floral, perfumey hop acidity, alcohol notes. Dark bodied, creamy and smooth palate.

Bottle obtained in a trade with <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/ViewUser.asp?UserID=11198 target=blank>Dough77, thanks Tim. Deep black in colour, lasting beige head, some patchy lacing and alcohol legs. The aroma was surprisingly hoppy (some pine), deep roast, chocolate, caramel and molasses, very light alcohol. The flavour had lots of chocolate malts, very deeply and dark roasted coffee beans, some sweetness, darks fruits, some vanilla. Chalky mouthfeel, medium/large body, medium/high carbonation. Finishes very long with a lingering moderate bitterness. Very good.