Bells Batch 7000 Ale

Formerly brewed at Bells Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

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?U 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.

From a 12 oz. long neck brown bottle with a short blurb and batch number on the back label, 7000, of course, packaged on September 13, 2005, sampled at cellar temperature in a Bell’s pint glass, but I should’ve used a chalice for more class. Made an outstanding appearance, poured a syrupy blackish brown with a foamy tan head that slowly settled into a thin skim-like, foamy and bubbly lacing, minimal amount of sticking, good stout carbonation. Had a tasty nose of caramel, chocolate, molasses, grapefruit and pine with whiffs of alcohol. A malty crisp, textured, chewy and creamy smooth full bodied mouthfeel, very good stout sipping drinkability. Delicious tasting with the alcohol tamed in the background, very balanced double stout, a nice light roasted malty, caramel and chocolate laced coffee, a subtle molasses, dry lightly roasted nuts, a grapefruity bitterness that only adds to the taste, pine resins, the bitterness is soft and compliments the malts, and a dry hoppy finish with the hop flavors along with the roastiness lingering in the palate. Well, this is now my favorite double stout, balanced, tasty and dangerously quaffable. I had a couple of bottles when this first came out and this has only improved with a little aging. This bottle was given to me by the owners of Wine Sellers, Dave and Stacy, in Macomb, Illinois, to sample. It pays to be loyal to local merchant who is willing to stock craft beers, many, many thanks!!

Balck, with modest, dense brown head. Roasty, burnt malt, bittersweet dark chocolate, dark vinous fruits, mocha, light dose of bitter and resinous hops, subtle anise and vanilla. Full, chewy body. Excellent.

The beer debarks the 12-ounce brown bottle an atramentous color, the head is thick and creamy, and chocolate brown, kingly in size, as it slowly erodes the lace forms a rich light brown blanket to obscure the glass. Nose is a deep rich burnt malt with a big hit of chocolate, sweet and appetizing to say the least, start is richly sweet, thick with malt, the top full and rich. Finish is benign in its acidity, the hops delectable as is the chocolate and over roasted grain, wow, another masterpiece from one of the world’s top breweries.

Opened 5/’06. Aged well. Poured black and thick. (thought it was expedition) Aroma of raisins,dates.coffe,caramel and figs. Started earthy sweet withraisins ,dark chocalate,sweet rum,coffe and burnt caramel. Slight tart finish with malty backbone. nice mild hop balance.

Bottle from Styles- Thank you very much sir! This is some black shznit! Blacker than the ace of spades with a nice tim horton’s iced cap froth. The aroma is a blast of authority. Lots of anise and dark ritter sport chocolate, black coffee with some tobacco and freshly laid tar. Tastes like I threw dark chocolate, tobacco, charred malts, coffee beans, dark rum, and molasses all in a blender, and am now drinking it. Word to yo’ momma. Long dry bitter coffee/chocolate-esqueness. Very full and heavy. Feels more like 20% ABV. I’ll talk it any day! Word, thanks Chris!