Bells Batch 7000 Ale

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!

12oz bottle, I stole it from Kevin! I figured this would be a barleywine...but I was pleasantly surprised! Pours oil black with a solid brown head...I can smell liquorice before I’m done pouring my glass. Strong aromatics...some sort of doughy roastiness...a bit chalky or musty. Chocolate too, with a little earth tinge. The massive thick sweet body is certainly there on this beast. Some coffee lingering. Mouthfeel is a bit odd as it jumps from huge sweetness into dry, warming tannins w/ coffee like bitterness hanging around for minutes after each sip. I don’t particularily enjoy that long lingering. Maybe I’m just jaded, but I don’t think this is wonderful. Massice...yes...delicious...I’m gulping it down instead of sipping it...but wonderful I’ll reserve for a beer that has a little more utility than this beast. The malt really does show up the more I drink it. But because of the relatively few times I could drink a beer this thick, sweet and strong, I can’t give it a lofty status, and I need to go back and reconsider many of my earlier ratings on beers like this. My growing feeling for Imperial Stouts is somewhat akin to how I feel about long classic rock or blues guitar solos...they soar on & on & on...and so many people think they are inspired...but to me, they are nothing more than guitar masturbation...they’re doing just because they can, not because it makes any sense...must be done in small, tasteful doses!

Bottled @ Sk8vikings blind porter/stout tasting. Beer no. 7: Pitch black coloured. Dense light brown head. Sweetness, liqourice, coffee, cocoa and some dark fruits in the aroma. Flavour is heavily roasted, sweet and has notes of burnt coffee, liqourice and brown sugar. Is full bodied. Very lasting roasty and alcoholdense end. Still loads of liqourice and roasted coffee. This is the shit. Looking forward to the sample I have at home from a trade with the mighty BBB63.

Bottle. Pours a very oily, dark ruby red, brown color. Massive tan head, that lingers for quite some time. Aroma is of coffee, malts, raisin, and figs. First impression is very thick and oily on the tongue. Hard to pick out alot of flavors for me. Maybe a slight apple note. Slightly bitter hoppy note. Some bitter dark chocolate notes as well. Very nice and long in the finish. Finishes very, very long. Good beer. Bells does another great brew.