Bells Batch 7000 Ale

Christmas gift bottle from my son. The aroma hints at what is to follow, big malt overtones and caramel. Appearance is black - no red tints when held to the light - with a small, tan head that lingers for only a few minutes. First sips reveal a pronounced roast/burnt flavor, not unpleasant, followed by berry and molasses. Alcohol warming ikicks in after a few sips. Finish is long, back of the tongue, somewhat tart and bitter. I was expecting an amped version of Expedition, which I enjoy, but this stout stands (surpasses?) on its own merits. The only criticism I offer is that the recipe is to be brewed once.

Bottled version. Aroma is rich, roasty and full, the powerful maltiness contributing notes of semi-sweet chocolate and espresso, along with lighter additions of burnt sugar, black cherry, dried plum, charred wood, alcohol and a certain loamy, musty character. Solidly black in color, nearly imposingly so with a fine, slight and lasting dark tan head. Massive flavors abound, starting with some strong dark chocolate and tangy sweetness, becoming infused with a deep burnt grain bitterness and roastiness that increases in strength throughout, culminating at the finish where it is met with a blend of spicy alcohol and hop bitterness, drying substantially amidst the incredibly long, warming finish. Palate is bracing and thick, very heavy and creamy in feel with a suitably ample body. Shares a scant thing or two in common with Expedition but I find this even more to my taste.

12oz. bottle. Black in color with a medium sized tan head. Aroma of molasses, dark roasted malts, chocolate and a hint of the alcohol to come. Flavor of molasses, soy sauce, roasted malt and a warming alcoholic finish. Very rich and full bodied.

Thanks Sully! Pours a cloudy rich dark brown color with a small head and just a little bit of sticky, off white lacing. Aroma is roasty with chocolate hints. Very smooth and enticing to the nose. Flavor is roasty and full of chocolate with hints of vanilla and a spice I can’t place. Also presents with a strong alcohol aftertaste. Very thick and rich on the palate, just the way a stout should be! Absolutely fantastic beer in my opinion!

Pours a dark rich black color with a small brownish beige head. Looks like motor oil as it pours. Complex and unusual aroma. Smells of matchsticks, malts, coffee,prunes and leather. Taste is thick and rich with lots of malts, dark rich chocolate,black licorice,molasses,vanilla coffee creamer and some sort of unusual sweet spice that is present in the aftertaste. Very good, yet different. A very slow sipper and not ur everyday beverage.

Pours a midnight black with a thin brown/ruddy head that quickly fades to a thin ring, that leaves spotty lacing behind. This is one of the darkest beers I’ve seen. Smell; lots of dark roasted malts, coffee, rich dark chocolate. There’s also a bit of a leathery quality to the aroma. Taste; roasted malts and chocolate come out first, followed a nice espresso flavor. I get some touches of licorice floating around, and there’s a hints of slighlty sweet cherries, and a bitterness from the hops, with a slight warming from the alcohol in the finish. This isn’t nearly as bitter as I had expected from reading some previous reviews. Mouthfeel is nice and full, and very rich. This is an excellent double stout.

Oily and slick, yet highly fizzy, with a shit-ton of licorice and overwhelming dark fruit, dark chocolate and a strong shot of salt and soy sauce. Intensely flavorful and sticky-rich, but the soy sauce and licorice are really getting to me...ew.

Courtesy of OhioDad. <P> The aroma on this beer is powerful. Highly concentrated dark chocolate, alcohol, molasses, plastic and leather. The color is a light eating black upon which perches a tumb thick dark mocha head. Fore is burnt malts, soy sauce, burnt pumpernickel and then sweeter vanilla/cream notes that finish with an extremely bitter and burnt throat tickling flourish. I think this one needs to be cellared for a while to fully enjoy. It’s just too rough around the edges flavor wise right now.