Bells Batch 7000 Ale

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

Bottle: Jet black with a mondo light brown head. Lacing is like chocolate cool whip -- yummmm!! I smell hops, chocolate. The moment it hit my tongue, my brain told me "this is a complex imperial stout!" One that is marked by bitter hops in the lasting aftertaste, sweet alcohol and other darly roasted verities. This stout will make a man out of you! I would like to see what those guys who brag about how Guinness is a like a steak dinner and how they like heavy beer would do with this one! Most stouts pale in comparison to this hefty ale. This beer’s dad must be a pistol because it’s a real son of a gun!

Rating #1 Bottle (7 5 8 5 18) (1/21/06). Pours like black cold and looks as dark as the night with a foamy dark brown head. A rich velvet, semi-sweet chocolate and coffee flavors with wood chips, vanilla, espresso, nuts, and mint. A true delight. The right amount of bitterness and sweetness in the chocolate flavors. Enjoyed on the last night at the Colony house. Goodbye Mountain View, hello San Francisco. Rating #2 Bottle from the same six-pack (7 5 8 4 18) (4/24/07). A solid black color with a rich dark brown head. Roasted nuts, chocolate and molasses in the aroma. Thick and oily body with loads of roasted malts and chocolate, complimented by an earthy malt and molasses finish. Intensely rich.

From bottle

Finally got my hands on this one at the local bottleshop. Poured motor oil dark, big brown 1-inch head, that nicely laced the glass. So far so good. Aroma fruity, sweet and It picked up the alcohol. Flavor was bitter and hoppy. I picked up some roasted coffee although it was slight. I couldn’t taste the alcohol. Full-bodied. But a little too bitter to drink. I was alright fresh but I think it may turn into a real treat aged. Re-rated (9/28/08) 2005 vintage-Poured like motor oil. Pitch black, with a tan head that fizzled up to a cloud. Aroma was coffeeish and malty. Alot of the hoppiness faded away. Flavor was of full coffee, dark chocolates, and malts. Slightly sweet in the finish. Carbonation is still very present. The beer is really filling and amazing 3 years later.

Thanks to MikeMac for this one: Not as good as the Expedition, mainly because the alcohol is not as well hidden. Taste is a smokey roasted coco beans, with a heavy malt and nice smooth finish. not as sweet as the expedition.. Very chewey. Would be awesome with a cedar lite cigar. All hale to the expedition

Dark rich and complex. This was the most interesting beer I have had in a long time. I enjoyed this beer, but unfortunately, I had the expedition first, which absolutely rocks! So, I was a little disappointed. Taste of burned chocolate and prunes finishing with an alocohol burn. I am glad I tried it, but the expedition is still king!

Had 3 bottles of this over the weekend. It’s not as good as expedition, but it’s still damn tasty. Not as much chocolate or as thick as expedition either. It is way more alcohol tasting for that extra .5%. It also has a very wet mouth feel. Still tastes of chocolate, coffee, and some sort of fruit.

Poured very dark, and very thick. Minimal brown head formed on top. Aroma was chocolate with raspberries and cherries, also hit with alcohol. Drinks like a meal with chocolate, alcohol, fruit and hops. I had picked up only one, but I think I’ll have to go get another to keep around for a while.

pours blackish-brown with minimal head. nose is quite astringent and sharp. coffee, chocolate and cranberry notes in the aroma. flavor is full-force, hops quite present. a lot better this (2nd) time around, than i remember from the first time i drank this. alcohol is present, but not overly unpleasant.