Bells Batch 8000 Ale

Formerly brewed at Bells Brewery
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Bottle huge thanks to xnoxhatex! sampled summer 09. Okay, I know this is probably past it’s prime... well definitely. Pours a very clear glowing dark orange with a small white bubbly head. Aroma is oxidized cheesy cardboard, bacon, salty, some citrus hops remain, pineapple, smells like triscuts, some honey sweetness. Flavor is cheesy old hops, honey sweetness, a bit spicy, some alcohol on the finish, rich in a weizenbock way. Smooth slightly viscous medium/full body with small but fizzy fine carbonation. Glad I got to try this.

Bottle generously given to me by bbb63, Thanks MIKE! Pours a hazy dark orange with a small white head. Leaves a nice white ring around the glass. Aroma is a really nice toffee, candy, pineapple, orangepeel, pear, spices mixture. Also some floral notes. Flavor is bread, sweet malts, toffee, fruits, a little booze and spices. Initially, I was quite happy with this beer as the aroma really opened up and was quite inviting. The flavor became a little offputing, especially as the beer warmed. Too sweet and the toasted candy bread taste didn’t do it for me. A neat beer though, which I’m happy to have tried. Thanks again, Mike!

12 oz bottle. Pours a slightly hazy dark gold body with a minimal tight bubbled off-white head that retained as a wispy thin film. The nose is a little weird, thick wheat and pale maltiness with some belgian spices of orange peel and coriander, and a quite noticeable alcohol kick. The flavor almost has become like an aged Triple. The spices are not especially in the forefront, it’s mostly thick sweet malt and a touch of wheat with Belgian yeast. A little bit of oxidation and light marshmallow on the late finish. Heavy and thick on the palate with light fizzy carbonation. I know they said that this was best consumed fresh, but it’s just been lingering in the cellar for a long time because I wasn’t thrilled to try it, knowing the style. What an odd choice for a beer in this series.

Bottle - Pours a deep translucent orange with a frothy off white head...aroma is fruity pear and spice, vanilla creme and honey, apple...flavour is similar, cream and malt, bitter burnt sugar and spice...smooth initially, offset by some still prickly carbonation...some definite newspaper in the finish, although its the sweet fruit that lingers...on it’s way out for sure, still glad I got to try it!

bottle thanks to jjclark pours golden with thin off white head that rather dissapates quickly with a nose of spice,fruits honey and grains taste of the same with a sweetneess from sugars and alcohol reminds me of hotd fred in appearence and body and a little in sweetness

12oz bottle courtesy of photomike. Always a nice surprise to get a new Bells beer poured into your glass, though this was a bit of an odd one. Looks like a wheat beer in the glass, with a hazy gold color and lasting head of very fine bubbles. There is a rich fruitiness in the nose, with a light touch of sherry-like oxidation, spices, and oranges. Pretty good elements, but a bit dull from the oxidation. The flavor is sweet and spicy with a toffeeish malt flavor and a medium-bitter, somewhat dull finish. Medium bodied with prickly carbonation and a lightly papery feel. Interesting and well crafted for what they were shooting for, though I don’t think I would have loved it fresh and aged it is already getting a little dull and oxidized.

From JCapriotti via trade. The pour is hazy and coppery/golden. A short lived white head appeared and was gone in a flash. The aroma is honey, alcohol and cereal/grains. The flavor is orange, honey and a bit of sweet malts and dry grains. Some alcohol noted, but not as much as was in the aroma. The mouhtfeel is nice with no alcohol burn and a finish that was mostly clean except for some nice residual sweetness.

[2314-20090719] 355mL bottle. Mild honey fruits and berries aroma. Hazy, light orange brown body with a quick foamy off-white head. Some honey malt in the flavour finishes sweet and long. Medium body. Fair.
(w/ DuctTape, jerc)