Bells Batch 8000 Ale

Bottle from tytoanderso; nose of orange, vanilla, and the corriander; cloudy copper-orange with a big yellowish head; flavor of banana esters, peppery spices, and bready yeast. Pretty good BSA (or is it an imperial wheat?)

I always pick up a Bells Special Batch brew, when I see it, and this one was no different. I never quite know what to expect, but this one wasn’t too far from the norm, for the style. A good Belgian strong, with a nice medium copper color, quickly fading, cream colored head, and a nice, if typical, nose. Flavor is full, lasts a medium length of time, and is quite good.

Courtesy mgumby10, thanks again Mike. This poured a cloudy orange color with a thin off white head that receded quickly. This had a very nice aroma of citrus fruit especially orange coming through, coriander, some spices and wheat esters. The taste ismuch the same with the orange citrus tasting mixed in with some spice, sweetness, and some wheat lingering in the background. This was medium bodied and full on the palate and got some alcohol warmth as it went down. Had a nice long sweet finish and was well carbonated. This is defintely more of a double wit beer and you can tell with the alcohol. I liked the nice sweet citrus flavors though. This one was solid as usual from these guys.

Pours a gunnky yellow orange that’s full of suspended solids. Odd nose of wet cardboard or pulp. Light head...a bit fizzy. Hits hard up front with apricot-pear/citrus and hot alcohol. Puckering. Yep that’s coriander all right. I don’t think this one was all that fresh, but it is a delight, if not a bit over the top. The suspended goo is offputting.

Extremely yeasty aroma. Thank you to david j. Jaffe for getting this one to me... Owe you one buddy. Great belgian. Aroma of burnt vanilla and tropical fruits. Finish is different.. cant put my finger on it. Unfiltered light orange color. light head.

Bottle. Pours a clear orange with a one finger white head that lasts leaving good lacing. Aroma of coriander, citrus, grains of paradise, wheat, and yeast. Taste is the same as aroma. Medium mouthfeel with a mild amount of bitterness and light tart finish. Alcohol is very well hidden. A little to heavy on the spices but very good.

12oz bottle. Pour is an opaque melon orange color with only the faintest swirls of white film on top. Aroma is pretty heavy on the spices with the coriander taking front stage. I’m not sure what the paradise seed smells like but the other thing I smell isn’t the orange peel so that must be it. The flavor is also overwhelmed by the spices. I guess I like belgian wits because of their subtle creamy flavor. This beer is intended to be a double wit and it appears as though the spices are what was doubles. I love Bells but this one just isn’t my taste. 5/2/6/3/11

RERATE: 12oz bottle almost one year old. The aroma is still citric, and orange, but also honey and spices. The flavor brings out even more spices and grain character. Still disappointing and unpolished. The beer is raw and needs some tweaking and finishing. Although it doesn’t see old at all, this will continue to age. 6/3/7/3/16

RERATE: 12oz bottle about a year and a half old. Aroma is mildly spicy and creamy. More mild than I remember. The body is very creamy seems to have mellowed sufficiently to be pleasant. 7/3/7/4/15

Pours a nice golden-orange color with white head and pleasant lacing after head dissipates. Subtle taste of orange and coriander with a nice finish. I bought a 6 pack of this and had 3 almost immediately and 3 about two months after initial purchase. I felt the first three I had were overly hopped and masked the flavoring. Apparently two months of aging was what was needed, as the second set of three were amazing and the full flavor came through.