Bells Batch 8000 Ale

Good, irregular off-white head over very hazy orange beer with fine carbonation; end of bottle solid. White candi sugar, and a touch of coriander dominate the nose, as well as alcohol. Suggesting sweet-bitter taste, and probably the most Belgian smelling American beer. There’s just a whiff of hops, fleetingly. Sweet-bitter, softly toasted Belgian waffles with sugarsyrup. Finishes very peppery-spicey with a suggestion of citrus. Retronasal serious hops. Medium bodied, quite slick, nearly viscous. Not very attenuated as a tripel. BENG! Larry, of all people has done it! This brew is more Belgian-smelling and Belgian-tasting as any original Belgian brew I’ve ever had. I’d nearly call it a caricature of itself, if it weren’t so high in quality. Thanks, David, this one was not one to miss for money!

Milky apricot color; orange and spice aroma; thick, spicey-orange taste. I’m not familiar with this style at all but this one seems like a nice one next to a fire during the holidays.

I thought this beer was fantastic. It is very sugary, and has many notes of orange and cherry, some cinnamon in there too but it is well subdued. The aclohol only becomes noticeable when it warms past 55F, so for a 9%+, that’s saying some good things. Definitely pick this one up; it’s worth more than its 3.7 rating.

Not a success. Aroma is coriander, orange and wheat with a foamy white head. Taste follows suit with a little pronouncement of alcohol and creamy banana ester. Not very refreshing in the typical wit kind of way, lacking that crispness of a traditional wit for a more malty, creamy finish. Just could not get into it. Maybe if it had a lot of hops in it, like Schneider & Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse I would like it more.... hmmm.

12 oz bottle. Pours a hazy dark golden orange with a creamy off-white head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is sweet malts, some fruit (orange, banana), yeast and spices (clove).

The flavor is some candy-like sweetness and fruits over wheaty malts. The finish is dry and lightly bitter with some hefe-like spicing. The alcohol is well hidden, but there is some burn at the end as it warms. The mouthfeel is pretty full and creamy.

Overall, a fun beer. It’s an interesting and original choice for a big beer - like a pumped up wit / hefeweizen cross.

Orange hue, thin and disappearing head. It’s definitely heavy on the wheat. They must have gone light on the spices. Not much flavor in there as far as those go. Some nice citrus character. The alcohol isn’t strong at all, which is good. Carbonation is mildly assertive. It’s really drinkable, but at $16 a sixer my wallet doesn’t agree. It’s alright, I’m not buying anymore. Not a very interesting brew.

12 oz bottle from Johnycorkscew (technically). Hazy orange with small long lasting white head. Aroma of spice, sweet malt, clove and coriander, mild alc. Spicy flavor with medium sweet malt, very wit like. Medium body and creamy. Nothing too exciting but maybe it’s just that I don’t like the style.

Pours out a totally hazy golden/copper color with a moderate slightly off white head. Aroma of yeast, straw, orange peel and some spice. Taste is complex with yeast, citrus zest, and a slightly dry/alcoholic finish.