Bells Batch 8000 Ale

Thick orange body, cloudy, hazy. Love the look of it and the pour. I’m a hops guy, so the cloying sweet thickness of this one takes a bit of geting used to. This is no lightweight, this is a substantial brew. Thick, sweet, flavorful. I can drink maybe one or two at a sitting. Good stuff. I want to keep some handy for when I’m in the mood for a big sippin beer.

Pours like Sunkist, with a sunny orange body, lots of spiraling carbonation and a big ole’ fizzy head that instantly dissipates. Coriander and alcoholic heat are immediately apparent in the nose. A deep whiff presents notes of dirty yeast characters. Little carbonation in the body leaves this with a muddled mouthfeel. Lots of sweet orange, hay, vanilla and coriander are lumped together and too sweet. Finishes with a dry sweetness - almost artificial tasting. Kind of a mess of flavors here. I love a delicate, well defined witbier and this is anything but that. Hmmm, this is a bust for me.

orange haze with a nice head. sweet inviting aroma. spicey flavor with a smooth yeast mouthfeel. alcohol is non existant to me. could easily put down a few. would like to see this as a regular though rather than a special brew.

Bright cloudy yellow/gold in color with white head. Crisp taste, with very obvious coriander and orange peel. Finished very clean and left me wanting the next sip. No unpleasant factors, but also didn’t quite wow me like some other Bell’s beers have.

Bottle, with Thanks to Mike (BBB63) for this most excellent bonus! Pours a cloudy golden with a moderate yellow tinted white head, slight lacing. Not surprisingly the aroma is coriander and orange peel, as is the flavor, with some warmth coming in late. Seems to be a good example of the style, and the alcohol is well hidden, but generally a bit uninspiring. Not bad, but not something to get overly excited about...

Pours orange with minimal white head. Aroma of some malt, hop, and orange. Taste much the same. Not what I think of when it comes to Bells Batches. Good beer, but nothing too special.

Bottle thanks to Paul... well first off, I don’t do well with these big witt beers. or any wheat beers for that matter. As I somewhat expected, this was not for me. Too alcoholic, which made it nowhere near quenching and was rather unenjoyable (drain pour). Just not my style at all. Imperial wheat is a def a love/hate. I’ve had 7000 - which was superior by a longshot. 3 flat rating for rating 300!

Just because the abv is higher doesn’t mean this shouldn’t be classified other than a Belgian Wit Bier in my opinion.. and a good well balanced one at that. Bells rarely disappoints.