Bells Batch 8000 Ale

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

Great looking coppery pour with a big luxurious white head that lingers long. The aroma is spicy...typically yeasty with hints of citrus. zest. The flavors are big, bright and refreshing. Big spicy yeast fruitiness, lemon and orange zest, wheaty banana and clove hints, and a well hidden alcohol note. The mouthfeel is spritzy and lively on the tongue. Very refreshing warm-weather brew, but with enough alcohol body to be consumed as a winter warmer as well. Another winner from Bell’s. Thanks to buddy jackson 220 for obtaining these samples whilst on vacation in Michigan City.

On tap at Capital Ale House - Innsbrook. Murky orange body with a medium creamy off-white head. Sweet banana, spice aroma. Sweet caramel and spice flavor, light banana hints, slightly sugary.

Name: Bell’s Batch
Date: 08/17/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party
Vintage: 8000

Appearance: opaque light orange, wispy head,
Aroma: sweet spicy orange aroma,
Body: creamy body,
Flavor: rich malt flavor, nice orange sweetness, lots of spicy character,
-------- /> Name: Bell’s Batch
Date: 09/25/2007
Mode: bottle
Source: roadtrip
Vintage: 8000

Appearance: clear dark gold until the yeast is added and then becomes cloudy orange,
Aroma: sweet fruity aroma with a nice spicy character,
Flavor: rich and fruity flavor, bitter finish comes out of the spicyness, the yeast shot adds a nice bready character to support the fruityness,
-------- /> Name: Bell’s Batch
Date: 07/04/2008
Mode: bottle
Vintage: 8000
Words: cellar stock

Appearance: aroma is turning dry and spicy with a light sweaty leather bret character,
Aroma: flavor is drying out a bit as well, nice spicyness but none of the funk that would come with the bret in the aroma, still rich and fruity but dryer though the sweetness comes in time,
Flavor: flavor is pretty much unchanged but the aroma is picking up some interesting changes,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4

poured into a tulip. pours a cloudy light orange with full fizzy white head. sweet citruss wheaty aroma. full creamy mouthfeel. very fronted wheat initial with smooth light finish. honey comes into the finish and spices arrive in the front. orange peel is more prevalent on the aroma, a great complex beer. in aftertaste orange peel comes back with a hint of coriander. good stuff.

Draft at Capital Ale House Innsbrook. Very murky medium orange, decent head. Aroma of orange marmalade and a hint of coriander. Boozy. Flavor was a dead on match to the aroma, with some Belgian style yeasty notes coming in as well. Reminded me of a soupier version of Hoegaarden Grand Cru. But the Hoe GC still strikes you as a wit at heart, albeit a souped up one. This beer crosses the line. Enjoyable, but a bit too cloying for me to want to keep going back for more.

Poured hazy orange with white head. Aroma of oranges. Nice citrus flavor with a spice finish.

This brew pours a beautiful hazed apricot color w/ a medium sized, creamy froth. Head retention is good and reduces to a slky canopy and a fluffy ring. Aromas of fresh fruit nectar w/ cinnimon and clove spice. Nice! Full nectar w/ ample creamy residual effers. This is one nice specimen. Huge fresh fruit flavors dominate w/ a defined Belgian style spicey character.I taste everything from citrus and banana cream to vanilla, peach, red apple, and allspice. All this at only a mild sweetnes factor tempered by a strict peachpit bittering component. The finish is long and fruity w/ a nice bittering leaving the palate clean for the next sip. Overall: Perfectly balanced. This is totally Belgian but it has a soft texture that you just want to feel on your girlfriend. Like a silky teddy or something. The peachpit finish clocks in a little on the robust side. Highly recommended.

12 oz. bottle via trade with franksnbeans - Pours a hazy golden color with a one finger thick off white head. Very light spotty lacing. Aroma is light yeast, spices and esters. Quite nice. Flavor is sweet, almost cloying. Runs a wide range of flavors that the previous raters have mentioned. Very little bitterness. Medium body. Alcohol is well hidden. A good beer. I’m slowly coming around to these Belgian styles. Thanks Jacob.