Bells This One Goes to 11 Ale

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: American Strong Ale
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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Absolutely incredible. Best beer as of yet. Perfect color of light ruby red and about 1 finger of head from the tap. Aroma was the perfect DIPA of pineapple and grapefruit with just a hint of caramel malt. Taste was everything blended perfectly from the aroma. Hop presance was perfect. Very smooth and not one hint of the 11% was detected. Let it warm up a little and it will be even better!

Pours an amber color, pine citrus and hops hit me all at once. Good beer overall

Considering the pedigree-- Bell’s batch 4,000 was a formative moment in my life-- this one is interesting, but does not quite measure up. It also falls short of many of the recent "big red" competitors-- Blood of the Unicorn, Fixed Gear and Green Flash’s red’s come to mind, others seem to be springing up every day. But mostly it falls short because there is this amazing nose-- the initial aroma is a really unique and interesting floral, fruity blend. That aroma passes to a more alcohol-tinged roasted malt note as the beer sits, and the flavor does not reveal any of the interesting complexities that the nose does-- just tastes like a very bitter, strong red. The worst part is I fear this won’t age as well as some of the older "batches". I still have some 4,000, 7,000 and 8,000 in my cellar and will cellar a couple of these, but not with the same anticipation. Still a relatively interesting big red, but no need to deviate from the standard 1-10 scale for this one, as it’s mostly a 5 or a 6.

Interesting beer; smells like a DIPA(and it is hoppy)but doesn't have the bite of hops you'd expect. It has a nice boozy warmth at the finish. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

On tap at the source. Pours a red, amberish color with a very small head. Smells great. Get pineapple, grapefruit, mango, lots of Carmel, pine. Taste starts with the bitter, resinous hoppy flavor. Then turns into a cornucopia of citrus, sweet fruits, and then ends with a sweet, bitter, fruity finish. Very hoppy but very well balanced. Get some rye, spicy flavors. Nice creamy, but oily mouthfeel. A quality beer that is awesome. Would definitely have it again

Clearing backlog. No comments. Apologies, future ratings will have detail. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

It smells awesome, burning the nose into anticipation of the bitterness to come, plus a variety of other citrus and floral aromas. Definitely intense, and at first thought maybe the aroma was a trade but actually very flavorful - more as time passes. A keeper. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

On tap at the Union Woodshop, crystal clear coppery red with minimal head. Bouquet is hoppy with sweet caramely notes dominating. Drinks like a DIPA with a sweet malt backbone, alcohol certainly present. I would call it slightly "hot" with it’s boozy presence most obvious on the back end. The composition for this beer feels a bit muddled, no negativity implied, fun and different + bitchin spinal tap reference of course. The finish is really were it’s at super complex and lingeringness. Tubular broken bells way awesome rad

Aroma is pineapple hops with backbone. Barely off-white head, thin, tiny bubbles. Amber color. Sweet from the git-go. Very citrusy hops but with enough pine to add some depth. Not too malty. Nice bitter finish. Bells says it’s an imperial red, ratebeer says it’s a double IPA- toes the line between both well. Interesting and well done but not a Hopslam.

Somewhat a perplexing ale. 12 oz bottle poured into Duvel tulip since I have no clue what to serve an IRA in. Deep amber red with orange edging. Whitish head that rings around the glass then moves along. Smell is underwhelming at 50 degrees. Taffy, caramel,fresh biscuit. Taste, however, is great and robust. Hop complexity you wouldn’t believe; pine resin, grass, lemon, grapefruit, ripe orange. Matched with a hearty malt bill that beefs up the body and sweetens the brew. Finishes big and clean with a hint of honey. Final thought: a barleywine by any other name would taste as sweet...