RateBeer
   Home Sign Up or Login Advanced Search
   People Ratings Events Places Forums Shop Magazine
      Top By Category  RateBeer Best  Latest Ratings  Top 50    

Home > Brewers > Michigan > Bells Brewery >

Bells Batch 5000 Ale

 (RETIRED)

Bells Batch 5000 Ale

* picture credits
copyright may apply

 Percentile 
94
overall
A Smoked formerly brewed by
Bells Brewery

Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

bottled
available

on tap
available

Local Distribution
Find this beer

Add Distribution Data
Send Corrections

 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
1983.72/5.03.71/5.0Special9%88 Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Stein P  Stats

Commercial Description:
Bell's Batch 5000 Ale is a smoked strong ale, brewed to celebrate Kalamazoo Brewing Company's 5000th batch. It is brewed with 26 % German, beechwood-smoked malt. It is very lightly hopped which showcases the rich caramel tones of the malt body that balances the assertive smoke flavor throughout. Batch 5000 would be a wonderful pairing for robust cheeses, sausages and smoked salmon. While drinkable now, Batch 5000 has an ageing potential of several years. The interplay of flavors will mature and develop subtly with time. Avoid any extreme temperatures, and keep at a cellar temperature below 65 °F. Single Batch Release - January, 2002 only.

Most RecentTop RatersHighest Ratings Who's Rated This?
 jimmack (1210), Nutley, New Jersey, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/104/516/20

Nov 15, 2007  
Bottle thanks to Dickinsonbeer for sharing. Reddish brown color with a small beige head. Sweet, fruity aroma of figs, caramel and light smoke. The smoke was much more noticeable in the flavor. More of a woody smoke than meaty, but still some bacon notes in there. Lots of dark dried fruits, caramel and dark chocolate. A hint of sherry on the aftertaste. Very tasty.

 SoLan (1187), Orlando, Florida, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/59/103/517/20
Aug 24, 2008  
Courtesy MI2CA. Brown. Small tan head. Nose of an old english barleywine with some smoke. Smells great. Same flavor. Great malt complexity with a healthy dose of smoke. Medium to medium/full body, balanced carbonation. Awesome brew, would have loved to try it fresh.


 big_bish (115), USA
2.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/54/104/58/20
Jul 28, 2008  
I wasn’t a fan of this beer when I tried it. It was my first smoked beer and it just reminded me of BBQ sauce.


 17thfloor (649), Chicago, Illinois, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/518/20
Jun 7, 2008  
[6 year old bottle, thank you Dukefan! ] I was quite disappointed that they didn’t stamp the batch number on the bottle! Anyways, pours a very murky dark orange/amber with a minimal head. Strong sweet smokey aroma with cherries and hickory bbq. Flavor follows suit, sweet and smokey, big malty rich caramelized applewood & hickory smoked bacon and lots of bitter cherry. Medium mouthful that is lightly syrupy yet still smooth and very palatable. Can we have this again please?


northernbrews (11), Allen Park, Michigan, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/104/514/20
Jun 6, 2008    Updated: Jun 25, 2008
Had this as part of the tasting we had 9/22/07 of Batch 4000 - 8000. Received this gem from tangfoot. Thanks again Fred. Appearance: This pour a reddish brown with very little head. There is very little lacing on this, but it looks pretty good based on its age.. Aroma: Starts with some smokey and sweet malts. Kind of reminds me of breakfast sausage with maple syrup. In the background is some dark fruits. As this warms, there is a little sourness, which I enjoy. Flavor: There is mostly smokey notes in the beginning. When this warms, some of the sweet dark fruit flavors come to play. I wonder what this tasted like fresh. Palate: The smokey and sweet malt flavors hang around for a while. This is kind of thin, which I expected due to its age. This goes down pretty smooth, especially after it warms for a bit. I could drink a few of these, but I’m glad I’m getting to try any of this at all. Overall: This is very unique and interesting beer. Can’t think of any others I’ve had like it. I’m curious the age of this one too. This was my least favorite of the Batches 4000 - 8000, but its still pretty damn good and unique. If you see this or can try this, go for it, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Thanks again Fred for this rare bottle.


 OldGrowth (1269), Cary, North Carolina, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/56/104/515/20
Jun 2, 2008  
bottle,at Carolina Crew get together, from trade with...walleye I believe, though I may have had two of these at some point. Good aroma, smokey, meaty, cheesy. Clean dark orange color, no head or lace. Bitter smokey flavor, Smoke, peat moss, smoke, bacon. smoke, chocolate, smoke. Lite body, oily mouthfeel, bitter finish. Aroma was bacontastic. flavor was kind of overwhelmingly smokey, but hey it is a smoked beer.




WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ MORE RATINGS?
Then join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings.

Desired User Name
*
Valid Email (Needed to verify your account)
*
Relax. RateBeer is 100%, guaranteed spam-free. That's our promise to you.

I agree to the terms of the RateBeer User Agreement

RATE THIS BEER

Aroma

rating assistance

Appearance

rating assistance

Flavor

rating assistance

Palate

rating assistance

Overall impression

rating assistance

TOTAL SCORE

Comments

More Smokeds

Triumph Rauchweizen (3.97)

Left Hand SmokeJumper (3.93)

Bièropholie Calumet Grand Chef (3.92)

Aecht Schlenkerla Fastenbier (3.91)

Bièropholie Calumet Grand Chef (unfiltered) (3.9)

Alaskan Smoked Porter (3.89)

Goose Island Imperial SmokED Brown Goose (3.87)

New Glarus Unplugged Smoke on the Porter (3.82)

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock (3.82)

Copper Creek Smoked Porter (3.81)

More Michigan Brewers

Dark Horse Brewing Company
  Marshall
Original Gravity Brewing Company
  Milan
Lake Superior Brewing at the Dunes Saloon
  Grand Marais
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
  Dexter
Arcadia Brewing Company
  Battle Creek
Red Jacket Brewing Company
  Calumet
The Livery
  Benton Harbor
Frog Island Brewing (Michigan Brewing Company)
  Ypsilanti
Round Barn Brewery & Winery
  Baroda
Grand Rapids Brewing Co.
  Grand Rapids
Old Boys Brewhouse
  Spring Lake
Traverse Brewing
  Williamsburg
Lilys Seafood Restaurant & Brewery
  Royal Oak
The Moersch Brewery
  Baroda
Bastone
  Royal Oak

About RateBeer | Add A Beer | Add A Brewer | Edit Personal Info | 100 Beer Club | FAQ | Log out | Feedback? | Copyright 2000-2008, RateBeer LLC