Bells Batch 6000 Ale

Formerly brewed at Bells Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Poured a very cloudy honey brown color with a medium tan head and a ton of yeast (its beautiful). The aroma is big with malty sweetness and a lingering pine note, so the hops are present but subdued. The taste is big up front with malt but that soon gives way to slick hoppiness that takes over. Alcohol is definitely evident. Mouthfeel is silky smooth. The finish is crisp and dry with hops all over the finish. Its a little harsh as the hops are a little pushy, but this is an otherwise very balanced brew. This is a great beer but could be even better with some time in the cellar.

Draft - as dark a barley wine as I've seen. A hint of amber in the bottom of the glass when viewed through the light. Tightly bubbled head. Big hop nose and flavor. Obviously quite young, but delicious!

Sweet malt, rich with noticeable alcohol under layer. Dark chocolate brown, creamy crown. Soft texture, nice finished malt well rounded with hoppy but subtle touch. Touch of lighter mocha is nice bonus. Nice balanced brew.

This young barley wine reminds me of arrogant bastard but much more syrupy (but not really double bastard). It pours thick and looks like apple cider. The hops are a bit harsh yet but there is enough malt backing that aging this will be worth the wait. I look forward to a future rerate. rerate 5-05 The astringency of the hops has mellowed into a beautiful aromatic spiciness. The apple cider toned, thick malt body produces a wonderful mouthfeel and sweetness.

Cloudy dark amber; aroma of maple, allspice, molasses. Very sweet body, mapley with a big back bitterness. As the hops don't show much in the aroma or flavour, just in bitterness, the flavour is not cohesive. It will be a great one, in a few years, but right now it's too young to be better than decent.

Gravity Head 2004: Draught. Pours brown with a fluffy tan head. Big caramel/malt aroma. Hop filled taste and sweet with a nice malty backbone. Very tasty.

Maple syrup, smoke, soy sauce, and alcohol in the nose. Not too much head. Little carbonation. Vinous, oily residue remains on the palate. A fair amount of hops and smoke. Dark mahogoney color. Alcohol is apparent in the flavor. But not overwhelming. Chewy malt blends well with hops. I might pick up a six pack to age.

Alcohol a-go-go in the nose and body. Clear brown color, low tight head. malt is sweet, but in the background. Complex dense mix of hops in a bitter punch at the end. Bitter component comes very early. A little gritty dirty aggressive bitter. Doesn't quite all come together overall.