Bells Batch 7000 Ale

Formerly brewed at Bells Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Bottle sampled 8/7/07

Get outta here! This is unbelievable. Pours dark, dark sticky black with a modest crema head. Huge aroma - plums and chocolate, some coffee, molasses, just glorious. Flavor is intense, lots of dried plums, tons of chocolate, almost overripe black cherries, again that dark molasses, a seriously assertive bitter finish that comes on so late that it never detracts in the least from the sweater, rcher, more chocolate tones through the front, middle, and much of the back of each sip. Very thick mouthfeel, heavy, oily, rich.

This is a very good beer, no two ways around it. It’s intense in flavor, way over the top but it a good way, alcohol burn very slight if noticeable at all, driven by amazing roasty and just a touch sweet malts. The mouthfeel is more like a milkshake than like a beer; dang this thing is thiick and glorious. Superb, but due to the intensity it’s not the least thirst-quenching and maybe not one that I’d drink all that often even if it were regularly available, which of course it ain’t.

Revisit 9/5/09. Wow. Two years in the cellar have only improved. Aroma is a 10 with the rich baker’s chocolate, and the flavor is pushing close to a 10 as well. Aged barleywine-like sweetness has come on over the past two years, and it integrates beautifully. Black cherries, plum, a tiny hint of smoke atop the expected chocolate and dark molassas and espresso...This one is a masterpiece.

Yes, I finally got a chance to try this beer!! Pours black with a small little swirly light brown head. Smells of nice roast and chocolate mixed together, coupled in with some dark malts, and mild coffee aroma. Smells quite inviting. The taste is just as rich as it smells. Big chocolate waves hit the tongue all at once, as its followed up by a roasty malt flavor and a toasty bitterness in the finish. Truly a treat to have this beer. Big, thick, and rich, just like I love my imperial stouts.

bottle.....unlike the vast majority of the reviews on this one, i was underwhelmed overall......aroma: malt, chocolate, and an array of dark fruit.....appearance: medium thick, deep black pour with a thin cocoa colored head. i like my imperials thick and this seemed lacking in a sense.....taste: a variety of flavors come through here. chocolate, some roasted malt, dark fruit. mouthfeel wasn’t as full as i would have liked it to have been. all in all, a high quality IS but i would gladly pick expedition over this.

courtesy my Secret Santa- A delicious imperial stout...a little too thin, though. Aroma of coffee and alcohol. Pour was a nice dark black with just a little thin tan ring for a head. Taste was very winelike. Dark fruit, coffee and chocolate abound. The dark fruit was a nice suprise. Got some definate nuttiness to it as well as a bitter finish. Thanks Santa

This thing stomps a shithole in Expedition and I love me some Expedition. The pour on this was the thickest I’ve ever seen next to Dark Lord. Pitch black with a small tan head. Huge aroma of cherries, dark chocolate, raisins, and roasted malt. Velvety smooth mouth feel that dissipated after it left my mouth for my anxious belly. The surprising part of this was this massive bourbon flavor that imparted its will on the beer yet didn’t overpower any of the other flavors. Some black cherries and dark chocolate melded well within the brew as well. This is going to get my first ever perfect rating. Hands down, the best I’ve ever tasted.

Thanks to Alex at Belmont Station. Deep black-brown opaque body. Small creamy beige-brown head. Nose of sweet malts and candy sugar. Sharp yet subtle chocolate, vanilla, and coffee notes. Finished like a perfect desert. Scrumptious!

thanx dan. pours like motor oil with a near still initial appearance till it forms temporary brown film for a head. aroma is boozy rum, cocoa, expresso, burnt caramel/toffee,ripe red fruit, and some musty wood. taste starts as a smooth, oily ripe fruit and some burnt caramel. midway through it becomes very sour with wood like esters in there. all the way through the usual suspects are present (roast, choco, etc..) but as you swallow is becomes very dry until suddenly you are blasted with very pleasant coffee flavor. this effect fades as you drink because of the building bitterness. the mouthfeel smooth and oily with just enough carb. very, very good stuff but not quite amazing.

Fantastic - big and delicious. Your normal kick ass pitch black pour. Minimal head - spotty lacing. Aroma and flavor are to die for... like an expedition but a little sweeter with notes of licorice and fruits. Ahhhh, what a mouth coating - thick and chewy - hated watching my snifter go empty. Hopefully I’ll enjoy this again . . . . nice! Thanks ughsmash, this one was epic.