northernbrews (18), Allen Park, Michigan, USA
| 4.6 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 5/5 | 9/10 | 4/5 | 19/20 |
Jun 6, 2008
Had this for our Bell’s Batch 4000 - 8000 tasting 9/22/07.
HellsBells24 (Joe) used one of his bottles for the tasting.
I’ve had quite a few of these since its been released a few years ago and this seems like a good time to rate it.
Appearance: This shit is DARK. It looks like motor oil with a 1/2 inch tan head. I don’t even think a spot light could get through this. The head faded slowly to leave a nice trail of lacing on the glass. This is what a double stout should look like.
Aroma: I can’t believe how hoppy this still is after 2 years of aging. There are some orange and chocolate notes that go with the piney hops. The hops are similar to the Batch 6000 we just had, just more pronounced. Could use a little less hops and more chocolate and malt notes and this would be perfect. Maybe in a few more years.
Flavor: Starts with some nice chocolaty malts. The hops come through with hints of orange and lots of piney resins. This is not your typical stout, but damn its good.
Palate: This is still pretty thick. The flavors don’t go away for a while.
This is dangerously drinkable for 12%. The flavors, even though strong and complex, blend well an help to make this pretty smooth for the strength. I can and have sipped on a few of these over the years.
Overall: This is the best double stout I’ve ever had. I said that when I first had this, and I’ll probably still say this in 5 - 10 years. I’m glad I have a nice stash of these. This is probably the best beer Bell’s has every made and one of the best beers I’ve had. I wish all of thhe future batches are stouts, because thats what Bells does best. If you ever see this (not likely), you’d be dumb not to pick it up.
 bhensonb (4374), Woodland, California, USA
| 3.9 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 6/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 |
Dec 24, 2009 Bottle from Styles - part of a great trade. Pours dark black with a slight tan head. Aromas of dark malts and dark fruits. More than full bodied. Mild carbonation. Flavor is dark malt, treacle and medicinal herbs. Coffee shows up in the finish. Chocolate eventually. Startling. Excellent.
bvc (347), Kenmore, Washington, USA
| 3.8 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 14/20 |
Nov 25, 2009 12oz from riversideak...thanks man! Medium thick body with light tan head. Huge sweet roasty, prune, cherry, vanilla, dark cocoa, molasses, coffee. Creamy tart cherry burnt flavor. Boozy, thick and crazy strong. I am ’chewing’ my way throught this...happy to have tried it and it has great complexity as well as being well made but I’m glad to be drinking only 4oz. Thanks Alex.
riversideAK (2792), Shoreline, Washington, USA
| 3.7 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 3/5 | 15/20 |
Nov 25, 2009 Dark fruit, dark chocolate, brown sugar, caramel, soy, some alcohol warmth. Strong sweet robust aroma. Black w brown creamy head. Sweet chocolatey, soy, dark bitter roast, earth, dark over ripe fruit, booze. Full syrupy body, boozey hot finish. Soft carbonation. Wow intense. Too much for me.
17thfloor (1507), Chicago, Illinois, USA
| 3.9 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 15/20 |
Nov 23, 2009 Bottle thanks to...? don’t remember, but thank you! Okay, I must be in the minority here to think that this did not age wonderfully. Aroma is big dark chocolate, oily, with obvious smokey leather oxidation notes. Flavor is dark bitter chocolate with a soy notes and just a hint of coffee. Very oily feeling.
kramer (2515), Sunbury, Pennsylvania, USA
| 4.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 5/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 |
Nov 17, 2009 12 oz bottle. Pours a pitch black viscous body with a smallish brown head. Lots of sediment in the bottle. The nose is very intense, I can smell it a foot away! Crazy amounts of roast, coffee, earthy yeast, and some light oxidation at first. As it warmed some deep plum and dark fruit with chocolate and moderate alcohol vapors emerged. Heavy roast and dark fruits work in chorus with the coffee and yeast to provide a really layered complex Imperial Stout. Not dominated by any one aspect at all. Thick, soft, and chewy body with a nice mouth coating finish that lingers on for ever. A very nice beer, much smoother and softer around the edges than Expedition can be at times, even with a similar amount of age.
malrubius (1004), Valley Stream, New York, USA
| 3.9 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 3/5 | 8/10 | 3/5 | 17/20 |
Nov 14, 2009 Bottle shared by Dickinsonbeer (?) Black with very dark brown head. Rich woody very dark roasted coffee chocolate eath aroma. Bitter dark roasted coffee dark fruit wood and chocolate with bitter roasted finish. Complex. Slightly oxidized. Very good.
ditmier (1114), Boise, Idaho, USA
| 4.4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 5/5 | 9/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 |
Oct 18, 2009 Bottle thanks to the dark benefactor motortoddhead!!!...Thanks man!...Pours thick and almost black with a slowly apprearing head that starts orangey tan and slowly lightens in color...aroma is big and bold, chocolate syrup, molassas, port wine...coats the mouth like frosting, flavour is similar, bitter cocoa, coffee, vanilla, burnt wood and molassas...flavour does not let up, lingering bitterness that lasts close to a minute...a beautiful brew that still has plenty of legs...
thewolf (5828), Kolding, Denmark
| 4.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 5/5 | 9/10 | 5/5 | 18/20 |
Oct 10, 2009 Bottle. [thank you, madmitch76]
Pours utterly and completely black. Wonderful, creamy, beige-brown head that just stays for a looong time. Wonderful aroma of oak, sherry, dark chocolate, some cellar, bourbon, dust, prunes. Low carbonation, fat and just totally impressive creamy/oily mouthfeel. Flavour is equally impressve, vinious, chocolate, bourbon, sherry, prunes, raisins, coffee, cocoa. Very much still a brilliant beer. This is really a great experience!
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