Bells Batch 8000 Ale

Formerly brewed at Bells Brewery
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Bottle. The first pour is a clear orange with a pillowy pale head that dissipates rather quickly. The aroma is a mix between a dry spice and a tangy citrus. Orange rind and coriander seem to be the primary aromas with the orange rind being slightly dominant. In the flavour, the spices first start off being a little more dominant but as the brew warms, the citrus and spice flavours start to level out. As with the aroma, the orange rind is dominant, but more-so in the flavour. The finish is slightly dry and bread-y. After pouring in the yeast, the beer becomes cloudy. The aroma doesn’t seem to change. The flavour, however, goes through a slight change. The distinct orange rind flavour as well as the spices becomes a little more subdued as the brew seems to inherit a slightly more citrus quality. Spice is still dominant, though. The finish also becomes a little more dry and quite a bit more bitter. I’m enjoying this.

Orangey gol in colour. Bold and spicy from start to finish. High level of spice. I believe I am developing a fondness for Belgian ales. Thanks to Piscator for the sample.

Pours a slightly foggy gold. Minimal head. Nose is very nice indeed. Thick dough and a lot of spices. Flavor is great. The flavor profile is great. High, but nice, level of spice. Great yeasty funk with a mild sugar. Just seems exactly right to me. Smooth on the tongue. A very nice BSA indeed.

11-11-07 bottle. Cloudy orange juice color. Smells like a Wit Bier - garbage that was attempted to be masked by orange peels. Coats the tongue with a heavy dose of that dreadful "wit" taste. That taste just lingers on the tongue and won’t seem to go away. This is not my style - just awful to me.

(Thanks to radiomgb.) 355 mL bottle. Hazy copper-orange with a ring of head. The aroma is quite strong; orange, spice, alcohol, and wheat beer yeast. Appealing. The taste is quite powerful, with the sweet malt, orange, and alcohol battling for dominance. (The alcohol fades as the beer warms.) Not much finish, other than a lingering sweetness on the tongue. Body is quite full, and carbonation is quite low. Not exactly refreshing, but interesting enough.

Lemon cream and nutmeg aroma. Cloudy amber, thinnish head. Medium body, cloves, orange, and orange peel. A little soapy. Subdued coriander finish which gets a little rancid during warming for some reason. Alcohol is not the least bit noticeable.

Pours out a cloudy orange color. Looks like a darker orange juice. Aroma has a ton of corriander and orange peel. the orange is the most dominating scent. Flavor was the same. when it was cold, this thing was rough, but as it warmed, the orange peel was subdued and the beer became much more pleasnt to drink. Belgian strong?? I think not. You dont have to call it an imperial wit. Just call it a wit.

poured from bottle 11-08-07. wonderfully hoppy with a hint of wheat and orange. pours pumpkin orange, very hazy with lasting beige head. drinks very smooth and subtle. love this beer, too bad it’s only brewed once