Bells Eccentric Ale

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

2004 -- so much better than the other two vinatages of this that I’ve had. Much darker and hoppier. It’s difficult to put numbers on this beer because it is so different each year. 2003 -- murky, lifeless brew. Almost still. Nose of plums, alcohol and grass. Once it warms, the cinoman spicey flavors come out. I also taste cherry, apple, burnt toffee, dust, wood and lots of alcohol. The finish is an odd, syrupy orange rind/orange liquer. Eccentric is one word for it. I tried this back to back with a bottle from 1996. The ’96 was better, as all the flavors had rounded into one ball of burnt sugar, dark fruit and alcohol. Lots of sherry and oak in the old one. Thanks to BBB63 for these interesting bottles, but I just wasn’t able to appreciate what Larry was going for.

Murky brown in colour. Aroma was very sweet, alcohol, some hops and oranges. Flavour had lots of alcohol, malt, caramel, very sweet, sticky. Rather young, aging would do this wonders. Finishes with a medium bitterness and too much alcohol. Thanks Michael.

Well this rating is not in the slightest indicative of the potential this beer offers. Sadly it was too young and harsh to be given its full due. A bowl-me-over candy-cane sweet aroma hit me as soon as the cap came off. Very barley-wine like with lots of alcohol and warmth and evident complexity of sweet and bitter and bread and citrus. But it was just too much alcohol in the taste and in the finish for me at this point.

Head is initially small, frothy, off-white, fully diminishing. Body is murky medium brown. Aroma is lightly malty (molasses), moderately hoppy (resin), lightly yeasty (dough), with notes of alcohol, sherry, oregano/sage, and lemon peel. Flavor is heavily sweet, moderately acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is moderately sweet, moderately acidic, moderately bitter. Medium body, syrupy texture, soft carbonation, lightly astringent, lightly alcoholic. Spicy, but dull in overall effect. Did nothing for me, but then again I'm not as big a fan of Bells as most.

2004 SE Gathering: Pours a cloudy brown with noo head. Spicy aroma that smells like vinegar. Thick, sweet, cloying flavor.

Eccentric is right. I don't have a clue what is going on here because there's so much to it. I can say that it's a murky medium brown with an ok head. Wasn't much to look at, but the aroma and flavor made up for it. Lemon and oregano, maybe coriander stuff that I don't even now about. Some alcohol, but the rest of the ingredients keep it in check. Thick, slick mouthfeel. Weird, but I like it.

This is one of the most complex beer out on the market. To be truly appreciated you will not be able to agive this a complete rating one the basis of one bottle. Dark ruby appearance, with lots of fruits, and chocolate covered cherries, rum, toffee and raisins. I cannot wait to try this again, and give it a more complete rating.

Cloudy brown. Alcohol, caramel and toast in the aroma. Viscous mouthfeel. Has a sort of English BarelyWine feel to it. Rich and sweet, but with a backbone of nice hop bitterness. Nice. Sampled at Ratebeer Southeastern Gathering, Atlanta, 2004.