Bell's Batch 9000

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Pours coffee with minimum head. Aroma produces cinnamon, chocolate, roast malt. Flavor supplies chocolate, roast malt, cinnamon, clove, woody notes. Texture yields firm body and peppy fizz. Keep it up, Bell's.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 10

12oz bottle -

I wasn't sure exactly how to rate this beauty. According to BP, the style was an Imperial Stout???! Really? I really didn't get any imperial stout characteristics, but did get a TON of barleywine-ish/dopplebock-like aromas/flavors. This beer was truly outstanding in nearly every phase that a beer can be outstanding.

Aroma brings waves and waves of leather, raisins, madeira/brandy, melted vanilla ice cream with some not so subtle chocolate. The flavor in this beer is so incredibly complex, it was very difficult for me at least to really nail down flavors because it kept changing through the 12oz. Some sips there were caramelized walnuts coated with semi-dark chocolate. Other flavors it was liquid leather and pipe tobacco. Other times it'd take on dark, overripe dried fruits like figs and raisins soaked in brandy or madeira....rich and deep. A sweet beer...one of the sweeter beers I've had in awhile. But the complexity...this will go down as one of the better beers I've ever had. Thank you to kinger for sending me this world class beer. If it's not on your "must have" list...better put it on there!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 10

"The Bell's Brewery batch number you searched '9000' is a Bell's Batch 9000 Ale and was packaged on January 27th, 2010"...........I've been pecking away at my seven pack (yes seven pack) since early Spring of 2010 and found tonight to be the right time to slap down my thoughts. Still have some in the cellar, yet I think at this time frame 9000 is ripe for the review as it was good fresh, great currently, and shows all sings for continual improvement. An abundant aroma of black licorice, tobacco, port wine, and juicy fruit. Pitch black pour with a filmy head and big spots of lacing...very calm and subdued looking. Initially this was sweet, but the current sample shows a much mellowed and easy going sipper with an exceptionally warming, comforting quality. The aspects from the aroma are all inclusive within the rich flavor and seem to be amplified. A firm burnt woodiness followed by hints of vanilla, blackberry, currants, and smoke all poke their way into the equation. Tobacco, leather, and musk all push forward. This commemorative brew only continues to improve with time. Over-hyped, under-appreciated, and really tasty right now. Recommended for those who are able to wait.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Bottled@PBF2010. Amber colour, small beigeish brown head. Aroma is mild oxidation, some caramel, mild sweet wood as well as some mild raisins. Flavour is quite much the same. A quite sweet beer. More a barley wine than imperial stout by taste...

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Pour is dark black and has a creamy head. Aroma is roasted malts and molasses. Very thick beer. A bit of licorice in the flavor... hell of a beer. Should note that this aged almost 8 months before I had it. Forgot it was in the back of my fridge until I had batch 10,000 on tap earlier today.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

a little hot...definitely a sipper. kinda like a World Wide Jr. molasses, smoke, licorice, sweet malt, chocolate, alcohol, etc...in the aroma and flavor. a little much at the start, i really liked it by the end as it reached room temp.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Sampled at Atomic Coffee. Pour is black with a thick, creamy tan head. Roasted malts, smokey, and alcohol are the dominant flavors. Maybe a little too big for my liking.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Had this on tap at Sheffield's in Chicago I believe. Pretty heavy boozer of a beer. But nice nonetheless. Black as black can be, full rich and burnt in taste,kind of ashy actually. Super smokey and roasted all the way to the finish.