Bell's Batch 9000 - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

route66pubs

California

3.8/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This was not chilled but served at cellar temperature, about 55 degrees.

A - pours a deep black, with very little sign of light even when held up to the light. Very tiny cream-colored head with lots of tiny bubbles. Head holds firm to glass.

S - Slight licorice / anise aroma, barely noticeable in the pour. What little of it is there is definitely heavily leaning toward the liqueur side. This is very non-obtrusive and should, you would think, make this a much more palatable beer. Slight mustiness as well, but mostly as an afterthought.

T - what a burn! The alcohol on this is obvious from the first sip. The licorice / anise aroma comes through fully in the taste, including some of the slight lingering after-effects you would get from a good piece of black licorice.

M - combined with the taste, the alcohol in this is definitely the most noticeable characteristic. There's almost a gumminess to it from the licorice, but the burn from the alcohol very much sets the tone on this one. If you can get past the initial burn, the candy-esque feel that is left makes this quite enjoyable. (Indeed, the burn seems to be deteriorating with each successive sip.)

D - that alcohol burn takes the score down on this ... perhaps a good candidate for cellaring to see if that burn subsides. Otherwise, very enjoyable effort for something with a completely different flavor than the bourbon / whiskey barrel aged efforts permeating the beer community.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2010 02:44:32 | More by route66pubs

rodkin

Missouri

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

06-18-2013 04:12:37 | More by rodkin

goblin7704

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

06-11-2013 16:32:56 | More by goblin7704

TheRuss9585

Vermont

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

06-10-2013 17:21:34 | More by TheRuss9585

vissai

California

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%

06-09-2013 10:24:31 | More by vissai

VAbdoyan

California

5/5  rDev +25%

06-08-2013 09:33:28 | More by VAbdoyan

chippo33

Vermont

2.75/5  rDev -31.3%

06-08-2013 00:08:25 | More by chippo33

Andreias21

Florida

4/5  rDev 0%

06-07-2013 13:52:35 | More by Andreias21

CadetGCBD

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%

06-07-2013 00:39:27 | More by CadetGCBD

szmnnl99

Michigan

4/5  rDev 0%

06-03-2013 00:52:29 | More by szmnnl99

JohnnieNepal

Michigan

4/5  rDev 0%

06-02-2013 11:50:18 | More by JohnnieNepal

Jas45678

Michigan

4/5  rDev 0%

06-01-2013 01:08:39 | More by Jas45678

mpayne5

Indiana

4/5  rDev 0%

05-28-2013 01:54:39 | More by mpayne5

2beerdogs

California

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-27-2013 06:48:55 | More by 2beerdogs

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4/5  rDev 0%

05-23-2013 01:17:13 | More by mikeincharleston

ackeeper

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-22-2013 02:06:31 | More by ackeeper

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4/5  rDev 0%

05-20-2013 14:18:59 | More by InspectorBob

Zbeetleman

California

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%

05-15-2013 06:24:01 | More by Zbeetleman

jkane101

New Jersey

4/5  rDev 0%

05-14-2013 00:27:16 | More by jkane101

egrace84

Illinois

4/5  rDev 0%

05-12-2013 13:57:55 | More by egrace84

fredmugs

Indiana

4/5  rDev 0%

04-29-2013 10:53:31 | More by fredmugs

ObeMaltKinobee

California

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

04-23-2013 04:53:46 | More by ObeMaltKinobee

Kelp

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev 0%

04-23-2013 04:50:33 | More by Kelp

BeerBucks

New York

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

04-21-2013 22:32:59 | More by BeerBucks

dapatte2

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -25%

04-17-2013 01:37:48 | More by dapatte2