Bell's Batch 10000 - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

BogusOwnz

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into tulip figure it's about a year old now.

A. This beer pours a very dark brown with half a finger head.

S. if there was a generic hop smell this would be it. A tiny bit of chocolate comes through but nothing much. I can smell alcohol in this beer as well

T. The taste is bitter, hint of chocolate and a tiny bit dried fruit character but not enough to really be present. The finish is a bit solventy.

M. It is a very chewy beer it drinks like some 10%+ beers.

O. This beer was a good beer a year ago and good but not great beer six months ago. Age does not do this beer well as it doesn't seem to know what it wants to be when it grows up. This isn't a drain pour but drinking this while waiting from some fresh stone ipa to cool down in the freezer is turning into a regret.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 01:40:48 | More by BogusOwnz

claaark13

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a 10oz Bell's tulip. Consumed at time of review.

A - Very dark brown with a fairly thick head. Retention is very good.

S - Dark malts, smokiness in the background. There is almost a hoppy aroma coming through that confuses me.

T - Dark malts, slightly sweet middle that turns into a mild, malty and roast finish. Licorice/raisin comes out in the middle as well. There is a slight chocolate that comes out.

M - On the lighter side of medium. This could improve.

O - I don't think the flavors have come together quite yet. I think this is at an odd stage where the malts are coming through the hops, similar to a 2yr old Barleywine. I am excited to see what happens to this in another 2 years or so. Things could get very interesting. But, as it stands, I would highly suggest cellaring this beer for some more time.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2012 02:50:37 | More by claaark13

syrupjoe

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoying this brew while watching the 2011 NFC championship game. Pours a deep amber color with no particulates. Creamy light tan head.

Nose: Malt, molasses, booze, dried plum, slightly savory, slight roast, and a bit of smoke.

Taste: Smoke, booze, honey, malt, bread, dark fruit. Bold and well-rounded flavor profile while being very drinkable. High alcohol is rather well concealed.

Overall an interesting and approachable brew that presents a simple yet well-rounded flavor profile. Booze is noticeable, but I would not have pegged it as more than 9% ABV. Would drink again and am curious to see how it tastes in a year or two.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 04:41:51 | More by syrupjoe

bound4er

Wisconsin

3.38/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A. Dark brown appearance with a fluffy, two finger tan head that leaves lots of sticky lacing. Nice looking stuff.

S. The first thing that comes to mind when I take a big whiff is barleywine. There is nuttiness here along with notes of figs and dates.

T. Not a whole lot of flavor interest on the initial attack - some dark caramel and raisin. It then moves quickly to a coffee infused bitterness on the back end that lingers for quite a long time.

M. Nice overall feel and adequate carbonation.

O. This beer is very average in taste. It looks nice and smells decent but just leaves a bit too much lingering bitterness for my tastes.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 22:28:17 | More by bound4er

DarthKostrizer

California

4.13/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Thanks to Heff316 for this generous offering

Look: Dark brown with a 1/4 inch tan head and good retention with some great spotty lacing

Smell: Dark fruits a bit of chocolate caramel and a kiss of alcohol

Taste: Some caramel malt makes up the foreground while dark fruits especially figs make up the mid palate and the beer finishes with some great coffee notes

Mouthfeel: Medium+ body and medium to mild carbonation

Overall: Really good example of the style. Highly recommended

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 05:35:50 | More by DarthKostrizer

ChrisPro

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted blind as part of Blind BIF #6

Beer #11: 12 oz poured into a Victory tulip

A - Gorgeous dark mahogany with a cratered two finger head that recedes slowly. The lacing is an evermoving work of art. 5.0

S - Leather, molasses, caramel; Some earthy grass notes (possibly a dry hopped english barleywin?) -- I think fuggles. Also a little lemon and earl grey tea. Possibly an Old ale here as this really reminds me of Adam, Matt and Batch 9000. Anxious to see if i get any barrel as it warms up...Hmm a hint of apple leads me to apple brandy = Matt...After more time, it does get fruitier, but it's more dark fruit notes, making me think this is just great oxidation - port and sherry notes. Tons going on here. 4.5

T - Touch of smoke and chocolate. Wow, big huge smokey finish. This is much more bitter and ashy than I got from the aroma. I just keep thinking Adam on this beer. Color works and my mind just keeps going back to HOTD. There's just a hint of cardboard oxidation that is coming out as it warms. Still great, but possibly just peaked. 4.0

M - Nearly perfect carbonation. Medium body and just a hint of heat. It's a double digit beer for sure, but I can't taste it...This beer is NOT fresh. Slightly dryer than I want on the finish. 4.0

O - Super complex beer. Lovely balance of sweet, smokey and bitter and something I love. Adam is one of my all time favorite beers and if this is not that beer, then this is up there with me. I'm not 100% convinced it's Adam, but I'd be mad if I didn't guess it and recognize it. 4.0

Final guess: I've gotta go HOTD Adam, but guessing it's fairly old.

The reveal: Bell's batch 10000

Wow, this beer has come a LONG way from fresh. It also oxidized very quickly. I was not a fan of this beer fresh, but I would happily drink it again. Also funny because in a previous BIF I thought Batch 9000 was Matt. Thanks, Scott!

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 03:20:43 | More by ChrisPro

sholland119

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

A-Pours a medium brown with a thin off white head.

S-Moderately boozy, caramel malt, dates and figs.

T-A bit hot with caramel, raisins and dates. Sweet with some nice flavors.

M-Medium bodied, briskly carbonated.

O-Pretty good. A little lacking in depth but pretty flavorful.

HV

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 03:16:23 | More by sholland119

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

3.48/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to N. Ketchum for pulling a bottle of this out of the cellar. I was going to sit on it for a bit, but I couldn't resist.

Poured out of a 12 oz bottle into a CBS snifter.

A) Pours out dark brown. Held to light, this has some nice red highlights. There was really no head. No lacing. It looked nice, just swirling around the snifter.

S) Very nice aroma. Malt sweetness, mainly caramel. A real pleasant fruit aroma, not just dark fruits or tropical, but like a fruit punch. There was a hint of alcohol.

T) This had a lot going on, maybe too much. Starts with the malt, dark roast. It's some candy raisin and a drop of coffee. The finish is hop bitterness, not a lot of citrus, and a good jolt of booze.

M) This had a medium body, with about the same for carbonation. It was pretty smooth, not really chewy, but sticky. It was all over my gums and teeth. I was not a fan of the aftertaste.

O) This was quite a beer experiment. I wasn't sure what to expect, so I can't say this didn't live up to expectations. I can say, it's not a beer I would desire to drink on a regular basis. I suppose given the fact it will never be brewed again, this is not much of a dilemma.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 01:04:37 | More by RoamingGnome

bennetj17

Arizona

4.03/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle, courtesy of HopHead1982.
Very dark brown color, almost black. The carbonation appears faint, and not much of a head develops during the pour. Malty, barleywine like nose with a tinge of alcohol fume. Definitely a caramel sweetness in there and some ripened fruit character. Not super hoppy, but there is a grassiness to the mix, and overall it smells interesting.

Semi-sweet, toffee malt flavor up front, with a dry complexity. Goes down smoothly with a pleasant bitterness. The alcohol is well hidden, and though I've never had this beer before, I feel like I must be trying it with the right amount of aging. The coffee and dark fruit qualities nearly approach a chocolate character, and with an herbal bite. It's not too heavy/chewy for a strong beer, but robust enough to do the job. The carbonation is nicely done.

Overall a pretty solid finish for this series. It exceeded my expectations. Now just trying to decide whether any further aging could possibly benefit this beer. I'm thinking not.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 05:11:31 | More by bennetj17

sidetracked

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours dark brown with a substantial light brown head that lingers nicely.

Smell is roasted malts, sweet brown sugar, and molasses. Little dark fruitiness.

Upfront taste is bitter roasted malts mixed with a little sweet molasses. Little fruitiness. Increased bitterness at the finish with roasted malt and unsweetened chocolate flavors. Lingering bitter roastiness.

Medium to full bodied with low carbonation. Bit syrupy.

Taste is one-dimensional and kind of boring. Nothing really shines about this beer. Average, but not bad.

7/13/2011

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 22:15:34 | More by sidetracked

phishsihq

Colorado

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bell's Brewery based out of Kalamazoo, MI has brewing up great beers for, well, 10,000 batches. This brew is the last installment of the 1,000 series, and owner Larry Bell takes a trip back down memory lane as a home brewer that once threw everything he had left into the kettle. 10,000 Batch is reminiscent of that home brew, featuring over 100 different malts, grains, and other fermentables, and is balanced by the addition of 60 different hop varietals between the kettle and dry hopping. Labeled an American Strong Ale, 10,000 Batch strolls in at 9.2% and pours a dark, opaque brown with a thin beige head a light lacing that sticks around. The nose is definitely sweet and malty, with hints of candied sugars, dark fruits and a little hops. A VERY complex taste from all the ingredients, and I would run out of space before I listed everything, however dark flavors such as figs and raisins, and a little chocolate stick out. A full mouth on this big beer and carbonation seems to be low to medium. A rare and interesting brew from Bell's, great to share this time of year.
Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 22:40:22 | More by phishsihq

kawilliams81

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes from stout tasting.

A- dark caramel with a off-white head.

S- very sweet malts, citrus fruits.

T- sweet malts, smoke, rye, citrus.

M- medium body, slightly syrupy with dry finish.

O- decent beer. Hard to pick out a lot from this beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 06:30:24 | More by kawilliams81

NuclearDolphin

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a 12oz Tumbler; Yet another beer mail review!

Appearance - Very dark brown with a slight brightness of brown on the bottom. Head pours around brown 2 finger width with lots of lacing on the sides

Smell - Very strong caramel and rum raisin notes, arguably some of the strongest I've smelled so far in terms of caramel. There's a pretty strong malty backbone to be had here as well, but the strongest smell are the caramel and fruit notes. Even while observing the look, I could smell the rum raisin and caramel from over 2 feet away.

Taste - Burnt Malts, Rum Raisin, and Caramel hit the palette (in that order) with a very sugar-like quality to it. There's also a very slight spiciness to it. There's quite a bit of flavor going on here and it seems to come together pretty well! Even more impressive is that even at 9.2% ABV, it doesn't feel that strong.

Mouthfeel - It's a bit on the heavier side in terms of body and it's got a slight thickness to it. It's also got a decent amount of carbonation, but it's feels fresh to the palette when drinking

Overall - This is a beer that you really have to still down and appreciate. It's got a really complex and rich flavor and tastes fresh. It's a shame that this was only brewed once because I am seriously craving some more!

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 06:36:49 | More by NuclearDolphin

doughanson78

Washington

3.98/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Dark murky brown. 1 1.2 finger head great ret and lacin

S; Very hoppy aroma. Floral and citrus, mostly pineapple juice. Sweet malts.

T: Some chocolate upfront. Big pineapple juice with a touch of grapefruit bitterness. Finishing with slight coffee.

M: medium body. Medium high carbonation. A touch oily.

O: very different, but pretty damn good.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2011 04:08:39 | More by doughanson78

HosP

Indiana

3.48/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bought this a while ago and found in the fridge. Poured 12 oz into snifter.

A- Pours dark amber, dull brown. Nice head with decent lacing.

S- Get a lot of caramel malts. Candied sugars dotted throughout the nose. Maybe some coffee, toffee notes towards the end.

T- Interesting flavors here. Taste comes through a little burnt. Caramel malts hold up the flavors nice. Maybe some small hints of hop bitterness at the end.

M- Medium body. Moderate carbonation.

O- Get a lot of flavors here that make for an interesting drink. Nicely blended. Good drink, but still on the fence about it with just a few sips left. Wish I would have drank one right when I got them to compare. Still a decent drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2011 04:26:24 | More by HosP

Auracom

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Bavarian Lodge on November 26th, 2011. 9-10 oz. served in a snifter.

A - Very dark brown coloring with a touch of deep red around the edges of the snifter. Good lacing. Little retention of a light brown head.

S - Overt malt grains. Roasted almonds, cashews, nuts, light caramel, and plentiful dark fruits. I need a 3.75 rating.

T - Again, malts reign supreme here. Dates, figs, burnt raisins, a touch of rye bread, and slightly astringent, overripe plums. Short waves of milk chocolate as the drink warms to room temperature.

M - Medium body, good carbonation. Not particularly creamy. Average-length finish with a roasted aftertaste.

D - This is about what I expected. Still, I think this is well-done as a melting pot for malts and I would love to check out the older batches to see where age can take this.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2011 20:06:29 | More by Auracom

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.08/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I got this as an extra but I can't who it came from.

It pours a pitch black; I held my glass to the light and couldn't see any light or hints of red or...

There's a nice 1 finger head of off white foam and it has oodles of lacing.

It has an overall sweet smell to it. I'm guessing a fruity sweetness, dark pitted? mixed in with caramel malt. It's very pleasant.

My first sip and I do not taste anything fruit like at all. I find some grain and caramel malt, a bitterness that is dark chocolate insinuating, toffee, perhaps figs....a pretty good tasting brew except, I'd say, the goodish flavours there aren't really vibrant. I don't know when this originally came out but I reckon it's a good drinker now so no worries on my part.

The carbonation is on the light side with a more than ample body. Some alcohol that I can feel more than I can taste and that's always a good thing. Yep. I'm liking this Batch 10,000.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 22:50:45 | More by Bitterbill

pBRale

Iowa

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I was able to enjoy this on tap at Bob's bar in Columbus... Poured into a snifter.

Appearance: Dark brown-black pour with a creamy and dense pale tan head that settles slowly. The head eventually dissipates into a short little creamy ribbon that leaves a thick lace down the glass. Truly a beautiful beer.

Smell: The smell was a little hard to identify, but could definitely detect a lot of dark fruits and some subtle sweetness of toffee. The malt aromas were complex and delicious.

Taste: This beer was phenomenal with huge robust flavors that were nearly overwhelming. The malt profile was too complex for me to identify everything, but it reminded me of a cross between an imperial stout and a scotch ale. Incredible flavors that are well blended and powerful. Nice toasted malt flavors combined with a rich almost smoky flavor and a hint of coffee as well. The alcohol/booziness is present but not overpowering. Very well done.

Mouthfeel: The body is full and thick and the carbonation is medium, just perfect for the beer. This is an incredibly drinkable beer for >9%.

Overall: An excellent beer that is very well done. The alcohol is surprisingly mellow and this is a beer I wish I could have a large supply of. Thank you Bell's for batch 10,000!

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2011 18:18:48 | More by pBRale

mdaschaf

Washington

3.85/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a very deep brown with a smallish tan colored head. Not much retention, quickly dissipating to a ring of foam on the top. Large bubbly, lacing forms on the sides.

S: A little bit of citrus hops, some toffee, a little bit of a nutty aroma, a little bit of wood, and a hint of smoke.

T: An interesting combination of flavors. Some caramel and toffee, a bit of coffee, brown sugar, a little bit of floral hops. The smoke returns right at the end again.

M: Medium to full bodied with low carbonation. Slight hint of alcohol, but overall well hidden.

O: Pretty good, better than I was expecting. Liked it better than 9000, but not something I am dying to have again.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 02:22:07 | More by mdaschaf

Stockfan42

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark brown body that lets a little light through with a foamy tan head.

Smell has a lot of heat to it as well as some roasted malts, sweet molasses, and some dark fruits.

Taste has a bit of heat to it as well. Dark fruits like raisins and figs stand out, roasted malt and sweet molasses as well. A bit of a toffee like lingers in the back.

Mouthfeel is a little bit thick, almost velvet like yet still almost medium bodied. Carbonated nicely and leaves a nice bitter aftertaste.

Overall this was a pretty tasty beer. A pretty generous extra tossed in on a recent trade. A beer I will likely seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 01:46:41 | More by Stockfan42

sommersb

Tennessee

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted On: 11-07-2011
Freshness: Released in November, 2010
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle
Glassware: Tulip
Purchased: Single from Chuck's, Bowling Green, KY

I believe this beer is right at 1 year old now.

Color is a deep, dark brown with little clarity. The head is tan and about 2 fingers in height, with fair retention and a nice lace on the glass.

Aromas are strong, with dominant notes of sweet, dark fruits and alcohol. This smells like a barrel-aged beer or dark Belgian ale to me, with oak and also molasses characteristics. Very nice aroma overall.

The taste is reminiscent of an imperial stout, with big flavors of toasted malts, bittersweet chocolate and coffee. Rich, with malty sweetness, but it is tempered by a strong hop bitterness. The bitter aspects are not as assertive as in other strong ales I've had, however. Definitely some alcohol warmth in this one as well.

The mouthfeel is thick and full-bodied, with a finish of moderate bitterness from the roasted malts.

Overall I found this to be a very interesting beer, quite unlike anything else I've had. If I had to guess what style this was in a blind taste test I'd choose either a strong dark Belgian ale (from the aromas) or an imperial stout (from the taste). I guess that's what happens when you combine 100 different malts/grains and 60 different hops in a beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 04:45:52 | More by sommersb

bcostner1

Tennessee

4.13/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this as an extra from surlytwinsfan. Thanks Marc!

A: Dark, deep brown with a thick, creamy tan head. Pours beautifully. Just about the right amount of carbonation apparent.

S: Malt, molasses, a little bit of rye maybe. Mild boozy quality in the nose. Overall the smell is good, I just wish there were a little more of it.

T: I love the way this one tastes. Reminds me a lot of He'Brew Vertical Jewbelation which is one of my all time fav beers. I find this one to be very complex. I get: malt and molasses primarily along with heavy, rich, decadent caramel; hints of vanilla; very mild spicy/peppery characteristic; maybe some dark fruit/date characteristics too; ends with a very very mild woody/rye whiskey-ish quality to me. I am enjoying it quite a bit.

M: Very smooth and silky. Easy to drink. Can hardly detect any alcohol. It is deceptive at 9.2%.

Overall, I'm a big fan. I wish I had access to more of this...I would for sure buy it up and save some.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 23:00:27 | More by bcostner1

mdvatab

Indiana

2.75/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from 12oz bottle into Bordeaux glass.

Aroma: Roasty caramel malt, an odd metallic twang, alcohol, and some scotch at the end. Metallic note aside, not a bad aroma, but it also didn't give me a great idea of what I was getting into.

Appearance: Dark brown body with a bit of a haze. Light tan one-finger head has decent retention, and leaves a sheet of foam on the inside of the glass when I tip it.

Flavor: Very strange... Canteloupe, some black licorice, come vanilla and coconut, wet leather, and Band-aid. Malty sweetness up front, and a stronger bitterness on the back end. Not what I was expecting, and not very enjoyable.

Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation and medium-full body. A bit of peppery from the alcohol in this one.

Overall: I'm sorry to say that this is probably the first Bell's beer that I'd never care to drink again. It wasn't horrendous, but at the same time, just didn't do it for me. I'd heard some good things about it, so maybe it was just me. Give it a try for yourself if given the opportunity, but I wouldn't recommend picking this one over other well-rated beers.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 20:43:32 | More by mdvatab

Strix

Wisconsin

4.33/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Celebrating the birth of my first child last week.

Pitch black, brown edges. Good initial head, some lacing.

Smells of anise, malt, raisins, bread, citrus.

Amazingly complex. Sugar, malt, caramel, raisin, lingering pine and grapefruit flavor. Some other sort of strange notes in there (cardboard, bandaid?), but they melded into the mix.

Mouthfeel smooth and coating.

A lot like a barleywine. I just read this has 191 ingredients - hilarious! Considering that, it's a really nice concoction. I guess it's the kitchen sink, but I found it to be a tasty kitchen sink.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 01:41:15 | More by Strix

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.13/5  rDev -44.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Bottle: Poured a medium murky brown color ale with an average size foamy head with light retention. Aroma of fusel alcohol, caramelized malt with a bunch of other characteristics that are hard to describe. Taste has lots going on with notes of fusel alcohol, caramelized malt, light smoke, some paint and astringent finish. Body is quite full with good carbonation and some apparent alcohol. I guess this is what happened when you throw everything in the kettle.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 19:48:01 | More by Phyl21ca