This One Goes To 11 Ale - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a tulip glass. Huge thanks go to Stakem for hooking me up with a bottle of this.

Pours a clear dark copper, with 2 fingers of rich off-white head. This maintains a solid ½ finger or so of robust froth, which leaves back sudsy lacing that sticks to the sides of the glass. The aroma smells of zesty grapefruit, pine and herbs, with maltier backing notes of sweet caramel, some darker roast and then maybe even a smidge of brown sugar character. The high alcohol definitely gives this some power in the nose.

The taste has strong hop bitterness to it, with an equally strong resinous feel along for the ride as well. A sticky burnt sweetness hangs on the edges of the profile, trying its best to balance things and then eventually leaving behind a charred backend that lingers along with some leftover bitterness and pine from the hops. The mouthfeel is fuller bodied, with a pretty lively sharpness to the carbonation that eventually does lessen some along the back and plenty of oiliness from the hops helps keep this on the smoother side as well. That 11% ABV is here and while not overly hot feeling, it does jack the intensity of this up a few levels.

I like me a good Imperial Red Ale and this one didn’t disappoint. Lots of aggressive flavors to this and the alcohol, while high, never did become overly intrusive here but instead really cranked things up to a solidly assertive degree. Nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 18:05:29 | More by Kegatron

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

3.96/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12oz bottle served in a perfect pint glass.

L - somewhat hazed amber color with a off-white head that stayed around for a while leaving a few streaks behind.

S - malty, similar to a scotch ale aroma with a floral background.

T - what starts out sweet and malty takes a turn to citrus rind bitterness finishing with a sticky sweetness on the lips.

F - medium bodied, it's a little chewy, warm and it is a sipper for sure.

O - whatever style this beer may be, it is a tasty one.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 01:01:26 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

djre4orm

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

06-13-2013 19:36:22 | More by djre4orm

BobZ

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz Bottle poured into a Duvel tulip. Bottled on 9-19-12

Appearance: Bright orange/amber with a nice 1" head that hangs around, very nice lacing.

Smell: Still (after all this time) some nice hop aroma over a malty sweetness.

Taste: The hops held up very well as they balanced the beer with the caramel and toffee notes from the malt. This beer is drinking very well right now as all the flavors are working well together and no single flavor dominates. Again, a pleasant amount of hoppy bitterness balanced with malty sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Clean and crisp on the palate.

Overall: At nine months this is still a very enjoyable beer, I imagine the hops would have been far more dominant fresh.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 19:51:22 | More by BobZ

TheRuss9585

Vermont

4/5  rDev -4.1%

06-10-2013 18:02:24 | More by TheRuss9585

TheCuriograph

New York

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

06-10-2013 03:03:26 | More by TheCuriograph

Sparty55

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

06-06-2013 14:36:12 | More by Sparty55

Petrofessor

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

06-05-2013 22:33:02 | More by Petrofessor

MarkJBurch

New York

4/5  rDev -4.1%

06-02-2013 17:25:44 | More by MarkJBurch

DrBrule

Michigan

5/5  rDev +19.9%

06-01-2013 22:35:54 | More by DrBrule

Immortale25

Florida

4.24/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a snifter. Back label says PKGD 09/13/12

A- From a heavy pour comes a 1/2 inch tan head that retains well before becoming a thin ring around the edge of the glass and a sheer half patch of surface foam. Semi-resilient lacing streaks down the glass.

S- Sweet malt aroma with notes of raisin, sherry and brown sugar. Very complex as it entices more sniffs.

T- More caramel-like sweetness with a hint of bourbon. Remarkably well-balanced with the hops providing enough bitter to counteract the sweetness and booze. Kind of drinks like a barleywine but exhibits a surprising smoothness that's uncommon for that style. Truly unique. Notes of dark fruit and rum-soaked raisins.

M- Moderate alcohol sting and a bit on the dry side. Medium carbonation and a body that leans toward the fuller side.

O- Easy drinking in the beginning but it kind of wears on you after a while and becomes a slow sipper. Still quite different from other strong ales I've had.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 02:18:39 | More by Immortale25

Ragnarok88

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-31-2013 22:23:27 | More by Ragnarok88

jgluck

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-31-2013 20:58:19 | More by jgluck

mpayne5

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-28-2013 01:54:06 | More by mpayne5

justforrazors

Missouri

4/5  rDev -4.1%

05-26-2013 16:18:33 | More by justforrazors

Beer_Drinker

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

05-24-2013 16:38:57 | More by Beer_Drinker

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -16.1%

05-23-2013 01:20:12 | More by mikeincharleston

discharmingly

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-22-2013 15:34:26 | More by discharmingly

StoutHunter

Michigan

4/5  rDev -4.1%

05-21-2013 01:36:39 | More by StoutHunter

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-19-2013 15:27:42 | More by InspectorBob

drgonzo2k2

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-19-2013 14:31:07 | More by drgonzo2k2

nick_asian

Nevada

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-19-2013 06:49:31 | More by nick_asian

NJB145

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

05-19-2013 01:03:10 | More by NJB145

darvinlikemarvin

Iowa

4/5  rDev -4.1%

05-17-2013 19:36:30 | More by darvinlikemarvin

mverity

Florida

4/5  rDev -4.1%

05-16-2013 21:38:10 | More by mverity