Bell's Bourbon Barrel Aged Batch 9000 - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

Etan

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at FoBAB, from notes. Normally don't review small pours but a couple beers there warranted note-taking.

A: Pours a straightforward murky brown with a small light tan head.

S: Very rich and sweet. Melted caramel, coconut, thick chocolate, maple, vanilla, candied figs, slight waft of alcohol.

T: Heavy with sweet tannins and maple. Cooked sugar, toffee, lots of maple, oak and vanilla, butterscotch, warming booze.

M: Thick-bodied with light carbonation.

O: The barrel's influence on this beer is phenomenal, enhancing the sweetness without putting it over the top.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2012 02:08:36 | More by Etan

Treebs

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed on tap at FOBAB. Served in my FOBAB taster.

A: Pours a dark brown/purple color with a tan head forming on the pour. The head dissipates quickly to a thin ring. Pretty standard given the ABV.

S: Dark fruits, nuts and a ton of molasses. Bourbon notes with some light vanilla and caramel malts.

T: The taste follows the nose nicely with just a touch more bourbon and some added heat that warms the through as well. Again, the Batch 9,000 base does come out with the dark fruits and heavy malt presence, but the bourbon barrel just really adds a layer of flavor that's remarkable. Smooth bourbon, vanilla sweetness, caramel, toffee and nuts.

M: Medium low carbonation with a medium-full body. Super creamy, rich and smooth this goes down nicely even with the ABV and subtle back end heat.

O: I still can't believe the barrel really did this to the base beer as I though the regular Batch 9,000 was good, but nothing incredibly remarkable. I would definitely like to try this again and compare from the bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2012 01:43:24 | More by Treebs

Powderhornphil

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

One finger mocha head. Black and appealing.

Smell of bourbon. Some bitter chocolate. Smell is on par with an excellent BA beer.

Taste. Wow. Sweet bourbon. Licorice. Chocolate. probably one of the best BA beers I have had. Lots of flavors that really compliment the bourbon.

Mouthfeel spot on for the style.

wish it was available to me in bottles. No alcohol heat to speak of.

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2012 20:05:15 | More by Powderhornphil

homebrew311

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark brown appearance with a dense cocoa colored head. Nose is straight dark chocolate with heavy waves of cherry skin. Vanilla comes through strong with some caramel, molasses and oak at the finish. Taste is similar, very sweet with dark fruit and chocolate. The vanilla mellows out the sweetness and smooths out the flavor. Mellow carbonation and sticky body. Overall, the barrels have been nice to batch 9k.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2012 19:21:59 | More by homebrew311

khumbard

Indiana

4.55/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to eyeenjoybeer for the share....

Pours a dark brownish black with a dissipating head, pretty much expected. The nose is probably the best part of the beer for me... subtle bourbon, dark fruits, coffee, molasses.... very nice. Taste is sweet and complex. The barrel has really improved the base beer significantly. It rounded out all of the odd edges that hurt the base. The bourbon comes through just enough, along with the molasses and raisin sweeness. Finishes with a lingering sweetness that is a bit sticky... but if you've ever had the standard 9000 that is to be expected. The barrel may have thinned it out just slightly, but the mouthfeel is pretty much the same as the base.... a bit syrupy, but nothing too over the top. Overall, this was really darn good and an improvement on the base beer. I'm in the group that didn't really enjoy the base beer fresh, but it has grown on me the last 3 years. I was really excited to try the barreled version, and Bell's didn't disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 05:14:38 | More by khumbard

josephwa

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Served in a large tulip glass.

A - jet black, completely opaque, perfect head. Inviting indeed.

S - Bourbon and sweetness calling my name.

T - So rich in flavor, perfectly sweetened, the bourbon aging is very nice. Lots of complexity.

M - This has a lighter weight to it than expected. There is no alcohol burn on this at all. Hard to believe it is 14.9%! Perfect carbonation as well.

O - I wish this beer were perpetually available for me to enjoy. Dear God.

Serving type: on-tap

11-16-2012 19:04:44 | More by josephwa

pschul4

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to mcbeerbrew for this whalez,bro

A- Pours dark as night with a small white head that runs away

S- Pow bourbon! Tons of boozy sexy bourbon hits your nose with a background of sweet malts and chocolate, I am very excite!

T- Lots of chocolate and bourbon here. It's quite similar to bourbon county except without the last layer of complexity (no coffee). Super good, definintely worth the hype

M- Nice and thick like I ike in my big bourbon beers (and women)

O- Simply fantastic, can't say anything bad about this beer

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 04:47:00 | More by pschul4

deebo

Minnesota

4.95/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at Bryant lake bowl. Huge fan of batch 9000 so very excited to try this!

A-a generous pour served in an oversized snifter yields a finger of large bubbled tan foam that breaks down into a lacing and finally a small ring half way through the drink. Black
S-bourbon yes but so much more than that. It does still smell like the non-barreled version dark sweet fruits (raisin rum molasses and vanilla aromas all very prominent). Delicious
T-the aging has made this beer sweeter than the younger in barreled version. It is definitely sweet but not cloying. I'm a fan. The bourbon is here but is not overpowering at all. Plenty of sweet and toasted malt. Finish is smooth and a bit muscat-like
M-heavy body, low carbonation and smooth
O-yep I like this beast. The sweetness drowns out the alcohol bite. All I get is a little burn way down deep to let you know this is a brew to savor not slam

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2012 01:46:45 | More by deebo

SkeeterBoganski

Colorado

4.49/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Let's be honest, this is a pretty much a f'n wine; it's hardcore with booze and a pint of this would put you on your ass; it's an aged imperial stout; looks dark brown, almost black and tan; minimal head; hints of vanilla and clove; light lacing; really boozy, really bourbon-y (again); this is heady and will get you drunk. Good beer...love the strong experimentation.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2012 01:04:22 | More by SkeeterBoganski

Holland

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: black to brown with some light coming through, and a small head that leaves a little lacing.

S: very bourbon forward along with dark fruits.

T: again there is a lot of barrel flavor followed by big date and fig.

M: thick but very well carbonated. At room temperature it feels like a medium body beer.

O: excellent beer. Impressive drinkability for such a big beer. Had on tap at Varga in Philadelphia.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2012 19:13:33 | More by Holland

MasterSki

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to mishuggah for sharing this one. Served in a taster pint glass at Todd's birthday bash.

A - Tan foam settles to a collar, wisps, and specks of lacing. Very dark brown body with lighter glints at the edges of the glass. Looks a lot like Batch 9000 did.

S - Huge bourbon of the more earthy variety. Plenty of anise, dark chocolate, yeasty dark bread, caramel and vanilla in there too, but this is pretty bourbon-forward.

T - The taste is similar, with with a bit more of the base beer: anise and dark bread in particular. Roasty, mildly bitter, but gets sweeter as it warms with chocolate fudge and caramel coming out more. Bourbon and oak are still quite present, but don't overpower in the same manner as the aroma.

M - Medium-full body, with moderate-to-low carbonation, and a lightly oaky and tannic texture. Mild sticky in the finish, with some mild alcohol warmth.

D - It's boozy, but it's quite excellent. The texture and alcohol hit are evocative of Bourbon County Stout, so pace yourself. Also a huge improvement over the base beer, as the barrel-aging blunts the overpowering anise and makes it a more complementary flavor. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 16:07:27 | More by MasterSki

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

thanks to TATURBO for the share! Thanks Chris!

poured into tulip glass.

bottle 1153 of 1502.

Appearance: black bodied beer with thin cap of light brown head. drops down to no head.

Smell: bourbon, molasses. black licorice, brown sugar.

Taste: very bourbon forward. black licorice, molasses, tobacco. Dark chocolates, oak, and roasty notes.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with moderate carbonation. warming booze, but not really harsh.

Overall: really nice barrel aged beer from bells! This is a big improvement from the regular batch 9,000!

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 06:47:24 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

Duff27

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle 1153 of 1502

Short lived mocha head leaves a small collar. Dark brown colored body with red hues around the edges.

Stanks of heavy/rich bourbon. Thick roasty wafts.

Special integration of black roast and bourbon barrel notes. Significant oakiness. For 14+%abv, this isn't hot at all.

Thicker mouthfeel, smooth. Lower end of carbonation.

Yeah it's good!! Being a fan of the 9000 I eagerly anticipated trying this guy. Worth it if you can get your hands on it. Thanks a ton TATURBO!

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 01:47:10 | More by Duff27

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On Tap at Varga Bar in Philadelphia, PA

Batch 9000 in Bourbon Barrels looks pretty much the same regular 9000 looked, a droppy black color with some faint brown spots near the edge of the glass. Off the spout some minimal off white bubbles sprang up and dissipated very quick, leaving nothing up top and nothing notching on the glass. Barrel 9000 also smells pretty similar to original 9000 with the addition of wet oak/wood, bourbon scents and faint vanilla. The original scent of the 9000 is still strong with light chocolate, tootsie roll, cream, grain, and a minimal hop scent, I guess that died off during it's stay in the barrels. Either way it's a bold smell with more alcohol than before bringing out a English old ale quality to itself. This is BIG BEER, it was big when 9000 1st came through and reigns true today. Big hits of molasses, chocolate, a huge grain bill, vanilla/oak, licorice and some nice bourbon taste coming through in the end with some burn on the way down, this is about 15% after all. The body is thick and the carb is minimal off the tap which is surprising, but than again, this is 15% There is some heat and some sting on the way down, the heat is there and in scope, not hidden in the least bit. If you like boozy big beer, this one is for you. If you like small portions of boozy big beer(like me) this one is good for about 6oz or so and than losses it's luster. A Great beer, just not one I would be interested to make a session out of. If I could score a bottle of this, which is impossible after looking at the trade forums, I would share it with as many people I could find. 25oz's of this would be a chore and a suicide mission in one.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2012 21:19:10 | More by onix1agr

sarro

Michigan

4.58/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a slightly red copper tinted black, but you can still see through it against light.
Thin head. Smell is sweet licorice, oak, vanilla, toasted malt and wood, prunes, and figs. Taste is long lasting bourbon heat with notes of sweet chocolate, molasses, and finishes with a strong booze note. Full bodied mouthfeel with low carbonation. Dry alcohol finish. Overall, very good and a huge improvement on Batch 9000 between the mellowed aging and added barrel character.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2012 22:43:02 | More by sarro

Sean9689

Illinois

4.58/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On-tap at the Cafe.

Pours black with a thin tan collar, wisps on top, bubbles here and there. Nose is bourbon, chocolate, caramel, and a wonderful barrel character. Flavor is chocolate, bourbon, oak, toffee, burnt sugars, and caramel. The sweetness and booze work together perfectly with this monstrous beer. Full body, perfect light carbonation, creamy sweet finish.

Wow, what a monster this is. Clocking in at 15% with only 12oz pours available, I had to pass some off to a couple other guys at the bar or risk a diabetic coma with a buzz. This beer takes Batch 9000 to another level, no doubt about it. It's a sipper but perfectly done for what it's suppose to be.

Serving type: on-tap

11-01-2012 20:54:58 | More by Sean9689

JDizzle

Indiana

4.74/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Got a 12 oz pour at the eccentric cafe. $6.75

Charlie Murphy black with negative head...zero.

Wow, smells like dark fruits, booze, licorice, bourbon, and more booze.

Complex is a good word. Again, dark fruits like dates and raisins are strong. The bourbon barrel aging is present, but does not take over like usual. It has a nice dry finish from the barrel. It's hot, but it's very drinkable for a 15%er.

Mouthfeel is thick, chewy, and dry. Carbs are low as they should be. Nice!!

What a great beer! This is so much better than 9000.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2012 16:36:12 | More by JDizzle

cfrances33

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Eccentric Cafe, served in a snifter.

Pour: Dark molasses brown with barely any head. No lacing and some serious legs.

Smell: Big burst of bourbon, followed by caramel, molasses, and really sweet tobacco. A leathery aspect mixes in, as well as a light chocolate. This beer smells unreal.

Taste: Starts with a really nice bourbon and milk chocolate. The molasses then hits, with a really nice chewy raisin aspect, but without getting more than minimally fruity . Vanilla and tobacco finish off really nicely.

Mouthfeel: Really nice sticky sipper. Lightly hot, but not very noticeable. If I could, I would give this a 4.25.

Overall: A really awesome strong ale. Bells is in fact calling an imperial stout, for whatever reason. Really, really looking forward to the chance to have this again if possible.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2012 17:34:58 | More by cfrances33

warnerry

Michigan

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

On tap at the Eccentric Cafe; surprised this hasn't been added before now.

A – Pours a clear dark reddish brown with virtually no head other than a very thin collar.

S – Surprisingly, the bourbon aromas are able to outpace the significant anise aroma to really dominate the smell, which is also quite boozy overall. Nice vanilla and oak notes, with quite a bit of caramel and anise as well.

T – Caramel leads off the taste profile, quickly supplemented with vanilla, anise and oak. A decent amount of dark fruits come through. Finish is a bit boozy with a comforting warming.

M – Full mouthfeel that is a bit sticky. Quite a bit of numbing alcohol on the finish, provides a warming feeling.

O – I know the base beer is somewhat divisive, but I enjoy it and think it has been drinking very well for the last year and a half. This is a nice complement to the base beer with added complexity in the flavor. Wish it were a bit less boozy, but at 14.9% that is asking a lot. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2012 02:53:48 | More by warnerry