Batch 8,000
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store

Batch 8,000Batch 8,000
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From:
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Witbier
ABV:
9%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.85 | pDev: 11.43%
Reviews:
274
Ratings:
319
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 17, 2019
Added:
Aug 05, 2007
Wants:
  29
Gots:
  15
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by sopor:
Photo of sopor
Reviewed by sopor from Oregon

4.92/5  rDev +27.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
(Right from NBS week 133)

First I gotta say I don't think this Witbier. If I had to place it in a style category, I would say Belgian(-style) Strong Pale, if only so it wouldn't get beat by the Judges. My personal classification would be the new and nowhere near official category of Wheat Wine. This doesn't really fit into a style though, but I'll just say it's Damned good.

Batch 8000 pours a magnificent golden-honey with just a bit of fine sediment-haze and a rich dense but not too thick white cap of bubbly foam. Like looking through a chalice of Amber capped with snow. The head doesn't last too long and didn't leave me much in the way of lacing, but it left a film for the remainder of the glass.

Wow, wonderful aroma! Mostly honey to my nose, but hints of the spicing and some orange were evident along with a bit of banana. Made my mouth water. The overall presentation on this beer between the look and smell is magnificent!

And the taste did not fail to impress. Large honey notes are accompanies with densely sweet, but not overpowering or nearing nearing cloying, malt. Sweetness doesn't last long, dry wheat malt notes and dry honey notes reminiscent of Dunkel-Weisse and Mead. The orange peel and spices are there, and in good ratio. They do not overpower but definitely add some complexity, to an already fairly complex brew! The coriander and orange peel blend flawlessly with banana notes and ease the transition into some heavy alcohol and a hint of some phenols at the end, finishing with a nice warming to the throat and stomach. Again marvelous.

Mouthfeel, while not as spectacular perhaps as the rest of the presentation, was still very good. A bit slick and slightly thick, with strong but not too powerful carbonation really breaking things up well, allowing flavors to mingle well. Nice, almost creamy.

Drinkable? My god. Dangerous. At 9.0%, this beer goes down almost WAY to easily. Smooth and mellow but rich and complex, the alcohol is not too evident but will sneak up on you when you suddenly realize your glass is empty and you are longing for another.

Hats of to Bell's for this one. Marvelous brew, and a GREAT choice for batch 8000. This is, IMO, a great early fall quaffer, when it just a bit too late for your favorite summer Weizen and you're looking for something with a bit more comfort to it.
Sep 09, 2007
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.92 by midlifec from Michigan

Oct 17, 2019
Photo of Brutaltruth
Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio

3.85/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A fully aged one for tonight from the doomsday beer closet
from the 12 oz bottle in a snifter. Pours a burnt auburn
color mingled with lightly murky brown and a decent head of
off white foam that settles to a thick ring. Nose of moderate spice,
orange zest, and grain notes with some dark fruit elements (from age perhaps).
Flavors lightly pass the nose showing little to no oxidation which is a shocker to
me with orange zest, coriander, and mild Belgian spices with light breaded notes
on the middle and rear. Decent mouth feel; medium body, low carbonation, and a
lightly warming and subtly sweet herbal finish.

Overall, a decent lurker from the doomsday closet.

Cheers
Feb 24, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by km02600 from Michigan

Feb 24, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by JohnnieNepal from Michigan

Apr 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by jrob21 from North Carolina

Feb 13, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Jul 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by KAF from Iowa

Jul 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by aussiebeer from Illinois

Jun 20, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by DaftPatrick from Minnesota

Jun 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by PeakedInHighSchool from Missouri

May 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by brycevolk from Ohio

Apr 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by dannyfayy from Pennsylvania

Apr 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by chippo33 from Vermont

Apr 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by mpayne5 from Indiana

Jan 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by threedaggers from Kentucky

Jan 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by jaydoc from Kansas

Oct 26, 2013
 
Rated: 2.5 by CityofBals from Illinois

Sep 12, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by WOLFGANG from South Carolina

Jul 05, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by jaxon53 from Connecticut

Jun 23, 2013
Batch 8,000 from Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 319 ratings