Batch 10,000 | Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Brewed by:
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Michigan, United States
bellsbeer.com
Style: American Strong Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.20%
Availability: Limited (brewed once)
Notes / Commercial Description:
"Strong Brown Ale"
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 792 | Reviews: 404
Reviews by Calculat0r:
More User Reviews:
3.73/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap at the Mellow in Greensboro.Poured into a twelve ounce glass a deep mahogany color with well formed one finger tannish colored head.Bitter chocolate and deep dark fruit aromas,the malt really stands out and is complex,there is a light pine note in back as well.Dark fruit and leather stood out most to me on the palate,there is a resiny hop quality underneath but sweet malt dominates.Good flavor but it can get a bit sweet after a bit,still a nice sipper from K-zoo.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap at the Mellow in Greensboro.Poured into a twelve ounce glass a deep mahogany color with well formed one finger tannish colored head.Bitter chocolate and deep dark fruit aromas,the malt really stands out and is complex,there is a light pine note in back as well.Dark fruit and leather stood out most to me on the palate,there is a resiny hop quality underneath but sweet malt dominates.Good flavor but it can get a bit sweet after a bit,still a nice sipper from K-zoo.
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4.13/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
3.84/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
On tap at the Oak Cafe. Pours a deep-ass ruby-red color, completely opaque in the middle, shiny with mahogany hints when held up to the light. Tan colored head, thick and puffy, exceptional lacing left all around the glass. Aroma is that of smoked wood, smoke logs, and campfire. Some deep, dark fruits are hidden in the background; bitter raisins and plums so over-ripe they fall apart in your hand. Some perfume-like florals are floating around, tying everything together.
The taste is the heaviest in the smoke department. Smoked grains tend to be very strong, even if they are used sparingly in the grain bill. Smoke is definitely the most prominent flavor here, but it's not a heavy, nasty smoke - it's very smooth and acceptable. Wood chips, oak notes, booze-soaked tree bark comes to mind. Very deep in the finish I can find some chocolate hints, but more of a bitter, pure, sugarless cocoa-bean and not so much like a candy bar. It's actual quite enjoyable when picked up on. Mouth is very creamy with a medium-thick body. The finish is slightly bitter, ending with some noticeable hops; floral, ashy, and somewhat dry.
Reminds me of a more robust, slightly sweeter Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier. Not quite as drinkable, though. Some more woody notes and tones are present here as well. Overall, pretty enjoyable. Booze is noticeable but certainly doesn't feel like 9.20% ABV.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
On tap at the Oak Cafe. Pours a deep-ass ruby-red color, completely opaque in the middle, shiny with mahogany hints when held up to the light. Tan colored head, thick and puffy, exceptional lacing left all around the glass. Aroma is that of smoked wood, smoke logs, and campfire. Some deep, dark fruits are hidden in the background; bitter raisins and plums so over-ripe they fall apart in your hand. Some perfume-like florals are floating around, tying everything together.
The taste is the heaviest in the smoke department. Smoked grains tend to be very strong, even if they are used sparingly in the grain bill. Smoke is definitely the most prominent flavor here, but it's not a heavy, nasty smoke - it's very smooth and acceptable. Wood chips, oak notes, booze-soaked tree bark comes to mind. Very deep in the finish I can find some chocolate hints, but more of a bitter, pure, sugarless cocoa-bean and not so much like a candy bar. It's actual quite enjoyable when picked up on. Mouth is very creamy with a medium-thick body. The finish is slightly bitter, ending with some noticeable hops; floral, ashy, and somewhat dry.
Reminds me of a more robust, slightly sweeter Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier. Not quite as drinkable, though. Some more woody notes and tones are present here as well. Overall, pretty enjoyable. Booze is noticeable but certainly doesn't feel like 9.20% ABV.
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4.05/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Reviewed from notes made on 12-8-10.
Into a snifter, 10 grand pours dark brown with a golden-ruby tint. There is almost no head after a medium hard decanting, but what is there is a medium khaki/brown hue. A haze remains on top of the body and from what I can see, lots of little carbonation bubbles scoot swiftly upward. The lacing is understated and nicely sticky.
Threre seems to be a fairly even balance of caramel and brown sugar malt aromas with pine and citrus hop scents. If any advantage is attained between the two, I would say that the hops win the smell battle by just a hair. Accompanying the massive malt and hop war is a hint of a metallic smell, like tap water with a lot of iron in it.
Citric hop bitterness and hop oils yank at the bitter points of my palate and marry pretty well with the sweet malts when I take the beer into my mouth. I get a lot of brown sugar and caramel from the maltbill, as well as some acidic coffee and milk chocolate notes. The finish has a very stout-like quality with a roasty and acidic nip on my palate.
The mouthfeel is a compromise between medium-bodied creaminess and a biting hop presence. There is a lot going on in this beer, which makes it feel muddled at times, but it also serves to make the feel very interesting and varied, which I like. It makes me think more about what I am drinking.
For a kitchen sink-style experimental brew, I think it turned out pretty darned well and was certainly interesting to drink. I generally prefer style beers done exceptionally well, but this is a fun, unique beer that I will have again in an attempt to decipher its secrets.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Reviewed from notes made on 12-8-10.
Into a snifter, 10 grand pours dark brown with a golden-ruby tint. There is almost no head after a medium hard decanting, but what is there is a medium khaki/brown hue. A haze remains on top of the body and from what I can see, lots of little carbonation bubbles scoot swiftly upward. The lacing is understated and nicely sticky.
Threre seems to be a fairly even balance of caramel and brown sugar malt aromas with pine and citrus hop scents. If any advantage is attained between the two, I would say that the hops win the smell battle by just a hair. Accompanying the massive malt and hop war is a hint of a metallic smell, like tap water with a lot of iron in it.
Citric hop bitterness and hop oils yank at the bitter points of my palate and marry pretty well with the sweet malts when I take the beer into my mouth. I get a lot of brown sugar and caramel from the maltbill, as well as some acidic coffee and milk chocolate notes. The finish has a very stout-like quality with a roasty and acidic nip on my palate.
The mouthfeel is a compromise between medium-bodied creaminess and a biting hop presence. There is a lot going on in this beer, which makes it feel muddled at times, but it also serves to make the feel very interesting and varied, which I like. It makes me think more about what I am drinking.
For a kitchen sink-style experimental brew, I think it turned out pretty darned well and was certainly interesting to drink. I generally prefer style beers done exceptionally well, but this is a fun, unique beer that I will have again in an attempt to decipher its secrets.
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3.58/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to Cavie for sharing this bottle.
The beer pours a dark amber color with a white head. The aroma is tobacco, leather, roasted malt and grassy hops. The flavor is more complex, but I am not sure how good it is. I get a lot of roasted malt, smoke, dark fruit, leather, tobacco, licorice and quite a bit of hop bitterness. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.
A very interesting beer with a complex recipe, but the variety of flavors and aromas don't seem to meld too well. Maybe this will improve with age.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to Cavie for sharing this bottle.
The beer pours a dark amber color with a white head. The aroma is tobacco, leather, roasted malt and grassy hops. The flavor is more complex, but I am not sure how good it is. I get a lot of roasted malt, smoke, dark fruit, leather, tobacco, licorice and quite a bit of hop bitterness. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.
A very interesting beer with a complex recipe, but the variety of flavors and aromas don't seem to meld too well. Maybe this will improve with age.
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3.43/5 rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from 12 oz. bottle into Hopping Frog tulip.
A- As brown as a liquid can get before becoming black. Beautiful 3/4 inch light brown head that recedes by half and then just sticks around.
S- Prunes and figs right up front, that is followed by vanilla and bourbon. Strangely enough, fresh ripe strawberries too!
T- Bitter dark chocolate and sweet/salty caramel...tobacco and leather at the finish.
MF- Thick like an imperial IPA. I get the resiny hoppy leftover, which is fine by me. Taste great on the back end like fresh fruit.
O- Really well put together beer. I would buy a six pack if I saw it on the shelf. But, alas, it is retired. To be honest, I like it a lot, but it is not a beer I would trade for. I will enjoy the last half, because I will never find this beer again,
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from 12 oz. bottle into Hopping Frog tulip.
A- As brown as a liquid can get before becoming black. Beautiful 3/4 inch light brown head that recedes by half and then just sticks around.
S- Prunes and figs right up front, that is followed by vanilla and bourbon. Strangely enough, fresh ripe strawberries too!
T- Bitter dark chocolate and sweet/salty caramel...tobacco and leather at the finish.
MF- Thick like an imperial IPA. I get the resiny hoppy leftover, which is fine by me. Taste great on the back end like fresh fruit.
O- Really well put together beer. I would buy a six pack if I saw it on the shelf. But, alas, it is retired. To be honest, I like it a lot, but it is not a beer I would trade for. I will enjoy the last half, because I will never find this beer again,
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4.33/5 rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from bottle into 13 oz tulip. Nice tan head cresting the top of the glass. Looks like a dark brown but after further review its a deep deep red when held against the light. Smell is a tad complex but i get fruity hops and carmelized dark fruits ..cherry being predominate. Taste is as complex with citrus and pine hops, toffee..a touch of chocolate and fruit all dueling for supremacy...at this early stage i believe the hops win, but the sweet finish leaves me wanting more. A nice mouthfeel coats the tongue, not overly carbonated. I think its drinkable now and will continue to be a nice 1 to return to in the future. I drank it for what it is...a nice big beer.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from bottle into 13 oz tulip. Nice tan head cresting the top of the glass. Looks like a dark brown but after further review its a deep deep red when held against the light. Smell is a tad complex but i get fruity hops and carmelized dark fruits ..cherry being predominate. Taste is as complex with citrus and pine hops, toffee..a touch of chocolate and fruit all dueling for supremacy...at this early stage i believe the hops win, but the sweet finish leaves me wanting more. A nice mouthfeel coats the tongue, not overly carbonated. I think its drinkable now and will continue to be a nice 1 to return to in the future. I drank it for what it is...a nice big beer.
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4.25/5 rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Snifter.
Appearance: Very dark wood-like brown with almost a purplish cast to it. Not much head or lacing, but has some nice wispy tendrils.
Smell: Strong citrus and pine hops battle a surprising peat smokiness. Some underlying Barleywine-like sweetness.
Taste: Initial impression is bitter and smoky. There is an undercurrent of caramel and toffee malts, but a strong peat taste pushes this almost closer to a Scotch Ale than a Barleywine. The hops are impressively bitter with some citrus and pine, but not quite as much hop flavor as I expected from the aroma.
Feel: Moderately low carbonation. Smooth body that, while full, is less than expected for a Barleywine/Strong Ale. Very dry finish that is also very warming.
Drinkability: I know a lot of people think this is a mess, but I am pleasantly surprised. I think the Scotch Ale / Barleywine mix works, and the dry American bitterness is just an added bonus.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Snifter.
Appearance: Very dark wood-like brown with almost a purplish cast to it. Not much head or lacing, but has some nice wispy tendrils.
Smell: Strong citrus and pine hops battle a surprising peat smokiness. Some underlying Barleywine-like sweetness.
Taste: Initial impression is bitter and smoky. There is an undercurrent of caramel and toffee malts, but a strong peat taste pushes this almost closer to a Scotch Ale than a Barleywine. The hops are impressively bitter with some citrus and pine, but not quite as much hop flavor as I expected from the aroma.
Feel: Moderately low carbonation. Smooth body that, while full, is less than expected for a Barleywine/Strong Ale. Very dry finish that is also very warming.
Drinkability: I know a lot of people think this is a mess, but I am pleasantly surprised. I think the Scotch Ale / Barleywine mix works, and the dry American bitterness is just an added bonus.
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2.5/5 rDev -34.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Bottle (2010)
Acquired via trade
Thanks sendsilk!
Clear and dark brown pour with some burnt auburn and amber edges. Thin white head. Not a lot of lacing.
A very sweet and sticky type of aroma, like a syrup, along with a bit of smokiness, and perhaps some citrus. Seems all over the place without being particularly interesting--though it certainly is unique.
The flavors don't combine well, in my opinion. This seems like a bad "Suicide" (remember being a kid at the soda fountain and pouring in all 12 soda options into your all-you-can-drink paper cup?). It's overly sweet, with a touch of alcohol, some strange smoke or char flavor along with some wood. It's unique--just not very good.
Somewhat thick and syrupy.
Not one of my favorites. This beer seems like an experiment gone wholly wrong.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Bottle (2010)
Acquired via trade
Thanks sendsilk!
Clear and dark brown pour with some burnt auburn and amber edges. Thin white head. Not a lot of lacing.
A very sweet and sticky type of aroma, like a syrup, along with a bit of smokiness, and perhaps some citrus. Seems all over the place without being particularly interesting--though it certainly is unique.
The flavors don't combine well, in my opinion. This seems like a bad "Suicide" (remember being a kid at the soda fountain and pouring in all 12 soda options into your all-you-can-drink paper cup?). It's overly sweet, with a touch of alcohol, some strange smoke or char flavor along with some wood. It's unique--just not very good.
Somewhat thick and syrupy.
Not one of my favorites. This beer seems like an experiment gone wholly wrong.
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3.4/5 rDev -11.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Another thanks to jh1982 for breaking this out at a baseball game tailgate a few months back. Poured an ugly brown with tan head. Alcohol in the nose, brown sugar, caramel, raisins.
Real thick and sticky taste to it, more of the brown sugar and raisins, tasted a little more stouty at this point, mild roast, ample smoke presentation. Toffee and nuts. Kind of some middle ground between a stout and an English barleywine at times, even a quad, has the viscosity of a stout, but not really the body. Hopping is moderate, doesn't come across as either piney or citrus.
There's probably room to dispute whether this is complex, or simply has a bunch of shit (not deameaning, maybe 'stuff' is a better term than shit) in it.
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Another thanks to jh1982 for breaking this out at a baseball game tailgate a few months back. Poured an ugly brown with tan head. Alcohol in the nose, brown sugar, caramel, raisins.
Real thick and sticky taste to it, more of the brown sugar and raisins, tasted a little more stouty at this point, mild roast, ample smoke presentation. Toffee and nuts. Kind of some middle ground between a stout and an English barleywine at times, even a quad, has the viscosity of a stout, but not really the body. Hopping is moderate, doesn't come across as either piney or citrus.
There's probably room to dispute whether this is complex, or simply has a bunch of shit (not deameaning, maybe 'stuff' is a better term than shit) in it.
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3.65/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Picked this up at D's six pack tonight while bringing the kids and my brother and sister to eat some Chicago Dogs. 10,000 batch for Bell's and 2,200 review for me. Pours a deep dark ruby caramel edged deep brown bodied hue for me, chunky large bubbled deep khaki tan head forms thick rising well above the edge of the glass. Aroma hints of smoked malt not quite as strong as an ashtray but definitely getting there. Dark chocolate roasted malt characteristics with herbal mint green notes coming through. The smoke definitely overpowers the nose initially let's see how things progress throughout the experience. Flavors bring out rich alcohol and deep malted barley layers of smoked meat, sweet syrup, and dark roasted coffee/dark chocoalte notes with hints of acidity. Remember when you were a kid and if you mixed every color from the crayon box it ended up looking like a dark poop brown color. This is the same thing, I'm not sure how strategically they blended all of these ingredients in this beer but they're definitely not making it out in the flavor profile. A blend of dark roasts, well hidden hops a bit of pine and earthiness finish my thoughts on this beer. Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied mellow carbonation, big chewy texture. Drinkability a take it easy sipper for colder winter months.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Picked this up at D's six pack tonight while bringing the kids and my brother and sister to eat some Chicago Dogs. 10,000 batch for Bell's and 2,200 review for me. Pours a deep dark ruby caramel edged deep brown bodied hue for me, chunky large bubbled deep khaki tan head forms thick rising well above the edge of the glass. Aroma hints of smoked malt not quite as strong as an ashtray but definitely getting there. Dark chocolate roasted malt characteristics with herbal mint green notes coming through. The smoke definitely overpowers the nose initially let's see how things progress throughout the experience. Flavors bring out rich alcohol and deep malted barley layers of smoked meat, sweet syrup, and dark roasted coffee/dark chocoalte notes with hints of acidity. Remember when you were a kid and if you mixed every color from the crayon box it ended up looking like a dark poop brown color. This is the same thing, I'm not sure how strategically they blended all of these ingredients in this beer but they're definitely not making it out in the flavor profile. A blend of dark roasts, well hidden hops a bit of pine and earthiness finish my thoughts on this beer. Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied mellow carbonation, big chewy texture. Drinkability a take it easy sipper for colder winter months.
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4.05/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Bottle purchased from Green's on Ponce in Atlanta.
Pours a dark brown color with a one-finger tan head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.
Smells of dark malts with large amounts of pine and earthy hops. Also present are slight hints of roasted malts that fade as the beer warms.
Tastes slightly more complex than it smells. Dark, roasted, and chocolate malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by pine hop flavors. Slight hints of coffee flavors make a brief appearance midway through the sip before fading out, allowing the light roasted malt and pine hops to carry through to a solidly bitter ending.
Mouthfeel is very good. It's got a nice thickness with smooth carbonation.
Drinkability is good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.
Overall this was a more complex beer than most I've had with a huge number of ingredients. Still, the complexity didn't seem refined. A nice enough beer but one not worth seeking out.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Bottle purchased from Green's on Ponce in Atlanta.
Pours a dark brown color with a one-finger tan head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.
Smells of dark malts with large amounts of pine and earthy hops. Also present are slight hints of roasted malts that fade as the beer warms.
Tastes slightly more complex than it smells. Dark, roasted, and chocolate malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by pine hop flavors. Slight hints of coffee flavors make a brief appearance midway through the sip before fading out, allowing the light roasted malt and pine hops to carry through to a solidly bitter ending.
Mouthfeel is very good. It's got a nice thickness with smooth carbonation.
Drinkability is good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.
Overall this was a more complex beer than most I've had with a huge number of ingredients. Still, the complexity didn't seem refined. A nice enough beer but one not worth seeking out.
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Batch 10,000 from Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Beer rating:
3.83 out of
5 with
792 ratings
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