Eight Bells
Brothers Craft Brewing

Eight BellsEight Bells
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From:
Brothers Craft Brewing
 
Virginia, United States
Style:
Fruit and Field Beer
ABV:
5.3%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.96 | pDev: 8.33%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
40
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 25, 2018
Added:
Apr 03, 2014
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  3
In the Naval tradition of telling time by the ship’s bells, sailors would hear eight bells each day at noon, the perfect time to enjoy this brunch-inspired brew. We’ve added a hefty dose of blueberries to a bready base ale and finished it off, of course, with a modest helping of rich maple syrup. Just a dash of vanilla and cinnamon round out this decadent yet balanced indulgence.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by kegnation:
Photo of kegnation
Reviewed by kegnation from Virginia

4.36/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This beer is surprisingly exactly what is advertised! Good light malt notes with the sweetness and great blueberry flavor that is not overpowering. Im usually not big on the 'gimmick' beers but I would buy this one again in a heartbeat!
Nov 12, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of avalon07
Reviewed by avalon07 from South Carolina

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had an amber color and a hazy consistency. There was a quarter inch of foamy, somewhat long-lasting head. Not much lacing to speak of.

S: A nice aroma of cinnamon, malt, maple syrup, and some vanilla.

T: Tasted of a moderate amount of maple syrup (present throughout), a bready quality, a good shot of cinnamon, light vanilla notes in the finish, a tinge of malt, and light blueberries. One of the more interesting flavors I've tried recently. Not really a fruit beer, per se, but definitely quite tasty. Odd, but good.

F: An average amount of carbonation with a syrupy finish. Medium-bodied.

O: An oddly easy to drink beer. Definitely drinkable.
Jun 25, 2018
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Arrives amber colored at the bar with a nice head that leaves some squiggles of lace

Smell: Blueberry, vanilla and cinnamon waft

Taste: Bready with the spice, blueberry and vanilla flavors building; the blueberry flavors build, after the swallow, but the finish doesn't steer in a sweet direction

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: A nice fruit beer that steers in a different direction from what I expected
Feb 18, 2018
Photo of BeerAndGasMasks
Reviewed by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia

3.71/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From the bottle, it pours a clear amber with a nice head. The head lasts a bit. My wife gets a slightly fruity scent, possibly blueberry, but my clogged nose doesn't. Taste definitely includes cinnamon along with the malt.

Try it when you need something different! ...with French Toast!
Aug 19, 2017
 
Rated: 2.73 by RBorsato from Virginia

Aug 08, 2017
Photo of OldeGolde
Reviewed by OldeGolde from Maryland

4.55/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Y'know this is a pretty special little cruiser! I felt like I knew exactly what to expect and mostly got that, but it also dodged left a little bit and surprised me too. First of all, the blueberry / vanilla / cinnamon comes flying out of the bottle before you even pour. The smell is a huge part of this beer. The pour - plenty of carbonation but a smaller head (half finger) and a great swirl of light brown / amber. Definitely some sediment flying around. It's a light color, but still somewhat opaque. Definitely looks like a lighter maple syrup. So it was with surprise that I found my first mouthful was not immediately sweet (or really very sweet at all) but leading with bready ALE, watery carbonation, and carrying along not so much the flavor of the additives but their very essence. This may sound like a strange comparison, but it was a lot like vaping. I have hit my share of vapes in my day- including butterscotch and blueberry- and this was reminiscent of those experiences... you get the presence but not the actual consumption of a foodstuff.

I sometimes like to take my second or third sips with gusto and speed in order to not focus on the individual components, but take in the experience of a gulp. This is where the beer shines for me. All I've described before adds up in a quick burst of blueberry breakfast bread that is still very much a BEER. It's not a stout, wild ale, or mead, but it's own thing. Very unique.

As always, the design (which is a tad different from the above image on the latest batch) is stellar. Can't say enough about the design. If you need a designer, find out who they use and hire this person.

Top knotch. Ship shape. Scrumptious.
Jul 31, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by lupercmda from North Carolina

Jul 26, 2017
 
Rated: 3.41 by SadMachine from New Jersey

Jul 23, 2017
 
Rated: 4.24 by Jason_cs from Florida

Jul 09, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by PprBurke from Virginia

Nov 15, 2016
 
Rated: 3.73 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

Nov 07, 2016
 
Rated: 4.41 by CharlesK from Pennsylvania

Oct 04, 2016
 
Rated: 3.89 by MattXT from Virginia

Aug 02, 2016
 
Rated: 3.6 by VeganUndead from Virginia

Jan 04, 2016
 
Rated: 4.12 by jmartinger from Pennsylvania

Jan 02, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by PA-Michigander from Pennsylvania

Dec 20, 2015
Photo of DoubleMalt
Reviewed by DoubleMalt from New York

4.19/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Not being a fruit beer fan, this one is quite enjoyable and would be a perfect hot summer afternoon thirst quencher.
Look: pours a super foamy head so pour very slowly as you would a Duvel.
Smell: blueberries and spice.
Taste: light blueberry, and other mild flavors that I cannot put words to.
Feel: definitely bottle-conditioned and very carbonated.
Overall: I would buy this again for a hot summer day.
Bottled 9/07/15 and purchased at the brewery.
Nov 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by Dave_Treat from Virginia

Nov 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by oline73 from Maryland

Nov 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3.96 by Iamjeff6 from Virginia

Oct 26, 2015
Eight Bells from Brothers Craft Brewing
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 40 ratings