Bell’s Batch 10000 (365 Day 13)

By scot in 365 Days of American Craft Beer on Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

Bell's Brewery, Inc. Batch 10000

It is amazing how quickly that Bell’s pumps out batches of American craft beer. It seems that just a few months ago I was chasing after Batch 9000, believing that it was so difficult to get. I was happy I chased it as it was a rewarding beer. I still have several left in the cellar to see how well they age: I have a feeling all of them will not survive the cold months ahead in Chicagoland.

Batch 10000 seems to have crept up on me without the fanfare of the previous release. Maybe it is because it is so close to the last release. I do know the 100 malts and 60 something hop varieties used in this beer didn’t strike me as an overwhelming prospect before it came out. Why chase it when it doesn’t sound appealing. So I didn’t.

Rich happened to be up in Michigan and picked up a sixer. He was kind enough to share one with me. So for beer number 13 of my 365 days of beer, I went with Batch 10000.

There is nothing special about the pour, except that it has a nice head which leaves some sticky, spider web like lacing behind. The aroma and taste are both complex: the amount of grains and hops all mingle to give an interesting mixture on the nose and tongue. Citrus hops is foremost while roasted, molasses, dark fruits, pepper, and more titillate the senses. I would have it again but it isn’t a go to beer. If you have to work hard to get it, just pass it up. Enjoy!

Aroma: 7, Taste: 8, Look: 9, Drinkability: 8, Overall: 7.9