Bells Hopslam

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

The beer pours a clear light golden orange with light carbonation. The thing white head rises about a finger but is gone pretty quickly. The lacing is ok. The aroma is medium in strength with lots of sweet citrus dominating. The cirtus comes in the flavor of grapefruit with only a little hop at the end. The taste is great, very complex. It is sweet to start more grapefruit then towards the middle you get some nice hops, but not overpowering, so its very drinkable. The hops last for a very long time and finish with a tiny bit of honey. The feel is nice and very drinkable. This is a very good ipa, well balanced and drinkable.

12 oz. bottle - the last of the case! Pours a nice amber with a white head that left some lacing. Strong hop aroma, very citrusy. Had a nice balance of hops and malt. Dry finish. Very good.

Poured into a snifter. Slightly hazy, pure amber color, that is almost nectar-like. Nice solid white head that dissipates and leaves a white ring around the glass. Aromas are sweet, honey, sweet citrus, along with earthy tones like grassy, floral, and piney from the hops. Tastes are sweet from the honey. Strong hop character; smokey hop flavors. Amazing DIPA! Great mouthfeel, smooth, and very palate pleasing, also a little creamy. Very drinkable, I am actually on my third.

Amazing beer the Hopslam is...Dark golden orange with a crisp white head. Very similar to the west coast ipas, but dank! Aroma is very hoppy with a faint citrus skunk scent like agent orange. Upfront citrus blast with a load of hops grabbing onto your tongue. Very floral and grapefruit aftertaste. When it gets a bit warm, the alcohol is noticeable in the nose and tongue. Overall this is a annual priority for me and my friends. The ABV of 10% can’t be accurate since it slams me 1/3 way through the bottle and sucks out my brain juices. Multiples in a evening is pretty fun. Pairs well with spicy food!

M&Jsamplefest: Strong solid aroma. Flavors of herbs, citrus, caramel, toffee, and toast. A beautifully crafted double IPA and my favorite of the night.

UPDATED: SEP 7, 2011 Bottle in KC, courtesy of foppa78. A light hazy, golden-orange appearance. Grapefruity, earthy hoppy nose. Lemon citrus and lots of grapefruit in the flavor. Some pine flavor characteristics and especially some earthy overtones. Bitter hoppy, grapefruity finish.

A - Pours a bright slightly hazy copper-orange color with a finger of white frothy head. The retention was okay, wit ha nice ring forming around the glass with some lacing. S - Tons of citrus and hop flavor with lots of grapefruit and orange aromas. There is also some sweet honey and carmel malt flavors blended in as well. T - Starts off with some building hop bitterness with some citrus flavors (lots of grapefruit) building alongside. Also some nice sweet honey and carmel malts flavors mixed in for a nice balanced. Through the middle some nice bitterness comes through alongside some more citrus flavor and some piney flavor. The finish is a very nice blend of the carmel malts, some citrus flavor, and some honey flavor which lingers nicely with some bitterness. M - Medium-full bodied with moderate lively carbonation. Really smooth and crisp in the mouth. Finish leaves a really dry finish in the mouth alongside the bitterness which is really nice. D - Very drinkable. The 10% abv here is nowhere to be found. The balance here is fantastic and the hop profile is really really nice.

The aroma of this beer is one of it’s best characteristics. It’s hoppy with citrus and other complexities. For a beer with this much hops it is definitely softened by the honey flavor that balances it out. In the end it just is such a well rounded and fantastic beer. I would say my only complaint is the minimal head on most pours... even fresh ones seem to have the same appearance.