Bells Hopslam

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

On tap at Poor Phil’s in Oak Park, IL. Bell’s snifter served. Poured a coppery, orange, with a thick, foamy, off white head, and very clinging lace. The aroma hits you with sweetened fruit and citrus, orange, and the peel thrown in for good measure. The flavor continues these notes and adds a little pineapple, pronounced hop bitterness, and a nice malt base. Great IIPA, Thanks for coming back to IL., Larry.

Hp aroma hits you as you open the bottle. Pours a golden hue with a nice head. It tastes deliciious. It is well balanced with a great taste of hops in the aftertaste. the alcohol is not noticeable. A nice lace on the glass appears as you take sip after sip. It is one of those beers that can easily sneak up on you. It was definately worth the 60 mile trip (one way) to pick it up. Each sip gets better and better. Mr. Bell- Salut!

On my third tonight, a good drinkable beer! Had this a few times before just never rated. Aroma is hops! Grapefruit, lemon, just smells good. Excellent lacing, the head is off-white and creamy. The color is a golden copper. Nice creamy feel and leaves a nice taste in the mouth. Almost sweet and bitter, goes down too smooth!

Finally. A new Bells reaches the chain-trenches of Jax locally provided by Total Wine. Been waiting for this one for a while. Ages perhaps. Enough to dust off the ol’ cap-cracker and dig in. Popped this sucker, and immediately, was overwhelmed by wisp and wasps of honey due, and a bouquet of hops Garden of Eden style, served sunny-side-up. A further sniff and huff of the fragrant aroma and the fine folks at Method should certainly consider to market. Pours a lively gold and fuzzy hue. Taste bites even before the palate is wet. Hops, o’ glory of hops, fancy wedding bouquets of flowers, honeydew strong enough to fight off the imaginary hummingbirds that the 10% ABV provides me. Pine notes mix in like a love affair with the Alps, and a chewy gentry of warm, moist banana bread. Convergence of a syrupy like texture tends to slow down de addict’ like consumption, into a full 5 course, savored meal. If there was something to top their Two Hearted Ale, this is it, though perhaps a bit heavy to session on. But man, I was checkin some ol’ rave clips from 1992 and thought to myself....i’d fancy some...well never you mind. If you have to ask; you’ll never know!

Trade bottle received from crazynelson. Really nice beer, has a nicely floral and piney mix in the nose that brings with it a sweet kick. Shows the hops off in a lovely platform. Glad I got to try this highly sought after beer. From what I understand Hopslam is a pretty expensive beer. I wouldn’t drop $18 on a 6 pack...but then again there are a lot of AMAZING IIPA’s out in the Pacific NW.

$15 SIX PACK FROM TOTAL WINE, WORTH EVERY PENNY! MY NEW FAV. IPA IVE LIKED EVERYTHING FROM THE BELLS BREWERY SO FAR

Lightly hazy gold with a cream of beige head. Most high abv ipas are much darker, but this one sticks well to the pale quality. The aroma has tons of nice floral hops and plenty of sugary sweetness that follows. Caramel and maple sugar blend in and sort of pick up the floral notes. Smooth body boasts a nice bitter kick without going over the top and has a strong sweet backbone that comes just to the edge of being syrupy. More maple candy and a slight alcohol note comes through at the finish. This is a nice treat, but all the hops are in the nose, and I can’t help but think that if this were available year round that the novelty would wear off quickly.

On tap at Chumley’s I’ve been waiting for this one for a looong time. Poured a clear bright orange amber. My nostrils filled with the aromas of peach, grapefruit, and sweet citrusy hops. My tongue was caressed by sweet malts, grapefruit, juicy hops, and a bitter American hop aftertaste. The beer is creamy and refreshing in feel. Overall, this is very good beer, though not quite as glorious as the Elder Pliny and the villainous Dreadnaught.