Bells Hopslam

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

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

Honey comes through on the nose right away. Amazing balance...dangerous considering the alcohol. Great hops but good sweet back.

WOW...just wow. This beer is amazing. I’m fortunate to live in Kalamazoo and can go to the Bells bar whenever, so its easier for me to get it, but if you come across it, BUY IT!!!! It’s a little expensive, but I promise you’ll be glad you spent the money. The smell itself is amazing. Has a very distinct taste that doesn’t have any bad after taste. I love this beer, its only made for a short period so find it, and buy it!!!!!!!!

I don’t believe beer can get better than this! I wish that I could have bought more than one 6 pack when I got this, but this is only brewed one month out of the year, so I’m just grateful I even got some here in Omaha, NE. Like Two Hearted the aroma is perfect. This has a fuller palate and a KICK of honey which makes for a perfect beer.

Aroma: Tropical fruits, mango, passionfruit, pineapple, oranges, lemons, grapefruit and pine in the end. Thick sweetish maltbase, just lovely Appearance: Amber colour, medium white head, lacing. Flavour: Son of a... An absolute onslaught of hops! Mango, passionfruit, grapefruit, citric, resin and pine in the end. All resting on a thick maltbase and ending in a warming finish. Mouthfeel: Fresh, smooth small lively bubbles. Total: Best DIPA I’ve had to date!

Purchased at In Fine Spirits (last bottle!) in Chicago, IL; enjoyed on an unseasonably warm February night. I’ve had this many times before and it’s flat out incredible. Appearance a somewhat cloudy, vibrant, bright gold with bubbling carbonation and a rich white head that sticks to the sides of the glass. Aroma is beautiful, a fantastic medley of strong floral & citrus hops with the richness of the abundant honey. Taste is equal parts bitter and creamy, you get the rich malts that come out in the DIPA style but the hop level is not as extreme as most others in the style, it’s just right. The honey also adds to the creaminess and hides the strong 10% ABV flavor. This is the best IPA/DIPA out there, it’s perfect for what it is. I’m still a strong stout fan which holds my all-time #1, but this is now my all-time #2.

UPDATED: JAN 18, 2012 Had this beer again, yea i was a little worried that since ive had a 1000 beers since then I wouldve had something better. NOPE! FUCKING AMAZING! perfect aroma, I can’t give it a 5 just because i will never give anything a 5 ever, if I did give 5’s though, this is a 5. Perfect intense aroma,excellent malt balance to the hops and the finish is perfect. A slight welcoming bitterness.

UPDATED: MAR 31, 2011 Pours a clear copper with a white head that diminishes quickly. Some attractive lacing is left clinging to the sides of the glass. Loads of pine and earth with sweet caramel in the nose. The sweet tropical fruits like mangoes, tangerines, and grapefruit come through boldly yet beautifully. As the beer sits for a little bit, the sweet caramel malts really come out. Fantastic aroma! Honestly, this is one of those beers that is just as enjoyable to sniff as it is to sip. The beer is initially sweet from the caramel but the bitterness creeps up and is notable in the finish. Just a wonderful hop presence with pine coming on brightd next to the mangoes and grapefruit. There’s even a complexity of earth and this all kind of hangs together with the caramel malts. The malts, as they should, hang out in the back and let the hops have the show. Really wonderful. The bitterness is never really strong, is definitely there, and is purely enjoyable. This is extremely well balanced and is a wonderful beer!

A cloudy lighter orange appearance. First think you notice it the very distinct delicious aroma. Almost a sour grapefruit. Smells so good. Good Hops. Leaves a bitter after taste on back of tongue, but it isn’t that bitter when drinking. Has a little bit of that fruity taste that is in the smell, but its faint. Very VERY good. Smooth.