Bells Hopslam

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

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

This is the most hoppy beer I have had. I enjoyed the aroma right from opening the bottle all the way to the last drop. Not overwhelming, just right. The appearance was as expected, as was the taste, as described on the bottle, a biting, bitter, toungue bruiser of an ale. My overall view of Hopslam, I’d do it again. This bottle was from batch 10115.

An absolute hop bomb! The uber hoppy presence is well balanced by sweet malt and a taste of honey. Truly one of the best IPAs out there.

UPDATED: JAN 19, 2012 This is the only Double IPA I have had that nearly brings me to my knees and I have had pliny the elder. It has so much going on it is hard to take it all in on the first sip. It pours a nice clear golden hue, with a bountiful aroma of pine, pineapple, and citrus aromas that continue in the pallet of the tongue with kick of sweetness and then sour puckering in the back end that makes you beg for more. If MJ was still alive he would have picked this beer as his last drink. Re-rated for 2012, not nearly as good as last year. poo on you bell’s! too malty no puckering in the back with the hop flavor, hops are present in aroma and taste but seems a bit on the mild side, like i got an old bottle though this was only bottled it says 1/09/12. so it couldnt be that. I still enjoy this beer, but not worth the hype this year and cost (18 a six pack)

Pours a nice golden brown. Aroma is of honey and hops, hops and more hops. Taste is intensely sweet offset by intensely bitter, floral hop notes. Could end a bit crisper, but otherwise very nice.

Batch 10101 from Sean - thanks! Pours a honey orange with a light and quickly fading white head. Aroma is clean, medium-level resinous hops, grapefruit citrus, slight bitterness and underlying sweet malt. Assertive but not overly done bitterness on the taste with some citrus and resinous pine followed by a light honey sweetness before the final malt backbone. Drinkability is ridiculous. I have had numerous beers that are more assertive in hop character in both aroma and taste - the strength of this beer IMHO is its subtle, relatively easy drinking nature. Very good beer.

12 oz bottle courtesy of Vdubb86. Pours a golden amber with a small white head with good retention that leaves a bunch of small spots of lacing on the glass. Aroma is strong of grapefruit hops, with a bit of orange and light lemon. A hint of breadiness comes through in the aroma as well. Initial taste is a grapefruit sweetness with a bit of orange peel. The finish is more malty with a bit of breadiness and a light bitterness. Medium body. Medium carbonation. Great beer. Good malty backbone without being too sweet. Certainly doesn’t drink like a beer 10% in alcohol.

12 oz bottle pours a bright orange with a nice white head. Aroma of pine, grapefruit, smells delicous. Incredibly easy drinking, alcohol well hidden, nicely balanced, just an incredible beer

Hopslam is hoppy! Seriously strong grapefruit taste and an overwhelming hop profile leave this beer without much balance. If you’re a hop-person, check it out...otherwise stay away. Pretty straightforward.