Bells Hopslam

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

Pours dark orange with an off-white head. Heavy carbonation. Aroma is of hops, citrus, caramel, and pine. Taste is of sweet, almost juicy hops with grapefruit, pine, and caramel malt. Lingering grapefruit taste. Alcohol content is well masked within the other flavors. This beer is not nearly as bitter as advertised. Instead it is an overly sweet, drinkable beer. With a name like Hopslam, I expected facerape. It is a very good beer though.

Just in Wednesday, January 14th, 2009. I have been waiting for this years’ offering because it is one of the best doubles that I have had. Now maybe it’s my imagination, but it seems to be slightly different from last year offering. After I had my first, I was so impressed that my hophead brother in law and I popped open a bottle of Dreadnaught just to compare. We truly thought it had more character in all the right places and was actually better than Dreadnaught, which up until now had been my favorite all time. This beer is so far above Yulesmith and at $18 a six pack is a great value. On a per/oz. basis, it is half the cost of Dreadnaught. This year it seems more balanced, slightly sweeter in a very subtle way. It’s 8 AM and I’m craving one now. If you’re a hophead, this is liquid gold.

Nice tropical aromas of pineapple, grapefruit and lime. Nicely balnced for a beer that’s supposed to be loud. However, this didn’t blow me away, and for the proice there’s other things out there. Infact, you can almost buy 2 six packs of two hearted ale for this price! But its good to try different things. They should offer a one liter bottle?

In the realm of Imperial IPA’s, I definitely do not like paying nearly $20.00 for a sixer. Seriously, at that price I would hope to get some form of sexual gratification with it. Aroma of this is heavy on the floral side, not as citric as, say, a Stone offering. There is also just the slightest notice of honey in there. Gotta love it. Flavor actually does give me a half, maybe three quarters stock. This is the third straight IIPA I have had, Gemini then Founders Double Trouble, and now this, and this one is going down the quickest. The flavor just begs fore more. It’s hoppy- sweet, but not sugary, bitter, but not overpowering, and just the right blend of spice from hops blending with the honey. OK, this may be worth the money, occasionally.

Appearance: A dark auburn-orange with an eggshell white, creamy head. After sipping, sudsy lace remains. Aroma: Green pear,mandarin orange, and peaches. I also find a smell associated with Orange Jell-o. Taste: Orange, mango and tart peach. After the wonderful lineup of fruit flavors, I get a mouthful of piny, spicy bitter hop notes. The level of sweet malt held all this fruity and spicy hop goodness together, but didn’t seem "sugary." Mouthfeel: A tad astringent, a bit on the heavy side, but not syrupy. The flavors linger for a while without coming across as sticky. Overall: My first Bell’s beer, and I am very impressed. I am a fan of an over the top Double IPA, and usually brace myself for something chewy or something that makes me pucker. This beer somehow packed all those hops in without compensating balance. Worth all the hype it receives. thanks daknole!

Appearance: orange, red; average head stand at best; slightly off-white foam; cloudy appearance Aroma: heavenly; best aroma I’ve ever experienced in an IIPA; citrus, lots of fruit; maybe even some orchard fruit; a touch of pine, and a honeyed slightly malty sweetness; a faint hint of spice probably from crystal hops; very complex Flavor: beautifully balanced; might be even more complex than the aroma which is scary; has a little bit of everything; medium sweetness, medium bitterness Palate: full body, creamy, average carbonation, long finish (tasted and rated three times)

aroma is strong bitterness -- not overly floral or citric, just harsh bitterness refined to a smell. appearance is bright yellowish with a red hint, reminiscent of the clover honey contained therein. flavor is mindblowing bitterness! the normal ’fun’ notes present in so many other hopped beers are gone, this is the major leagues! alcohol prescense is completely unknown, only a strong mouthpuckering grapefruit ultra acidic note remains to slap you silly. the mouth continues to reel from bitterness even after a sip is long since completed. hands down, one of the most potent beers ive had in terms of flavor and everything other category your care to allow it to compete in. everything expedition stout is for imperial stouts, this is the real deal for IIPAs. even strong beers fail in its shadow, this is mammoth!

New 2009 batch just released. On tap at Jerry’s. Orange amber with decent, creamy white head / Bright, potent fresh pine & citrus nose / Medium to full body, big, chewy, biting hops, sweet, with great, rich finish / Flavor of fresh cut pine, brown sugar, orange, and pineapple / Better than Dreadnaught?