Bells Hopslam

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

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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The only description that comes close to describing this brew is Angel’s Tears!!! Which would explain why so pricey.

Bought a growler filled with this nectar of the gods at Roof Brother’s Spirits in Paducah, Kentucky. We promptly finished the entire growler in one evening. :P A: Appearance isn’t this brew’s strong suit but that’s not to say that it doesn’t look great. Pours a classic amber with some heavier hints of oranges and reds. Carbonation is pretty spot on and active but this was predictable as we just had it bottled from the tap only hours earlier. Head was small with decent retention and lacing but I believe the head only suffered due to the pour from the growler itself. S: The smell is of grassy, piney and DEFINITELY grapefruit/citrus hops. This is a grapefruit bomb in the nose. The scent is clean and to the point with carbonation showing off and pushing this hop perfume into your nostrils. Very nice! T: One of the crispest beers I’ve ever had... It’s clean and the malt backbone is in place just enough for the hops not to overwhelm. Low on the side of bittering hops, the taste is as if one squeezed the fresh juices of a just ripened hop cone into their mouth: Truly a blessing for a hophead! On tap (like in this growler), the honey is not as present which I attribute to the honey (sugar) not being allowed to ferment as much as it would during the bottle-conditioning of shipping... It’s there, it’s just not overstaying it’s welcome. All in all, this is a fantastic tasting beer that every beer geek should drink whenever possible. MF: Again, this is a clean and crisp beer with spot on carbonation. Smooth is the word of the day but "Nectar of the Gods" is the phrase of the day. :P D: Not sessionable, unfortunately. If this thing was 7% ABV and not 10%, I would drink this non-stop... One of these on tap, though, already had given me a nice buzz... By three in I was floating and rearranging my entire livingroom. The "drinkability" of one of these bad boys minus the limitations of sessionability is phenomenal.

I honestly expected this beer to be good, but not as good as all of the hype. Its better. It is the perfect balance of hoppiness and sweetness, and just warms as it is consumed. It’s pricey, no question, but this is as close to a perfect ale as there is in my experience.

12oz bottle. Orange color. Aroma of citrus. Flavor is a sweet sticky malt. Wonderfully hopped. Makes you wanna go to the West Coast.

Medium golden color. Very aromatic hop aroma with grass, a touch of menthol, citrus, pine, grapefruit. A bit earthy too. Flavors of citrus, caramel, grass, and alcohol, with moderate sweetness. Very drinkable for its size. Great!

A monstrously bitter brew. Pours a hazel/orange color. Scent is of earthy/grainy/floral hops. A very strong aroma that is quite pleasant. The taste is a sometimes overpowering bitter/extremely hoppy one. Some subtle citrus hints, but mainly abundant hops, a bit spicy too. Bitter taste lingers after each swig. Dry finish. Delicious and unique, I think this is even more bitter than Stone Ruination IPA.

On pour this is a clear amber colored beer with some carbonation, an off white colored head and some lacing. The beauty of this beer is in the bouquet. It is noticeable right from the start. Blood orange, apricot, grapefruit, a touch of pineapple, floral hops and an ever present scent of amber waves of grain! My nose wouldn’t get out of the way, for me to taste this beer! The palate is a symphony of fruit and bitterness that yields a balanced yet hoppy yet high alcohol double IPA. There is a touch of pine on mouth as well. The alcohol only shows up in the final movement of this symphony in my rosy cheeks.

12 oz bottle - Pours a slightly hazed orange with a thick white foamy head that laces the glass well. Aroma - I could have just smelled this beer all day - Oranges, lemons, grapefruit, floral & grass with a very fresh piney hop presence - and plenty of peach. The flavor matches the aroma in every aspect. Lots of fresh bitter pine and citrus with a very floral hoppy finish. This is one delicious smelling and tasting beer. Well worth the extra you pay for it.

The most amazing DIPA ever! nice nice nice beer. Amazing nose, nice appearance, and really amazing taste. I liked the 2008-09 hopslam better than this year, but its still an amazing beer. One of my most favorite beers.

Bottle: Amber-orange with a small white head, nice lacing, powerful and pleasant hop nose, with pine and citrus, as well as notes of caramel. Sweet malt flavor with an excellent hop finish. Well balanced and just downright delicious.