Bells Hopslam

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

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

Bottle. Pours clear copper with creamy white head; decent retention and lacing. Aroma is cookie malt, alcohol, honey, and floral hops. Flavor is sweet malt forward quickly transitioning to a smooth hop flavor, light fruit esters, and light alcohol; great mouthfeel. Medium body, carbonation, and warmth.

Huge flavors of honey-tropical fruit and big, resinous, citrussy American hops. Big floral-citrus aromas laced with tropical fruit. a bit slick on the tongue, but still very drinkable.

This beer is a frequent visitor to my glass during the short season it is available. This beer is a Hop lovers beer treat. The beer was served chilled and in a snifter. Ar- The aroma of the beer is pungently hoppy. Nice juicy grapefruit, pineapple, mango, resinous pine sweet caramel maltyness. Very floral notes waft about my glass. Ap- The body of the beer is nearing an orange coloration. The head was thick and creamy white. The head resolved rapidly but leaves consistant rings of foam on my glass. T- The flavor of caramelized hops permeates. The beer isnt overly sweet by any stretch and dries out nicely. Loads and loads of grapefruit, citrus zest, mango flavors laced with long lasting resinous pine. P- The beer is medium bodied and well carbonated. The beer dries out nicely in the finish with long lasting hop bitterness. No alcohol is present in the mouth. O- This beer is a first rate world class beer drinking experience. Indeed I look forward to several more bottles over the coming months.

12 oz. bottle from a snifter. Pours a beautifully crystal orangish-amber color with a nice, white head that leaves good lacing. Aroma absolutely oozes grapefruit. It has almost a citrus rind quality to it. Taste is amazing. Huge grapefruit citrus taste with a mild, but balanced malt backbone. A bit of sweetness in the aftertaste, probably the honey, balances the huge hops quite well. What a beer!

Slightly hazy dark honey color, light head and lace. Definite sweet malt carries through this big IPA, but it has no chance against several varieties of hops. However, the hops don’t shut everything out as they would in a lesser beer. I can’t say it’s balanced at the end, but somehow it is still very satisfying. A keeper.

dark gold pour, with aroma of hops and sweet honey. Up front a lot of smooth malt, the finish is great bitter hops with lingering honey. No hint of alcohol despite the 10%, not in your face hoppy, this beer is exceptionally well balanced.  A beer worthy of all the hype. 

Light and hazy orange-amber with slightly yellow off-white head. Sweet juicy citrus nose with bubblegum and a touch of pine. Medium body, lively carbonation that leave a tingly tongue sensation. Perfectly balance bitter/sweet combination.Taste mimics nose. Clean quick finish leaves me wanting more. Superb.

UPDATED: JAN 25, 2012 "Godly" really is the only word that can accurately describe this thing. It pours a beautiful golden orange with a beige-to-white head that grows no more than a half inch and disappears rather quickly. The nose really is to die for. It initially attacks you with the most pungent, green, citrusy, mangoey, natural hops I’ve ever smelled, and follows up with honey and a bit of cheesy funk. It’s potent, it’s complex, it’s delicious, and it’s unforgettable. The beer has a medium body, somewhat syrupy but not too thick, and features correct carbonation. The taste is, of course, very bitter but also very sweet. It’s incredibly manageable and satisfying. You will not believe that what you’re drinking is one part in ten alcohol. It does not feel like it. I can’t praise this beer enough. It’s nearly perfect. Go try it. Now.