Bells Hopslam

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

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

Thanks go to cvaypai for this one. A: Cloudy orangish-amber color. Not much head to speak of, but pretty good lacing. S: You can really pick up the honey and the citrus (orange) of the hops. T: Excellent hop flavor, again, more orange than anything. Nice sweetness too from the malt and the honey. Some bitterness on the finish. M: Very smooth, medium body. Not much carbonation, but enough to keep things fairly light. D: Very drinkable. The 10% ABV is hardly noticeable in this.

UPDATED: MAR 25, 2010 One of my favorite, if not my favorite, beers of all time. (2008) Oh man... there is a market out there for silly hop-infested beers for the wacky hopheads out there, but when something like this is so perfectly and deliciously balanced, it deserves supreme credit! (2009) Got some of this years batch... simply AMAZING.

bottle thanks to thirdeye11. batch 8907 light yellow with a thick cream head. nose is florally grapefruit and fresh hops. very nice on the palate with a sweet grapefruity flavor that doesn’t even show a hint of alcohol.

On tap in Bloomington, IN. Had this some time in January 2009. A: Bright orange and slightly cloudy. A white head with glimmers of the beer in it. S: Simply put, this is the most amazing nose I’ve ever encountered. An overabundance of hops combined with a clear scent of honey, and a powerful malt base to back it all up. I know this scent will be good in a month or so, so I really need to savor it while it’s fresh. T: Much like the nose, this is utterly without parallel (sorry to Mr. Pliny, I haven’t had the opportunity yet). This is how every DIPA should be made. The malt is certainly there, but does nothing to even content with the luscious hops that come on. Simply brilliant. The honey is certainly a nice touch, too. M: Medium bodied with good carbonation. D: Could be the only beer I’d ever drink again, if Bell’s were so gracious as to devote 50% of their capacity to this one.

12 oz bottle purchased at John’s Grocery in Iowa City, IA. Poured a clear dark golden/light orange color. Head was white with good retention and lacing. Pungent hop aroma with grapefruit, pine resin, grass, and dried leaf elements. There is also a hint of white wine. The grapefruit nose dominates after warming up a bit. Distinct citrusy grapefruit flavor with relatively modest hop bitterness. There is also a touch of lemon and tangible alcohol, again making the beer somewhat reminiscent of white wine. This stuff must be unbelievable on tap.

UPDATED: APR 24, 2008 Bottle thanks to Drnk_McDermott. Pours a cloudy orange with a frothy white head. The aroma was just great; some fruity and ripe hops. The taste was initially not really bitter, instead it was a smooth and tasty malt with some sweet citrus. The finish is dominated by a lasting bitter hops, but not brutally bitter. Some honey also. Just pure goodness.

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!

UPDATED: JAN 13, 2009 On tap at Capital Ale House - Downtown on 08/28/2008. Keg was about 6 months old. Clear golden amber body with a small creamy off-white head. Caramel and cirusy hop aroma, but somewhat diminished. Very mellow citrus and light resiny flavors on a gentle caramel background. Full body with moderate carbonation and a resiny hop finish. Still good, but not nearly as good as it is fresh. 7/3/7/4/16 - 3.7 (left out of overall score, since it’s much better fresh) Bottle. Batch 7806. Clear brilliant copper body with a small creamy white head that rapidly diminishes. Aroma of sweet caramel, sugar, fruit and citrus hops. Sweet caramel flavor with a delicious citrus hops compenent. 8/3/9/4/17 - 4.1