Bells Hopslam

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

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

UPDATED: DEC 1, 2007 bottle...man this is one sweet beer. i was surprised by how good this tasted....poured a light brown with a thin white head.the aroma was very enticingly citrusy and hoppy. taste is where this guy really excels. huge hoppy taste without any bitter bite at all. incredibly smooth and palatable. although i haven’t rated many imperials, this one will be hard to top. excellent.

Bottle from Styles again, wow, what a guy! This thing was a great pour, huge almost pure white head, lots of splotchy lacing, solid retention. The aroma was all citrus grapefruits, slight floral notes in the background. The flavor was full hop-mouth of citrus, some floral, even a bit of piney resinous notes. Full bodied malt support underneath (crystal malts?), some caramel but not very strong malt flavors. The mouthfeel was full and hearty, very nicely done! Thanks, Chris, I can’t give you enough props for that last trade!

On tap at the Eccentric Cafe. This is a beer for hopheads and it was inevitable considering the popularity of both this "extreme" style and the brewer’s regular IPA, Two-Hearted Ale. While most I2PAs follow the tried-and true grapefruit/pine balanced by caramely malt formula, this example is unique and extraordinary. Hopslam was served in a snifter/tulip and had an unusually opaque peach/orange color, topped by a thin-medium off-white head. The aroma first caught my attention- strong pineapple, pepper, and fruit juice. The flavor is marked by abundant pineapple (including a bit of acidity), pepper, resin, and sweet, fruity malt. Extremely creamy and potent, Hopslam finishes with a nice bitterness and a touch of alcohol. I suspect Centennial hops dominate the hop bill if they don’t have exclusive reign. In fact, this seems like an amped-up version of Two-Hearted Ale, already a great beer. Picture Two-Hearted Ale with more intense fruity, citrusy, perfumey flavors and a creamier, thicker body. This beer is a hophead’s dream and ranks up there with Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA and Three Floyds Dreadnaught IPA on my list. I can’t say I’ve had any beer quite like it. Outstanding.

Finally, finally I get to try this! I think Jer shared this with Greg and I - thank you!!! Incredibly hoppy aroma - very green and sweet. Dark yellow, small white head. Amazing taste - supper hoppy, balanced, sweet, alcohol there but never too much - met all my incredibly high expectations. I want more. Now.

Bottle... Poured amberish-orange with a thin white head. Aroma of floral hops and buttery grains. Big carbonation on the palate. Lots of hop flavors with a strong, sweet base that accentuated the malted, grain balance.

UPDATED: JAN 21, 2010 Wow, what an aroma to begin with. This beer pours a golden amber color with a huge pine and citrus presence. I loved the pine sap in the smell, then the flavor was very sweet in the hops and biig in sweetness with a balanced finish, which is what separates the men from the boys in the Double IPA Category. Very grapefruity, more so than even 90 Minute, it is almost 120 minute hoppy. This is an outstanding beer.

UPDATED: FEB 12, 2011 Draft at Capital Ale House Innsbrook, part of the post 10k recovery plan. If I had been thinking, which I wasn’t after running 6.2 miles, I would have told Maniac and Starfireming we were going. Oh well. Hey Maniac, they had this on tap again! Medium orange, decent fine head. Aroma was hop focused, mostly grapefruit with a touch of pine. Some gummy malts hold it all together nicely, biscuit flavors barely emerging, while the focus remains squarely on a standard hop offering of grapefruit, pine, and a touch of pineapple. Nice stuff here. RERATE: 2/9/11 of the now painfully hard to find and rare Hopslam. Not quite as drinkable as it used to be, hops are touch more abrasive, alcohol a bit more present, but still a really good beer. The hype these days is incredible, only got a sample of it due to the generosity of Derek and An to the JRHB.

UPDATED: JAN 23, 2010 12 oz. bottle via trade with lukin013 - Pours a crystal clear golden color with a small white head. Light spotty lacing. Has a sweet tangerine and light resin aroma. Wow! Has a tangy citrus hop flavor. Like a glass of OJ with a kick. Light to medium body. No lingering bitter aftertaste. Man, I wish Bell’s would make it out West. An excellent beer. Thanks Jon.


Well, Bells made it to AZ! Re-rated a batch 9502. So this beer is 3 weeks old! Had to bum up a few of the numbers. Fan-freaking-tastic!