Bells Hopslam

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

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

Bottle shared by Jonno. Nice. Pumpkin colored, off-sided head. Nose was big, slightly oxidized smelling, with sharp edges of grapefruit. Flavors are ribbon candy & carmalized sugar lightly coating a dry grapefruity center. Tastes a lot more syrupy than the body actually is...maybe due to the attentuated honey and the dryness of grapefruit character of the hops combining with the deceiving residual sweetness of the malt bill. In any event, it’s most certainly interesting...but something I think I would have to get used to before falling in love with, but the potential is there.

UPDATED: JAN 18, 2009 This certainly ranks near the top. Wonderful honeysuckle mango sort of nose with distinct hop character. The taste is sublime as the hops are quite aggressive, though far from astringent. Whatever it is that they did, they did it well. Very nice.

Rich floral, tangy lemon zested herbed aroma. Light on the resins and pine, and even the citrus, following a sweeter, more fruity path, with resplendent chopped cilantro and herb gardens. Very nice. Pours, a light copper gold, with a nice lacy soap of white atop. Flavor present a spicy blend of rich warm hop oils and canisters of exotic musty spice abounding. There’s plenty of coriander, white pepper, allspice and light saffrons in the first bite. The malt is light and adds only a gentle caress of pale caramel and grain sugars to reign in the runaway Marakesh express. As the hop flavors morph on the tongue, they diverge into a candied orange citrus and more resins at the base of the flowers. Airy and light. Alcohol warms the nostrils, drawing the delicate and sweet hop perfumes into the nose. Quite elegant and refined. I’m really amazed at how drinkable this is and with such lightness (although not thin) it carries the hop flavors well. Expertly crafted and astoundingly delicious.

Bottle thanks to mreusch. Pours a slightly cloudy orange with a small white head. Aroma of hop oils, citrus, and grapefruit. Flavor is sweet and malty with lots of citrus hops. Full-bodied and not too sticky/sweet as some IIPAs tend to be. Hopslam lives up to its reputation. Quite tasty! 8/4/8/4/16 (4.0/5)

2010 Bottle. It pops open and immediately fresh hop nectar travels into your nostils. It pours a golden orangeish yellowish amberish color, there is swirling carbonation bubbles, that are quite unique and wonderful. THe head is nice and big and white. This is the freshest IPA I have smelt aside from my homebrew and it is AMAZING. It is everything you want hops to be, majorly citusy, slightly piney, and slightly sugary. The taste is godlike hop nectar. Literally plain and simple, there isnt much more to say. The mouthfeel is PERFECT for this style, the carbonation and body are just right. The drinkablity is through the roof ,I have the compulsion to finish this whole case in a night it goes down so easy (not). This beer is pretty mythic, the best DIPA i have had and I have had week old Pliny. It is all about the freshness though I have had Hopslam after 6 months and it dies wholly. When it is fresh it is hard to beat. World class. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 01-14-2010 02:22:23

Bottle thanks to ericandersnavy. Pours a nice looking clear deep gold, off-white head. Aroma is terrific, very fruity, some pine, malt, floral,very nice. Flavor malty, faint sweetness, obvious hop flavor with a nice, very hoppy bitter. Mouthfeel is medium body, high carbonation. Overall, a very well made IPA...Good Shit!

12oz bottle-pours orange with tons of yeast floaties-definately taking away from the appearance here. Its good to see its bottle conditoined, but this is not the best appearance for shure. awesome fresh hop cone nose-floral, citric, coconut, tropical fruits. very pleasant. flavors are citric, with lots of hops, but not overly bitter-nice sweetness, but not cloying like some IIPA’s. some light pine and grapefruit, but definately a more citric IIPA. body is very pleasant and lush with mild carbonation. This is definately a top notch IIPA and i cant wait to sample the rest of my 6 pack. I will be revisiting this one along the way

Shared at a Cellar’s tasting. Lots of frothy white head on this orange colored beer. Green over the top hop body that doesn’t manage to hide the alcohol.