Bells Hopslam

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

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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Aroma is a massive orangey hops sensation, decent malt says hey as well, deep amber, medium sized custard head. Flavour has orange tones from the hops, malt is well placed too. Medium bodied, balance, alcohol isn’t apparent. Terrific! Thank You Radek Kliber.

UPDATED: FEB 13, 2008 Let me tell you folks this beer is pouring real good this season. It explodes on the palate with flavors of flowers and wheat. This beer really "hopslams" your palate if you hold it in your mouth for long if that makes any sense. It’s hard to believe this is 10% as the alcohol is not apparent in the least. Not sure if I would drink this regularly but it is a nice change up from darker beers. For me this is similar to Three Floyd’s Broo Doo.

On draft at Tyler’s Taproom in Durham, NC. Hazy orange like color with a thin white head. Big hit of floral hops with hints of grapefruit and tangerine. Slammin’ grapefruit bitterness in the flavor with a bit too much of an alcohol burn in the finish. Another solid offering from Bells.

Brown bottle, 355 ml, batch 7806, via Philippe Boutin, savoured on November 13 2007; eye: burnt orange, lightly hazy, slight effervescence, creamy almond head, good lacing; nose: fresh hops, light pine, spices, light caramel, light soap; mouth: slight presence of the bubble gum that tasted like soap, lots of hops, grapefruit, good presence of caramelized malt, alcohol, some spices (including pepper and a bit of salt), finale in hops with a good presence of caramel, mild astringency, alcohol becomes more present as the beer warms up, lightly sweet, mildly bitter, slightly salty, medium to full body, slightly harsh texture, average carbonation; overall: fine FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 355 ml, lot 7806, via Philippe Boutin, savourée le 13 novembre 2007; œil : orangé brûlé, légèrement voilée, très légère effervescence, mousse crémeuse amande, bonne dentelle; nez : houblon frais, léger pin, épices, léger caramel, léger savon; bouche : ptite présence de gomme au savon, beaucoup de houblon, pamplemousse, bonne présence de malt caramélisé, alcool, quelques épices (dont le poivre et un peu de sel), finale en houblon avec une bonne présence de caramel, astringence moyenne, alcool devient plus présent lorsque le bière se réchauffe, légèrement sucrée, moyennement amère, très légèrement salée, corps moyen-corsé, texture légèrement rugueuse, carbonatation moyenne; en résumé : bien

Delicious all around beer. Bitter is Better is my life motto, so this made me happy. The color was a dark gold with a small tan head. When this nectar first hits your mouth, it tastes almost berry like. Once the hops take over it’s a bitter ride down the rest of the way. Great beer!

Lots of piney, resiny hops in the nose but also a sweet malt note, as well as some fruitiness, peach or apricot aromas. Nice deep golden, crystal clear, small white head doesn’t last long but leaves nice lacing. Nice balance of bitter hops and honeyed, caramel maltiness. OK, maybe balance isn’t exactly the word, you would have to be a hophead to enjoy this, but anyway the malt is there if you look for it. Light carbonation, medium heavy texture, very bitter finish. True to its name, true to style, but the flavor is a bit one dimensional to me. Heavy on bitter, but not much complexity. There are a few other IIPA’s I prefer for their taste. Still, very good beer overall.

Bottle - Hazy orange with creamy orange head. Flavor is very hoppy with orange peel and grapefruit / citrus. Notes of hops, floral, citrus, grass, dry malt. Bitter finish. Big taste.

12 oz. bottle courtesy of Acknud. Pours a clear amber color with a small white head & spotty lacing. Nose is pine cone & flowers. When I first received this bottle I was a little nervous. With a name like Hopslam I expected it to be overwhelmingly hoppy ( I’m not a hophead ). Actually it’s quite good. Hop flavor isnt over the top & there’s a fair amount of malty sweetness. Alcohol is tucked away in the background. I didn’t realize I was drinking a 10% brew until I went to rate it. Like I said, quite good.

Well, let’s see what all the hype is about- 12 oz. bottle (Batch 8277) poured into tulip. Poured transparent dark copper orange, thin white ring around the glass for a head, aroma of citrus and floral hops. Hits the mouth with a defined medium body, hops are present throughout the tasting and even after swallow, finish is complete, slightly bitter, and has a slight honey note (go figure that one), alcohol is not noticeable at all. Color me unimpressed- it’s contemporaries (DFH 120, Avery’s Maharaja, Stone’s Ruination) are unique in their own ways, Hopslam seems a bit run of the mill for a double IPA. Major let down- you can purchase 2 6er’s of Two Hearted for nearly the same price as 1 6er of Hopslam back in Michigan when in season. Do that instead kids, and quit hyping things up.

Pours a nice cloudy orange with a thin lingering white head. Pretty sweet, thick, blunt floral nose. Flavor is more of the same, with a first bitter, then sweet finish. Palate is very nice and creamy. Overall a very solid brew, but not quite as great as I was hoping. I think I prefer the two hearted.