4.6 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
UPDATED: MAR 21, 2009 Fresh 2009 batch poured a beautiful hazy yellow with thick white head. Aroma of strong citrusy hops. Initial taste is hot with citrus and grapefruit. Sweet with hints of caramel and left a very nice hoppy taste in my mouth afterward. Alcohol is hidden very well. An aged 2008 bottle mellows out the hops and hotness and makes for a wonderful taste.
4.6 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20
Bottle. 12 oz. Pours slightly hazy orange-golden with a thick, rich, creamy, pure white head. Fluffy head leaves crazy amounts of lacing on the sides of the glass. Aroma is intensely sweet; vanilla, honey, caramel, toffee, sweet malts, banana, lemon, pine, and delicious hops. Full, robust body with a velvety, chewy palate. Hides the alcohol extremely well; barely any burn. Slow, slightly tart finish. Outstanding Imperial IPA. Highly recommended for hop-heads and mellow IPA fans alike.
4.6 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 19/20
My favorite bells brew. Great balance of bitterness and citrus. The aroma is fantastic, with hints of grapwfruit, pine, and citrus. The alcohol is masked incredibly by the taste. It’s hard ot believe your drinking a 10% brew. I’m anxiously awaiting for this beer to come back in season. Perfect for us hopheads.
4.6 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
Bottle poured orange / golden in color with a very thin white head. Very strong hoppy brewed masterfully with honey. Glass just kept building in flavor. And a nice piney finish. Great beer!!
4.6 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Bottle..Batch 8907... I love the aroma of this beer..the apricot/grapefruit aroma was so intense yet pleasurable that i sat and smelled this beer for a good 5 min just enjoying the armoma...the sweet intense flavor with the power of the hops were a real treat..buy this beer..enjoy
4.6 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 19/20
Out of bottle, February 2009. Tons of hop aroma including grapefruit citrus overtones with slight pine undertones. Despite really hoppy and bitter taste, has a very crisp and smooth after taste that leaves you wanting more. One of the best I’ve ever had.
4.6 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20
Aroma: Earthy
Appearance: Amber & Orange
Flavor: HOPS! Citrus and Flowers
Palate: Smooth
Overall Impression: One of the best Double IPAs out there. The hops are very prevelant, but you wouldn’t know its 10% ABV.
4.6 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
Being new to “hoppy” beers, I have had a difficult time becoming accustomed to some of the complexities of the style. Bell’s HopSlam is one of the first beers of its type that could really get behind when it comes to an IPA.
With an exceptionally clean finish, this beer goes down easily considering its heavy hop presence and high ABV; it has a diverse enough flavor profile to cover up the astringency that can often come with the alcohol. Separating itself from many IPA style beers, the aroma hops are not only potent and present, but complex and pleasant. There are hints of citrus and other floral scents on the nose. It has a really nice mouthfeel. It was strong but not overpowering.
Partly due to the style, this is not the kind of beer I would drink six of in an evening (partly due to the fact that someone would have to pick me up off the floor). I would/did however enjoy one or two of these in a sitting. It really is a complete package and it is a great introduction to the world of IPA-style beers.
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