Bells Hopslam

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

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

One of my all time favorite beers, haven’t rated it yet. Pours cloudy golden orange with off white one finger head which eventually thins to a lasting sudsy film. Perfect DIPA aromas of sweet fruit -grapefruit/pineapple/mango, pine, grass, and honey. Flavor is sweet malt, honey, grapefruit with the hops coming through strong at the finish with a pleasant lasting bitterness on the tongue. Perfectly balanced. Medium body with light carbonation. The honey really makes this beer. Alcohol is not at all noticeable until your buzzed at the end of the bottle. Fantastic beer.

Pint draft at Elephant and Castle in New Cumberland, PA. Pours a clear amber-orange with an average off-white head that lasts throughout and leaves incredible lacing. Amazing floral and citrus aroma. The flavor is a big hop taste of grapefruit, floral, and pine. Well balanced by the biscuity sweetness of the malt. Very smooth. Full bodied. Medium-high carbonation. A finish that lingers and begs for another sip. For such a big beer, the alcohol is quite subdued and provides a gentle alcohol warming. Approach with caution, this one can really sneak up on you.

UPDATED: JAN 20, 2010 Re-rate 1/20/10. Bottled 12/30. Big grapefruit, pine, fruit cocktail aroma. Lots of tropical fruity flavors. A little sweeter than some other top tier IIPAs but complimented nicely by a sharp bitter bite. Still amazing. Re-rate 1/18/09. This years batch just hit the shelves here so this stuff is fresh. Golden-orange color, moderate head that settles to a thin film and yields some blotchy lacing. Massive hoppy aroma; loads of grapefruit and some pine as well. Huge hoppy flavor, not surprising based on the aroma, and overall this is very tropical; grapefruit, orange peel, lemon, mango. I wouldn’t classify it as easy drinking or smooth this go around as this is quite puckery but that’s the way it should be. The West Coast rules the hoppy beers but here’s an East Coast IIPA that can really compete with those. Original Rating: This is one fine beer. Pours a clear light orange color with a medium sized head. A wonderful grapefruit hoppy aroma. The flavor is grapefruit hops with a good amount of sweet fruitiness and maybe some caramel. Bitter, dry with a pretty clean finish considering the style. This has got to be the smoothest beer with this much alcohol I have ever had. I have got to get more of this stuff!

If this hoptacular ale was a woman, I’d marry her. Is there a better DIPA on the planet? Maybe. But I doubt it. Lord, I love this beer.

Super golden reddish orange color. Aroma is a sweet honeysuckle flowery pile of awesome. This is what the Maharaja wished it was. Bottle from Smith4498

Loved it. Got three of the last few bottles at Funky Buddha and I can see why they were selling out fast. The balance is just terrific. The aroma is hoppy and a little sweet with that honey in there. Not super bitter and it goes down very smooth. One of the best hoppy beers I’ve tried.

Batch 8907. Hazy orange pour with a fluffy white head. Aroma of hops, grapefruit, and citrus. The hops are balanced extremely well and the alcohol hardly noticeable.

UPDATED: APR 28, 2009 Bottle. Clear orange poor with a small offwhite head and a little lacing. Aromas of grapefruit zest, oranges, peaches, pepper, pine, creamy caramel and hoppy. Sweet start but the bitter peppery bitterness hits you big time right at the end. Slightly sweeter than most IIPAs. Alcohol is present but far from overwhelming. Smooth, creamy and velvetty mouthfeel. Taste is very citrusy and very hoppy as well. Tastes amazingly fresh.As it warms the flavor changes to a very nice sugary grapefruit. Very Good.