Bells Hopslam

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

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

Thanks foureyedgeek for splitting the case. Shhh.. don’t tell my friends. I liked this Double IPA. I wouldn’t want them to know, because they’d never let me live it down. Here he is - the Anti-IPA, the hop hater - loving this perfectly crafted beer. Ripe peaches and grapefruits abound the nose, with a rich honey background and subtle caramel malts. The taste is again, predominately peaches and grapefruits, with oranges and lemons abounding. Quite fruity, and very sweet, with honey notes underlying. A strong bitter aftertaste mixed with a gentle, warming sensation in the chest makes this a fantastic sipping brew. What I like about this one - balance. It’s key. Sure this is hoppy as all get out, but it’s got the balls in the background to support it. A hoppy beer without a firm malt background is like a squealing ass guitar solo with out any rhythm instruments - not pleasant, not enjoyable, and most of all.. not necessary. This one, on the other hands, stands out above the crowd for me. The addition of honey was perfect. Best IPA I’ve had in a long time.

36cl, Bottled on Jan 9th 2012, American brew, thx to Secret Santa!, complex bitter brew, bitter/fruity and slightly malty/floral, heavy, yet balanced, clear, good head, good brew, yet expensive!

This is the first time I have experienced HOPSLAM. What a great beer from start to finish on draft. Nice combination of piney – fruity flavors with a hint of honey. Great presentation – golden color with nice head and lacing. Another great beer from Bells. I need to stop by the liquor store to buy a six pack to enjoy later this week.

Bottle. Great beer. Pours a hazy orange with a medium white head. Great citrus/grapefruit hop aroma and flavor. The hop flavor is partially balanced by a hint of caramel and honey. Alcohol is very well hidden.

Absolutely delicious, but doesn’t taste as rare as I remember. Still a killer beer. Draft pour with a full finger head into a snifter, beautiful deep gold. Aroma is rich hops, light citrus and grapefruit. Flavor is heavy hop forward, nice and bitter. Good fruit notes, grapefruit, bitter and rich. Body is medium with decent lacing for a IIPA. Really decent and enjoyable.

Pours a nice golden orange with a nice two finger head that lingers. Aromas of pineapple, peach, apricot, citrus. Smells amazing. Initial taste is sweet, almost like pineapple juice. Orange, and a slight hop bitterness. No alcohol flavor whatsoever. Pretty impressive considering its sitting at 10% abv. Flavors of peaches and sticky malt/sugar linger. Mouthfeel is very sticky and slightly oily with a little hoppiness hanging around. Overall...this is probably the best ipa I’ve ever had, period.

12 oz bottle poured into a standard pint glass. Hopslam is a slightly hazy golden honey liquid with a very small head of tiny white bubbles. Nose is full of sharp evergreen scented hops, about what one would expect from a double IPA. First sip is rather subtle at first but explodes in mid mouth with bright hop taste. Mild to mid bitters, just a hint of honey and maybe some evergreen or citrus tang. Body is medium liquid. Alcohol level is not in your face. Warming on the swallow all the way down. Good Bitters on the finish. This beer has become somewhat of a legend around Columbus, OH. Finding a six is quite a quest. I’d say it’s well worth the challenge, and the price.

Bottle because Danny is making me finish this. Thank God. Clearish orange pour. Lots of hops. Sweet flavor with more hops. I know this is good, but ipas aren’t my thing.

TOP marks when fresh! Perhaps I’d lose .5 if it’s a little older but it’s still always an outstanding beer. Amazing green hop notes, citrus, candy sugar, golden syrup on the nose moving toward soft honey. Brilliantly full and mouth coating with a really fantastic interplay between sweet sweet honey and full bodied pale malts and then green hops and fresh assertive bitterness. Delicious