Bells Hopslam

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

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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I’ve been trying to find this one for two years!! Living in a small town with limited distribution, they only got a handful of six-packs. Luckily got the last one after randomly walking into our local specialty store. This is the most incredible nose I’ve ever experienced. The hops dominate, as would be expected, with scents of tangerine, grapefruit, peach, and honey. The appearance wasn’t as opaque or turbid as I was hoping for such a strong beer, but the nose is enticing enough to make a bud-light look good. In terms of flavor, this hands down now the one to beat in the double IPA category. I have never tasted an imperial this smooth. Unlike many beers where the nose is strong, but the flavor pales in comparison, this beer tastes just like the nose! Very citrusy, some hints of floral, almost rosewater tasting, and the honey is very prevalent with an excellent balance to the hops. Despite the advertisement, this is NOT a bitter beer. It is less bitter than a number of even single IPA’s I’ve tasted, but the flavor is incredible. Almost reminds me of a fresh-hop ale with a lot more kick and balance. The mouthfeel is almost perfect, thick, but not syrupy, and a perfect amount of carbonation and a long finish. This is quite possibly the best beer I have ever tasted.

Hopslam is amazing. From start to finish it is everything you could possibly ask for. If you are a hop lover you will love this beer... Although, you may not love the price ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

From Feb. Pours an orangish gold with a nice white bubbly head. Smells like glorious hops with a little honey..taste with a grapefruity flavor and few other citrus notes with a touch of honey on the finish. An excellent beer, very enjoyable.

Bottle. Pours a slightly hazy amber, with a big creamy head. A fantastic tropical aroma, with good, nice notes of sweet citrus and peach. A full, thick body with average carbonation. Flavour has a nice hoppy bitterness with notes of orange peel, and has a long nice finish.

UPDATED: MAY 28, 2012 Bottled from Bierkoning, Amsterdam. Clear golden colored, tiny particles floating around, small white head. Very impressive hoppy nose, pine, grapefruit, absolutely fantastic. Strong hopbitter flavor, lots of fruity notes, more sweet towards the end, and finishing in a lasting bitter and quite alcoholic way. Although massive hops are used the brew still feels quite balanced. The alcohol could have been more suppressed, but it’s still dangerously drinkable for 10%. I’m generally not really in to DIPA’s, but it’s beers like this make me keep trying new examples every once and awhile. Good beer.

(From notes) On draft at Flanny’s, poured into a tulip. A honey golden color with a two-finger frothy head. Slight citrus aroma (almost like spoiled grapefruit). The taste starts off with a piney, alfalfa hop punch to the mouth and then the sweetness kicks in.  It finishes with a pleasant hop characteristic without being overly bitter. Perfectly balanced between the hops and sweetness. 

Well made beer. Golden color and extreme floral, pine and citrus hop aroma and taste that is mellowed by the honey sweetness. Pretty friggin’ awesome and easy to drink for being such high abv. little over hyped though.

A pretty much clear, golden body and white fine bubbly head. Rich hoppy aroma, but fairly delicate still. Pine and blossom. Big bitterness, unwieldy hops, foaming astringency. This beer speaks only one language and message received! Surprisingly drinkable though, if you?re not afraid of the American hop flower. Don?t get the honey, but I suppose there?s some balancing sweetness. Not to drink all day or night though. Alcohol is also clearly there. Nomnom. (33cl bottle)

Nice orange color with a thick white head. Very nice citrus aromas (grapefruit, mango) floral notes hit the nose too. Hint of malty sweetness. Nice body and an excellent bitterness to match the citrus flavors. Hell of a DIPA.

Hopslam is an amazing, one of a kind beer. There’s nothing out there that has such a great little unobtrusive sweetness to take the edge off so much hopiness. That said, I swear the batch from year end 2011 was a stinker. Was not up to par with past years, or with the March ’12 batch. I could be crazy but I’ve tested this 3 times now and come out the same way (yeah, I buy cases of hopslam when it’s out). The biggest shame with this beer is that it’s a winter seasonal. It’s actually most appropriate served incredibly cold (it’s thick , doesn’t freeze too easily) on a hot day. Just don’t plan anything requiring too much responsibility for the ensuing hours. I think you have to say it has a unique and strong buzz to it.

Holy hops, this beer is well balanced. No malty aftertaste, dry finish. Poured amber haze with decent head. Did not know the beer was an imperial @ 10 ABV until after "sampling" 4 fairly quick.