Bells Big Head San Diego Style Ale

Formerly brewed at Bells Brewery
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

In short: A dry, very dry intensely hopped triple-IPA.
How: Bottle 12oz, drank 3 months after its release. Bottle as a bonus (!!!) from moejuck. That’s an unreal bonus Joe, I owe you one!!!
The look: Clear golden-copper body topped by a medium white head
In long: Big nose of cedar, grapefruit, pine-tree and citrus. Toasted bread with honey and caramel followed by an intense, and I mean INTENSE hops bitterness. Pine-tree, cedar and dry citrus fruits skin are the hops flavours. Alcohol somewhat apparent. I had this one and the Hopslam side-by-side and this one really tasted like a much dryer version of the Hopslam with an added cedar touch. I can’t believe that Bells sent most of this release to San Diego!?! As if San Diego needed another excellent Double IPA. Christ!!! Why not send Upland lambics to Brussel while at it? Or your tax money to Bill Gates just to keep on with the spirit.

Pours slightly cloudy but very bright lemon-orange yellow with a white head. Hugely pungent and peppery hop oil nose, bright lemon citrus and mandarin oranges. Texture is moderately coarse, decent bitterness, somewhat drying and coarse on the back, flavors center around lemon juice citrus and sharp oranges, some pineapple and melon as well. Overall very clean and straightforward, well made. Surprisingly the alcohol isn’t as bothersome as it is with the most recent batch of Hopslam.

Bottle courtesy of BOLTZ7555. Pours a semi-clear amber with one finger off-white head and nice lacing. Nose is apricot, grapefruit and juniper. Taste is caramel malt upfront followed by citrus hops and a biting, long lasting dry pine sol finish. Medium, semi-creamy mouth feel. A great, well balanced IIPA that hides the alcohol very well. Thanks Jason!

12 oz bottle. Clear amber with an off-white head. Nose is dough, cantaloupe and white pepper. Super saturated and resiny with a softening tingle. Taste is grassy, candied orange peel, ginger and bitter lemon.

Bottle courtesy of cbkschubert. Aroma is dry, floral, pine. Orange body color with off white head and mild lacing. Flavor is dry, citrus, grapefruit with thicker body texture. Some dryness on the palate. Smooth. Good brew. Thanks Craig!

Pours a nice light orange color with a fluffy white head. Aroma is a bomb of hops, mostly pine and some citrus. Flavor is perfect to the desciption, not well balanced at all, just like west coast ipas, a real hop bruiser that left my tongue hurting for more.

Bottle shared by Crosling, thanks Nick. Pours clear orange with an average, fizzy, white head, somewhat lasting with excellent lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (hay, straw, cereal, meal), heavy hops (pine, resin, grapefruit), average yeast (dough, sweat) with notes of alcohol, apple, and pear. Medium bodied, oily texture, average carbonation, and a bitter finish. Long duration, moderate sweetness, heavy acidity and bitterness.

12oz. bottle, Batch k8369, with thanks to cpferris! Pours a clear golden with a slight orange tint and a persistent two finger creamy white head, good lacing. Aroma is strong grapefruit, citrus, and pine/resin. Flavor is a hit of hops as expected, with lingering strong pine and citrus only slightly tempered against a caramel malt background. Right to the brink, but not a tongue scraper or too extreme with the hops. Enjoyable stuff, thanks again Chad!