Bells Big Head San Diego Style Ale

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

Bottled. Thanks Greg Koch for this treat. An amber beer with an orangey head. The aroma is sweet with strong notes of grass and hops. The flavor has notes of grapefruit, bread, and grass, leading to a dry and bitter finish.

From bottle at Stone Bistro, thanks to Greg Koch. Pours hazy orange with a tan head. Mild spiced hoppy aroma. Grapefruity and dense yet also smooth fruity and nicely balanced with caramel malt. Lingering fruity hops finish.

Name: Big Head
Date: 05/03/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: hazy dark gold, wispy off white head, bits of lace,
Aroma: sweet crystal and tangerine aroma,
Flavor: big sweet fruity malt flavor, lots of citrus and orange, touch of peppery alcohol, lots of bitterness to add balance,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

Fiery amber. Simcoey nose, very bright with some papaya accents. Chewy, slightly resiny hops. Decent amount of crystal malt and a dry finish.

(12oz bottle, thanks ryan) Medium off-white head atop lightly hazed, light amber body. Aroma is moderately sweet, juicy grapefruit, mango, some hay, bread, yeasty. Taste is moderately sweet, pine/hay, grapefruit, yeast. Very bitter. Sticky full body. Not as "bright" as Hopslam, and not nearly as enjoyable.

Thanks Derek for the bottles! Wow, the hops hit my nose as soon as I popped the cap. Poured a deeper and slightly hazy orange color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of citrus, fresh pine, and green floral hops. All hops there Baby! Tastes of citrus, melons, caramel, and pine. On the balance scale, this one definitely tips to the hoppy side, which is just fine with me! I never would have guess this was over 11% - perfect for cracking this one open on our first 80 degree weather day ;) Some lacing left on the glass. Nice hoppy burps...

(Bottle, courtesy of BMan1113VR) Pours a clear orange body with a small white head. Aroma of toasted bread, orange, floral, light cocoa, some pine, and noticeable alcohol burn. Flavor of caramel and toasted malts, hops (orange, resiny, floral), chocolate, and alcohol with a bitter finish.

Bottle thanks to hoppymeal: Pours a transparent bright copper bronze with a nicely-lacing spotty white head. Aroma of big, fresh resiny grapefruity hops and sweet caramel and pale malts. Body starts fairly full with a nice sweetness and lots of grapefruity bittering hops before a drier, warming finish. Nice hop aroma, but the alcohol is too over the top and needs more balance.