Bells Hopslam

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

On tap at Stella Blues in downtown Eau Claire, WI. Based on the brewer’s description, I expected a flavorful but harsh hops experience. This one poured a light copper color, exceptionally clear, with a heavy aroma of citrus and a quickly fading white head. This chewy brew had an unexpected flavor: earthy hops on the back of the tongue with strong notes of citrus. There’s a profound sweetness to this beer, which could be attributed to a strong malt balance. This is definitely a sipping beer, meant to be savored and not drunk too cold. Despite all of the flavor it’s quite smooth -- even more so than Two-Hearted.

bottle. thanks bri. golden/copper with spotty white head. earthy funk, good funk, Jame Brown funk with fresh earthy hops in aroma. hoppy, earthy, chewy hpos with lingering bitterness. great. 10% = trouble

2009 vintage poured a very nice gold color with an inch thick head. This has to be one of the best smelling IIPA’s around with a strong fruit and citrus background. The alcohol is well hidden at first sip and the hops dominate on the way down. This beer is deadly but one of my personal favorites. Very highly recommended if you can find it fresh.

Fresh 2009 batch poured a beautiful hazy yellow with thick white head. Aroma of strong citrusy hops. Initial taste is hot with citrus and grapefruit. Sweet with hints of caramel and left a very nice hoppy taste in my mouth afterward. Alcohol is hidden very well. An aged 2008 bottle mellows out the hops and hotness and makes for a wonderful taste.

bottle thanks to sloth. poured a clear gold with a thin whit head that fades. aroma of some nice fruity citrus and grapefruit. flavor is sweet, citrus, and pine. medium body and carbonation. i found this to be a great IPA. alcohol was rather well hidden.

Thanks to emacgee for this one. Foggy orange pour with a tall foamy head with a lot of retention. The aroma had several types of hops on the nose with some floral notes as well. An alcoholic tingle is felt on the initial with a thicker than normal mouthfeel. Hops play a large role in the taste but there are also hints of honey and citrus. Well balanced flavors provide for a sweet finish. Fantastic!

Amazing pungent grapefruit aroma. Very aromatic. Translucent/transparent in color. Purchased at Bruisin Ales in North Carolina. Nice orange color. Just has an awesome pungent hoppy aroma. Not hard to catch a whiff of this. Nice dry hop flavor. Hops hit you right away! Awesome bittering hop that just lasts for a long time. Sweet citrus/grapefruit flavor upfront, but afterwards the hops just dominate the palate. Nice crisp taste, and finish. Smooth palate. Overall, if there was a bit more of a malty presence this would be even more amazing than it already is. Damn good beer. Try if you can

Being new to “hoppy” beers, I have had a difficult time becoming accustomed to some of the complexities of the style. Bell’s HopSlam is one of the first beers of its type that could really get behind when it comes to an IPA. With an exceptionally clean finish, this beer goes down easily considering its heavy hop presence and high ABV; it has a diverse enough flavor profile to cover up the astringency that can often come with the alcohol. Separating itself from many IPA style beers, the aroma hops are not only potent and present, but complex and pleasant. There are hints of citrus and other floral scents on the nose. It has a really nice mouthfeel. It was strong but not overpowering. Partly due to the style, this is not the kind of beer I would drink six of in an evening (partly due to the fact that someone would have to pick me up off the floor). I would/did however enjoy one or two of these in a sitting. It really is a complete package and it is a great introduction to the world of IPA-style beers.