Bells Hopslam

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

What a piece of art. Pours to a partially cloudy, mid-toned amber with a lasting, beige head. The nose is an intoxicating (no pun intended) medley of bright hops, spring flowers and a little citrus. Upon tasting, you’re hit with hops and honey. The bitterness sets in for just a second, then thick honey takes over putting the hops in the back seat. After a while of drinking, you can feel the back of your tongue giving a standing ovation to performance of this perfectly balanced beer. Amazing.

orange pour with minimal head. lots of citrus in the nose and up front and good gravy is this one full of hops.. Finish is bitter and surprisingly clean. YUM!

World’s best IPA? I’ll need another Dreadnaught before determining that one. Anyways, this one’s all intensely crisp citrus and grapefruit. Follows through with a pleasant, lingering sweetness. Oh so balanced all the way through. I am enjoying the hell out of these while they’re still nice and fresh. Phenomenal.

12oz bottle. In my opinion, this ranks right there with Dreadnaught, and the Pliny’s. Great aroma with a touch of grapefruit. Flavor is not over the top hoppy, but to me the finish is stronger than others typically in this style, almost warming, like a barleywine. Balanced well by the malt. This is simply a fantastic beer.

Bottle from Ed at Heritage. Pours a light copper color with a creamy off-white head, steady carbonation, and strong lacing. Smells amazing - loaded with cantaloupe and honey. Chewey mouthfeel with the flavors of caramel, bitter hops, and plenty of malt. Certainly lives up to its name.

Bottle. Finally got to try it. Pours with a beautiful orange-copper color and a nice head with good lacing and retention. The aroma is full of hops, flowery hops but also some sweetness probably due to the honey. Flavors are amazing, some citrus, flowers, honey and a nice malt backbone. One of the best DIPAs but not super extremely hoppy. Very smooth finish with lasting bitterness.

12 oz bottle. A bright barely cloudy dark gold pour. Smallish white head. Very floral aroma, fresh hops with just a hint of honey and malt. Pretty straight forward very hoppy, but there is some sweet malt with the honey, and some citrus and apple. Finishes real clean, for those that like a hop belch, this will do it for you. Tastes like a really really good pale ale. I was expecting this to be just a bite in the rear bitter beer, but it was quite well balanced and dangerously drinkable. The most drinkable double I’ve had. Was not an earth shattering experience, but I’m glad I tried it. Not sure it was worth the 15 for the sixer, but hopefully I can trade some of this.

Batch 8907. Hazy orange pour with a fluffy white head. Aroma of hops, grapefruit, and citrus. The hops are balanced extremely well and the alcohol hardly noticeable.