Bells Hopslam

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

12 oz bottle courtesy of schroppfy. Pours a translucent copper color with a medium white head that lasted a short while. The aroma is rich with citrus, cotton candy and cookie dough. The flavor is hops forward with more citrus, pine, white pepper and caramel. The mouthfeel is full and malty. The finish is short and clean with a bit of lingering sweet caramel. Overall: A superb IPA, but not as biter as I had anticipated or hoped for.

12 oz bottle, batch 8277 (1/9/08). Pours a hazy dark gold with a huge pillowy white head that retains well and laces the glass. There’s tons of big yeasties in the bottom.

The aroma is piney citrusy spicy peppery hops! Yum! It is a little subdued.

The flavor is sweet, slightly sugary, caramel malts, melon and grapefruits with a nice big fruity, peppery hop bite in the finish. It’s a little on the sweet side but this bottle is not quite so fresh. I’ve had it fresher with a bigger hop presence. The hop bitterness comes out more as it warms. The alcohol is very well hidden. The mouthfeel is medium to full with nice velvety carbonation.

Overall, this is fantastic! It’s very well balanced and is so yummy it’s almost seems sessionable. I wish I could get this regularly! This is right at the top of my list.

[Bottle] Pours somewhat syrupy golden with a medium off white head. Aroma is spicy, citrusy hops and a large caramel/toffee backbone to back it up. Flavor is fairly sweet, but at the same time, extremely hoppy and bitter. Typical, very well balanced Bells beer, and extremely good.

Pours orange with a smell head, some lacing. Smells similar to two-hearted ale, very hoppy. Floral hops, citrus hops, pine hops. Its all about hops. Flavor is amazing. Very hoppy and bitter, but it is well-balanced with caramel malt. Mouthfeel is big and malty. Overall, this sets the standard for the style. An unbelievable brew. Re-rate: fresh, its even better.

12 oz. bottle courtesy of a trade with Sephiroth. Pours a cloudy orange gold with a thin white head that faded to a white film after two sips and left a very thin coating of lace after each sip. Very pleasant floral aroma with some notes of citrus as well. I was very happy not to get hit with the usual grapefruit and pine aromas of some uber-hopped beers. The flavor was well balanced between sweet caramel malt and bitter citrusy hops. Sharply bitter, but thankfully not acrid. The alcohol was very well hidden. Well done.

Absolutely amazing. Nice floral hop aroma, with a great smooth taste and hoppy finish (as you’d expect). 10% ABV, and it really kicks you after a couple, but the beer does not have an alcoholy taste. I much prefer this to anything out there (including other Bell’s offerings). My favorite beer, hands down.

Beautiful honey color with a 30 second head that laces suprising. The aroma is all peaches. Very bitter but also very refreshing. I could drink this all day.

Bottle, thanks Acknud! Wow what a beer. Pours a vibrant orange/amber color with a soft white head. Nice lacing. Aromas are hops, honey and more hops. Flavor is grapefruit, some honey, slight malt and more sour citrus. Bitter? Hell yes! But the honey balances this beer to perfection. I wish I had regular access to ALL Bell’s beers!!