Bells Hopslam

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

Light amber colored with a creamy tan head. Fruity aroma of pears, mandarin oranges, and grapefruit. Aggressive citrusy hops presence is balanced by a sweet, almost honey-like malt flavor. Grapefruit rind sticks in the back of the throat in the finish. Just the perfect amount of sweetness to balance the hops, the sweetness never gets cloying, the hops take center stage, but never completely overpower. Full, creamy body, with the perfect amount of carbonation. Dangerously drinkable.

Bottle shared with Ronald and Carita in Finland. Hazy golden with ’standard’ lychee and grapefruit US hop nose. A bit of soap? Nice interplay between malt and hops - with hops winning out. Bit of pear and a salty bitingly bitter finish. Cunningly hidden alcohol.

Pours a hazy golden Smells rather hoppy with notes of citrus Tastes hoppy, with citrus, and a little bit of something that I couldn’t place. Finishes excellent. Overall, a wonderful beer. Big bold and high in alcohol (a great 10%), its a good thing I only got one that nite, seeings how I had to drive that nite! Good brew, keep ’em coming Bells!

Pours a golden orange color with a frothy white head, which mostly dissipates and leaves some light lacing. Aroma is of course overwhelmingly hoppy, with heavy citrus (mainly grapefruit). Taste is biting hops, tart citrus ,and pine. Mouthfeel is creamy, with a lot of fizz. Not quite my thing, a bit much on the hops, but for what it is, it’s a great beer. Update: re-rating due to more experience and acquisition of a taste for hoppy beers.

Pours hazy copper with some light dregs making it into the glass. A quater inch of white head peaked before deminishing to a skim coat with some streaks and dots of lacework. Aromatics are fairly pungent with a big grassy, mossy note preluding the bursting citrus profile. The earthy, leafy accent is almost funky and hints at a heavy dose of dry-hopping. A heavy tangerine wave followed by pear juice and candied grapefruit round out the nose. The mouthfeel is lightish but still sticky and crisp. The pallet is fairly dry, with loads of zesty citrus and hints of spruce. Mangoes, orange zest, apricots, and melons come to mind, and a extremely light malt character is key to the balance. Bitterness is mild, firm, and smooth..Right on. Finishes with lingering fruit, some mild warmth and a lingering dry, crisp snap.

What a beer run i think this is my 3rd beer above a 4.5 for tonight. Poured a orange with a fluffy head and good lacing. Aroma was citrus grapefruits. Flavor was lots of hops mostly citrus some pine. Very good beer.

Shared with Pyrozoid. Clear orange poor with a small beige head and a little lacing. Aromas of grapefruit zest, oranges, peaches, pepper, pine, creamy caramel and hoppy. Sweet start but the bitter peppery bitterness hits you big time right at the end. Slightly sweeter than most IIPAs. Alcohol is present but far from overwhelming. Smooth, creamy and velvetty mouthfeel. Taste is very citrusy and very hoppy as well. Tastes amazingly fresh. A tad better than the 90 minute that i just tasted.

(Dégusté avec french tickler) Une biere blonde quelque peut brumeuse avec un mince collet. A l’ouverture de la biere la senteur donner un gout de sucré. Odeur de cèdre, caramel. oranges. Une biere tres fruité au gout. Excellente biere!!