Bells Hopslam

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

Pour is an orange with a average white head. Aroma is lots of grapefruit and pine so much so that i don’t even have to bring the glass to my nose. Flavor is again over the top with the hops. Finish is bitter but smooth all at the same time. The 10% is no where to be found. This is an outstanding hop bomb of a beer. A little pricy at $16 a six but this is one to have at least once.

Draft @ the brewpub. Clear amber with a frothy tan head, nice lacing. Big floral and grapefruit hop aromas with a light sweetness. Medium body. Great hop juice bittersweet flavors are citrus floral and spruce sap with some pale malt and honey thrown in for good measure. Big hop flavors plus a sweetness without being sticky makes for a great Ipa here.

Orange juice, tangerines, mango, pineapple, apricots...what IS this stuff, a beer or an alcoholic’s tropical fruit slurpee?!? Starts out with an over-the-top nasal hop assault...all citrus and pine...all of which emanates from the beautiful coppery golden pour. In fact, the aroma alone might be enough to satisfy some novice hop-goblin...but not me! I am instantly blown back upon enjoying the first sip...a ridiculously lopsided lupilin rush twists my tongue in circles and leaves me loose-limbed and longing for more. Then and only then, does the wild citrus-fruit flood unleash itself upon the palate, as if trying to make up for the merciless tongue-buckling that just preceded it. 9.5%...I don’t taste any of it...but believe me, it’s lurking in the shadows alright! The caramel and toffee malts try mightily, and yet ultimately fail, to harness this hoodoo hop-bomb...but I say, "Ride the Lightning!"

12 oz. Pours a hazy orange-amber with a lasting disc of bubbles. Aroma of grapefruit, orange, pineapple, light caramel and catspray. Flavor is grapefruit, pineapple, peppery green herb, resin and alcohol. Light-medium body is dry with hops and alcohol, and sorta smooth. Nice lacing. Simple and straightforward hops, but hey that’s what was intended.

12 oz. bottle - thanks to Nolankowal for the trade! Pours a hazy caramel color with a little sediment evident and a small creamy head. Aroma is dominated by grapefruit and pine hoppiness, orange juice, light honey and toffee notes with lemon zest too. Sweet caramel malts are all but overwhelmed by spicy, piney and grapefruit hops, cedar and juniper notes as well. Full body and gentle carbonation. A hop lovers bounty!

Super pinappley- mango, very very tropical. Slight metallic notes. I’m going to have to disagree with Brad here and suggest that this isn’t complex enough to compete with Dread or (especially) Hop Wallop or Avery 11 - unless you love the big fruit and don’t go for earthy, iron components.

Bottle. Typical dark honey IPA body with a medium ring of bubbles and very thin patchy film of bubbles. Good lacing. Nose-big PNW citric grapefruit nose with a touch of alcohol. Taste-fry, medium to high bitter, very bitter on the finish, Pine-Sol, medium alcohol, weak orange juice, apple, juniper, rubbing alcohol, pinecone. The bitterness is once and well done, but that is really all that this has going for it. I like the fact that it isn’t sticky sweet. On the other hand, it has an unpleasant bathroom cleaner quality to it.

Bells, why did you have to leave Illinois. Another beer to miss. Pours a hazy orange/amber with a ephemeral white head. Powerful aroma of citrusy, piney hops, peaches, and flowers with a touch of spice. Rich bodied. The flavor was robust and refreshing with the citrus hops taste coming through. Damn good drink.