Bells Hopslam

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

Bottle from Styles. Probably should have let this sit for a day or two from shipping but I’m a greedy little beer geek. Delayed gratification is for sissies anyway. Deeper golden to light amber colored, hazy. Great white head which lingers for quite a bit and leaves good lacing. Aroma is piney and fruity, slight mango/tropical presence. Medium bodied with a softer carbonation feel. Well done with balance, hops are never abrasive or sharp. Fruity tropical flavors blend with just the slightest pine/citrus. Very well done!

I have been seeking this for awhile, and Shigadeyo grabbed me a six pack. Thanks Craig! Pours hazy amber with a white head. Sweet grapefruity hop aroma with a tad amount of alcohol in the background. Initial flavor of pale malts, lemon, apricot, and grapefruit that transitions to some mild grassy and pepper hop bite. Nice amount of sweetness. Juicy and semi dry finish with a pleasant lingering bitterness. Alcohol slighlty detectable. Nice beer. In fact, I just brought home a 12 pack from my travels to keep in the fridge.
Batch 8278. This years batch does not disappoint. It seems a tad drier on the finish, but otherwise still has this addictive quality to it. It is also very easy to drink. This is very unique in the world of IIPA’s. I am going to up the rating, because the more I drink this, the more I like it.

Pours a slightly hazy amber with a medium sized off-white head. The aroma is loaded with pink grapefruit, apricots, oranges with some dankness. The flavor is big and bitter, lots of citrus, but a bit too much malt sweetness and bready. Medium body with moderate carbonation and very bitter end.

Thanks to mreusch for sending me this one. 1-year-old (Bottled Oct 2006). Pours an almost clear amber with a small off-white head. Smells hoppy with a hint of alcohol. Strong and full flavored. Lots of hops and quite a bit of alcohol too. Grapefruity hoppiness with a hint of berries. Medium to full bodied. Medium carbonation. Bitter finish with a warming alcohol sensation. A bit too much alcohol.

Thanks Santa. Cloudy orange, thin white head. Nose is huge grapefruit & resin, some light tropical notes, a bit of light toasted malt. Flavor is bitter but not overly so. Veryu piney, grapefruit rind, fruits, some light maltiness. Strongly bitter finish is the only place that the alcohol reveals itself. Absolutely stunning creamy body. How do I make a homebrew with this mouthfeel?

Number 600. 12 ounce bottle poured in to a snifter. Texas orange with a short lived creamy color head. Very clear. Orange pith, wet grass, simple syrup, honey, maybe maple are in the nose. Lots of tongue coatig grapefruit and tropical hop flavor the finishes with a pleasant bitterness. Flavor lasted from front to back for several seconds. It keeps going and going. Thin and light on the palate, a sixer of this could go down in no time. My new favorite Bells? It certainly doesn’t beat out Expo, even though its more drinkable. Your night my last longer with Two Hearted. I think Hopslam beats it out though.

Piney and citrus hop IPA to the max!! There is deep caramel flavors as well. even at 10% this beer hides it very well. a beer you must try!!

12oz bottle from a trade with Stoutlover72. Thanks Garrett! I figured I’d try this while fresh, and the aroma was huge - serious hop bitterness (mmmm), with a noticeable citrus element. Very fine stuff, if a shade below some of the more widely acclaimed IIPAs.