Bells Hopslam

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

Bottle. Pours a golden/amber color, with a medium white head, and nice lacing. The aroma is very hoppy, as the name would imply, with grapefruit, pine, juniper, and some sweet caramel. The flavor is very hoppy, so much so, that you can’t really taste the malt at all. There is a little burn in the hops at the end, that says "you’re going to need tums tonight!" I do get a faint but of caramel in between the pine, citrus, and grapefruit. Maybe after some aging, the flavor will settle some and I can re-rate it.

1-16-09. Bottle. Clear, light orange body. Next to no head. Nose of grapefruit, orange peel, resin. The flavor is moderately to heavily sweet and moderately bitter. The finish is moderatley to heavily bitter with a moderately sweet aftertaste. Chewy. Seems to get sweeter every year. If this gets any sweeter, I am going to reduce my rating. 1-20-08. Bottle. This year’s release presents a sweeter, orange citrus backbone that is much more noticeable than last year’s. The nose is still filled with juicy citrus fruit — orange, grapefruit, pineapple and tangerine. But the flavor is sweet grapefruit juice — still heavily bitter, but now moderately sweet. I like the balance better. 2-12-07. On cask at BWW, Indy. The bitterness is even more pronounced in this daft version, muting most of the edgy sweetness. 11-17-06. Bottle. When I think breweries that know their way around hops, I first think of Three Floyds and Stone and AleSmith — and Bells. So it didn’t surprise me that Hopslam was brimming with juicy citrus aroma and flavor. Cloudy golden pour with comfortable off-white head. The nose is strong and filled with sweet oranges, pineapple, grapefruit, tangerine and apricot. The flavor is 95 percent hops — bitter almost from the start and lasting well after you’ve swallowed. There is a little sweetness around the edges. Full body. Moderately thick, chewy texture with a raspy feel and resinous coating. Can’t help but think of a thicker, richer version of Two-Hearted. Nice dry finish. 9-3-8-4-17.

12 oz bottle courtesy of DrnkMcDermott. Pours a very hazy orangish dark amber, moderate off white beige head that sticks around. Aromas are heavily citrus hop bouquet, grapefruit, and lemon candy with floral notes slip in as well. Taste seems a touch faded with age. Heavily hopped grapefruit rind and bitter with some resinous pine and bitterness on the back end. Touch of carmel malt discernable, but balanced well (so it has to be a significant amount, right?). Finishes well with a lingering citrus feel on the palate. Medium bodied, not filling. Smooth, not harsh. Would have been even more interesting fresh. Still, pretty damn good. Rerate: On tap at The Galway Tribes (Frankfort, Il). This beer fresh is amazing. Rating change.

(Bottle) Pours a copper color with a nice white head. Hoppy aroma, with citrus notes dominating. Decent IPA, but not as bitter as I expected. There were some off flavors in this beer, a metallic and grassy mix that lasted well into the finish. Not sure if it was an old bottle or what. I will try it again, and re-rate it accordingly when I get the chance.

Clear orange pour with a small white head. Aroma of boiling wort, fresh earthy hops. Grainy malt taste with a big, bitter hop finish. Pretty good, but not quite as good as I expected.

Bottle from trade with Shigadeyo. Thanks Craig! (Batch 7690) Poured a clear copper with a creamy off-white head that leaves light lacing. Huge grapefruit aroma backed with orange peel and pine. Tasty flavor grapefruit and pine with a light hint of malts. Medium body a moderate but comfortable bitterness throughout. Thanks again Craig! Plus I have another in the frig....Bonus!!

Yum. Lots of c hops and quite bitter. Good head. Aroma matches taste. Exactly what’s advertised, and I love it.

Tons of hops, pineapple, and caramel malt in the aroma and flavor. Appearance is a dark golden color with a big white head. The palate is slightly thin and very resiny. The pine flavor definitely dominates and the hops are seriously bitter. Not a huge fan of this tropical flavor as I think it gets old really quick. I’m re-rating this even lower after having it on tap. Just not my cup of tea, and I’m a huge fan of the style.