Bells Hopslam

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

While others seem the like this beer, I felt it was actually a bit over what I like. Still a really good beer.

10 oz snifter on tap @ Brew Kettle 11/28/06: Lasting creamy off white head w/an orangey colored slightly hazed body. Initial aroma is piney/grapefruity/pineapple hops, followed by a balancing toasty and caramel malt character. Fruitiness is all about the hops near as I can tell. Overall fairly well balanced for a big beer, but hops dominate the flavor as expected, but not overpowering to the point of being hop juice. Bitterness creeps into the semi bitter finish and lingers just a bit. Toasted and bready malts, as well as caramel play supporting rolls to keep it from being too bitter. Very well rounded overall flavor and the hops are pleasant, not harsh. Mouthfeel is very full, smooth with low medium carbonation, & well hidden alcohol. VERY ENJOYABLE AND VERY WELL DONE!!!

Draft at Oldsmar Tap House. Pours a slightly cloudy, deep amber with a pillowy white head. Aroma full of flowery hops and sweet, doughy malts. Flavor is fairly hoppy with plenty of citrus and pine character, but this appears to be drowned out by the massive malt bill and ensuing high alcohol content. Honestly, there’s not much here for a hophead to get excited about. The sweetness is the over-the-top character here. Pretty good, but I was a bit disappointed.

Bottle at Magic_dave6’s disco dance tasting. Tastes not as bitter as I was expecting from this monster. Peachy nose with some slight cough medicine amongst the hops. Really sweet fruity long taste, with a lingering hoppy bitterness. Absolutely excellent, from someone that doesn’t like IPAs.

Bottle in CT. Pours clear orange-amber with a good sized green-yellow head. Flowery aroma with some lemon zest citrusy notes. Flavor starts of mellow hops, juicy sugary grapefruits, and resiny notes. Body is surprisingly light for the amount of flavor packed into this beer. Mid-palate forwards hops and a nice smooth honey profile. Finish is phenomenal: it is smooth and creamy – reminiscent of vanilla – and very grapefruity. Just a delicious drink, and definitely one of the best beers I’ve had.

12 oz. brown, longneck bottle. Batch code #8386 on back label. Poured out a bright orange color, with a sticky off white head. Aromas are grapefruit, pine, clover honey. Flavors are all hops, with a little honey for sweetness. Malts are very subdued, barely noticeable. Medium mouthfeel, slick and oily. Alcohol is well hidden in the flavors, but it sneaks up on you. Decent beer overall, but not worth all the hype surrounding it.

This is some really good stuff, didn’t realize it was 10%. Pours a golden orange with a thin white head. Aroma of grapefruit mainly. The flavor is actually quite balanced and I thought easily drinkable. Nice amount of citrus hops and the sweet honey mixes well with it. Very good beer from Bells, one of my favorites.

Pours a hazy orange with a small foamy head. Aroma of hops and citrus dominates this one. Taste of hops, malt, honey with a little bitterness that mingles with sweetness dance off of my tongue, yum. The Alcohol is very well hidden too, holy crap this is good. Another winner from bells.