Bells Hopslam

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

Bottle courtesy of Secret Santa ’07. Quite possibly the perfect balance between being a great beer and session drinkability that I’ve ever come across. Most high-gravity beers I can only drink a few in a night, but I think I could drink this all night long. Pours an excellent deep orange color with perfect size head. Smell is dominated by pine/citrus, very refreshing. Taste is the same - strong pine/citrus flavor with a great balance of hops/malt. I would have guessed this was 6-7% ABV had I not seen the label. Would love to have a case of this!

Amazing citrus aroma with copper appearance and thin, whitish head. True to the name, this beer is filled with hops, yet the bitterness does not overwhelm like some other uberhopped beers. Sweet hints of honey are definitely present. Doesn’t taste like 10% alcohol, but felt like it after a couple. This is an outstanding beer.

Re Rate 2/13/08 1st time I had this it was one of my 1st 20 ratings and the 1st top beer I had tried...to date its still holds my highest rating ..... I’m rerating this to see if anythings changed, either way I bought a 6 pack just to be sure .... aroma is awesome, citrus, sweet grapefruit, fresh cut Christmas tree ... hops in the face ... ultra bitter without wiping out the taste buds .... just the right amount of sweetness ..... pine is dominant ... very little noticeable alcohol presence ... clean finish with the aftertaste on the roof of my mouth ...... this is going to stay my highest rated beer .... maybe when I can get my hands on some things that are not available in my area this will change, but for now this is the pinnacle of my appreciation for beer

If you want to truly experience a "hopslam" on you palate, this is what you crave. Intense hop flavor is backed by critrus and grapefruit nose. One of, if not the best beer I’ve ever had!!

Pours a glowing golden orange with light head around the duvel tulip glass. Aromas of Amber Malt, honey, bitter orange peel, loads of grapefruit and some lemon. Flavor of amber malt and honey perfectly balanced with the hops that sting the bitter palate of the tongue. The bitterness doesn’t fade easily. Not much else to say except that this is a wonderful brew.

The most well balanced double IPA I’ve had, this beer deserves it’s high rating. Instant hop explosion when opened, citrus and floral aroma goes straight to your face. Let it warm a bit, this one gets better as you get to the end.

12 oz. bottle from Coasters. Clean, citrusy pine and grapefruit hop aroma. Color is dark orange, hard to distinguish in appearance from an IPA. Flavor is incredible; pineapple, grapefruit, some alcohol and some sweetness. The honey probably adds to the stickiness. I must say this is better 2 months after its initial release now that the honey has worked its way through. Still probably not as good as the 2008 version but still outstanding.

Beautiful honey color with a 30 second head that laces suprising. The aroma is all peaches. Very bitter but also very refreshing. I could drink this all day.