Bells Hopslam

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

finally we meet. a clear orange beer under a medium sized creamy white head. aroma has floral notes with citrus notes and tropical pineapple notes. an excellent mix of floral and citrus in aroma and flavor. somehow its light bodied and really smooth for the abv. perfect palate-wise.

Very aromatic! Could smell it while pouring from the bottle here at Bodega Brew Pub downtown La Crosse. Big head that’s lasting a while with some lace. Aroma and taste are exceedingly hoppy with a huge grapefruit character. A little pine in there too. Muted malt characteristics. Well carbonated. Nothing too special in the body. Looong hoppy finish.

One damn delicious beer. The aroma hits you right off; very very citrusy and hoppy, burnt oranges, touch of honey, and carmel malt. Color is orange orange orange and smooth as can be, with a thin and frothy head. Taste is almost all hops, hops, and nothing but hops. Some bitterness and orange flavor come through. Thicker than you’ expect, it rolls into your mouth more like a thinner stout than an IPA. Very sweet and creamy, with a lot of flavor. This is also the first Bells beer that I’ve had that actually hides the alcohol well...I’d have never guessed this was 10%. This really makes me want to do a side by side with Dreadnaught. Great, great brew. T

I opened the bottle, poured the amber liquid into a glass and as the white bubbles from the head broke I was suddenly transported into a field of hops. Hops, lots of hops, in the taste as well as strong, very strong, grapefruit and some fruit, perhaps peaches or something like that. Mildly tingly in the mouth yet smooth and creamy. The finish is more hops and bitterness, some alcohol in the finish as well. This is a unique, very unique double IPA. At nearly $18 a six pack after taxes, it is expensive, but well worth the price.

12oz Bottle, Obvious hoppy nose per the name, but also quite alot of citrus, taste is very hoppy (duh) and then nice citrus and pine taste, very very tasty in my opinion, no taste of the over 9% ABV just a great beer to drink. However, after drinking another IIPA following after this This seems very much as one of the better IIPA’s but not the best.

Mmmmm I love this stuff. Full of hops and malted just enough to balance, but not overkill. I tasted this at first at DLD, and thought it was just the event that made it so good. Now I’m sipping it I can honestly say it’s a top-notch IIPA. Fruity flavors and ending on a dry note. What a perfectly balanced IIPA should be.

Bottle from Rayboy via Indiana cause bells no longer does Illinois. Light floral notes are present but quickly trampled by the heavy citrus, apricot and tangerine stampede. Long dry finish of massive bitterness. A hop slam indeed!

Another outstanding example of extreme hoppiness without extreme bitterness from Bells. Thanks Larry.