Bells Hopslam

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

$13 a sixpack in Evansville. Hazy orange gold body is topped by a small offwhite head that retains well and leaves generous lacing. Juicy orange, mango, and grapefruit esters to the nose with some unusual notes of composted grass or even cat urine. Still, very lush. Creamy carbonation enlivens the medium body. Solid hop bitterness on the tongue. Citrusy grapefruit and some lemon rind with just enough of a pale malt backbone to preserve sanity. A totally different than Bells Two Hearted Ale, my usual standby. A truly exceptional DIPA.

Dangerously drinkable, heavy sweetness with a powerful mix of hops. Very piney, resinous, grapefruit. But this is just way to easy to drink for a 10% DIPA. And thats a very good thing.

Wow, pours a dark orange. Nice white head. Smells nice and citrusy, floral, pine. Taste is hops with citrus, orange, grapefruit, peaches, tropical, nice malt backbone. I am not a very big hophead, but this was a surprisingly well balanced and tasty beer. Nice brew. Re rate: jacked this one up a few notches. Had this again recently, this stuff is good! It is a must have on tap. Just a little behind dreadnaught.

Had this on tap at the Flying Saucer Charlotte. Hazy orange color with an intense citrus aroma; grapefruit and pineapple. Grapefruit and hop taste that lingers after. Very nice brew. Tips the scale at 10%. Wow what a great IPA!!!

Bottle; pours a hazy light golden color with a nice off-white head that dissipates down to a slight ring and a whisp in the middle, lots of sediment that floats and eventually freezes like it’s in jello; minor lacing. Welcoming aroma of strong grapefruit, some melon, floral, and a touch of caramel/toffee. Taste follows with more biting grapefruit hops on the outset, a tamer malty finish, and enough lingering aftertaste to leave you wanting more. A very nice palate all the way through. This is one amazing IIPA and a hop fans nirvana! Highly recommended.

Poured a lemon-yellowish gold into a pint glass. Inch thick creamy head that slowly settled. Great aroma. Very citrusy/grapefruity with some cut grass. Also a slight sweetness in the aroma. Taste was great as well. Bitter hoppiness nicely balanced by a complementary malty sweetness. This beer tastes good! Mouthfeel is very smooth. The hops hit first but you get a nicely cleaned palate after each sip. Overall, this beer goes down far too easily for its high ABV. Be careful! This is also on the expensive side (I paid $3 for a 12 oz bottle) but I wasn’t disappointed. A little expensive to drink all the time, but was a very nice treat!

Big thanks to Matt for this one. Pours a hazy golden color with a white fluffy head. Aroma of hops, citrus, and pine. Big hop flavor with some hints of pint and citrus. Very good.

12 oz. bottle. Pours copper orange with a thick and creamy white head. Good lacing. Nose is huge on fruit. Peach, apricot, pine grass, citrus notes of orange and grapefruit. Taste interesting. Not over the top "slammy" in the hop bitterness. There’s a good dose of bitterness balanced well with a malt backbone that adds a subtle sweetness of light toffee and honey. There’s a huge hop flavor, fruity notes of raisin and citrus, then some grass and pine. This is an absolutely, ridiculously delicious beer. One of my favorites.