Bells Hopslam

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

Great-looking beer, with its lofty, lasting head and its hazy orange color. Appeared to be bottle conditioned. Very inviting nose -- sweet-smelling malts and sprucy hops. Mouthfeel was full, smooth and weighty -- very nice! Carbonation was spot on, too. Malts were were sweet and sticky (caramel, Sugar Daddy candy and honey) but they were tamed by a big, snappy bitterness. Some earthy-yeasty elements. Hops were bold and multi-dimensional (pine, grapefruit, bitter orange, grass). As a hophead, I really enjoyed this one, and it sure does live up to its name! Thanks, John!

No idea Hopslam was a 2XIPA when drinking it. A pine aroma, and pineapple/citrus flavor backed with sweet malt. Bitterness and malts were in perfect union. I sampled two bottles, first one was proper temperature (about 45 degrees). Second bottle was ice cold out of the cooler but amazingly the hop presence did not diminsh from the temperature drop. After consuming Hopslam my friends and I gushed for fifteen about how Bell’s makes great beers. Kudos, Kalamazoo!

2007 version - Pours lightly hazy orange / amber with a large soapy white-ish head. The aroma has a citrus / floral hop blast with a sturdy malt backbone. Meidum / full body with a small amount of soft carbonation. Starts with the floral / citrus from the aroma, but also add a tropical aspect and noticeable caramel malt behind it. The finish brings in more of a pine / sharp citrus / earthy hops blend that has more of a bite. The alcohol warmth is noticable on the finish, but not in a bad way. Well done IIPA. (8/4/8/3/17 -4.0) <P> 2008 version - The aroma is a bit sweeter this year and has some dank hops as well. The body is a little stickier. The taste has the honey showing through a bit more and the hop presence is a bit harsher. Overall, this is still an excellent example of the style. I may have to pick up a bit more than I have since it won’t be around long. (9/4/8/4/18 - 4.3)

Batch 8277 sampled a few times within two months of its release: Has a bigger fresh piny grapefruity hoppy nose than I remember from the first release. Sweet pale and caramel malts provide good balance to the sticky bittering hop resin and crisp, slightly warming bittersweet finish. A very nice double IPA that I wish I had a few more bottles of.

First bottled release sampled on 11/22/06 (8,3,7,4,14): Pours a transparent golden bronze with a thin, lightly-lacing white head. Aroma boast a lot of fresh grapefruity and piny hops along with a touch of toasty pale malt. Body starts with some sweet caramel before being overrun by resiny sticky citrus bittering hops. Plenty of hops in this and a good amount of malt that hides the alcohol well, but it’s still not as balanced as some other double IPAs.

12oz. Bottle. Thanks to Mr Bendo: Aroma is all hops, citrus, grapefruit, and pine. Smells great. Poured orange in color with a great, big, slightly off-white, dense, rocky head that lasted. Great lacing. Tons of particles, big and small. Very cloudy. Sparkling. Flavor is very hoppy. Notes of grapefruit, pine, mint, and hops. Not sweet or sour. Surprisingly only medium to heavy bitterness. Huge hop presence hides the 9.5% ABV well. Medium body. Lively carbonation. Creamy texture. Long bitter finish. Very hoppy, but not as bitter as it could have been. Why call it Hopslam at only 70IBUs. This beer should be 140IBUs.

I love Hopslam! Golden orange in color, cloudy, nose of citrus goodness (orange). Lots of citrus and resin. Bitter, hides the alcohol. Very smooth and easy drinkin’ for such a huge hop beast.

Awesome aroma. Fruity pears, apricot, and grapefruit. Nice resin and fusel oil, pine cone and mild alcohol notes. Hoppy, fruity, and floral. Super nose to this one. Golden amber clear with a slight haze. This off-white wispy head. Medium heavy watery body with medium carbonation. Starts with a nice malt sweetness. Big initial notes of grapefruit and pear. Great hoppy flavor. Big bitter finish with sweet malt notes and almost cloying. Alcohol is noticeable. One of the fruitiest and juiciest IPAs I’ve had. Nice bittering in the after and nice hops presence all around.

Tallahassee, Fl. - Liquor Loft - 12 oz bottle - you gotta love a liquor store that sends you an e-mail when a new beer arrives! Medium copper pour, sticky, eggshell-white head with some sticky, clingy lacing. Fresh, bold, strong sprucey aroma, blasting at first with full resins. Mellows and warms after a while to a soft floral-like bouquet. Flavor presents so much more than a citrusy grapefruit bomb that is to be expected at 10%. The bitterness is there but balanced oh so well against a sweet caramelly, nutty back end with a touch of honey. Also detect some nectarines and white grapes. Thick, rich mouthfeel without being tongue-numbing. One of the most weel-balanced 10% abv beers I have ever consumed. Excellent Double IPA - Bells rings true again!