Bell's Hopslam

[kace069]

This is a new product from Bell's, I believe it is a limited release.
Hopslam is their Double IPA. Pors with a nice head that lasted 2 or 3 minutes. A lighter color than their IPA mainstay Two Hearted ALE. Plenty of Bell's floaties in the beer. Doesn't seem to matter how carefully I pour a Bell's, I always get the dregs floating around in the glass.

The nose was full of different hop aromas. Got some Centennial in there and a lot of Amarillo.
1st impression was a supercharged Two Hearted Ale. Very nice body. A few more sips into it and realized this was a very different beer. I think Bell's has got the Amarillo fever. Full of grapefruit notes. Smooth alcohol bulkiness, This bastard has got to weigh in at about 10%abv. It reminded me of a big Barley wine, just missing the complex malty guts. I would guess this thing is 100 IBU's at least

This beer rounds out pretty well with the finish. I don't think this is dry hopped ,prolly just about 4# kettle additions in the last 2 minutes of the boil.

I ended up drinking 2 of these last night. I realized half way through the second one that I didn't need it. I think I will put a little stash of these away to enjoy in the summer. I think this beer will hold up to some long term storage.

[FizzyLiftingDrinx]

I was geeked when I found this one on the shelf and I wasn't let down. It was the last beer that made me say, "Wow."

[Fritz Eye]

I recently had this at a double IPA fest in NYC and had it after Pliny the Elder.The folks in Michigan who can get this are lucky bastards. It was absolutely amazing, it held it's own with Russian River. Very similar but had less of a grapfruit character, perhaps less cascade or Amarillo.

[northern brewer]

Just sat down to a bottle of this years version and am very impressed. I didn't have any last year so I can't really give a comparisson.

Beer pours with a thin white head, highly carbonated, very light amber almost gold color. Aroma is extremely citrus, tons of grapefruit, very intense. Some slight musty / earthiness / grassy aroma as the beer warms. First sip reveals one increadible beer. Very smooth bitterness, lots of warmth, but not hot alcoholic, very smooth finish. Not cloying at all maybe due to dryness combined with higher carbonation level. Just a very small amount of bitterness hangs around the front of the tongue, begging for the next sip. Has an extremely citrus grapefrut aroma, picking up a bit of pear. Medium mouthfeel, a bit slick, probably due to the 10%abv.

Makes for one hell of a beer at 2:30 in the afternoon. I would highly recommend it for anyone that can get their hands on this.

[bige610]

had one the other day. probably go back and get a case to last me

[BrewTa2]

Definitely gives me a beergasm! I got one of the few cases in St. Louis and I'm rationing it.

[andyp]

I'm a very lucky boy. My friend just returned from Kalamazoo yesterday and brought me Hopslam, Two-Hearted Ale, Kalamazoo Stout and some Dogfish 60-min IPA. He bought 6-packs of each and we split them. I can't wait to try them all.

As I type I'm having my first ever 60min IPA...never tasted a beer like it..like opening a bag of hops...the flavour and aroma are just amazing. Very much looking forward to Hopslam too!!!

[Agnebrew]

I had one the other night and thought it was excellent. The wife liked it as well. I've been a fan of Two hearted for a few years. They are brewing good stuff in that state up north.