Bell's Hopslam Ale - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

Jettanbass9

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The first time a had a bottle of this, it must have been 2 years old... needless to say there was no hop aroma or flavor, I thought i may had gotten a bad bottle.... With all the fuss about hopslam this year i thought id give it another go. Damn, Im glad i did.

A - Golden, honey color, slightly hazy from the bad pour that didnt decant off of the bottle conditioned yeast, light fluffy head.

S - it seems ass backwards, but i pick up on wort like aromas backed by some bicuity toastiness. This all pairs alongside sweet grapefruit, pineapple, some pine and a vague aroma of tulips. Good aroma that is well balanced inbetween the malt, though an 'MO' of the style, It's nice to have some malt character pair along side a healthy dose of hops.

T - A balanced bitterness that barely makes me pucker, sweet wort like flavors (honey malt?) and toasted bread mix in between a floral hoppiness, grapefruit and pine. The alcohol is barely noticeable until you get that warming sensation as you breath out. At 10%, this beer is very well crafted in balance.

M - medium bodied, low carbonation, sweetness is almost cloying, but brought back to balance by the abundance of hops. In one word, balanced.

D - Extremely... even as i try to pace myself, im starting to see the bottom of the glass in less than a half hour. 10% would dictate, to me, a sipper, however, this beer keeps telling me, 'go on, have another.' Great brew, well worth the hype, If I saw this on tap I would definitely order a few pints.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2009 02:26:39 | More by Jettanbass9

AaronBricking

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +4.9%

05-23-2013 04:59:21 | More by AaronBricking

Hendry

Vermont

4.75/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Pours a semi clear amber/orange hue, nice soapy 1 finger white head.

Not the aroma I was expecting. With a name like HOPSLAM, I was expecting something in the area of Heady Topper. There was a presence of hops surrounded by sweetness, either from the mal, the honey or a combination of both.Bottle was 3+ months old, wondering if that played a part in the lack of hop forwardness.

Flavors are exceptionally balanced between hops and a sweetness that does not overpower.
There is a slight grapefruit peel vibe amongst the malt and honey sweetness, yet all flavors blend amazingly well.For a 10% abv, this is crazy drinkable!

Mouthfeel is medium, on the rich side of sweetness without overdoing it.

Amazing drinkability in a high abv IIPA makes for good times. Would like to get some closer to the bottle date this Fall.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 04:11:27 | More by Hendry

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev -6.2%

05-23-2013 01:18:38 | More by mikeincharleston

Dpayne

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +4.9%

05-23-2013 00:46:29 | More by Dpayne

Stickler

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +4.9%

05-23-2013 00:42:57 | More by Stickler

JoeStepOner

Michigan

5/5  rDev +10.4%

05-22-2013 22:49:37 | More by JoeStepOner

hodak1172

Michigan

5/5  rDev +10.4%

05-22-2013 21:18:27 | More by hodak1172

Novabrewer

5/5  rDev +10.4%

05-22-2013 20:46:50 | More by Novabrewer

velcrogrip

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +4.9%

05-22-2013 18:24:32 | More by velcrogrip

zacky_U

Michigan

5/5  rDev +10.4%

05-22-2013 16:57:21 | More by zacky_U

Bigtwin

Michigan

4/5  rDev -11.7%

05-22-2013 16:29:42 | More by Bigtwin

RichGord

South Carolina

5/5  rDev +10.4%

05-22-2013 13:03:51 | More by RichGord

scottyu27

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +4.9%

05-22-2013 13:03:07 | More by scottyu27

ackeeper

Illinois

5/5  rDev +10.4%

05-22-2013 02:01:06 | More by ackeeper

aleman39

California

4.25/5  rDev -6.2%

05-21-2013 21:18:16 | More by aleman39

dcloeren

Texas

4.5/5  rDev -0.7%

05-21-2013 20:43:40 | More by dcloeren

jakecattleco

California

4.5/5  rDev -0.7%

05-21-2013 19:28:28 | More by jakecattleco

Andreias21

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +4.9%

05-21-2013 17:09:45 | More by Andreias21

PlinyBeMiney

California

4.25/5  rDev -6.2%

05-21-2013 06:46:59 | More by PlinyBeMiney

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

4.25/5  rDev -6.2%

05-21-2013 04:02:51 | More by CosmoHopHead

deniserat

California

4.75/5  rDev +4.9%

05-20-2013 22:26:49 | More by deniserat

JamesStreet

Louisiana

4.25/5  rDev -6.2%

05-20-2013 17:52:10 | More by JamesStreet

powz87

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev -0.7%

05-20-2013 17:17:34 | More by powz87

AL89BR

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +10.4%

05-20-2013 14:50:39 | More by AL89BR