Afer being fairly disappointed in this years batch, I wondered something about it. Hopslam I know at least used to be bottled conditioned. If it still is, how was I drinking bottles that were three days after the bottling date? As a homebrewer, I know that process takes at least a week, usually two to carb up. Anyone with insight on this? No longer bottle condtioned or ar they dated after bottle conditioning?
Unfotunately I can't sympathize with you because I thought this year's batch was as good as ever. Mostly because I find it hard to compare a beer to a memory of the same beer that I had a year ago.
So, it wasn't just me who had this observation? The irony being I thought it was kind of flat, and that added to the drop in hop-a-tude. I passed around some to my guys who have never had it, and they were like, "That is a good malty beer!"
I had a bottle last night (bottled on 1/3/13.) It tasted bitter'er and flatter then I remember when compared to last years batch and definitely did not have the sweet honey aftertaste I remember. Maybe the year long build up was the reason for my disappointment. Don't get me wrong either, it was still delicious.
I try not to judge beers from past years. Things change, I get fatter, my taste buds change, and most of all I forget. How many things did you like last year that you really like this year? I think I liked Taylor Swift at some point, don't like her now, may like her next year. Maybe I'll like Hopslam next year?
I contact bells about thIs years batch and they had me send them a bottle to evaluate. I should hear back soon. Great customer service.
To me this years Hopslam tastes a lot like Zombie dust with a higher alcohol content. Its still a great beer but I think last years batch tasted better.
Love Hopslam but I have to agree with the OP too. Maybe it's the hype maybe it's the batch, to which I had three different bottling dates and all were underwhelming IMO. I also feel the same with Sucks but I keep buying it because it's real good, to me different from the first year but damn good. On the third hand I had my first Zombie Dust last Tuesday and I can't stop wondering how they got that much aroma and flavor in one bottle, I'm going to wander to Indiana for more
Im sure it was Infected, they changed the recipe, Dont care anymore so it keeps getting worse and worse..
Bottle conditioning does not mean bottle carbonated. Beer can be carbonated in tanks and still bottled on the lees in order to be bottle conditioned as well. Bell's bottle conditions all their ales. I think we get into far too many discussions about beer being better/worse/different than years past. I think it just leads to many people making mountains out of molehills.
I tried it a couple of years ago and thought, it's ok. Tried it again this year. It is still ok. I won't trade for it again.
I haven't had this years, being as its not distributed in Texas, but did I read correctly that its only brewed and bottled once a year?
Had it for the first time this year; if I didn't know better, I would have thought that it was a malty ale. Come to think of it, I'll try one right now and will get back to you.
Hopslam was "over the top" a few years ago but with all of the really high quality craft brews and super hoppy creations, it is a bit less unique now. That being said, it is still a very high quality brew. This year represents the style well and is worthy of the praise. A lot of sour grapes out there.
I think this year's version is better than last year's but, I have never had a Hopslam that I didn't think was great.
Can we, as members of this website, make a collective decision to stop bitching about Hopslam? That would be great, thanks, mkay.
