fbpx

Bell’s just released Hopslam Ale, which means its time for me to drive to all my favorite liquor stores and pester the owners for release dates and times.  Like many limited release beers, this one comes in and barely gets settled on the shelf before it is gone, and for good reason.  It simultaneously has a tremendous amount of flavor but also goes down smooth.

Hopslam has a thick foamy head with a good level of carbonation.  The beer is crystal clear with a golden copper like color. The nose has strong aromas of citrus hops, grapefruit, and a touch of pine.  The flavor is just outstanding.  It’s clearly a double IPA the wallops you with the citrusy and floral flavors of hops from the Pacific Northwest.  Bell’s has also balanced it nicely with caramel malts and a touch of honey.  It finishes with a firm but smooth mouth-feel and is surprisingly drinkable at 10% ABV.

It doesn’t get much better than this beer lovers.  As a double IPA it is not overly malty, nor is it so hoppy as to completely destroy your palate.  I would try this with some strong cheeses, heavier pasta dishes, or a peppery arugula based salad.  If you see a pale green six pack, do yourself a favor and pick it up.


0 Comments

Leave a Reply

Avatar placeholder

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Verified by ExactMetrics