If you are a hophead like me, you need to set a reminder in your phone for January 8. That’s usually when you can find Bell’s Hopslam. You don’t want to miss out on this Imperial IPA; it will be sold out very soon. Bells brews Hopslam with six hop varietals, then dry-hops it with Simcoe, resulting in a powerful, complex, and delicious Imperial IPA. They also incorporate honey in the boil to increase the beer’s strength.
Hopslam pours light amber. The head is bright white and sticks around for a little while. Aroma is mostly floral, but hints of resin and grapefruit are present. Immediately upon tasting there is a battle between honey and grapefruit. The balance is incredible. It does not taste like a 10% ABV beer. The carbonation is perfect; there is a well-rounded mouthfeel. Hops take over during the finish. There is a very slight warming at the end, but it is masked by the cornucopia of hop varietals. This is a wonderful Imperial IPA.
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Jonathan Quick is a Certified Cicerone and nationally recognized expert in the beer industry. His career spans every facet of the beer and hospitality industries, from commercial brewing and brewery operations management to international bar development and luxury hotel management. Jonathan is dedicated to the education and enjoyment of beer across all spectrums. He is currently the director of retail for Burial Beer Company in Asheville, NC, which was rated the #1 small craft brewery in the world by Craft Beer and Brewing magazine.