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Flickr photo by edwin.bautista
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I have a confession to make: I’d never tried Bell’s Hopslam until last night. Actually, I have two confessions to make: Never tried Hopslam, don’t much care for hopped-up beer gimmicks, which is why I’d been avoiding Hopslam. Oh, how wrong I was.
Hopslam is no gimmick at all; it’s more than just liquid hops in a glass. Hopslam is smooth, almost like nectar — mead? — practically a dessert drink. A solid dollop of honey smooths out the hops and puts this Double India Pale Ale leaps and bounds ahead of its contemporaries, for pure drinkability. Plus, at 10% ABV it has some serious kick. Hopslam is borderline dangerous.
Hopslam is no gimmick at all; it’s more than just liquid hops in a glass. Hopslam is smooth, almost like nectar — mead? — practically a dessert drink. A solid dollop of honey smooths out the hops and puts this Double India Pale Ale leaps and bounds ahead of its contemporaries, for pure drinkability. Plus, at 10% ABV it has some serious kick. Hopslam is borderline dangerous.
Starting with six different hop varietals added to the brew kettle & culminating with a massive dry-hop addition of Simcoe hops, Bell's Hopslam Ale possesses the most complex hopping schedule in the Bell's repetoire. Selected specifically because of their aromatic qualities, these Pacific Northwest varieties contribute a pungent blend of grapefruit, stone fruit, and floral notes. A generous malt bill and a solid dollop of honey provide just enough body to keep the balance in check, resulting in a remarkably drinkable rendition of the Double India Pale Ale style.When winter rolls around I typically switch to stout. Hopslam has made me a convert. Well done, Bell’s, well done.
