Hopslam By Bell’s Brewery

The winter months seem to last forever in some areas. Luckily, late winter is a popular time for breweries to release their annual Imperial / Double IPAs. One such release is Bell’s Brewery Hopslam.

And while the increase in craft beer availability has made it harder for special release beers to get as much attention, Hopslam remains an annual favorite of many. And for good reason too since this beer brings a truly unique experience that shifts every so slightly from year to year.

Let’s learn more about what makes Bell’s Brewery Hopslam a fan favorite.

Review Of Bell’s Brewery Hopslam

There was a time when the only way to get Hopslam was to find out when it was being delivered to your local bottle shop so you could be there when they opened. Or attend a special tapping of the beer.

While the demand has lessened slightly, the excitement over this annual release still remains very strong.

Some may claim that the hype is just a product of the short time frame that this beer is available. However, Hopslam has kept up its popularity for years which proves that craft beer fans love more than just the hype.

Luckily, it is much easier to get and is no longer one of the unicorns of craft beer. In fact, it seems like it lasts on shelves for a number of weeks after being released in recent years. In my opinion, this is the perfect balance of supply and demand of an annual release.

Hopslam has an ABV of 10% and IBUs of 22.

Here is how Bell’s Brewery describes Hopslam:

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 repertoire.

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.

Initial Thoughts

With so many new breweries (and therefore beers) opening, there is no shortage of beer options for me to consider. Which means I’m not always as motivated to pick up beers that were considered “must buys” just a few years ago.

Bell’s Brewery Hopslam is one of those beers. Every January I’m reminded that Hopslam is being released and I can’t help but want to have it.

Like most annual releases, it can vary from release to release. However, I don’t think the aroma or appearance changes much.

The appearance is dark golden with great clarity; especially compared to the hazy IPAs that I tend to drink. The aroma of Hopslam is one of the most unique aspects as the honey really shines through along with piney, resin hops.

Tasting Notes

While the appearance and aroma don’t appear to change much from year to year, the flavor definitely does. This can be caused by intentional shifts in the recipe as well as the raw ingredients having natural variances.

One of the key components of Bell’s Brewery Hopslam is the unique ability to have huge hop flavors of resin, pine, and grapefruit (at least those are the flavors I get) along with sweetness from the honey. And you can’t look past the firm booze note from the 10% ABV.

For me, the honey is the key component here that makes me love Hopslam. I loved Imperial IPAs long before other IPAs because they offer a higher level of sweetness. This one takes that even further and I haven’t found many others that can match this flavor profile.

Final Thoughts

Some beers can’t be resisted once you’ve had them once; for me, Hopslam fits that description. And I love to see how it will change slightly from year to year.

For example, the 2019 version had the most honey flavor of any year I’ve had – or at least can recall. This sweetness wasn’t cloying and played perfectly with the hop character.

But don’t confuse this sweetness with being easy going; at 10%, this beer will go straight to your head. While I don’t chase high ABV beers, I won’t hide that I love this beer and the alcohol content doesn’t hurt one bit.

Conculsion

Without fail, every January Bell’s will start promoting their release of Hopslam. And without fail, I’ll be tempted into buying some and be quite glad when I do.

If you have tried Bell’s Brewery Hopslam then you should fix that as soon as you can. This is especially true if you enjoy big Imperial IPAs. It is an annual favorite of craft beer fans and a personal favorite of mine.