Everyone remember the Orval Vertical from a few weeks ago? Got some nice feedback on that so I figured it was time to do another! Bell's Hopslam is an annual favorite of many. Hailing from Kalamazoo, Michigan, Bell's has a number of excellent selections. Two Hearted, Expedition Stout, and their Porter are three of my favorites (besides this one of course). Last year, when they entered into the NYC market for the first time, I bought a whole case of Hopslam. I ended up trading several to friends who couldn't get it, but saved one bottle to see how it aged. Typically, IPAs do not age well. I had read that Hopslam might however, and due to its honey-sweetness, may create a sort of smooth liqueur-like drink. See below.
Bell's Hopslam Ale | Kalamazoo, MI | American Double IPA | 10% ABV.
Bottle on the left: Packaged January 16, 2014
Pours an orange amber color with a hint of brown as well. Head is creamy and retains its shape throughout the tasting of the beer. Smell is sweet and malty, with hop character being very faint. Carbonation is moderate to light with a medium to full body. Taste is bready and malty, with a chewy consistency. The beer tastes much more bitter than I remember, and the honey flavor is nearly gone.
Bottle on the right: Packaged January 18, 2015
Pours an orage amber color, much lighter than the 1 year old version. Head is very small and fades to a lacing for the remainder of the pour. Smell is sweet and hoppy, with hints of honey, grapefruit, and some spice. Carbonation is moderate with a medium body. Taste is sweet, yet bit, crisp and smooth. The honey flavor matches perfectly with this hop bomb of a beer. Finishes crisp and keeps you wanting more.
From the two above reviews it's pretty obvious which I prefer, right? Even though I didn't care for the aged version, I am glad I tried it out. It is always interesting to see what beer does over time. The moral? Drink your IPAs fresh, or not at all.
2014: 85/100
2015: 98/100
BA: 99/100
Bell's Hopslam Ale | Kalamazoo, MI | American Double IPA | 10% ABV.
Bottle on the left: Packaged January 16, 2014
Pours an orange amber color with a hint of brown as well. Head is creamy and retains its shape throughout the tasting of the beer. Smell is sweet and malty, with hop character being very faint. Carbonation is moderate to light with a medium to full body. Taste is bready and malty, with a chewy consistency. The beer tastes much more bitter than I remember, and the honey flavor is nearly gone.
Bottle on the right: Packaged January 18, 2015
Pours an orage amber color, much lighter than the 1 year old version. Head is very small and fades to a lacing for the remainder of the pour. Smell is sweet and hoppy, with hints of honey, grapefruit, and some spice. Carbonation is moderate with a medium body. Taste is sweet, yet bit, crisp and smooth. The honey flavor matches perfectly with this hop bomb of a beer. Finishes crisp and keeps you wanting more.
From the two above reviews it's pretty obvious which I prefer, right? Even though I didn't care for the aged version, I am glad I tried it out. It is always interesting to see what beer does over time. The moral? Drink your IPAs fresh, or not at all.
2014: 85/100
2015: 98/100
BA: 99/100