This week, I had one bottle of Bell’s Hopslam so I had to plan accordingly and pick the day to try it for the “taste” post!  I had also heard through the rumor mill that this brew carries a walloping 300 calories per bottle!!  So, I made a second decision to only have 1/2 of the bottle and share the rest with others.  Then, I dove right into tasting:

Thoughts from the Brand

The description that Bell’s provides on the label doesn’t provide a lot of insight on what the flavor might be, but I did find that it drew me in.  Here’s what it says:

A biting, bitter, tongue bruiser of an ale.  With a name like Hopslam, what did you expect?

I’m not sure I love “biting and bitter”…..not necessarily my favorite flavors in a beer, but we’ll see…..

My Thoughts

As mentioned above, I was a little apprehensive about trying Hopslam.  I’ve found that I’m not a huge fan of “hoppy” beer and with a name like Hopslam I was thinking there was little probability of me enjoying the drink.

With that as the background, I poured and told myself to be open minded.  Everyone I’ve talked to seems to love this beer and maybe I would like it too.  The headline – it was strong, but not unpleasant.  A friend had mentioned that the honey in the brew disguises the strong taste of the hops.  I’m not sure if it was the honey or another flavor, but I was definitely not overwhelmed by the hops.

I also found that my half bottle was plenty, but it wasn’t because I was tired of the taste.  The beer is very filling and with a 10% alcohol volume, I had a satisfying experience with a lesser quantity of the brew.

Thoughts from the Web

All I can say is “WOW”.  This beer is truly loved across the web.  On my first stop at Beer Advocate, Hopslam received a rating of 99 out of 100 – with over 2700 reviews factored into the score.  That level puts the beer at “world class” on the site.  Here are just a couple of the positive comments that were found on the site:

I am shocked the hype on this was well deserved. I would say this tastes like a cross between Lupulin Maximus and Double Trouble. Very complex for the style as there are alot of flavors here for an IIPA and not your typical pineapple and grapefruit. Loving the lacing, aroma, and smooth mouth feel. This may be the best beer I have ever had. – Synergy87

Overall quite possibly the best beer I’ve ever had. Super fruity with the hints of lemon and orange but also had the bitterness I love (and a smooth bitterness at that). This is the only beer I’ve ever ordered twice on the same night. – Jamesthebrit

A review from the Unofficial Networks site where they rate Hopslam an A+:

Wow.  This beer was rated in RateBeer’s Top 10 Craft Beers for 2011 and definitely deserves to be there.  Just the perfect combination of malt complexity and hop-forwardness which hides the strong alcohol so well.  It’s definitely bitter, but not as bitter as I thought it would be.  The hop flavor really lingers in the aftertaste, just like after eating a bunch of Starbursts.  Really good.  Really creamy. An excellent version of an Imperial IPA.  Hats off to the brew staff at Bell’s…Anyone who’s a fan of big and smooth Imperial IPAs must seek this one out.  I love the label too.

And, finally, some thoughts  from Craft Beer Reviews:

Well.  What else do I need to say?  If you love big, hoppy beers, you need to get your hands on a bottle of this.  I think you would find yourself in hop heaven.  It presents enough aroma and flavor to satisfy any hophead that’s for sure.  Not to mention the fact that it is super easy to drink.  Watch out though!!!  10.0% ABV will sneak up on you in a hurry if you are not careful. 

Summary

Overall, Bell’s Hopslam has a huge following.  Finding those who don’t like the brew is nearly impossible.  Even for an anti-hops gal like me, Bell’s has managed a brew that I found quite tasty.  If you can get your hands on one, I would strongly suggest you give it a try.  However, as you plan, keep in mind the 300 calories/bottle and the 10% alcohol when you decide how much is right for you!