Beer Blogging: Bell's Hopslam

Style: Imperial India Pale Ale
ABV: 10%
IBU: Unlisted, but high (~70)
Availability: Regional, seasonal (Winter/spring)

Hopslam is one of the most highly regarded ales from Bell's Brewery of Kalamazoo, Michigan, one of the larger and more highly regarded craft breweries in the United States.

Pour of this beer is a reasonably deep amber color, something that may surprise people who simply hear that it is a pale ale (although the more seasoned IPA drinker will recognize this as fairly normal among the more extreme variants in the style, which Hopslam clearly is).

Fragrance is quite floral, with some lesser citrus notes and a hint of sweetness (from the honey that goes into brewing the beer). This is a very hop-forward bouquet, but basically what is expected from the style.

Initial flavor is very heavy on floral and herbal flavor notes, with traces of grapefruit, honey, and caramel as well (the latter just letting you know how much malts went into the production of a beer like this). Alcohol is fairly hidden until later in the mouthfeel, but it will sneak up on you. This is not a six-pack sort of beer - drinking six of these will probably put the uninitiated on the floor.

Finish is very clean, with a dry, almost white wine-like feel on the palate, something that is provided by the fermented honey (mead is also very similar in this regard).

Overall, this is a very high-quality IPA that pairs well with chicken, fish, or spicy food, but is balanced well enough to stand up on its own. Well worth having if you can find it in your area (when in season, should be available in most of the eastern US).