People who know me know I'm not a mega-hop head. I definitely get annoyed by some of the "hops for the sake of hops" beers that are out there, but I can enjoy a good IPA, or even big IPA as much as the next guy. Also, this just got to my local liquor store today, so if you are reading this relatively soon after I made this post....get your ass on the phone and call your local retailer before it's too late as I can't imagine this lasting past the weekend. Also, get to your local (good) beer bar and see if and when they are carrying this on draft as they will only get a keg or two that will probably only last a couple of days.
Hopslam is a bit different for me in that it's one of the few, if not the only mega-hopped beer that I look forward to every year. It only comes out once a year and like most years I bug local liquor stores with phone calls and visits until I can get my hands a few sixers. There's just something different about this big brew that makes it really fun to drink. With a billion IBUs, and at 10% abv, it's never going to be something I want more than one or two of in a night, but it still goes down pretty easy for being the "bomb" that it is. So what's different about it?
Well, first of all, this might be the best smelling beer on the planet. Equal parts citrus, pine, honey, and biscuit. Big big big floral nose. So freaking yummy. Glade should make a potpourri out of this smell......they could make money with putting this in people's bathrooms.
Second, it's a Bell's product and they aren't hellbent on making un-approachable, pallet exploding beers like so many other craft breweries. This thing is still a hop-monster, but you can tell there is an attempt to make it smooth and drinkable. I think that's where the honey comes into play. So many big IPAs are loaded with malt because they need to do something to at least remotely balance out the hops. A lot of times that gives you big IPAs that can get a bit syrupy, , and overly sweet as they warm up. The honey gives this beer the needed balancing sweetness, but it does so without making it an all-too malt heavy brew. It's still not a session-beer, but it's not going to absolutely destroy your night after you have one.
Third and finally....it just tastes better than other big IPAs. All that yummy stuff you get in the nose, you get on the tongue as well. Big, juicy smack of grapefruit, a touch of pine, with some nice citrus-rind in the finish. All that initial kick of hops is mellowed with a touch of biscuity malt, and a nice hit of that honey that partially coats the tongue and makes it all the more smooth. It goes down obscenely easy for a beer that has the amount of ingredients that this one does.
Just a fun fun brew. Really cool beer to drink. Get your hands on one if you get the chance. Hell, I bought two-sixers and might even let you in on one if you have an interesting trade or I like you. Probably not, though.
Verdict: 9/10
Cheers, fools.
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