Bell's Hopslam Ale 2011

HopSlam
Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Kalamazoo, Michigan
10.00% ABV
Style: Imperial IPA

C: Clear
H: Golden Yellow/Light Amber in Color
N: TONS of Hop Citrus Notes, Hints of Honey, Very Faint Pineapple?

The Ferm: Well I think I struck gold! I have a six pack of this beer in South Florida! WOW!
Can you sense my sarcasm?
I just visited a local liquor store to see if they received their shipment as I would like to have some more of this fine beer, and I was laughed at. Yes, a customer laughed at by a manager of a very large liquor store chain.

OK, lets get one thing down....this is a VERY GOOD IIPA, in fact a GREAT IIPA. Last year I think I even threw a 5/5 to this beer. Is it that good....well pretty damn close. This years version seems to have a stronger honey/malt backing to it. The hop aroma is strong and present but is not as potent as last years batch.

What really gets me is that people in South Florida and all over the US are going crazy over this beer. Really?!? OK, this is a good beer again, but this is not Pliney the Younger....this beer is nationally distributed (or atleast close to it), and is just hard to get. Once good thing to the "craze" of this beer is that people will hopefully drink this limited release fresh, as it does not do well with age.

Overall, welcome to really the first edition of "Beer Hype" in South Florida. It's a DAMN good beer, grab it while you can, if you can. But please don't get into a fight with someone in a local store over a six pack. There are many other Imperial IPA's that you can pick up year round that are as good if not better. And remember DRINK IT FRESH!!!

Score: 4.956

Bell's Hopslam Ale Attacks South Florida

Well beerigos it is here!

Beer release season has started.

HOPSLAM has started popping up around South Florida Bars and Stores.

Be quick about picking up this gem of a Double IPA though.  We are getting very limited supplies of the beer.

Where can you find it?  Well, most Total Wine & More stores will have it at the main desk right as you walk in, and it is limited to one 6-pack per person.

Besides Total Wine, I reccomend swinging by your local craft beer bar to see if bottles or even draft are avalable.  Last night The Coffee District started the frenzy by tapping the first keg in Palm Beach County EVER!  There is not much left so swing by and have a tasty pint of this beer.  The Funky Buddha is on deck with keg waiting....that's right!  When will they tap it?  Well, I guess we will have to wait.

Enjoy this wonderful beer fresh, it really does not age well, but be careful Mi Amigos it is 10% ABV.

Look for a bottle review next week as I cover high gravity beers all week!

Follow me on twitter at @DosBeerigos for up to date info on where you can find Hopslam in the South Florida Area!