As all the hopheads descending upon local carryout stores attests, Bell’s Hopslam has been released for 2012.
For the uninitiated, a hophead is a beer drinker with something of an obsession with heavily hopped beers.
A brief foray into the worlds of Twitter and countless beer blogs will tell you the release of Bell’s Brewery’s winter seasonal is an event looked upon with great expectation each and every year.
All of which begs the question, does it hold up to the hype?
Well, pouring the beer instantly reveals the presence of a great deal of hops. Bell’s will tell you there are a total of 6 different hop varietals in the brew. Grapefruit is the prominent aroma with an underlying sweetness from the malts and honey.
Taking a step back to get a good look at the pour, the beer is a luminous golden orange. The carbonation sparkles. The head is thick and like a pillow. This inviting beer remains visually appealing with each layer of lacing that forms with each sip.
And it is with each sip where this beer truly shines. Of course it is very hoppy, bitter. But it is not over the top. The balance is achieved with the sweetness thanks again to the malts and honey the brewery has included. It is surprisingly drinkable, clean with a very pleasant, lingering taste.
The verdict for Hopslam is that it is worth all the hype for Hopheads as well as those not usually identified as such.
Bells Brewery products can be found in the Mahoning Valley at the Five Points Wine and Bar in Poland.
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