Hopslam Ale (2006)
(Batch of Hopslam Ale)
Bell's Brewery in Galesburg, Michigan, United States 🇺🇸
IPA - Triple Regular Out of Production|
Score
6.92
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Selected specifically because of their aromatic qualities, these Pacific Northwest varieties contribute a pungent blend of grapefruit, stone fruit and floral notes. A generous malt bill and a solid dollop of honey provide just enough body to keep the balance in check, resulting in a remarkably drinkable rendition of the Double India Pale Ale style.
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Clarkvv (16327) reviewed Hopslam Ale (2006) from Bell's Brewery 8 months ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
2006 bottles drunk on numerous occasions in November ’06
Typical bells appearance, with light sediment on the bottom, and tiny bottle conditioned bubbles producing a lightly creamy, white head that is medium in height and retained very well, leaving clumps of lacing as it recedes. High clarity leaving the sediment behind with just a slight touch of haziness. Soft peach and honey colored body has a bit of tangerine and very light strawberry tones.
Vibrantly fruity is the nose, with luscious lychee, strawberries, sweet cherries and guavas. It tapers off teasingly in a modestly bitter, grapefruity finish that calls upon light base malt sweetness and an even more reserved caramel-like hint. The aroma smells creamy, if that’s possible. Of abundant strength and just fantastically fresh and fuzzy are the hops. Tremendous care with dry-hopping is apparent. The malt sweetness and fruitiness do not come off overbearing, though they are definitely a factor in the nose. Clean as always from Bells, but still distinctly Bells. No alcohol noted. Other things that arent noted: overdone bittering, leafy/vegetal notes, obnoxious pine resin, astringent/hard crystal malts, sourish munich malts.
Malt and hop immediately vie for power at first sip. Sweet, honey-caramel malt notes are balanced by fruity, fuzzy, fresh, green, juicy hops. Bitterness through the middle is quite reserved for a double IPA. Some dry citric notes (white grapefruit, oranges, mild lemons) consider acidifying things, but a resurgence of malt sugars right before the finish wipe them out and you’re left with more succulent hop flavors of watermelon, guava, cherry and strawberry.
To be honest, my first impression was that this wasnt bitter enough, probably the first time I’ve ever said that about an DIPA. But the extra malt sugars that come through combine nicely with the hop notes to produce all of the softer, sweeter fruit notes mentioned, so it’s not so much of a bad thing in that aspect. Just maybe a touch too sweet to drink too many of them, though DIPAs are hardly a session beer. Still, I’d be intrigued to see what a little more attenuation would produce. Soft texture with a medium-low amount of carbonation that is reasonably tight. Some hop acids and light phenolic dryness do eventually build-up and linger on the palate, with just an ever-so-slight touch of alcohol warming toward the end of the bottle, giving almost a bittersweet edge to the beer.