Bell's Hopslam in the UK- A 10% Michigan IPA

Post by **spzretent** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 2:18 pm

I was in Manchester and Leeds last week spreading the word about Michigan craft beer. I brought over some super limited Bell's Hopslam as a treat for those who turned up in Leeds. One of which is celebrated beer writer Zak Avery aka The Beer Boy.
Here is his video blog review: http://thebeerboy.blogspot.com/2011/02/ ... -2011.html
He is excellent and nailed this review perfectly. Only problem is I have to wait until next January to get some more.

Post by **runcible** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 5:56 pm

This is an incredible beer. I was lucky enough to taste it and I've never had an IPA like it.

What put it into perspective is the day after the beer tasting here (which I was lucky enough to host so I got to try everything) we went to North Bar in Leeds - a really excellent place that takes its beer very seriously. They had a launch night for 4 new IPA's from legendary Scots brewer Brew Dog. 1 was really awful, 2 were just drinkable and 1 was sort of nice. I sat there thinking 'holy shit - the American stuff blows this stuff away'.

If you come across Hopslam get hold of some!

Post by **spzretent** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:37 pm

I had two last night.
Good night Irene!

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:28 pm

runcible wrote:4 new IPA's from legendary Scots brewer Brew Dog. 1 was really awful, 2 were just drinkable and 1 was sort of nice.

Some friends recently bought 2 bottles each of the 39% and 41% beers from Brew Dog. Anyway, I wouldn't drink those but I'm looking forward to trying out some American craft beers, especially the seasonal ones they do. I think I remember a blood orange drink being talked about which I really wanted to try.

Looking on Beers of Europe website as I've been invited in to a beer order school to help keep postage lower. They've also used Beer Ritz.

Post by **spzretent** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:37 pm

I did bring two of those Short's Sixth Anniversary beers(blood orange wheat wine) over as surprise for the end of the Leeds beer tasting and watching the reaction was priceless. The Hopslam was a surprise too.
Zak- the beer writer was floored and another guest was totally perplexed as to how the high abv was hidden yet the fruit was still able to just burst in your mouth. It definitely was the best beer from around here last summer. It was name checked in the video blog review for Hopslam.

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:47 pm

While we have an endless amount of micro breweries all try something new and different over here, it's fair to say we wouldn't see anything like that readily available. Same with the double chocolate truffle stout from Ireland.

Post by **spzretent** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:05 pm

Short's is a crazy brewery. They have tried several different beers including a bloody mary beer. In my opinion the have a 25% success rate. Not great. But when they do hit on one the results can be can be spectacular!
Click on the beer tab here:
http://www.shortsbrewing.com/beer/

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:19 pm

Looks like an amazing variety of beers they've tried. Key Lime Pie..!!! Just doesn't sound right.

Post by **runcible** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:23 pm

I drank the last Hopslam yesterday - truly extraordinary stuff. I was lucky to have tasted that blood orange wheat wine too - I'll vouch for the wacky yet captivating character on show!

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:32 pm

I've told some people about Hopslam and they're keen to try it when it's available. Blood orange wheat wine too if it ever hit these shores. Spzretent, you should coincide a trip over with the great British beer festival.

Post by **spzretent** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:37 pm

Off the top of my head I can name several beers that, imho, did not work with Short's.
Key Lime Pie
Strawberry Short's Cake
PB&J
Uber Goober
Mystery Stout

But the brewer has a lot of mad scientist in him. Not only does he brew many a crazy beer, he actually bottles them.
As I said before, when he succeeds it can have spectacular results. It just doesn't happen often enough.

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:07 pm

I've tried seaweed beer and also corriander beer. Two weeks ago there was a Lemon beer available in a pub I was in and that was ok. The tickers over here are going mad for beers brewed with a hop called citra.

A visit to York soon should be good.

Post by **runcible** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:48 pm

It'd be a grand day if Hosplam were to be available in the UK. I suspect that might be too much to hope for as it seems difficult enough to obtain in the USA from what I gather.

Post by **spzretent** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:01 pm

US? Try Michigan. You still see it once in a while and it was released two months ago to the day.

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:00 pm

Already got few on the wishlist. Dogfish Head and Eel River breweries both look decent.

Post by **spzretent** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:04 pm

Some of the Dogfish Head is available in the UK.

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:52 pm

Looks like Beer Ritz as sold out and Beers of Europe have only Palo Santo and Festina Peche left. Was hoping to try the ones called 60 and 90 minutes.

Post by **spzretent** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 6:57 pm

The 90 minute is a freakin' Monster. We were served pints( it is supposed to be served in 10oz tulip style glasses) of that last year on Opening Day of the Baseball Season which is an unnofficial civic holiday in Detroit) Needless to say we never made it into the game despite clutching tickets to said game. Stupid actually!

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 7:20 pm

Many a best laid plan and all that. Some beers can be quite deceptive.

toomilk · Post by **toomilk** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 7:38 pm

Both 60 and 90 minute IPAs are delicious. The 60 minute is very crisp and the 90 minute is more viscous, almost like a sour. It is definitely a beast with that smooth taste and its 9% abv. After two or three of those in a pint glass (which I've also come across at a couple bars down here) you begin speaking in tongues. There is supposedly a 120 minute that they make. I haven't had it, but I can only image that it makes the 90 minute weak in comparison.

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:42 pm

toomilk wrote:the 90 minute is more viscous, almost like a sour. It is definitely a beast with that smooth taste and its 9% abv. After two or three of those in a pint glass (which I've also come across at a couple bars down here) you begin speaking in tongues. There is supposedly a 120 minute that they make. I haven't had it, but I can only image that it makes the 90 minute weak in comparison.

October... Perhaps we should share half a dozen before the RAH gig.

toomilk · Post by **toomilk** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:22 am

We should all bring beer from our respective regions and have a tasting party the day before or the day after the RAH gig.

Sounds like a plan, yes?

davedecay · Post by **davedecay** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:28 am

Dogfish Head makes some tasty brews.

here in PA, we have a number of fantastic breweries, such as Weyerbacher, Victory, Yards, Stoudts, and TrÃ¶egs.
and that's just a start.

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:58 am

toomilk wrote:We should all bring beer from our respective regions and have a tasting party the day before or the day after the RAH gig.

Sounds like a plan, yes?

Yes.

Or alternatively, go on a real ale trail pub crawl around London. Plus I know a place that does a load of Belgium beers.

Post by **spzretent** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:57 pm

Yesterday was Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout release day here. Beer geeks all over Michigan trying to get as many of these bottles as they can. Most shops limit you to one or two bottles. 11.2% stout aged in Oak Bourbon Barrels. My local shop got 6 cases. Started selling them at 3pm with a two bottle limit. I checked back after work at 8pm and they had sold out the entire 6 cases.
Some shops really take advantage. A friend of mine that got caught up in the hype found a shop that had a few cases but they were selling it at $12 per bottle. He bought six bottles for $72. I bought my two for $5 each. Truth is, if he decides to sell his he can still make his money back online.

http://s1188.photobucket.com/albums/z40 ... nt=069.jpg

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:30 pm

Spzretent, that's a crazy scenario. The retailers know there's a captive audience and they've got you. Anyway, is it a nice drink? I can't think of any beer release days over here that cause such excitement.

Can't get the link to work.

Post by **spzretent** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:59 pm

The breweries know what they are doing. There are always a few rotten apples in the buch of retaliers that get it.
I'd post the photo but whenever I do they are HUGE.

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:17 pm

Such a strange name too, Breakfast Stout. At 11.2% it'll be the last thing I'd want at breakfast time.

Minky · Post by **Minky** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:54 pm

spzretent wrote: I'd post the photo but whenever I do they are HUGE.

Before you embed the original photo you uploaded to flicr or photobucket or wherever... make sure you edit the dimensions of the original photo to around 480x640. Save the changes and embed that one.

davedecay · Post by **davedecay** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:32 pm

cool IPA project from Weyerbacher:
http://weyerbacher.com/blog/2011/03/the-ipa-project/

In the meantime, weâ€™ll be releasing a new IPA â€˜test batchâ€™ each month starting the 4th week of March and roughly through August. These new IPAs will be done consecutively and are extremely limited: Only 15 barrels per batch.

toomilk · Post by **toomilk** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:03 am

Shaun wrote:
toomilk wrote:We should all bring beer from our respective regions and have a tasting party the day before or the day after the RAH gig.

Sounds like a plan, yes?
Yes.

Or alternatively, go on a real ale trail pub crawl around London. Plus I know a place that does a load of Belgium beers.

Can we just do both?

TheWarmth · Post by **TheWarmth** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 1:33 pm

The Founders Kentucky Bourbon Stout thing is starting to piss me off. The last two years, I've managed to acquire only one or two bottles in Chicago. You wind up spending way too much time and energy tracking them down. Binny's sold out of this year's supply within an hour. I'm a huge beer fan, but I'm not going to leave work in the middle of the day in order to secure a few bottles of the stuff.

Post by **spzretent** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 8:30 pm

I know exactly what you mean. It does get ridiculous. Makes you feel like a trained chimp.
I have scrounged up 4 bottles w/the possibility of 2 more. Some people I know were able to get cases.
No idea how

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 7:36 am

toomilk wrote:
Shaun wrote:
toomilk wrote:We should all bring beer from our respective regions and have a tasting party the day before or the day after the RAH gig.

Sounds like a plan, yes?
Yes.

Or alternatively, go on a real ale trail pub crawl around London. Plus I know a place that does a load of Belgium beers.

Can we just do both?

Probably will end up doing someting like that.

I'm buying one of these....

Tasting Notes: The strongest lager beer in the world.
Santa Claus Beer.

Brewed only once a year on December 6th. Samichlaus is aged for 10 months before bottling. This beer is perhaps the rarest in the world. Samichlaus may be aged for many years to come.

Older vintages become more complex with a creamy warming finish.

ABV: 14.0%

toomilk · Post by **toomilk** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 10:36 am

Never heard of it. Get a bottle if you can. Save it for the coming Spz season.

It will be appreciated.

mc · Post by mc » Sat Mar 19, 2011 8:25 pm

spzretent wrote:The 90 minute is a freakin' Monster. We were served pints( it is supposed to be served in 10oz tulip style glasses) of that last year on Opening Day of the Baseball Season which is an unnofficial civic holiday in Detroit) Needless to say we never made it into the game despite clutching tickets to said game. Stupid actually!

Wonderful thread. This afternoon I found the 90 Minute IPA in my local specialist off license. I am looking forward to opening it

TheWarmth · Post by **TheWarmth** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 9:06 pm

I've had the 120 Minute IPA. It's really, REALLY intense. I recall having difficulty finishing my tulip glass.

mc · Post by mc » Sat Mar 19, 2011 10:17 pm

I'm really enjoying this bottle of 90 Minute IPA, even more so than the Titan IPA (Great Divide Brewing Co.) my local pub has started selling (Â£5.50 a bottle but well worth it!) I'm mainly familiar with Scottish and European craft beers and haven't tasted many US brews, but the local specialist has recently introduced a large selection. A whole new world awaits!

Next up waiting in the fridge is a bottle of BrewDog's 5.a.m Saint. Their IPAs pale in comparison to the above beers, but the Saint is a very special brew...

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 4:13 am

toomilk wrote:Never heard of it. Get a bottle if you can. Save it for the coming Spz season.

It will be appreciated.

It's an Austrian beer. I'll try very hard not to drink it before October.

There's some Kentucky beers on beer of Europe website. Kentucky Ale, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale and Kentucky Light... but not the strong stout

Post by **spzretent** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 9:59 am

What brewery does the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale?

toomilk · Post by **toomilk** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 10:31 am

Consumed the standard 4-pack of the 90 minute IPA tonight.

Tomorrow morning will be rough......

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 10:48 am

spzretent wrote:What brewery does the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale?

From what I've seen online I think it's called Kentucky Brewery and in Lexington. My geographical knowledge of US States and cities isn't great so I'm not sure if it is from the same brewers of the breakfast stout. I'm going to get a bottle of each one.

EDIT: It could be Alltech's Lexington.

Post by **spzretent** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:49 pm

The Kentucky Breakfast Stout is from Founder's Brewing in Grand Rapids Michigan. They also make a regular Breakfast Stout(minus the oak bourbon barrel aging) which is also delicious. That is readliy available 6 months out of the year.

TheWarmth · Post by **TheWarmth** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 4:07 pm

I have a KBS in my fridge that I saved from last year. Maybe I should just drink it tonight. Not quite sure what I've been saving it for. Alan, my understanding is that you can score cases of KBS if you attend the release party at Founders.

Post by **spzretent** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 4:52 pm

Right. I heard that. But I also heard the half way thru the line at Founders they ran out. I'd be pissed off if I took the day off, drove three hours, got in line, and the brewery ran out.
And then some asshole that owns a gas(petrol) station off I-75 between Flint & Detroit is charging $12 per bottle.
I am supposed to get a call tomorrow possibly that would get me another 2 bottles. Totaling six bottles. Which is five more than I got last year.
Having said all this how amazing is Dark Lord? Is it worthy of the hype surrounding it?

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 7:36 pm

I've decide to buy a variety of USA beers from the following brewers....Sierra Nevada, Odell, Ballast Point, Caldera, Indigo Imp, Rogue, Smuttynose, Uinta, Dogfish Head, Goose Island, Brooklyn, Coronado, Eel River and Stone.

The majority of the ones I've choose are way higher in strength than I would normally go for but they sound nice. I'd imagine they will last all summer.

Post by **spzretent** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:03 pm

spzretent wrote:I know exactly what you mean. It does get ridiculous. Makes you feel like a trained chimp.
I have scrounged up 4 bottles w/the possibility of 2 more. Some people I know were able to get cases.
No idea how

I was able to buy an additional two bottles today. But this shop marked it up to $8 per bottle. Its good to know who is looking to take advantage and who isn't when releases like this come out.
I know where I will spend my beer $$ in future.

jadams501 · Post by **jadams501** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 1:14 am

Shaun wrote:I've decide to buy a variety of USA beers from the following brewers....Sierra Nevada, Odell, Ballast Point, Caldera, Indigo Imp, Rogue, Smuttynose, Uinta, Dogfish Head, Goose Island, Brooklyn, Coronado, Eel River and Stone.

Dogfish Head IPAs are fantastic, some of my favorites.

davedecay · Post by **davedecay** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 4:06 am

jadams501 wrote:
Shaun wrote:I've decide to buy a variety of USA beers from the following brewers....Sierra Nevada, Odell, Ballast Point, Caldera, Indigo Imp, Rogue, Smuttynose, Uinta, Dogfish Head, Goose Island, Brooklyn, Coronado, Eel River and Stone.
Dogfish Head IPAs are fantastic, some of my favorites.

YEP.

60-min, 90-min, and 120-min IPAs are easy for me to get - i worked in Wilmington DE for over 2 years, and PA is only 1 state away.

Bitches Brew sold out quickly, and i didn't grab a bottle.

http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/th ... s-brew.htm

Post by **spzretent** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 1:36 pm

This brewery did special beers for the 40th Anniversary of the release all the Zappa/Mothers LPs. This was the first.
http://www.beerdrinker.org/2007/09/18/l ... gly-radio/
And it was delicious. This made it over to the UK in July 2009, albeit only two bottles to the Yorkshire countyrside.
Afte four or so releases FZ's wife pulled the plug on the whole thing.

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:54 pm

davedecay wrote:
jadams501 wrote:
Shaun wrote:I've decide to buy a variety of USA beers from the following brewers....Sierra Nevada, Odell, Ballast Point, Caldera, Indigo Imp, Rogue, Smuttynose, Uinta, Dogfish Head, Goose Island, Brooklyn, Coronado, Eel River and Stone.
Dogfish Head IPAs are fantastic, some of my favorites.
YEP.

60-min, 90-min, and 120-min IPAs are easy for me to get - i worked in Wilmington DE for over 2 years, and PA is only 1 state away.

Bitches Brew sold out quickly, and i didn't grab a bottle.
http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/th ... s-brew.htm

Unfortunately all the IPA' from dogfish are sold out so I'm only able to get Festina Peche which should be a refreshing summer drink. Wouldn't mind trying the 60/90/120 mins though.

TheWarmth · Post by **TheWarmth** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:52 pm

I like the Dogfish Head IPA's, but I think the Bell's and Three Floyds IPAs are better. Seek them out if you can.

TheWarmth · Post by **TheWarmth** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:54 pm

spzretent wrote:This brewery did special beers for the 40th Anniversary of the release all the Zappa/Mothers LPs. This was the first.
http://www.beerdrinker.org/2007/09/18/l ... gly-radio/
And it was delicious. This made it over to the UK in July 2009, albeit only two bottles to the Yorkshire countyrside.
Afte four or so releases FZ's wife pulled the plug on the whole thing.

The Lagunitas stuff is readily available in Chicago. Can you get it easily in MI, Alan? Anyway, I've found that most of their standard brews are good, but not great. However, whenever I buy their always reasonably priced bombers of limited stuff, I've been very impressed. The Wilco Foxtrot Tango was excellent and only $5 a bomber.

Post by **spzretent** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:31 pm

Yes. We get all the Lagunitas beers here. They are reasonably priced and very good.
From the trained chimp/wild goose chase desk:
Today's escapade involved chasing Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA all over town. Good thing I work at 4pm. There is slightly more of this around than the aforementioned Founders KBS,
I am much more of an IPA fan and this is outstanding. Worth wasting the better part of my day chasing around.

TheWarmth · Post by **TheWarmth** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 7:27 pm

Oh man, how much Double Crooked Tree did you score? I hope some of that makes it to Chicago, but I probably shouldn't hold my breath.

Post by **spzretent** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:11 pm

Five 4 packs! $16 per 4 pack.
($17.50 after tax and bottle deposit)

Post by **runcible** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:14 pm

Ooh! Might some of that Double Crooked Tree end up in England this summer?

Post by **spzretent** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:30 pm

Perhaps? Maybe some Kentucky Breakfast Stout too.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1471/22381

13.6% ABV!

and

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1199/19960

Post by **runcible** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:38 pm

If it's anything like the other Breakfast Stout I had count me in!

No beer tonight. Bottle of Turley - another desperate attempt to shift the 3rd cold I've had this year already. Normally helps.

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:02 pm

Ordering a bottle of Uinta Crooked Line Detour Double IPA at 9.5%. I've never been more interested in trying USA crafts beers.

Post by **spzretent** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:27 pm

From our man Zak's mouth "US craft beers are about to explode in the UK. Particularly IPA's".
That is why we(Miiten Hop- Paul, Ben & I) are concentrating on those first.

Post by **spzretent** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:19 am

spzretent wrote:From the trained chimp/wild goose chase desk:
Today's escapade involved chasing Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA all over town. Good thing I work at 4pm. There is slightly more of this around than the aforementioned Founders KBS,
I am much more of an IPA fan and this is outstanding. Worth wasting the better part of my day chasing around.

Oh my my! A sipper and an IPA and outstanding!

TheWarmth · Post by **TheWarmth** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 5:59 pm

I'm on the hunt for this now. I've only had it once before.

Last night I discovered that Empty Bottle sells bombers of Stone Arrogant Bastard for $8. I split two of them with my buddy. White Hills + Arrogant Bastard = awesome.

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 6:54 pm

TheWarmth wrote:Last night I discovered that Empty Bottle sells bombers of Stone Arrogant Bastard for $8.

I might be getting a 650ml bottle of this but at Â£8.00. Is there much difference in taste between this and Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale?

TheWarmth · Post by **TheWarmth** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:43 pm

In my opinion, the Oaked Arrogant Bastard isn't worth the extra money. It's good, but the difference in price is unwarranted.

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 8:44 pm

The Oaked worked out cheaper, Â£3.79 for a 355ml bottle as opposed to Â£8.29 for a 650ml normal and same strength, but it's sold out anyway so I won't be buying that. There's an Imperial Russian Stout available by Stone at 10.5%.