BeerBorg

My LHBS posted a picture on their twitter account. It was a stack of 20 cases of Bells Hopslam. There was a sign taped to one the outside of a case.

The sign read "$17.99 6/pk, limit one!"

Is it really worth it? can it be that good?

I've never had this but know they are only available for a very short time. I thought they came in 4 packs.
Everything I've read says they are good and Bell's is pretty good but it's hard to believe it's really worth it.

I've had it in the past and wasn't very impressed. It's been a few years and I can't remember why now, but have been offered some since then (for sale) and turned it down.

I think it is overly sweet. The sweetness overpowers the hops. You are better off brewing it yourself the way you like it.

I've had it twice and I really like it. I really think if you get an opportunity to try it you should. The reviews on Rate beer are pretty accurate and should give you a good idea of what it's about.

With that said I have a hard time justifying $18 a six pack. I did get a beer store to sell me one for $3! Glad I did!

Keep in mind that Pliny is about $7 - $8 a bottle for a 16.9oz bottle. Three Plinys would be $21 - $24, so a sixer of something that is really good is less than that. Mind you, I've never had Bell's so I'm just throwing that out for comparison-sake.

To be fair I do have to say it was Hopslam that did get me inserted in the IPA style. As I came to enjoy IPA's more, and as they became a favorite style as my love of the hop grew it just became to sweet for my changing tastes.

Being a big Bell's fan, I've had this a few times. I like it OK, but after the first bottle purchase, I've only had it at tastings where others brought it since. I'd agree with Haerbob that it's a bit sweet for me (I thought the same of DFH 120). But it's definitely worth trying once if you get a chance. Bell's does some great beers... I have some stout varieties in the cellar as we speak and I lean that way, and to Oberon and Two Hearted though...

I really like Bells but their stuff seems to have gotten really expensive lately and many of their things fall out of the range that I would pay now. Hopslam is a good beer but it does fall a bit on the sweet side of what I prefer for DIPAs. That said I wouldn't pay $18 for a six pack of it. I don't think I would pay much more than $13 for a six pack of it.

My favorite from offering from Bells is the Two Hearted Ale.

swenocha: I wasn't aware that bells was making Breakfast Stouts? Are they a seasonal or only available at the Eccentric Cafe?

Bah... typo/brain fart. meant Expedition and K'zoo, not Breakfast. I have some of those as well, but the Breakfast Stouts are Founders.

Ah the Expedition is excellent and a long standing favorite of mine when I can find it at reasonable prices. And the Kalamazoo Stout is interesting because I find it pretty tasty even though I dislike licorice and dislike most stouts I have had that were brewed with it or anise.

Out of curiosity, have any of you who think Hopslam is too sweet (do you mean malty or crystal sweet?) had a Victory HopDevil? I've never had Hopslam, but HopDevil is pretty malty - I think it's base malt is Vienna and I think it's got Munich in it too - and I can see it turning off some IPA folks (I personally like it). Just curios, because I've never bought a Hopslam, although I could...

I've had Hop Devil and it was somewhat malty. I think it's more East Coast IPA as they tend to lean to the malty side (like Dogfish Head). I liked it and I'm an IPA guy. I think it had good hop to malt balance.

Kealia wrote:Keep in mind that Pliny is about $7 - $8 a bottle for a 16.9oz bottle. Three Plinys would be $21 - $24, so a sixer of something that is really good is less than that. Mind you, I've never had Bell's so I'm just throwing that out for comparison-sake.

This same thing came to my mind while driving to work this morning.

Thanks everyone for the thoughts...now I just guess I have to make up my mind. Problem is, I don't think I'll have a chance to get to the store in the next week or so. Maybe I'll try to talk the wife into going there for me!!!

I say go for it! I really like it, though I am biased as I am more of a fan of the malty/sweet IPA's as opposed to the bitter dry ones.