Bell's Hopslam Ale

Winter means different things to different people. For folks in some states, a slight chill in the air and a flurry of snow means full arctic gear, traffic jams, and school closings. For us here in Michigan, three feet of snow and sub-zero temps mean it's time to grab a light jacket, and maybe shoes instead of flip-flops... maybe. And while Winter may be "stout season", there's something else that beer aficionados across the country look forward to every January - Hopslam.

Bell's Hopslam Ale is a specialty release that has the power to break Winter's icy grip. Brewed with honey and dry-hopped with massive amounts of Simcoe hops, this beer will plunge your senses into a world of warm sunshine, gentle breezes, and the smell of fresh-cut grass. That is, until you have to grab your flip-flops and shovel your driveway... again.

Bell's Hopslam Ale

Style: American Imperial IPA
ABV: 10%, IBU: 70
Serving type: Bottle
Availability: Annual Specialty (January release)

Appearance: Pours a deep golden color, moderate carbonation.  Full, lingering off-white head that leaves excellent lacing.

Aroma: Strong pine, raw honey, and hay. Booziness is apparent.

Taste: Sweet honey notes up front, with bold, piney hops following. Floral notes on the finish. Lingering earthy spice.

Mouthfeel: Coats the mouth, but not syrupy. Some warmth and tingle.

Overall: A bold expression of an American Imperial IPA, and one of my favorites. It paired well the the turkey club panini I had for lunch - the crisp hop flavors playing well off the smokey bacon and creamy avocado.

Hopslam is hitting local shelves and taps as I write this - but not for long. This beer has attained near legendary status, and as such it sells out fast. So hurry now and you might just be able to get your hands on some. And while you're at it, grab an extra six-pack for the cellar - it ages remarkably well.

Spotlight On: 4 Hands Brewing

While perusing the grown up candy store that is Bottles and Cans I decided to grab a four pack from 4 Hands Brewing, a brewery I had briefly tasted while visiting some friends in St. Louis. I assure you the four cans from 4 Hands pun was lost on me until this very moment... and I'm tempted to re-title this and write only in puns... but I won't. Sadly.

I had grand plans of visiting the brewery while celebrating America's birthday in the land of whatever-it-is-St.Louis-calls-itself. I was still licking my wounds from the US' exit from the World Cup, so baseball and beer seemed a great cure. Baseball, as always, proved to cheer the spirits (even NL baseball), but the brewery was going to have to wait for another day. Food took precedence over beer with the group and off we went to another locale. However, should you find yourself at a Cardinals game, 4 Hands is a scant 3/4 of a mile from Busch Stadium and will most likely make you feel better about watching a game with poor poor pitchers being forced to go up there and bat.

Anyway, back to the brewery. One of the things I thoroughly enjoyed about the four pack I picked up was the on-can suggested pairings for each brew. From Charcuterie to Camembert Cheese, 4 Hands has left no culinary stone unturned (I'll mention each one in the reviews). As for the descriptions, those are straight from the 4 Hands Beer List. My notes come last. To the beer!

Alter Ego

ABV:  5.5%

Suggested Pairings: Charcuterie, Rotisserie Chicken

Description: Alter Ego is a Black IPA brewed with Citra and Zythos hops. Don't let the color fool you, this isn't your traditional dark beer. This American IPA is bright and citrusy with a vibrant hop aroma.

My Take: This was easily the best of the bunch. I'm always a sucker for a black IPA and this was no different. The hops come on quite strong up front as you'd hope in an IPA, but they're balanced out quite nicely with the citrusy middle flavor. The sweet malts and almost grapefruit like citrus flavors really help make this one smoother overall than you'd expect from an IPA. Highly recommend this beer.

Reprise Centennial Red

ABV:  6.0%
Suggested Pairings: Grilled Beef, Sharp Cheddar
Description: The centennial hop is the centerpiece of our American Red Ale. Reprise pushes the limits of a single hop with an amazing bouquet and stunning bitterness all the way through. The citrus character provides an experience you will want to repeat. Reprise is crimson in color with aromas of citrus fruit and biscuit malt.
My Take: Quite the opposite of Alter Ego, this red starts with caramels and breads mixed with a touch of sweetness. Their mentioning of a biscuit malt is spot on, as the middle tastes like a bitter biscuit (in a good way), and it finishes smoothly. And yet... in spite of it doing everything a red should do, it's just... meh. It's not a bad beer, nor disappointing by any stretch of the imagination, it's just quite middling.

Single Speed Session

ABV:  5.0%
Suggested Pairings: Poultry, Camembert Cheese
Description: Our American blonde ale is a soft and delicate ale brewed with pilsner malt and jasmine flower. The addition of jasmine adds a floral and slightly fruity layer. Single speed pours a crisp golden hue with floral undertones. What's your speed? Ours is a Single Speed.
My Take: It's as grassy and floral-y as advertised. It's also quite light and would be easy to take down in rather large quantity while barbecuing, tailgating, or porch sittin. However, much like the Centennial Red it left me quite in the middle. I wouldn't be upset to be handed one of these on a fine summer's day, but I'm also not going out of my way to pick up a full six pack any time soon.

Contact High

ABV:  5.0%
Suggested Pairings: Spicy Food, Poultry
Description: Not just another boring wheat ale. We made Contact High, our spring and summer seasonal, exciting by adding copious amounts of pacific northwest hops and dry hopping with fresh orange zest. Contact High pours a bright orange hue with a big citrus aroma.
My Take: Wheat beers and I just really aren't friends. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to be, but they all have an objective to destroy my stomach. Full on biological warfare the likes of which haven't been seen since the Black Death. Well... that's overstating it. So, with that in mind, I had a few sips and passed it off to my lady. Unfortunately she had the same review of this that I had of most of the 4 Hands beers: not disappointing, but not amazing.


Overall I'd have to say 4 Hands is fine. It's far better than the swill that put St. Louis on the map, but that's not saying much. So, to be nicer, it's a fine brewery. You won't be disappointed with anything they do, but I don't suspect you'll be overly blown away by much either. The Alter Ego is far and away their best and where I'd recommend starting.

But I'm just one man. What're your thoughts? Did I grab a run-of-the-mill four pack? Are their other offerings packing more moments of wow? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!