Bell's Hopslam (2014)

We got it in a couple weeks ago and most stores sold out in a day, but I just learned there's still a full rack of six packs at an unsuspecting local retailer! couldn't believe it.

 

Found at my local Wegmans last night. Never thought I'd see such a sight.

 

It's in the NJ/NYC area already, but most places are sold out. Bought 2 yesterday over in Rockland County NY... that was all the place would let me buy.

Edit: Apparently you can't really get this in NJ, but just drive over the boarder into NY state and some places might have some.

 

People are saying it's too sweet this year, but I think it's actually LESS sweet than the last few years. There was one year, like 2011, where they had a hop shortage issue and they changed up the formula and that was, by far, the sweetest one I remember. I actually think this is the best version of Hopslam since 2010 and I side-by-sided it against Pliny and I thought Hopslam was better (which I used to think, but since changed my mind on when Hopslam's quality seemed to dip). The batch I had was the Jan 15th and I really liked it.

 

I am Type II diabetic myself (insulin dependent)and I have discussed beer with my doctor several times and she always assured me I was fine if I didn't drink more than two beers a day. I am well past wanting to get tanked so adhering to that limit hasn't been a problem and I don't see beer having any effect on my blood sugar readings. (eating too much bread and potatoes spikes it.) Still it is always good to exercise caution if you have diabetes and you are wise to be concerned.

BTW: it's pretty sweet, at least the one bottle I've had thus far.

 

Is anybody on here in the Tampa, FL area and know where I can find some? I've called around to several places and I was told they may not get it until the end of Feb.

 

I am in Tampa and Luekens and ABC told me mid to late February. Not sure what the deal is, luckily I got some beer mail recently with some in it, but for some reason JJ Taylor is holding it prior to releasing it to the stores.

 

As I stated in a previous comment, honey dries the beer out to the extent that Bell's uses dextrin to add more body back into the beer. There is absolutely no need for dextrins if there is still honey lingering around. You may get flavor from the honey but that is not the cause of the perceived sweetness.

 

Maybe so. All I know is I'm getting the same tangy sweetness that I get from DFH's Midas Touch and Chateau Jiahu and both of those beers are brewed with honey. It's to the point where the hops are almost less a part of the flavor profile than this sweet flavor. *shrug*

 

All the Hopslam love, I feel like Im missing out. Is there no distribution in California?

 

Crazy everywhere is selling out today I was at two stores in the Hudson Valley in NY in Poughkeepsie and Kingston and both stores had prob 15-25 cases of hopslam no storage in the hudson valley thats for sure. Halftime in Poughkeepsie & Beer World in Kingston

 

What Wegmans? if you don't mind me asking.

 

15-25 cases? Just up the road in the Albany area I think the big stores were only getting like 8 max.

 

I found it last night at the Wegmans in Orchard Park. $17.49 a 6er....

 

Yea Halftime in Poughkeepsie is huge and people travel from outside of the state to buy beer there they have the largest pull of anyone above NYC from what I have been told. They always seem to get alot of all the limited releases compared to stores in the area. Beer World in Kingston has a good supply as well and they started carrying Jack's Abby as well on tap and in bottles which is a huge PLUS.. Hoponius Union, Mass Rising, & barrel age Baltic Porter are go to beers for me really good stuff.

I took this yesterday and they said they still have 10-15 cases in the back and they have 16 1/2 right there

 

Yeah here in Ohio Heinens got 25 cases by me and the Lizardvilles got like 20-30 cases at each location. Also, last year Heinens in Strongsville took a month to sell 22 cases. This year, gone in 24 hours... Hypeslam gon get it!

 

Also, the new lizardville location in Lakewood had some left last time I was there fyi...

 

Found it in NY finally just across the border from CT. Now that I have finally lucked out and gotten to taste it... whoever earlier said that Lagunitas Sucks is better than Hopslam.... You're an idiot... that is all

 

Can't believe some of the high prices for this... I mean, it's expensive down here, but I paid $17.45 for a 6 pack at one place and found more last night for the all time low price of $16.99 per 6 pack. Almost picked some more up but didn't wanna be "that guy."

 

Hey, sorry this is off topic, but I am diabetic, too. (diet controlled) and have no problems drinking a couple of beers a night too. I was wondering if you notice the difference in drinking High ABV's? Does it make a difference?