Would you drink Hopslam, right now?

It wasn't so great when it was fresh on tap, not bad mind you but whatever they did to Hopslam they shouldn't do that again. I'd try a sample and if it passed and it was deeply discounted maybe.

 

why the hell wouldn't you?

 

Exactly. I enjoy Hopslam, but we're now, what, five months out? I'd opt for something fresher.

 

You should have asked for a sample. I've never been to a bar that didn't allow me to try a sample of a brew on tap.

I would have probably just ordered one without bothering to try it. I'm sure it isn't going to suck.

 

Your buying a name right now that's about it, it's well past it's prime. I'd ask how did this happen? Somebody fuck up and bury it in a cooler in the back and forget about it?

 

No, it's far too early in the morning

 

I don't think I would order any IPA knowing it was half a year old.

 

I drink old IPA's all the time and usually enjoy them. That being said, it depends on what the bar was charging for them.

 

This.

Aged Hopslam is good enough that it could be released as it's own beer and I have always thought that it had something to do with the honey. I actually think that enough people have caught on to it with this beer, that bars may actually be aging them themselves. I saw a keg on tap last week, myself, and figured that somebody had intentionally held on to it maybe to test what they had heard about the beer or because they already knew that it has a second and equally compelling life as a beer anywhere from 6 months to a year later. Now that I think about it, I have no idea why I haven't aged some bottles longer than that just to see how this is at 2 or 3 years.

 

Ive had Hopslam as late as 8-9 months and I still really enjoyed it. Hops have obviously faded quite a bit, but its got a great malt base, the honey sweetness, and a booziness thats pleasant. If you sold 9 month old Hopslam, gave it a new name, and called it an American Strong Ale I think people would dig it.

So short answer, yes.

 

Hopslam goes bad 15 seconds before its bottled. If you are drinking a bottle of Hopslam this late into the year you are drinking Barleywine or Strong ale.

 

Go ahead and try it. I had a one from the bottle a couple of nights ago and it was just OK, keg could be better though, who knows.

 

While different, I've had Hopslam with two years on it and it has been drinkable to me...was it as good as fresh? No...but it was different and worth trying.

I'd ask them if they were running a discount on it since it is up there in age.

 

Uh, on tap? Hell yes. Bottle on a shelf? Probably not.

 

I just had one last week and it was still tasting pretty good. little hop fading but nothing too dramatic. I do remember someone here in chicago doing a blind tasting of fresh hopslam vs year old hopslam and people couldnt taste the difference.

 

Do you like barleywines?

 

If someone cant tell the difference between fresh Hopslam, and year old Hopslam, they shouldn't be doing blind tastings.

 

I still have 6 bottles of this years batch still in the fridge had one a week ago tasted alright.

 

I think big abv IPA's age well. Kind of like American barley wines. The hops become less "bright", the malts more pronounced, and the oxidation is a nice touch as well. But you should take into account how it was stored, and in your case how long it's been on tap. My wife and I shared a bottle of 2012 Hopslam recently and it was delicious.

 

if i seen it on tap i wouldn't hesitate so have a glass..

i actually seen a shop around me do a vertical not long ago with this years and the last three years i think. i was tempted to check it out but ended up having other things come up.