2015 Hopslam Release

Total wine in Newport News had 5 or 6 cases in today. $22 a six pack. Bottled on 1/9/15. No thanks.

 

I'm enjoying the 2015 Hopslam season. This year's brew measures up to the anticipation and hype.

 

How pathetic for Bell's that a lot of us weren't even allowed to purchase Hopslam until it was already over a month old. This is a highly reputable brewery, and obviously one of their most desired beers. If Troegs can get fresh Nugget Nectar (5 days old for me) to each of its markets in a staggered release, then what is up with Bell's? I heard from a distributor that they had it sitting in the warehouse for nearly two weeks but were given strict instructions on when to release it. If this is true, then why on earth would Bell's do something like that? I still bought my six-pack, and I'm not someone who is obsessed with dates, but I just can't wrap my head around this.

 

I just purchased a case of Hopslam dated 1/21/15, and I literally live in the middle of nowhere (and my store literally had CASES available). I don't think what you're referring to is anything of Bell's doing - it's all about the distributors in your area. And I "only" paid $16.95/6-pack. It's truly spectacular.

 

Ours were $16.59. My store had a 1 6-pack limit, but had cases for nearly two days, which is basically unheard of. The hold had nothing to do with the distributor. I can assure you of that. I work in the beer industry and I trust my contacts. The fact that I heard the same story from someone who works at a bottle shop 2 hours away from me only supports the validity. I will continue to investigate as I haven't heard a good reason for why the hold was enforced yet.

 

I hear you. I purchased a case in NW Ohio on the 1st day of release in this area (Feb 10) and it was bottled on Jan 10. NW Ohio is a 2 1/2 hour drive to the Bell's Brewery. It's still very, very good.

 

Then I am truly the luckiest man in the world, because I do live in the middle of nowhere. It is ironic that this just became available this week where I live with bottles dated 1/21/15 when there bottles available elsewhere from early January. Weird, weird stuff, man.

I envy you more than you can imagine because you're in the industry. #props.

 

If you live in Tryon distribution part of the state then it had absolutely everything to do with them. They get two shipments and waited until the second came in to make sure it all got sent out at once. It's an awful stupid way to do it, but it's certainly not Bell's fault.

 

Had my hopslam and really enjoyed it. Had so much complexity, yet balanced. Was a fun one to drink!

Was tempted to go buy another six pack, but I have enough as is to drink through. My local store had three cases ordered in and no real limit. Could have bought multiple if I really wanted.

Happy I got to try it... was better than I expected!

 

Hopslam excellent, but because our tastes change the more we try over the year it may seem like it's not the same...

 

Bottled on 1/8?? AND $15+ for a six pack... No thanks. My cutoff is like 2-3 weeks for IPAs. <_<

All kidding aside though. I can get a 4-pack of Fort George Vortex tall boys for like $9.99 any day of the week at the grocery store here. It's nothing to hunt down, but it's highly underrated. It's better imo, and much cheaper... plus did I mention they're tall boys?

 

I do live in their distribution footprint and this is not what I was told. However, this makes much more sense than what I had been hearing. Thanks for the insight.

 

I cannot understand the rationale in releasing a beer that freshness means everything a MONTH after it was bottled. I live in central OH and last year I was SHOCKED that it was 30 days old before it hit shelves here. Again, this year the same?!

I had Hopslam on draft a few days ago and it was the best its been since batch 1. That said, I will not be buying Hopslam that is 30 days old (or older) again. To add insult to injury, several places in town 'required' you to buy a 6'er of something else Bell's in order to obtain the 'privilege' of buying Hopslam. Ridiculous!!

I think Bell's in one of the best breweries around..why they seem to sabotage their own best beer is baffling to me. Hopslam is a 1st tier beer..if fresh. Sadly, I can only speculate how this great beer would taste in its prime in a bottle..apparently, OH isn't meant to know that flavor anymore.

 

Mars > Hopslam

 

Got a six pack on Monday, taste just as good as it did last year. Wish it was $14.00 a six pack, but as a seasonal I will continue to purchase from time to time. Don't believe peoples bullshit on here about it not being as good as previous years, try it yourself.

 

BELLS IPAS>MIDWEST SHELF IPAS>ITHACA IPAS

True. Nothing comes even close to touching Hopslam.

 

Guess you've never had Surly Abrasive

 

Have to say I disagree with the naysayers on this years Hopslam. This beer seems to get better as it warms and is very balanced as usual. The only batch in recent memory that didn't live up to the hype was 2013, but most every other batch has delivered. If you don't like it, don't purchase it's just more for to drink for those who appreciate the tasty double.

 

I think this year's HopSlam doesn't quite live up to previous years but I find it hard to say definitively. I've had a lot of amazing beers since last year and am having a Heady Topper right now. Here in Charlotte, NC I've only had it about a week. One place I buy from is a smaller bottle shop but also one of the most famous here. Brawley's. I bought 3 bottles (daily limit) for 3 days in a row. I also got some in SC a week earlier but they only sold 2 bottles at a time. I WISH I could buy a case. I guess I'll have to make do with Hop Cakes and Hop, Drop, n Roll.

 

Drink this FRESH! One of the best beers while fresh but I've never had a beer fall off so quickly than Hopslam. Drink, drink, drink!