Beers Like Hopslam

I'm probably thoroughly alone in thinking this, but there's something about Double Jack that makes it seem like a decent enough surrogate.

 

To me fresh is way unique. That sweetness but it's not malty. After a few weeks it just taste like another run of the mill double ipa that's mostly alcohol and bitter

 

I think it's sweet & a bit malty. Maybe it's just me but how about DFH 90 minute?

 

If four is true (and that they are more widely available and cheaper, as you state), one and three have to be true. So I'm not really sure what most of your post is other than a long-winded way of asking if there cheaper beers out there that taste like Hopslam. And if there are so many better beers out there, I don't know why you're worried about finding the ones that taste like Hopslam, anyway.

 

Beers like Hopslam? Let any bigger Dipa sit for say 3 months and you got it.

 

If you ever get up to Michigan, Illinois, or Indiana you can pick up some Brother Benjamin from Greenbush Brewing. Year-round and delicious.

 

No, you stated that you agreed that there were better beers out there. That part was not in question.

What was lost to me, due to the wording of the post, was why you are even wondering about it in the first place. If you'd said that you like it and want something similar at other times of the year, that would make sense. It reads more like you're trying to decide if you only like Hopslam because it's unique or whatever, and if it turns out there are other beers that are similar, you won't like it so much. Which seems like a silly reason to like or not like a beer to me.

In my experience, I haven't come across anything I'd suggest as a viable substitute. Maybe it's the addition of honey.

 

I feel like almost every beer out now has a clone, its just a matter of time before you have it. Bells makes great beer and there portfolio of beers is very diverse, that being said these days many breweries only hit homeruns on one beer or two. Bells has several stellar offers. As for Hopslam its good but for me Troegs Nugget Nectar, and DFH 90min are as good and cheaper, just my opinion.

 

I'm sorry for coming on a little strong in my first post. I've seen so many posts lately that are blasting some of the OG breweries/beers for no real reason, and I thought that's where this was kinda going. I misinterpreted that a little bit and I apologize for it.

I think your question about whether Hopslam has any brothers and sisters out there is worth asking, though. I've had a ton of IPAs the past several years, but nothing seems to satisfy the craving quite like Hopslam used to when I lived in the Midwest. And even though it's been a few years, I don't recall having one that tastes like I remember Hopslam tasting. No idea why that would be other than faulty memory/biased palate. You'd think there'd be other beers out there with a very similar flavor profile.

Nothing wrong with factoring in availability/price for personal ranking of beer. Value is an important consideration for me. I guess it just seemed like you were indirectly putting down Hopslam for being more expensive and less available than other beers that you liked better, and I didn't get why you'd do that and then ask for beers similar to Hopslam.

 

Lagunitas The Waldo's Special Ale reminds me a lot of Hopslam. Jai Alai, a little bit, although Jai Alai is more fruity and less strong. Clown Shoes' DIPAs are somewhat similar. I also recommend Bell's The Oracle.

 

I thought SN Hoptimum was pretty close if you can get to it within a month of its bottling date.

 

Upper Hands, "Double Ringer", a Bells owned brewery in Escanaba, MI. It is available in the spring, but due to buying habits in the UP, you will see it on the shelves into the summer. I enjoyed it the most when fresh. My perception is that this beer has a different grist & hop bill to Hop Slam, but they are brewing it to the same O.G. & T.G, and using similar hop additions as Hop Slam but using Equinox, & Loral hops. I like it as much as Hop Slam. It think it is only available in the U.P. & northern Wisconsin.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/37433/217693/

 

I think Victory Dirtwolf has a lot in common with Hopslam, to my tastes at least.

Ingredient-wise, Hopslam has a dose of honey that makes it a little different than most DIPAs. Brewer's yeast readily ferments the sugar in honey into extra alcohol. Personally, I can't detect the other minor honey compounds/flavors remaining in the final beer, but I know some people (@drtth) claim they can. We all have different tasting abilities)

Hopslam is a beast from an age when heavy dry-hopping with American c-hops was much less common. Today, every style seems to get the dry-hop treatment, so it doesn't stand out now like it did a decade ago. It still a fine beer though and I doubt it has changed much, if it all, but people's tastes and expectations have certainly changed.

 

I get a lot of honey in Brooklyn Blast. You may like to seek it out.

 

I was at a Stone tasting, and as the rep poured a fresh Citracado into my glass, he said "this is what Hopslam wished it could be"