How does 6 month old Hopslam taste?

I had a six pack last weekend, and enjoyed it.

 

There is nothing wrong with Hopslam at 6 months old! It might not taste the same as it does fresh but it still tastes fantastic! I bought a lot of it back in January and drank all but 2. One I drank just the other day when it hit the 6 month mark and the other I am saving until for the 1 year mark. I also drank one every month for 6 months to see how the flavor changed and while the hops do fall a bit they are still present in the flavor, and the honey comes forward to make a great tasting beer that still tastes like Hopslam in the end!

Drain pouring = alcohol abuse

 

I was being sarcastic and making fun of this sites ridiculous IPA/DIPA falling off mantra. I am aging a Hopslam for a year, and opening it next to a fresh one when it comes out again.

 

Send me all your unwanted six month old hopslam.

 

Don't take a chance. Purchase some hops and dry hop it before you drink it.

 

I thought it was great, one of the best "aged" DIPAs in fact. The honey is more prevalent and it's still surprisingly hoppy given the age. In my opinion, one of the few hoppy beers that doesn't just fall off after the first 36 minutes. Another one for reference is Short's Huma-Lupa-Licious IPA. I found a bottle that was about a year old and I swear it was STILL too unbalanced towards bitterness.

Dope

 

You know how when somethings so hot, it feels cold. It's just like that, but with hops. It's so faded that it's super hoppy.

Honestly, though, it's so faded, it's already taking away hoppiness from December's upcoming batch

 

If I can make a suggestion, hang onto your last one for 2 years, and do a 3 year vert instead of a 2 year side-by-side. If you can wait it out, I think you'll be happy you did. 2 year old and 1 year old bottles of Hopslam are incredibly different animals.

 

Sounds like a pretty good plan. I am in no hurry to do this.

 

I disagree with the opinions that Bell's only wants Hopslam consumed fresh. It is still on draft at the Eccentric Cafe. Larry is a stickler on the quality control of his beers (hence no growlers), so I don't think he would accept serving a beer deemed unworthy. I like it best when fresh, but it is still an excellent beer even after a few months. It's worth trading for in a locals for locals deal if you want to give it a try.

 

A friend just came back to Philly after visiting Bell's on a trip to Michigan last week. He brought back some bottles that were surprisingly old for being bought at the brewery, like a couple of sixers of Expedition bottled 9/2011. I was surprised to hear him say that Hopslam was still on tap there - not sure what it means.

 

I tend to agree with this, although there is a limit. I didn't want to color anyone else's opinion who is preparing a vertical, but I do think it falls off hardcore at about the 1 year mark. That's why I suggested aging 1 for 2 years because, oddly enough, it starts to come back a little as almost mead-like. Weird stuff, and kind of cool, I think.

 

This thread should merge with the "am I crazy for liking aged IIPA" thread. Then everyone with their noses plugged with hops wouldn't have to try too hard to campaign for instantaneous brewing to mouth consumption.

 

ISO: 6mon old Hopslam

 

Love the honey forwardness this beer makes with its stilll great hop flavor.

 

Call me crazy, but I got a pliny that was 7 weeks old in a trade. I decided to save it and try it in a year. I know i know...

 

did a year old vs fresh blind test in earlyFeb on some friends who were split on which was fresh and which was "aged" in the fridge x 1 year. Just sayin'.

 

I enjoy Hopslam a lot more after aging, I'm not a hop head and the bitterness fades nicely over time, making it very easy to drink. I have four of them aging right now, and aged two last year for nearly a year. The whole question of aging a hoppy beer is purely up to the person drinking it, I think it's a little silly to get upset or threaten people for drinking a beer 'incorrectly', it's their beer, their choice. Some people like barleywines fresh, are they also these awful, horrid people who don't deserve to appreciate beer? To each his own.

 

I drank another one of these tonight, the hops have fallen off pretty much completely but it was still very, very tasty.

 

i did this on accident on two bottles i had put to the side. i opened them up around super bowl of this year. it wasn't bad at all. but very sweet. a good sweet. and i'm not that much of a sweet person.