This is how me and my Hopslam roll…
January 22, 2009
Bells Hopslam 2009 arrived in Monroe, MI last week sometime. This sixer is from Broadway Market on N. Monroe St. and cost $14.99 + deposit. I also heard Kroger has it, probably the same price. Other news I confirmed today, Harbor Inn & Ale will have it on tap very soon (as soon as we finish the Darkhorse Sapient Trip Ale keg – so get over there and order 2 Sapient Trip Ales ASAP!!). I have yet to crack this sixer open, I’ve been a bit busy, but I will soon. I have a six pack from last January that I never finished, just for kicks I’m going to compare the two. From what I’ve learned, hop flavors decrease over time, so they say to drink them while they’re fresh… only, I don’t recommend drinking a whole six of these in one sitting. 
For reviews of Hopslam 2009 – click here.
Posted in Beer Pictures, beer
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:42 pm
LOL! Drink those puppies fresh….. mmmm boy!
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:33 am
Grats on the new addition! I mean the baby, not the beer! Although the beer is a nice way to celebrate. They sure do go smooth, great IIPA.
January 24th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Oh yeah definitely drink these fresh. I had a 2008 bottle not too long ago and almost all of the hops had faded – tastes like sweet grapefruit
January 24th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
I’m comparing the two right now. Hopslam 09′ has a huge grapefruit smell/taste. Big hop bitter bite. Hopslam 08′ tastes and smells more like caramel malts with a harsher (unbalanced) bitterness to it. I’m loving the 09′.. and will drink them all over the next few weeks. Only one tonight though will be sufficient. :p
January 24th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
This just in…Raleigh just got their shipment of the SLAM and many stores are already sold out. I was able to snatch up 2 cases for a cool $72/case and it is worth every cent. I finished my last ‘08 bottle about a month ago. I keep them in the freezer, they didn’t freeze and they were as hoppy as the day I bought ‘em. Enjoy!
January 24th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Dave – now wait til you open the new ones.. it’s a night and day difference. I haven’t heard of the freezer technique, but I’m not sure anything keeps the fresh hop flavor in beer, from what I hear, it fades with any style you do regardless of preservation techniques. How did it not freeze in the freezer?
On a side note, I left a beer outside in my garage on the table. I walked out there and half of the glass had shattered to it, and the cap was gone. what was left was a sweet frozen looking bottle. Actually I left it there. I want to break off the rest of the glass and have a frozen ice bottle… to do what with, I’m not sure yet.. Maybe just to tell this story again and show off my ice beer bottle trophy. haha.
January 26th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
The frozen beer wasn’t a hopslam was it? I’m very curious now to try a fresh HS seeing how the last time I had it was in July 08. I bought it from Monroe Liquor Plaza, so I’m guessing that it wasn’t very popular there. For what its worth, The Andersons in Toledo on Monroe and Talmadge has an AMAZING selection of beer. Anything you can imagine from micros to imports. With the closing of Bello Vino in Ann Arbor I’d say this is the closest place with a great selection.
January 27th, 2009 at 5:13 am
haha – the frozen beer was actually a beer someone left out there after a party. I believe it was Michelobe Ultra.. so yeah, it deserved to be frozen!
I just heard Monroe Liquor Plaza will get Hopslam by the end of this week. I think they price them a little higher though, then Broadway.
Thanks for the Andersons tip. There is also a store on Talmadge probably a block south of Monroe St. called Joseph’s that has a great selection of beer. I think I did a post on it sometime back.. I’d agree though, The Andersons has an amazing selection.