/ / / WILK Friday BeerBuzz–18 Feb 2011 Bell’s Hopslam

WILK Friday BeerBuzz–18 Feb 2011 Bell’s Hopslam

WILKFridayBeerbuzz3It’s been an amazing month of Feb on the Friday BeerBuzz.  We’ve welcomed some really great guests like Phil Leinhart, Steve Mashington, Brian Boak, and Chris Trogner…and some really great beers.  This morning we welcomed the 60-degree temperatures into NEPA with a special Beach Party BeerBuzz!

Not only did we have bathing suits and sunglasses, but also a really great beer in Bell’s Hopslam Double IPA.   I’m a big fan of late winter imperial IPA’s and Hopslam is one of my favorites.  Bell’s uses a unique and somewhat secret mix of six Pacific Northwest hops and hopping techniques, and a Simcoe dry-hop to get this 10% ABV brew up into the high IBU ranges, but then balances that bitter hoppiness with honey to even out the flavor.  It’s a balance that for me is unique among hoppy beers and this high-hop / dull honey mix has made it one of my favorites.

Hopslam is a big enough story on it’s own as a truly great brew, but there’s more.  Every year Hopslam launches in late January and quickly disappears off the shelves.  Hopslam has now become in my opinion, one of the most rare and sought after brews imported into PA.  Northeastern PA typically sees less than 5 cases total.  In the end for me the beer justifies the excitement, so be sure to sample it and decide for yourself….IF you can get your hands on some.

Hopslam is one of my all-time favorite beers and a brew that generates a lot of excitement every year.  It’s also a brew that fades fast so get some now and be sure to drink it fresh.  My apologies for the cross-up this morning.  Larry Bell was scheduled to join us for the Friday BeerBuzz live, but phone issues prevented that “connection” from happening on the air….so we’ll invite Larry back another time.  For the record Larry’s been on the road and his cell-phone-battery & car charger failed.


Thanks
to  John, Nancy, Joe & Bosco for yet another fun Friday. 
The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together. 
As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE

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27 comments (click to read or post):

  1. John Webster18 February, 2011 09:41

    Love. This. Beer!

    Phone glitch prevented Larry from joining us but we'll invite him back ASAP.

    Meantime, a blast celebrating an unseasonably warm day with a special Beach Party edition of The Friday BeerBuzz.

    And a hoppy beer I've never tried before? Quite possibly the greatest day of my life! (Okay, maybe not #1 but top 10?!? lol)

    Thanks for another great show Bill and thank you to everyone who listens on WILK!

    Best,
    John
    webster@wilknewsradio.com

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  2. Anonymous18 February, 2011 09:52

    This is one of my favorite beers and I haven;t been able to find it yet this year. Thanks for bringing it on the show and sorry we missed Larry.

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  3. Anonymous18 February, 2011 09:52

    Good job guys. I can't wait to see the video.

    Ryan W

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  4. Anonymous18 February, 2011 09:53

    Another fun show. This is my favorite hoppy time of the year.

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  5. Anonymous18 February, 2011 09:57

    I fight to get this beer every year. Seems like a PA distribution problem to me. I can't believe we get so little in NEPA yet my friends tell me wasted cases will sit @ Shangeys until June.

    Marty

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  6. MyBeer Buzz18 February, 2011 09:59

    Marty:

    Including bottle/sixer shops I've seen less than 5 cases come into NEPA, 1 mini-keg and 1 keg. Beyond that only Shangy's seems to have it. Perhaps Nima will chime in and explain why we se so little.

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  7. Anonymous18 February, 2011 10:00

    Great show buzzers!

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  8. Anonymous18 February, 2011 10:02

    Funny show today. I can't wait to see the movie when you post it. I had Hopslam on tap at Sabatinis and it is amazing stuff.

    Ryan

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  9. Anonymous18 February, 2011 10:04

    I wanted to hear Larry Bell. Hopefully you'll get him on again. Dissapointing, but a great beer for sure.

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  10. Anonymous18 February, 2011 10:04

    Tell Larry to please send more Hopslam!

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  11. Anonymous18 February, 2011 10:07

    You're really rocking out the hop-bombs and I love it. This is my favorite time of the year too for beer. Keep them coming.

    Chris

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  12. Anonymous18 February, 2011 10:08

    A+ show!

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  13. MyBeer Buzz18 February, 2011 10:09

    I have spoken to Larry and he promises to make it up to all of us in the future. I'm sure we'll get him on the Friday BeerBuzz in the future.

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  14. Anonymous18 February, 2011 10:09

    You guys were great even without a guest. Thanks for exposing us to another great beer.

    Amy

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  15. Anonymous18 February, 2011 10:10

    I was surprised that Hopslam is 10% ABV. It's easy drinking and the 10% isn't obvious.

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  16. Anonymous18 February, 2011 10:11

    Nice show today and the beach theme made me wish it was July.

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  17. Anonymous18 February, 2011 10:12

    Thanks buzzers. I like Hopslam and I drove down to Emmaus to get some. It's a beer worth seeking out.

    Jason P

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  18. Anonymous18 February, 2011 10:12

    You should have called me!

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  19. MyBeer Buzz18 February, 2011 10:13

    Thanks Anon....I'll remember that next time. Is Anonymous in the phone book?

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  20. Anonymous18 February, 2011 10:14

    Happy beer day. Still may favorite show of the week. The Friday Beer buzz always starts off Friday right.

    (Steve)

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  21. Anonymous18 February, 2011 10:14

    Hopslam is great. But drink it now. It doesn't last long.

    JT

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  22. MyBeer Buzz18 February, 2011 10:15

    I agree JT. Hopslam is best consumed fresh. Enjoy it now and don't save it. The cases sell very fast and this is a beer you want to drink fresh.

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  23. Anonymous18 February, 2011 12:27

    Great show today fellas. Had I not know you were missing your guest, I would have never known. You are clearly professional beer drinkers.

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  24. Anonymous18 February, 2011 12:55

    Guest or no guest the beer choices have been outstanding. It's Larry's loss!

    JT

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  25. MyBeer Buzz18 February, 2011 14:11

    Thanks guys.

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  26. Anonymous18 February, 2011 14:18

    Hopslam is so hard to get, but I think the flavor makes it worth the trouble. I'm not a big fan of Shangy's but in this case there seems to be no choice.

    Jake

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  27. Anonymous18 February, 2011 14:21

    Trust me. Listen to Bill and go get some. His beer recommendations have been great so far and I know how good Hopslam is.

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