Hopslam is a seasonal, high-gravity American Double/Imperial IPA from Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, Mich., and is only available from Jan. 7 through February each year.

The casks will be tapped starting at 7 p.m. Tell your friends, write your momma and bring the kids if you must. Don’t miss this rare chance to taste this “biting, bitter, tongue bruiser of an ale.”

If you have not purchased your ticket, you’d better do it soon, because this tasting is sure to be a crowd pleaser. The tasting will be held on Monday, Sept 28 at 7 p.m.

Michael Bell is coming down to pair beer and food.

His line up will include Red’s Rye PA, Centennial IPA, Cerise Cherry Fermented Ale, Curmudgeon Old Ale, Dirty Bastard Scotch-Style Ale and one of my favorite beers – their Breakfast Stout. Tickets are on sale now for $30 to UFO Club Members and $35 to non-members.

Don’t forget – every Monday is Pint Night with most draught beers (over 60) for only $2.75

Cheers

Keith

Here’s a review of the event: Click Here

Since we picked up the HopSlam, we have moved 7 kegs and are now forced to hold back the rest of the stock for the March 4th Brewery night with Bells.

Matt has a treat for those of you who plan to attend.  A Cask of HopSlam that will be tapped at 7 PM SHARP. Mark your calendars – it will not last long! This beer is a Double or Imperial IPA with over 100 IBU’s and just at 10 % abv. Go easy, it goes down easier than you’d think.

We will feature six Highland beers including the Imperial Black Mocha Stout. Each beer will be paired with various cheeses and meats. The final beer will be paired with chocolate truffles and the match works incredibly well.

In 2006, Highland began a tradition of releasing an imperial version of one of their brews each September at Asheville’s Brewgrass Festival.   First was Imperial Gaelic followed by Imperial Kashmir IPA.  This year’s offering was Imperial Black Mocha Stout,  rich with coffee and chocolate notes.

Most of you know Highland’s story but to hear it from the man himself should be a good time. Make reservations NOW as space is limited. The tasting will begin at 6:30 PM .

Ticket Price: $25 for Members and $30 for non-members.

“It’s a biting, bitter, tongue bruising of an ale.” And this could be precisely why Matt G loves the stuff. It is limited and we may be the only place in the county to get it. So, drink some while you can. Beware – 1.087 OG with 10.00% abv. Go easy…..

Whole Hops

Bell’s Brewery is located in Kalamazoo, MI for those of you who don’t know their beers. The only Saucer on their radar for 2009 is Columbia, SC. Heads up gang – get some Two Hearted Ale on tap!

Bell’s is currently the 13th largest Craft Brewery in the USA. Larry Bell took over the former Kalamazoo Brewery and produced his first commercially sold brew in 1985. Before then, he had a homebrew supply shop.  (He had been an avid homebrewer since Jimmy Carter lifted the federal restrictions forbidding homebrewing in 1978.) In the brewery’s tasting room, the Eccentric Cafe, one can sample the plethora of brews made on site. I wonder if they have any Hopslam?

The beers and the food:

Third Coast Old Ale – its actually an English-style barley wine brewed just as you’d imagine – deep hazy copper color with a big head and caramel malt flavors. This beer packs a punch and you can feel the heat – 10.3% abv. This one was paired with the Cotswold English Cheddar

We moved to the Porter with Smoked Gouda. The Gouda  was a perfect match for this dark espresso colored beer.  This porter is a solid example of the style with some roasty bitterness at the end.

Later we moved to the Kalamazoo Stout and Brie. Then, Jim paired the Double Cream Stout with d’affinois – wow – what a great combination. You must try this cheese. I’d never even heard of it before then. If you like soft cheeses, you will enjoy this pairing. The beer was certainly creamy with nice chocolate notes on the nose and in the flavor.

The Cherry Stout seemed to be the biggest hit with the audience. This rich and powerful stout is brewed with Montmorency Cherries that gives it a tart cherry aroma along with the chocolate and roasted malt characteristics of a typical stout. The cherry flavor was almost enough to make me pucker.

The final beer of the night was the Expedition Stout. This big beer is a Russian Imperial Stout and it is thick, almost black and produces a dense tan head. The aroma had chocolate, coffee, roasted or burnt malt along with noticeable smoke. The brewery calls this the vintage port of American Stout and it packs a punch at 10.5% abv. We had the Saucer’s Mud Island Lava Cake with Raspberry Lambic puree over vanilla bean ice cream. I think most stouts make a good dessert beer, but this one was mildly sinful.

I always knew that I liked Bell’s Brewery. My first experience was at the GABF several years back. I think their Two Hearted ale is perhaps one of the best IPA’s in America. Next time you are at the Saucer in KC, get some.