Drink Review Monday DOUBLE FEATURE: Bell's HopSlam and Dogfish Head 120 Minute Pale Ale

So, after a near month's inactivity, I have returned with an as promised Monday Drink Review.

For this inaugural entry, I have decided to copy my co-conspirator contributor on Epic Portions and do a review of HopSlam.

First, a little back-story about my budding relationship with Bell's Brewery.  I had just discovered this awesome microbrewery last May when I went home to good old Saline, MI for my post-deployment leave.  I had some of their Oberon summer ale and quite enjoyed it.  It was bittersweet, though, knowing that as a microbrew in Michigan, I would probably be hard pressed to find their offerings once I returned to VA.

Fast forward to October, when my shipmate Tony is trying to find a decent place in town to find some beer that fits his(and quite frankly my) discriminating tastes. His brother recommends a chain store called Total Wine and More, which he then tells me of.  I check this place out and discover they carry several varieties of Bell's. I was ecstatic.  So,when ol' Johnny Moors spills his guts about Bell's HopSlam, I gotta phone my new bulwark of beer and inquire about it's availability. The manager tells me they DO have it and tells me of the scant, inexpensive, well-worth-it $22 price tag for a six pack. Yes, I know.  $22 is a lot to pay for six beers, but I gladly paid $11 for a single bottle of Dogfish Head 120 Minute Imperial Pale Ale (more on this one later).

I was seriously trusting Mizzors and his highly refined palate to not let me down.

I was not let down.  This is truly one of the best beers I've ever had.  It has a strong hoppy front that is delightfully balanced with an apricot-like sweetness crossed with a slight grapefruit sourness and finishes with a dandelion milk tasting bitterness on the backside.  A warning to the faint of heart and light of weight, this stuff is 10% ABV.  [If I have to explain what ABV means,you don't deserve to drink this beer.]  Even my wife agrees this is an amazing beer.  It's no wonder Beer Advocate named it #26 on their Top Beers list.  I may have another.  Excuse me a moment...

Okay, I'm  back...man that was good beer.

On to my second feature, the Dogfish Head 120 Minute Imperial Pale Ale

Oh...My...GEEEEEEE!  If you want bang for your buck, this is the one!  Now, this stuff ain't cheap!  It's $11 a bottle, damn near impossible to find most of the year, and it's ABV is 18%.  So, you're talking about 2% per dollar here (but honestly, it the same with Budweiser). It also scores 120 IBUs (once again, if you don't understand the acronym...), so it's definitely not for the faint of heart. Never before have I had a single beer knock me on my ass like this. Seriously, do the math.  A bottle of this stuff has the same alcohol content as 6 oz or 4 shots of whisky!  No wonder this stuff tastes like watered-down Maker's Mark!  Seriously, though, it's very potent stuff and should be handled wisely.  Despite its high alcohol content, it is very enjoyable.  It pretty much tastes what I'd imagine a handful of hops previously used to brew a 60 minute ale would taste like if you chewed them up.  I think that's awesome.

So in conclusion, if you are used to drinking Bud or Miller, disregard this transmission.  However, if you seek a libation that challenges your tolerance of bitterness and gravity of a beer, or wish to broaden your horizons, try one or both of these delectable brews. Just make sure you have a decent amount of disposable income first, because like tattoos, great beers aren't cheap and cheap beers aren't that great.