The start of the new year also means the start of a very limited beer season in Michigan: Hopslam season.
Bell's Hopslam Double IPA is expected to return to store shelves next week. The ale is only available in January and February and sometimes, depending on sales, will extend to March.
While there isn't an exact date that Hopslam will be available, be sure to check the company's beer finder to see where you can find it. Make sure to also check with your local store or bar, as the results of the beer finder are based on recent deliveries and not real-time inventory on store shelves.
The brewery will celebrate the release of Hopslam on Friday at the Bell's Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo, and there will be tappings across the state throughout next week. Those can be found below or on Bell's website and Facebook page .
"Starting with six different hop varietals added to the brew kettle & culminating with a massive dry-hop addition of Simcoe hops, Bell's Hopslam Ale possesses the most complex hopping schedule in the Bell's repertoire," the website says .
Soon. #Hopslam #seektheseal pic.twitter.com/JIOsELGzyI
— Bell's Brewery (@BellsBrewery) December 28, 2019
Those varietals will give a blend of grapefruit, stone fruit and floral notes, with malt bill and some honey.
With a 10 percent ABV, the double IPA will be available in 6 pack cans, a mini keg and on draft.
In a video on their website, John Mallett, director of operations at Bell's, says there is a certain reason they brew Hopslam only once a year.
He said they want to "make sure that when it goes out, that it's absolutely fresh and that everybody knows where it is in that life cycle."
For those who want to keep Hopslam year round, the brewery only gives it a shelf life of three months.
Mallett also answers the question of whether or not you can cellar Hopslam.
"I'd take a black magic marker and cross out the Hopslam," he said. "It's not going to taste that big hop character is not going to come through with cellaring. The beer is still decent, it's still good, but it's a different style. You want to drink Hopslam fresh," he said.
