Pure, pure curiosity. I’m not a huge fan of Hopslam as evidenced by this, but as I say in various places I’ll drink 1-2 bottles every year. Nor I did I anticipate being a fan of this version, BUT as a legacy drinker and an old skool guy I almost feel obligated to taste this especially when it’s featured as a draft offering at my local (meaning closest) watering hole.

The pour seems lighter than regular Hopslam to me, but the light is such a big factor in assessing such that it’s hard to tell for sure. Head is good, has decent retention, and good lace, especially when considering the ABV. All in all a solid look.

The nose is unmistakably Hopslam to me. Large onion notes, and it’s one of the smells that is so reminiscent of the original beer to me.

I don’t know if I would call this fruity per se, but I would certainly call it “lighter” than the original. Its alcohol feels dialed back, and the body also feels less viscous and less punishing than Hopslam. It drinks very easily and even though the beer still clocks in at 9.0%, it doesn’t bite as hard as it might.

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this as a beer that you should try for the sake of the beer itself or one that should make an effort to seek out, but if you’ve enjoyed Hopslam in the past, I would certainly suggest a visit if it pops up close to you as it did for me.