*Style: Hazy IPA

*Pairs well with an action game; a game that introduces new mechanics over time.

Welcome to another craft beer review for Games And A Glass! This week I am reviewing a beer from Bell’s Brewery, located in Kalamazoo and Comstock, Michigan. The beer for this week will be their Official IPA, a double dry-hopped, hazy IPA. But of course before going into the review, let’s talk about Bell’s Brewing.

The history of Bell’s can be found on their site, and it tells the story of a college graduate who found an interest in beer and ran with it. The story is told through a cool slideshow.

“Our journey began with a 15-gallon soup kettle, a quest for better beer and countless batches of homebrew. The passion and personality that began Bell’s continues today through our breweries and Eccentric Café. We continue to grow and evolve, dedicated to our mission; to be fiercely independent, 100% family owned, deeply rooted to our community, committed to the environment and brewers of inspired beer.”

Some of Bell’s mainstays includes their Two Hearted Ale, Amber Ale, and Lager of the Lakes pilsner. Their seasonal and specialty releases includes their Oberon wheat ale, Expedition stout, and Christmas ale.

Their description for Official IPA reads, “Two of our favorite ingredients come together in the brewhouse; pungent American hops and delicious wheat malt. This Hazy IPA is double dry-hopped (a combination of Mosaic, Citra, Azacca, Amarillo and El Dorado hops) resulting in complex peach, stone fruit and tropical notes with a dry finish and balanced bitterness. A refined beer for those who love hops and for those who prefer wheat beers. Go ahead and make it Official.”

And now onto my thoughts!

Nose: Right as I poured it, I immediately noticed the peach aroma and I was not expecting it to make its presence known so soon. It’s pleasant and has me excited to believe the peach will be significant in its taste. The fruitiness of the beer blends together with hops and creates a nice balance of the two major characteristics. I really appreciate how everything works together. It’s not just hops, then fruit. I’m very excited for its taste.

Palate: It’s more hoppy than I expected after the first sip. However, it’s also juicy and there’s a bit of the fruit at the end. The peach is faintly present but it provides a tasty factor to round out the beer. Everything here meshes well and I’m really enjoying its taste. But as I drink it more, the hops start to slightly fade away and the juice and fruit becomes more relevant. It’s an interesting development, but I appreciate all of its characteristics playing a role in its taste.

Overall: This is a rock solid beer! Its aromas match the taste and it ends up being a refreshing drink. I appreciate the balance that Bells has found with Official. If anyone is looking for a refreshing and juicy beer from a great brewery, Bell’s Official is an excellent choice. At 6.4 percent ABV, it’s easy to drink, too!

I’d like to thank you for reading my craft beer review. If there’s ever a craft beer you’d recommend I try and/or review, please let me know and I will try, to the best of my ability, to acquire it! And remember, like a fine alcoholic beverage or a memorable video game, please enjoy in moderation.

While you’re here, feel free to check out The Spirit Shop NJ on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and where I currently work, we have dozens of craft beers with new ones coming in weekly! Check us out!