Bell's This One Goes To 11 Ale 4Pk

Bell's This One Goes To 11 Ale 4Pk is a double dry-hopped American strong ale from Bell's Brewery in Michigan, packaged as a four-pack at a bold 11% ABV. Scoring 92/100 on BeerAdvocate across nearly 800 ratings, this now-discontinued release earned a devoted following for its layered hop intensity balanced against a sturdy malt backbone.

Quick Facts: ABV: 11%  |  Origin: Comstock, Michigan  |  Style: American Strong Ale  |  Brewery: Bell's Brewery

Production & Heritage

Bell's Brewery, founded in 1985 by Larry Bell in Kalamazoo, Michigan, grew into one of the most respected independent craft breweries in the Midwest before its 2021 acquisition by New Belgium parent company Lion Little World Beverages. This One Goes To 11 — its name a nod to the famous Spinal Tap amplifier scene — was brewed with massive kettle and dry-hop additions using a combination of Southern Hemisphere varieties (Galaxy, Motueka, Summer) alongside Pacific Northwest staples (Simcoe, Citra, Mosaic). Fermented with Bell's signature house ale yeast and registering an original gravity of 1.096, the beer underwent a double dry-hopping process that amplified its aromatic intensity well beyond what its substantial malt bill might suggest.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright, juicy tropical fruit leads immediately — ripe mango, papaya, and passion fruit give way to cherry and citrus blossom. A secondary wave of dank pine resin and sticky cannabis-like hop character adds depth beneath the fruit.

Taste: The entry is bursting with citrusy grapefruit and jammy peach, followed by apricot and orange marmalade at mid-palate. Earthy pine and bitter orange build toward the peak, supported by a sweet, biscuity malt base that provides structure without cloying. The 11% alcohol registers as gentle warmth rather than harshness, though it makes its presence known.

Finish: Medium-long with a sticky, resinous texture and lingering tropical fruit and pine hop flavors. Residual sweetness fades gradually, leaving behind bitter orange peel and a warm, malty afterglow.

How to Drink This One Goes To 11

This ale is best served at around 50–55°F in a tulip glass or snifter, which concentrates its complex aromatics. The 11% ABV and layered hop character reward slow, deliberate sipping — treat it more like a barleywine than a session IPA. Given its bold flavor profile, cocktail applications are uncommon, but it works well as a beer-tail base: try it in a Hop Drop (paired with citrus bitters and a grapefruit twist), a Beer-garita (blended with lime juice and agave for a strong shandy riff), or a Boilermaker alongside a clean, unpeated whiskey where the tropical hops contrast the grain.

Best For

• Craft beer collectors seeking discontinued Bell's releases
• Sharing with friends during a curated tasting of high-ABV American ales
• Pairing alongside a rich dinner course like braised short ribs or aged cheddar
• Gifting a hop-forward beer enthusiast something outside the typical IPA range

Frequently Asked Questions

What does This One Goes To 11 taste like? It delivers a wave of tropical fruit — mango, peach, and grapefruit — layered over earthy pine resin and a sweet malt foundation, with noticeable but smooth alcohol warmth from its 11% ABV.

How does This One Goes To 11 compare to Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA? Both are high-ABV hop-forward ales (11% vs. 9%), but This One Goes To 11 leans more heavily into tropical and Southern Hemisphere hop character, while Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA uses a continuously hopped process that produces a more balanced, caramel-malt-driven profile.

Is This One Goes To 11 good for sipping neat? Yes — the complex hop layering, malt sweetness, and 11% strength make it an ideal slow-sipper, best enjoyed from a tulip glass at cellar temperature to appreciate the full aromatic range.

Where is This One Goes To 11 made? It was brewed at Bell's Brewery in Comstock, Michigan, just outside Kalamazoo, where Bell's has operated its main production facility since 2003.

What foods pair well with This One Goes To 11? Sharp aged cheddar complements the hop bitterness; grilled pork belly mirrors the malty sweetness; spicy Thai curry is tempered by the residual sugar and tropical fruit notes; a citrus tart or key lime pie echoes the grapefruit and orange marmalade character; and dark chocolate truffles contrast the piney bitterness.

What sizes does This One Goes To 11 come in? This release was available as a four-pack of standard 12 oz bottles, though availability is now extremely limited as the beer has been discontinued.

Is This One Goes To 11 worth the price? It positions in the premium craft ale tier, and its 92/100 BeerAdvocate score, double dry-hopped process using six hop varieties, and discontinued status make remaining stock particularly appealing for collectors and hop enthusiasts.

Why This One Goes To 11?

The combination of six hop varieties spanning two hemispheres — Galaxy, Motueka, and Summer from the south, Simcoe, Citra, and Mosaic from the Pacific Northwest — created a tropical-meets-dank profile that few strong ales replicate. The double dry-hopping amplified those aromatics to match the beer's outsized 11% ABV, producing something more vivid and hop-forward than a traditional barleywine but richer and more complex than a standard double IPA. Its 92/100 BeerAdvocate rating reflects genuine critical recognition, not just hype. With Bell's having discontinued the release, any remaining stock represents a legitimate piece of Michigan craft beer history from one of the Midwest's most influential breweries.