Bell’s Brewing

Posted in Bell's Brewing, New Beers
Posted in Bell's Brewing, Don't Miss This, Seasonal Return

Diversity promoting Bell’s Sparkleberry Ale returns for another summer

Bell's Sparkleberry Ale Can

Bell’s Sparkleberry Ale returns to 16-ounce cans for summer 2019.

This fruit-forward release first debuted in 2013 in honor of the Kalamazoo, Michigan Pride Festival. Bell’s Brewery was a presenting sponsor. Since then, the beer has been made more widely available on draft, plus a few 750-milliliter bottles at Bell’s General Store.

This summer, Bell’s Sparkleberry Ale returns in 16-ounce cans. The brewery continues to maintain their partnership with Kalamazoo Pride, a fundraiser for OutFront Kalamazoo.  The Kalamazoo Gay-Lesbian Resource Center, OutFront Kalamazoo, continues to serve the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community of greater Kalamazoo, its friends, and allies.

“Our celebration of diversity is no secret, but this can says it front and center. No matter who you are or who you love, all are welcome at Bell’s.”-  Laura Bell, Bell’s Brewery

Bell’s Sparkleberry Ale is now available in 16-ounce cans and draft seasonally.

Style: Fruit Beer (w/ Raspberries)
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft. Seasonal Release.

Debut: June 2013 (Draft)
Can Debut: June 2018
Latest Return: June 2019

9% ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal

Posted in Bell's Brewing, New Beers
Posted in Bell's Brewing, Don't Miss This

Bell’s debuts Whitman inspired “Leaves of Grass” Series (with style updates)

Bell's Leaves of Grass Series

A few years ago, it was a series of planetary releases inspired by Gustav Holst’s orchestral suite by the same name. Now Bell’s Brewery is taking their latest beer inspirations from Walt Whitman, his poetry collection Leaves of Grass.

Starting this month, and continuing into 2020, look for seven different literary beer pieces, each brewed with Whitman in mind. Up first – Song of Myself, a German-inspired American India pale ale.

“Over the years, we’ve drawn inspiration from a variety of different sources from music to literature to the Great Lakes. This series is just the latest example of how the arts have inspired us to create new and innovative recipes.” – Larry Bell, President, and Founder

After Song of Myself IPA, the series will tentatively look like this:

The Prairie-Grass Dividing (July) – Gose-Style Ale Brewed with Plum, Salt & Coriander
Oh, Captain! My Captain! (September)- Black India pale lager
To a Locomotive in Winter (November) – Smoked Porter
Song of the Open Road (January 2020) – Winter Warmer
Salut Au Monde! (March 2020) – Lager with old world grains
Spontaneous Me (May 2020) – Wild Fermented Beer

Leaves of Grass was first published in 1855. Whitman spent a good bit of his life revising the collection, which started as just 12 poems, growing to over 400 at the time of his death. The last edition, aka “The Deathbed” edition, was published in 1892.

Each of the Bell’s Leaves of Grass Series will be available in 12-ounce bottles, in limited quantities nationally.

Article updated with future potential styles.

Posted in Bell's Brewing, New Releases

Bell’s releases their “Official” Hazy IPA

Bell's Official Hazy IPA

Bell’s Official Hazy IPA joins the brewery’s year-round portfolio in 2019. 

It’s been almost 8 months since the announcement, and finally, Bell’s Official Hazy IPA is on shelves. The release combines two things the brewery says they do best, India pale ale and wheat beer.

Mosaic, Citra, Azacca, Amarillo, and El Dorado hops are the stars in this wheat heavy release. Development of this future release started in 2017, alongside Titania and Larry’s Latest IPA. As Bell’s describes this newbie, “Official is a refined beer for those who love hops AND for those who prefer wheat beers. Not to be confused with New England IPAs, Official is Bell’s Hazy IPA.”

Look for Official Hazy IPA in 16-ounce cans, 12-ounce cans, 12-ounce bottles and draft across the brewery’s 40 state distribution plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico starting in March 2019.

Style: IPA
Hops: Mosaic, Citra, Azacca, Amarillo, El Dorado

Availabilty: 12oz Cans, 16oz Cans, 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: March 2019

6.4% ABV

Posted in Headlines, Bell's Brewing, Seasonal Return

Bell’s Hopslam 2019 returns today. Here’s the shipping schedule

Bell's Hopslam cans brewery

Bell’s Hopslam returns again for 2019 starting today. Below are all the details you’ll need to get your annual hoppy fix.

Starting in 2016, the Comstock, Michigan based brewery started shipping Hopslam in cans for the first time, and dropping Hopslam bottles from the lineup.

This year, the 1.32-gallon mini-kegs, aka the “hangover maker” will also hit shelves in limited quantities.

Bell’s Hopslam is an imperial IPA brewed with Michigan honey, easily ranking among one of the brewery’s most popular releases. The Double IPA will start shipping in waves beginning the first week of January to their home state of Michigan, then to the rest of their distribution area.

January 2nd: Bell’s Eccentric Cafe.

Hopslam cans will start shipping on Jan. 3: Counties in lower Michigan: Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clare, Clinton, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lake, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Osceola, Ottawa, St. Joseph, Shiawassee, Van Buren, Washtenaw and Wayne.

Week of Jan. 7: Remaining counties in Michigan (including the U.P.), Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusettes, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraksa, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee (Roanne, Scott, Campbell, Claiborne, Morgan, Anderson, Union, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Coche, Sevier, Blount, Loudon, Shelby, Cheatham, Davidson, Wilson, Trousdale, Williamson, Rutherford, Maury, Bledsoe, Rhea, Seqatchie and Hamilton counties), Vermont and Wisconsin

Week of Jan. 14: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Deleware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee (remaining counties), Texas, Virginia, West Virginia,

Bell’s Hopslam is a 12-ounce can, mini-keg, and draft limited release.

Style: Imperial IPA (w/ Honey)
Availability: 12oz Cans, 1.32 Gallon Mini-Keg, Draft.
Latest Return: Early January 2019

10% ABV

Images via Bell’s Brewery.

Posted in Bell's Brewing, Coming Soon

Eccentric Cafe Exclusive: Bell’s Tessie’s Golden Ale

Bell's Tessie's Golden Ale

Bell’s Tessie’s Golden Ale will debut in the brewery’s Eccentric Cafe in late-October.

The golden ale is being brewed on Bell’s new pilot system and bottled on a new specialty packaging line. The artwork features brewery founder Larry Bell’s dog Tessie wearing an Oberon collar.

BELL’S SIDEYARD ALE DEBUTS IN OCTOBER

Look for it in 12-ounce bottles and draft in the Cafe before Halloween.

Style: Golden Ale
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: Late October 2018

5% ABV