Topic Archives: Bell’s Leaves of Grass Series

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.