History

From the 10 Stouts of November Project to our annual All Stouts Day celebration, stouts have a long history here at Bell's. You may have heard about Cherry Stout, Expedition Stout, Kalamazoo Stout and others.  But what about Suzie's Sweet Stout or Harry Magill's Spiced Stout?  Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell's Brewery, talks about how stout fits into our brewery.        

When fall approaches, that means it’s time for Best Brown's return. Best Brown was first released in 1988 and packaged. in 22 oz. bottles. It featured a plain type label and then a winter pine cone. The owl first appeared in 1993 and has been on the label ever since. There have been different styles, as seen in the gallery below, including one based on an acrylic painting by Kent Elliott of Black Lab Five.  Elliot said the painting was inspired by evenings in Marshall, Michigan, just east of Kalamazoo, when the beautiful autumn light rakes across the woods, lighting up a slight fog in the air. In 2016, Best Brown's label and packaging was given a refresh according to our new packaging architecture and updated Bell's logo. For its 2020 release, Best Brown underwent another packaging refresh.  “It's a mix of the old and the new. It hearkens back to our original labels while paying homage to the heritage of the brand, a modernized nod to the history of Best Brown,” Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell’s Brewery said.  Look for Best Brown beginning in August while supplies last. You can enjoy it in 12 oz. bottles (6-packs), 16 oz. cans (4-packs), 12 oz. cans (6-packs and 12-packs) or on draught with help from our Beer Finder. 

Fall is soon approaching and it means it’s time for Best Brown Ale, our fall seasonal. Best Brown was first released in 1988 and packaged in 22 oz. bottles. It featured a plain type label and then a winter pine cone. The owl first appeared in 1993 and has been on the label ever since. There have been different styles, as seen in the gallery. The owl painting we have today on the front of 12 oz. bottles and 16 oz. cans was based on an acrylic painting by Kent Elliott of Black Lab Five.  Elliot said the painting was inspired by evenings in Marshall, Michigan, just east of Kalamazoo, when the beautiful autumn light rakes across the woods, lighting up a slight fog in the air. “There's nothing quite like that autumn light,” Elliott said in 2013. “This is that moment when all the deer, turkeys, coyotes, squirrels and chipmunks have paused (maybe to listen) — and the silence is broken by the soft sound of a distant owl echoing through the hardwoods.” Look for Best Brown in 12 oz. bottles and 16 oz. cans and on draught. Locate it near you using our Beer Finder. #AutumnsBestColor