Kalamazoo Stout

First things first... What's All Stouts Day?!  It's a holiday of our own creation - a celebration of brewing what we want, how we want, no matter what.  Listen to Larry tell us all about it right here.    How to Celebrate from Home! Get yourself some Bell's Stouts! We love dark, malty beers - so much that we even feature a few year-round, like our Kalamazoo Stout and Porter. Click the links below for food pairings, histories, and more!   Kalamazoo Stout Porter Special Double Cream Stout Expedition Stout Cherry Stout Something from your cellar! A vintage Expedition Stout, maybe that Black Note you've been holding on to forever? Anything from us with an Unlimited shelf life. Not sure where to find them?  Check our Beer Finder to see what's been delivered near you. The results show deliveries, not current inventory, so definitely use the info in the results to call ahead before making a trip!   Level up with glassware! Pouring into a glass lets you experience all the aromas and flavors that are part of experiencing beer as it's meant to be. Get some tasters, or grab a snifter from our Online Store.    Next steps... Invite some friends, pour yourself a little of each, and enjoy!  Tip... If they've been refrigerated, let them sit on the counter for a bit before cracking one open. Letting them warm up a little will help keep those taste buds from getting a cold shock and missing out on something delicious! Local? Celebrate at the Eccentric Cafe! Sunday, November 7th starting at Noon. Full event details right here. 

We are proud to share that two of our classic beers have won medals at this year’s Colorado State Fair. Bell’s Porter received a gold medal in the competition’s American Porter category and Kalamazoo Stout won a silver medal in the Foreign Extra Stout category.  Porter was first released in 1987 and Kalamazoo Stout debuted in 1988. Both beers debuted refreshed packaging earlier this year.  “Beers like Porter and Kalamazoo Stout were some of our original brews and, along with Amber Ale, helped build the brewery,” said Larry Bell, Bell’s president and founder.  “It’s incredible to see these darker, classic beers continue earning awards today,” he added.  Upper Hand Brewery, a division of Bell’s, also brought home three medals: bronze for Laughing Fish and its SISU Stout in addition to a gold for Yellow Hex.  Here’s a breakdown of all the awards: Bell’s Silver in Category 16D (Foreign Extra Stout) for Kalamazoo Stout GOLD! in Category 20A (American Porter) for Bell’s Porter Upper Hand Bronze in Category 12A (British Golden Ale) for Laughing Fish Bronze in Category 20C (Imperial Stout) for SISU Stout GOLD! in Category 27 (Historical Beer) for Yellow Hex

We are proud to announce brand new looks for two of our oldest craft beers.  Beginning in April (2019), fans will start to see refreshed packaging for Bell’s Porter (5.6% ABV) and Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout (6% ABV). Inside will be the same Bell’s beer our fans have loved from the beginning.  “We’ve been brewing both of these beers since the late ’80s. Along with Amber Ale, these two were some of our first craft beers to hit the market, offering a flavorful alternative to what was pretty much the only option at the time (domestic, light beer).” said Larry Bell, President and Founder of Bell’s Brewery.   Named after the city where it all began and where we still brew to this day, Kalamazoo Stout is one of Bell’s most classic recipes. Originally debuting in 1988, this smooth, full-bodied stout offers a blend of aromas and flavors of dark chocolate and freshly roasted coffee, balanced with a significant hop presence. Kalamazoo Stout is a mainstay in the Bell’s stout portfolio and a prefect craft beer to enjoy year-round.  Bell’s award-winning Porter bridges the gap between malty brown ales and heavily roasted stouts. Notes of chocolate, coffee and roasted barley are offset with just a slight hop bitterness. Bell’s Porter is another one of Bell’s darker, roastier offerings that can be enjoyed during the warmer months as well as during the colder ones.  Our Porter and Kalamazoo Stout are both available on draft and in 12 oz. bottles packaged in 6-packs. Both beers are available year-round. 

This twist on chocolate fondue is a delicious treat to serve at your next gathering, but we get it if you'd rather save it all for yourself.  Ingredients  16 oz. semisweet chocolate 4 oz. Kalamazoo Stout (1/3 of a bottle... drink the rest!) 1 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup coffee 2 TBS unsalted butter For dipping we suggest: Crusty bread Fruit: strawberries, oranges, bananas Sharp cheddar Pretzels Marshmallows Shortbread cookies In the kitchen In a medium sauce pan, bring heavy cream, Kalamazoo Stout, and coffee to a high simmer. Break chocolate apart and put into a heat-proof bowl, pour hot cream and stout mixture over the chocolate. Let the mixture sit on the chocolate for a few minutes (allowing the heat to melt the chocolate), and then whisk it together until fully incorporated. Add the butter and continue to whisk. If you have a fondue pot, you can keep it warm in the fondue pot. If not, keep the pan on the stove on low heat until ready to eat. Get your favorite dippers and enjoy with some friends!

Just because you enjoy beer doesn't mean you can’t also enjoy candy -- in fact, candy and beer pairs perfectly. We asked around the brewery for everyone’s favorite candy and beer pairings and here’s what we’re enjoying this Halloween season. Kalamazoo Stout and Black Licorice Best Brown and Peanut M&Ms Oarsman and Snickers Roundhouse and dark chocolate (70% cacao is best, but find one that’s at least 60% and no more than 80%) Roundhouse and Sour Patch Kids Starbursts and Oarsman Third Coast Old Ale and chocolate covered cherries Amber Ale and Milk Duds Arabicadabra and peanut butter cups Check out more pairing suggestions from last year, including Two Hearted with Sour Gummy Worms and Expedition Stout with a Take 5. Share your favorite #bellsbeer and candy pairings with us  on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. [[{"fid":"5480","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default"}},"link_text":null,"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]  

With this weekend’s football festivities, you may be looking for a dish to bring to a party or make at home. Here’s a tasty idea: Sriracha Stout Chex Mix. CraftBeer.com has the recipe using Kalamazoo Stout with it. The recipe calls for reducing the stout to a thick syrup. In addition to the sriracha, the mix has Thai green curry and garlic powder, creating a melody of spices. There’s other ideas, including Belgian Tripel Honey Black Pepper Chicken Wings, Brown Ale Caramel Corn with Pretzels & Pecans and IPA-Caramelized Onion Dip. Here’s a link to the recipe from CraftBeer.com

Recipe adapted from Heather in Lake Orion, Michigan Always wanted a way to add beer to your bacon? Recently, one of our fans experimented with this idea and shared with this fabulous recipe. We had to try it! When gathering your ingredients, you will want to make sure to choose a thick cut bacon. We went to a local, Kalamazoo butcher, V & V Quality Meats, for ours. Kalamazoo Stout, which is available year round, perfectly complements the hearty, richness of the bacon while the coarse salt brings out the sweetness from the brown sugar. Roasting the bacon for a longer time at a lower temperature will allow the bacon to reach that melt-in-your-mouth level of crispiness. We also recommend using a cookie sheet with a tall lip to capture the bacon grease as it cooks. A larger pan underneath can also be used to catch any grease. Here's the recipe: Ingredients • 1 lb. thick cut bacon • ¾ cup dark brown sugar • ½ cup Kalamazoo Stout (measure after foam goes down) • Coarse sea salt Directions • Preheat oven to 385°F. • Place bacon on a wire rack on foil lined cookie sheet and bake for 13 minutes. • Mix together brown sugar and beer to make your basting liquid. • Brush bacon with mixture. Flip and brush again. • Cook for 15 minutes. • Repeat this process 3 to 4 times until desired crispiness. • Let bacon rest and cool for 10 minutes. • Sprinkle sea salt on top. • Let cool for another 10 minutes. • Enjoy!! We also tried this using Java Stout and Cherry Stout, both fall specialties. All three varieties were delicious! Cherry Stout will give the bacon a deeper sweetness that candied the bacon fantastically. Java Stout with add another layer of flavor that any coffee lover is sure to enjoy. Have a recipe featuring one of Bell’s beers? Please share and perhaps you’ll see your recipe featured here on our Blog! Need help locating these or other beers nearby? Try using our Beer Finder.