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We have an amazing lineup planned for 2022 that includes new beers, new packaging and returning Bell’s Brewery favorites.  Those will of course include Two Hearted, Light Hearted, Amber Ale, Lager of the Lakes, Official Hazy IPA, Oberon Ale, Rind Over Matter, Kalamazoo Stout, Porter, Hopsoulution Ale, Octoberfest, Special Double Cream Stout, Christmas Ale and many more. We’ll be sharing future updates right here, so check back often. You can also follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and sign up for our email newsletters to ensure you know what’s coming next. See below for more. Cheers! January Taller Hopslams Our eagerly awaited Double IPA will not only return to 12 oz. cans, but has also debuted in a taller option (16 oz. cans packaged in 4-packs). Get to know LoSun LoSun, a low-calorie Wheat Ale arrives just in time for New Year’s resolutions. It is the latest release in our Rotational Wheat Series which includes Bright White, Rind Over Matter and the ever-popular, summer staple, Oberon Ale! This beer is refreshing and packed with fruity, dry-hopped aromas and flavors like citrus and pineapple. It has all the qualities of an IPA combined with the smooth mouthfeel of a wheat beer. It’s a great choice for a variety of craft beer drinkers coming in at 4% Alc. By Vol. and only 110 calories (per 12 oz. serving). Find this new wheat offering in bottles, cans and on draft across our distribution footprint. Not sorry at all The distribution of No, Yeah has expanded to six additional states with the New Year: Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. Michigan will also start to see 12-packs of this award-winning easy-drinking beer in January. Learn more about No, Yeah. Eccentric Exclusives Formerly known as the Bell’s General Store Exclusive Series, these small batches of special releases won’t be available anywhere but our General Store and pub, the Eccentric Cafe. Bell’s has a long tradition of brewing small batches just for those who visit its original location and live in the area. More of them will now be bottled and sold exclusively at the brewery’s General Store and on tap at the adjacent Cafe. You can find the full list, updated as we go, on our Brand Page.  That's The Idea Have you ever wanted to be a beer taste tester? That’s the idea behind this series of small-batch brews. Take a sip of what’s on our brewers’ minds, share your thoughts via QR codes on the six-pack carriers, and be part of Bell’s Inspired Brewing tradition. To make it easier, we're adding new releases on its Brand Page as we go.  February More variety packs A brand-new variety pack will start shipping in mid-January just in time for Valentine’s Day featuring Two Hearted, Light Hearted, Black Hearted and Cold Hearted. Our Bell’s Box of Hearts includes three 12 oz. bottles of each variation. This will be the first time Black Hearted and Cold Hearted will see wide distribution. March Save the date! Oberon officially returns on March 21.  April/May Even more sunshine Tropical Oberon will return for a second year in mid-April. August More 16 oz. cans Hopslam isn’t the only Double IPA to get the taller can treatment. The double version of Bell’s iconic IPA, Two Hearted, will also debut in this popular packaging option for the first time. Double Two Hearted will return in August. And to top it all off, Octoberfest will also be back for a fall celebration.  September Stouts and a wheat Rind Over Matter returns along with Double Cream Stout, Expedition Stout and Third Coast Old Ale.

Things to keep in mind if you decide to enter this year's homebrew competition: Homebrewers should bring a sanitized vessel with them to transport their wort home. Buckets, carboys (please be extra careful handling glass carboys) and cornelius kegs are the most common vessels. You can leave them in your vehicle until it’s time to pick up your wort, but again, please sanitize your vessel prior to your pick-up time to help us make sure everyone gets their wort. NEW THIS YEAR! All participants must reserve a time slot online for your wort pickup. No walk ups will be permitted until all online reservations have been fulfilled. Pick up time slots will go live on Sunday, July 11th at 10am EST. Please check our Facebook page for a link to sign up.  The first time slot for wort distribution will begin at 3pm on Saturday, July 31st.  Be creative with your recipe/submission! If your entry is chosen as the winner, we will have to be able to figure out a way to make your beer on a much larger scale. So please, take good, detailed notes of everything you do to the wort. Cannabis infused beer will not be judged and should not be submitted. The wort will be made with 100-percent Michigan Pale Ale malt. The original gravity of the wort will be announced on the day of wort pickup. The wort will be minimally boiled and entirely unhopped, giving you complete freedom for recipes and allow your imagination to run wild from there. However, homebrewers will have to complete the kettle boil on their own systems. There are no style guidelines for the final beer, so long as it uses the base wort from Bell's Brewery, Inc. Competition entries (four 12 oz. bottles) are due to the Bell’s General Store by 6pm, September 3rd. For more on this year's competition, go here. 

We're taking you to new shores under the Oberon sun with two, new ways to enjoy the color and scent of a summer afternoon. Tropical Oberon, a variation brewed with real passionfruit, pink guava, and mango started shipping this week. It will be available in 4-packs of 12-ounce bottles. Limited edition Oberon packaging has also started shipping. Those twelve-packs (12-ounce bottles and cans) will transport fans to the beach, celebrating another of one of our favorite things about summer.   “Both are special treats for this year’s Oberon season. And not the last surprise we have in store for our Oberon fans this year,” Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell’s Brewery hinted. Check deliveries near you with our Beer Finder. No results? No worries - it's likely still on the way. Search "All Beers" and reach out to your trusty, local shops to see if they have more details about if and when then expect to carry it in the meantime. Those who prefer the traditional Oberon packaging will still have that option as well; fresh batches of Oberon will continue shipping until later this summer. All will join this year’s brand-new mini keg, part of a series of Mini kegs for Causes designed to help support organizations that are near and dear to the brewery, on store shelves. Tropical Oberon (5.8% Alc.-by-Vol.) is the second bottled Oberon variant released and will be limited. Mango Oberon was released in 2020. Like Mango Oberon, Tropical Oberon was originally released as part of the Bell’s General Store Exclusive Series; small-batch beers that continue the vision of Larry Bell and celebrate the innovation he started. All are released exclusively where it all began - at the Bell’s General Store in downtown Kalamazoo. Other variations of Oberon have included Mango Habanero Oberon, Pineapple Jalapeno, Guava, Raspberry, and Cucumber Basil. For more information about where to enjoy those last few months of summer, check out Oberon cooking recipes, learn more about the history of the beer, and more, go here. And if your phone's in the mood for a new, summer look, download our all-new Tropical Oberon phone wallpaper below! 

Carrie K. Yunker has been appointed to the newly created position of Executive Vice President of Bell’s Brewery, Inc. Yunker will assist Larry Bell, our president and founder, in overseeing all aspects of company management which includes leading the company’s Senior Leadership Team and acting as liaison to the brewery’s Board of Directors. “Carrie has the passion, skill and expertise to help lead this company even further. Her experience, compassion and strategic mindset are invaluable to the future of this company,” Bell said. Yunker has been with Bell’s for almost 20 years, starting as a part-time receptionist while attending Western Michigan University. She was most recently Vice President of Human Resources at Bell’s and is currently a member of the Executive Committee for the National Craft Beer Human Resource Group. Highly energized and passionate, she believes in recognizing, elevating and celebrating the individual value a person brings to an organization. Yunker has helped develop a highly regarded and sought-after culture for the family-owned, independent craft brewery that has been recognized on both a local as well as national level as one of the Best and Brightest companies to work for the past five years in a row. She is an industry leader in engagement, talent management and strategic planning.

We would like to (politely) introduce you to our newest release specifically for those in the Midwest. No, Yeah, is our latest year-round release; it will start shipping next week here in Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Minnesota. An easy-drinking Golden Ale with an ABV of 4.5%, No, Yeah is bright and fun inside and out. This lighter craft beer option is crisp and dry with a slightly sweet flavor profile. It is balanced, not overly bitter and will resonate with fans of lagers and those just looking for a really nice beer. “We saw an opportunity with our core offerings, part of a growing market, but also a niche that’s near and dear to us as proud Midwesterners,” Larry Bell, president and founder said. This beer will appeal to those who are looking for another alternative to higher ABV beers, something that is crisp and refreshing and not too hoppy,” he added. Both the name and packaging both play into Midwest politeness and memes that share in that culture. Phrases like "ope", " 'scuse me" and "let me sneak past ya" are all part of the fun of this new Bell’s offering. No, Yeah is the perfect easy drinking Golden Ale for all things Midwest. It begins shipping the week of Jan. 18. No, Yeah will be available to purchase at the Bell’s General Store and Eccentric Cafe in downtown Kalamazoo on Jan. 18. Get to know No, Yeah Style: Easy-drinking Golden Ale - clean, crisp, balanced Alc. by Vol.: 4.5% Packaging options: Draft, 6-pack cans (12 oz.) Shelf life: 6 months Recommended glassware: nonic or pint glass Distribution: Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Minnesota Midwestern-ese explained No Yeah = Yes Yeah No = No Yeah No for sure = definitely No yeah no = oh no you’re fine yeah no yeah = I’m sorry, but unfortunately, the answer is yes Ope, sorry = I’m just gonna sneak past ya and grab the ranch

Bell’s Brewery is proud to announce a new distributor partnership in Southern California. Classic Beverage of Southern California will assume distribution of Bell’s beer after the sale of Craft Beer Guild Distributing of Los Angeles, a Sheehan Family Company. “We are excited to partner with Classic Beverages in their ambitious plans for Southern California. As a family-owned, fiercely independent craft brewer, we are inspired by CJ’s (Sanchez) passion for his family business and his vision for the future of Classic Beverage of Southern California,” Matt Moberly, Bell’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said. Our customers should see no impact on beer availability. Classic offers a considerably greater coverage in the LA market, we should eventually reach even more customers, he added. Bell’s remains business partners with other Sheehan Family Company distributorships within the Midwest and along the East Coast. Bell’s began distributing to Southern California in 2014. About Classic Beverage of Southern California: Classic was founded in 1986 by the late Joe Sanchez III. Joe and the Sanchez Family were recommended to Miller Brewing to distribute their brands throughout eastern Los Angeles County because of their strong ties to the community and industrious nature. Joe was able to build a robust business in eastern LA County via superior customer service, and through building great relationships with suppliers & at retail. Over 30 years later, the industrious and customer service focused spirit of Joe Sanchez is carried on through his son, President of Classic, CJ Sanchez. Via strategic acquisitions, what was once a business operating in roughly half of Los Angeles County, is a business that will expand across 9 counties in 2021. In addition to growth from a coverage standpoint, Classic has expanded their portfolio to include a non-alcohol division, spirits division, and has built upon their craft beer division. It is Classic’s ambition and expectation to be the preferred craft beer purveyor in Southern California, creating an independent route to market for independent craft brewers, and they will realize that ambition through their most recent strategic acquisition of Sheehan’s Craft Beer Guild. Key partnerships with suppliers like Bells, with their best in class offerings, bring credibility to this ambition.

Imagine a stretch of highway connecting Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids returned to forest. That is roughly 501 acres worth of pavement or about 380 football fields. It’s also the environmental equivalent of Bell’s Brewery’s energy efficiency improvements this year. The energy efficiency projects executed to make this reduction possible are why Michigan’s largest independent craft brewery has been awarded the U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry Certification. Through a series of energy efficiency projects over the course of the last 2 years, we (Bell’s) reduced energy per barrel packaged 10.35%. Bell’s shipped almost half a million barrels of beer in 2019. The ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry is a global call-to-action for industrial sites to reduce their energy intensity by 10 percent within 5 years “Being good stewards of our environment has always been a priority. Sure, we save money. That’s good business. More importantly, we’re helping to secure and protect our environment for generations to come,” said Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell’s. The three projects that yielded significant reductions were: Compressed air leak detection: small holes or cracks develop over time in compressed air tubing. Using an ultrasonic device, Bell’s found and fixed worn pneumatic gaskets and tubing which saved the equivalent of 151,000 kilowatt-hours or enough electricity to power 14 homes for one year. LED retrofitting: By replacing fluorescent bulbs at the brewery with LEDs, Bell’s saved the equivalent of 127,000 KWH per year or enough electricity to power 12 homes for one year. Glycol heated CO2 vaporizer: two separate systems (fermentation and CO2 vaporization) were combined into one efficient system to save 190,000 KWH per year or enough electricity to power 17 homes for one year. The brewery partnered with Consumers Energy during the last few years to make energy efficiency upgrades at its main brewery in Comstock, Mich., near Kalamazoo. “We love working with customers like Bell’s who share our vision of a cleaner energy future by reducing their carbon footprint and using energy more efficiently,” said Lauren Youngdahl Snyder, Consumers Energy’s vice president of customer experience. “Our energy efficiency programs have helped customers save over $3 billion on their bills in the last decade.” The work at Bell’s also supports Consumers Energy’s Clean Energy Plan – a road map for protecting the environment and embracing innovative, affordable energy solutions. By 2040, Consumers plans to achieve net zero carbon emissions and meet 90 percent of Michigan’s energy needs with clean resources.

2020 is almost over. That means a New Year and …. HOPSLAM! Over the past few years, we’ve offered a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hop on a special behind-the-scenes brewery tour focused on nothing other than our beloved Double IPA. Most recently, we partnered with one of our fantastic area destinations to give one lucky pair a one night stay in the Hopslam Suite Royale.  This tour has always been limited and in order to get a coveted seat, you had to show your love of Hopslam. And y’all never disappoint. The submissions we’ve received over the years have been incredible. For 2021, we have a twist.  Since we are unable to bring you to our brewery for an exclusive tour, we are bringing the brewery to everyone! (Still for free.) That’s right, all (those 21 and up) are welcome to join us this year as we celebrate the release of Hopslam virtually with Hopslamania! What does Hopslamania include?  A virtual tour of our brewery (with some surprise stops).  A guided Hopslam tasting focused on sensory; we’ll show you how we evaluate the raw ingredients that go into Hopslam before we sample the deliciousness itself.  Q&A  Also, Hopslam (you’ll need to pick that up on your own).  All from the comforts of your own couch (or wherever your tune in for virtual events).  For those who want to go all in, our General Store has the perfect solution: a Hopslamania Virtual Kit. For $33.99 you will receive hops and malt samples for your at-home sensory experience, two Hopslam snifters glasses and a Hopslam tin tacker. Get yours here.  For the sweepstakes portion of this special event, we will randomly choose three winners from everyone who shares a song, a photo, a poem, anything creative, that shows your love and passion for this specialty release.  Three lucky winners will be announced at both of our virtual events. What’s at stake? Glad you asked. Grand prize:  A handmade Hopslam Pillow, Hopslam blanket and Hopslam sweatshirt First runner-up: A Hopslam blanket & Hopslam sweatshirt  2nd runner-up: A Hopslam blanket & Hopslam t-shirt  All three winners will also receive an (empty) 2021 Hopslam mini-keg signed by Larry Bell himself.  How do you enter? Share a post on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram that shows your love for Hopslam using the hashtag #HopslamMe and #Entry. Be sure to make it public and tag us @bellsbrewery.  The deadline to enter is December 31st at midnight. Winners will be notified directly by email prior to these events. Our virtual Hopslamania virtual events will be held on:  Jan. 21 @ 7pm Feb. 4 @ 7pm Sign-up for the virtual event here: https://bit.ly/3sNHe1k​​​​​​​ You can take a look at all of the legal info and rules here.  Let’s see what you’ve got Hopslam fans!

We are proud to announce new distributor partnerships in the great state of Indiana! As of this week, fifteen new partners have taken on distribution of Bell’s beer in southern Indiana. “All share our dedication to quality and we look forward to continuing the excellence that our customers expect,” said Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell’s Brewery. Those new distributor partners are: Zink Distributing Co., Mid-America Beverage, North Vernon Beverage Co., Bartholomew County Beverage, Greenfield Beverage, L.C. Nadorff & Son, Inc., Orange County Beverage Co., Working Distributors Inc., Hedinger Beverage Distributing Co. Inc., Craig Distributing Co. Inc., Terrance A. Smith Distributing, Best Beers Inc., Jay County Beverage, Little Beverage Co. Inc. and Boone Beverage Inc. “Indiana is a very important state for us. These new partners are family-run and well connected to their communities. We are all very excited to work with new our new extended family,” said Matt Moberly, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Bell’s. These new partners are all part of the AB (Anheuser-Busch) network of distributors in the state. Distribution of Bell’s beer will continue uninterrupted with Indiana Beverage in northern Indiana. Changes in beer availability should be minimal, but are not expected.

Bell’s beer will once again flow in the great state of Virginia! Brewery favorites like the very popular and best-selling Two Hearted Ale (recently named the Best Beer in America for the fourth year in a row), Bell’s Hazy IPA, Official, and many others will be available in Virginia later this month. All parties involved are happy to resolve this matter amicably and welcome Bell’s back to Virginia. “We are absolutely thrilled to be back and we are really looking forward to working with our new partner in Richmond. To everyone who has kept in touch and waited patiently for our return, I say thank you and cheers,” said Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell’s Brewery. Also debuting (officially) for the first time in Virginia, will be Bell’s Lo-Cal IPA, Light Hearted Ale. Brewed with Centennial and Galaxy hops, Light Hearted clocks in at a 3.7% Alc.-by-Vol. with only 110 calories per 12. oz serving. Bell’s beer will be distributed in the Richmond area by Specialty Beverage of Virginia, a Sheehan Family Company. This new distributor partner will serve the counties of Amelia, Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Greensville, Hanover, Henrico, King and Queen, King William, New Kent, Nottoway, Powhatan, Prince George, Southhampton, Surry and Sussex. Specialty Beverage will also cover the independent cities of Colonial Heights Emporia, Franklin, Hopewell, Petersburg and Richmond. Elsewhere in the state, Bell’s will continue its distributor partnerships with Blue Ridge Beverage, Copa Wine Corporation, Hoffman Beverage Company, Hop and Wine Beverage, M. Price Distribution and Wendell Distributing. About Specialty Beverage of Virginia Originally founded in 1991, Specialty Beverage of Virginia started as a small craft and import distributing business. Over the next two decades, and as the craft beer segment accelerated, Specialty was acquired by the Sheehan Family Companies. Specialty Beverage distributes a portfolio of craft beer, imports, ciders, wines, cocktail mixers and sodas. Specialty has also implemented an eco-friendly waste management and recycling program to be more environmentally responsible.