News

The National Association for Business Resources 2015 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® award program annually recognizes the most influential, trend setting companies regionally and across the U.S. Bell's Brewery, Inc. is now among the distinguished companies honored with this award in West Michigan. “While we do make great beer – it’s our extremely talented and passionate family that is at the heart of that great beer,” said Carrie Overton, Director of Human Resources at Bell’s. The competition identifies and honors companies that display a commitment to excellence in their Human Resource practices and employee development.   An independent research firm evaluates each company’s entry based on key measures in various categories.  They include Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions; Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention; Employee Education and Development; Recruitment, Selection and Orientation; Employee Achievement and Recognition; Communication and Shared Vision; Diversity and Inclusion; Work-Life Balance; Community Initiatives; Strategic Company Performance and the Best of the Best Small Business. “We are honored to recognize the efforts of this year’s 'Best and Brightest' companies. These companies have created impressive organizational value and business results through their policies and Best Practices in human resource management. This award has become a designation sought after by hundreds of West Michigan area companies and is a powerful recruitment tool in the drive to attract and retain exceptional employees,” said Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO of MBPA in a press release. An award ceremony, honoring this year’s recipients and awarding this year’s new elite awards, will be held in Grand Rapids in May. See a complete list of this years' winners.

As Oberon fans celebrate the release of our summer seasonal, we are proud to announce that a new way to enjoy the taste of summer will be heading their way soon. Twelve-ounce cans of Oberon, packaged in 12-packs, will be released later this summer. They will feature the same look of our 16 oz. Oberon cans. “Cans can go more places than glass and it’s a much more convenient packaging option – one that we believe our fans will really enjoy,” said Laura Bell, Bell’s Vice President. Bell’s Oberon Ale is currently available on draught, in bottles (6-packs and 12-packs) and in 4-packs (16 oz. cans). Mini-kegs will also return this summer and will feature a paisley design. The new 12-ounce cans will be available across all areas Bell’s currently distributes to. Oberon is available year round in Florida, Arizona, southern California, southern Alabama and Puerto Rico.  

The sun is out and spring is around the corner and to top it off, we are enjoying the winning beer from our first ever employee homebrew challenge, Thruway IPA. As a team building activity, over 50 employees entered the competition and were divided into 13 homebrew teams with the goal to develop the best beer to then be voted on by all Bell’s employees. Each team consisted of employees with homebrew experience ranging from little to none to our very own brewers. It included employees from almost every single department here at Bell’s. Our New York sales team, one of the more recent additions to the Bell’s Family, developed Thruway IPA in their home state and brought it back to Kalamazoo to be entered in our employee homebrew challenge. Thruway IPA ran away with the popular vote and was crowned the first ever Bell’s employee homebrew challenge winner! After winning the homebrew challenge, our New York sales team came back to Kalamazoo to brew their beer on our experimental 15 barrel system (our original brewery) located right next door to the Eccentric Café and is now on tap for anyone to enjoy. Thruway (7% ABV) presents with a very pungent, tropical hop aroma and finishes with a luscious malt backbone. In homage to Bell’s NY Sales Team, the name Thruway IPA comes from the New York Thruway, a toll road that starts in NYC and runs to the Pennsylvania state line, connecting major cities across New York state. Congratulations New York sales team!

Cavalier Distributing of Florida, based in Lakeland, will now handle distribution of Bell’s beer in south Florida. This new distribution partnership covers Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Monroe counties. “For almost 30 years, Bell's Brewery has produced beers of the highest quality with a focus on sustainability and innovation. Cavalier is proud to partner with Bell's Brewery to bring their celebrated beers to the passionate craft beer consumers of beautiful South Florida,” said Cavalier Distributing Founder and President, George Fisher. While there may be some short term disruptions as shipping begins, Bell’s and Cavalier will be working very hard to minimize them as much as possible. “With Cavalier’s focus on craft beer, we are very confident our new partner will take great care of not only the Bell’s brand but also our customers and fans,” said Bell’s President and Founder, Larry Bell. Bell’s distributes more than 20 different beers, including Oberon Ale, which is brewed year round for distribution in Florida as well as in Arizona, southern California, southern Alabama and Puerto Rico. ABOUT CAVALIER DISTRIBUTING Established in 1992 by Founder and President George Fisher, Cavalier Distributing is one of just a handful of U.S. distributors with a portfolio comprised exclusively of specialty imports and American craft beers. Headquartered in Cincinnati, the company employs more than 200 people dedicated to bringing better beers to consumers throughout Ohio, Indiana and Florida.

Today, we are issuing an automatic, voluntary recall on specific bottles of Mercury: The Winged Messenger which may contain a slight glass defect on the outside lip that could result in small pieces to become dislodged from the bottle. This recall only applies to bottles purchased in specific counties in Michigan (listed below), not the entire packaging run. It does not affect purchases made in any other state or those purchased at the Bell’s General Store in downtown Kalamazoo. This recall was initiated after a customer contacted Bell’s directly about an issue when removing the crown. No one was injured. An internal investigative process was immediately initiated which traced this potential defect to a single pallet of glass bottles received by Bell’s. Bell’s does not manufacture its bottles and has been working with its supplier to further protect the safety of its customers. “We have zero tolerance for any glass defects and while the chances are small that this could come up again, we are doing everything we can to address this situation and making sure all bottles are immediately pulled from store shelves and distributor warehouses,” said Laura Bell, Bell’s Vice President. If anyone has purchased Mercury in the counties listed below and still has unopened bottles, they should not drink the beer. Customers should also not attempt to return the beer to the store it was purchased at. Those in possession of these Mercury bottles should contact us via this form. Customers in the Kalamazoo area can also return it to the Bell’s General Store for an exchange, based on availability. “We will do everything in our power to try and make this right. Quality is first and foremost in all areas. We will work to ensure this does not happen again,” Bell said. Anyone who has consumed beer from an affected bottle and becomes ill, or shows signs of complications, should see a physician immediately. Michigan counties: Allegan Antrim Barry Benzie Berrien Branch Calhoun Cass Clare Clinton Eaton Grand Traverse Gratiot Ingham Ionia Isabella Jackson Kalamazoo Kalkaska Kent Lake Leelanau Lenawee Livingston Macomb Manistee Mason Mecosta Missaukee Monroe Montcalm Muskegon Newaygo Oakland Oceana Osceola Ottawa Shiawassee St. Joseph Van Buren Washtenaw Wayne Wexford

To celebrate the release of “Malt: A Practical Guide from Field to Brewhouse,” we're hosting a book signing this Sunday, Dec. 21 at the Eccentric Café. It will be held in the Café’s Back Room from noon until 2 p.m. Books will be available to purchase both at the bar and at the Bell’s General Store right next to the Cafe. Written by John Mallett, Director of Production here at Bell’s, this book is the fourth entry in the Brewers Publications’ Brewing Elements series. Delving into the intricacies of this key ingredient, Malt provides a comprehensive overview with a primary focus on barley from the field through the malting process. Mallett offers readers primers on history, agricultural development and physiology of the barley kernel, leading readers through the enzymatic conversion that takes place during the malting process. A detailed discussion of enzymes, the Maillard reaction, and specialty malts follows. Quality and analysis, malt selection and storage and handling are also explained making this book a valuable resource for all brewers. Mallett has been with Bell’s Brewery since 2001. As Director of Operations he is responsible for logistics, brewing, packaging and brewery capital projects. John serves on many brewing Technical Committees and Boards including Master Brewers Association of the Americas, the Brewer’s Association, the American Malting Barley Association and the Hop Quality Group. He has lectured and written extensively and has been a member of the Extended Faculty of Siebel Institute of Technology since 1995. In 2002, he was the recipient of the Institute for Brewing Studies Russell Schehrer Award for brewing innovation. For more information about this book, please go here.

In partnership with renowned Austrian glassware manufacturer Spiegelau, we are extremely proud to announce the launch of the American Wheat-Witbier Glass. Designed to elevate the experience of drinking Bell’s Oberon Ale, Winter White and Oarsman Ale, the glass is poised to become the new standard for enjoying all wheat beers. The Bell’s Wheat Glass is now available to purchase online at online as well as at the Bell’s General Store located adjacent to the Eccentric Café, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., in downtown Kalamazoo. After previously collaborating with Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada for an IPA-specific glass and Left Hand Brewing and Rogue Ales for a stout-specific glass, Spiegelau recognized the need to develop better drinking vessels for one the world’s most popular beer varieties – wheat –and began talking with Bell’s about a possible collaboration. This new glass was developed over a series of design workshops and tasting panels led by Riedel Owner Georg Riedel and Spiegelau Vice President Matthew Rutkowski.  Bell’s Vice President Laura Bell, Director of Operations John Mallet and additional brewery experts, tested a selection of Bell’s wheat beers against 50 glasses pulled from Spiegelau’s glassware archive. The selection was then narrowed down to 12 and finally to one. The ultimate challenge was to find a glass shape that had the most profound effect on the aromas and flavor profiles of both American and German style wheat beers.  “As with previous workshops, we challenged conventional thinking and presumption of what a wheat beer glass should look like. … The new glass works to bring faint aromas into sharp focus,” Rutkowski said.   “The chance to work with Spiegelau was an exciting opportunity for us,” Bell said. “John and I met with Georg and Matt in Portland to taste wheat beers from a variety of different glasses, discussing pros and cons of each. To be involved in a project that enhances our three core wheat beers - Oberon, Winter White and Oarsman - was a tremendous experience. This glass will allow craft beer enthusiasts to enjoy well crafted, very drinkable, but also complex beers on another level,” she said.

Construction has recently begun on a brand new full service kitchen and dining room at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., in downtown Kalamazoo, adding about 130 seats. The gastro pub style space will occupy more than 6,600 square feet of space that most recently served as storage and warehouse space to the east of the original Café. This space was also part of Bell’s original brewery and well before that, a full service gas station. “Our goal is to match and even enhance the high quality beer that is already being served with high quality food and service,” said Jason Reicherts, Director of Retail at Bell’s. “We will be focusing on both the front and back house experience and with our Inspired Hospitality program, service will be a huge focus,” he said. “Our staff training program will feature an ever evolving and ongoing course of modules covering everything from the latest news in the craft beer industry to food and beer pairings,” Reicherts said. The new menu will be a collaboration between kitchen management and the eccentric mind of Bell’s President and Founder, Larry Bell. While still being developed, the new menu will feature fish and chips, fresh ground burgers (more than beef), fresh and unique salads, smoked meats, steamed mussels and eggs prepared in a variety of ways.  “We will try to source our ingredients locally whenever we can, but our focus will also be non-GMO and organic foods. Quality is the top priority, no matter where it comes from,” Reicherts said. The new dining space will feature a gas fireplace along with an intricate mosaic tiled floor. The bar inside the original Café will also be expanded into space where the current 150 sq. ft. kitchen now resides, adding even more seating. An employee area for the approximately 120 employees that work at the Café will also be part of this expansion. Adding additional parking options are also planned. Local architect Nelson Nave, structural engineer Nehil-Sivak and construction company Maxwell & Associates are all working on the project. “There may be some minor inconveniences in the interim, but the end result will be more than worth it. We hope our customers will be patient with us as we work to bring them an even better experience here at the Eccentric Café,” Reicherts said. Brewery tours downtown Because of construction, brewery tours of Bell’s original brewery will not be offered on the weekends for the time being. Brewery tours in Comstock will be expanded however to Sundays at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. A third Saturday tour option has also been added (2 p.m.) in Comstock.

Join our family! In partnership with Michigan-based EmploymentGroup, we will be holding our first Career Fair at our Comstock Brewery, 8938 Krum Ave. in Galesburg, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25. With multiple expansion projects already in progress, we will be conducting onsite interviews for more than 100 full time and part time positions to be filled over the next year at all of its locations.   Twenty of those positions will be filled right away in areas such as Maintenance, Packaging, Shipping and Receiving, Facilities, Housekeeping and Internet Technology, as well as the Eccentric Cafe’s Kitchen. The rest will come on board later in 2015 as future expansion projects are completed. “This isn’t just a career fair,” said Carrie Overton, Bell’s Director of Human Resources. “It’s about adding to our family. Because of the tremendous support we have received from our community and our fans, we are growing and we need more people,” she said.  Representatives from Bell’s production and leadership teams will be on-hand to answer questions about what it is like to work at Bell’s and meet with prospective employees. Bell’s offers a robust benefits package including health insurance plus dental and vision coverage, a very competitive 401-k program, paid vacation and personal time, wellness programs, life insurance, as well as a few other perks that come with working at a brewery. “The Bell family takes great pride in the fact that we provide world class benefits that provide peace of mind for our employees and their families,” Overton said.  “And yes, that does include beer,” she added. EmploymentGroup representatives will also be reviewing applications for other jobs in the community. Interested? You must: Bring a resume. Be at least 18 years old Have reliable transportation. Tours of the brewery and light refreshments will be available during the fair. Regularly scheduled brewery tours for the public will instead be offered at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. rather than at noon and 4 p.m. Bell’s currently employs more than 290 people across the 20 states we distribute to. For more information, please email employment@bellsbeer.com.

Now in its fifth year, the Bell’s Homebrew Competition wort giveaway and Expo will be held on Sept. 13 at the Eccentric Café in downtown Kalamazoo. To celebrate how this annual competition has grown and as a nod to our homebrewing roots, we have added something new. While the homebrewer who takes first place will still get to brew their recipe at our original brewery to then go on tap at the Café, they will also team up with us for the 2015 Pro-Am Competition at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado. The winner will attend the GABF, the awards ceremony and the members only session as our guest. Bell’s will cover the cost of airfare to Denver and back (must be within the continental U.S.) and provide lodging for two nights as well. As in previous years, there is no cost to enter the competition and the only requirement is that you use our wort, which we provide for free. Previous winners are: • Oscar’s Folly, a collaborative IPA from Jarrett Cupp, Bailey Cupp and Paul Gentz. • A Bit of Heat from Geoff Groff that was brewed with paradise seeds, rose hips and habaneros. • Manden Med Leen, a black IPA brewed with Belgian yeast, from Nick Rodammer. • And most recently, Proud Mitten, a dry hopped IPA/Pale Ale made with Centennial, Citra and Simcoe hops from David Lyman of Kalamazoo. Multiple homebrew vendors will be present at the Expo to talk about their companies and products as well. The Expo will start at 11 a.m. and admission is free. This event is part of Bell’s week-long 29th Anniversary Celebration which also includes our annual Hot Dog Eating Contest in addition to performances by Leftover Salmon, Cash’d Out (a Johnny Cash tribute band), Monophonics and more. Competition entries (4 bottles) are due to the Bell’s General Store by Saturday, October 25. Winners will be announced on All Stouts Day, Nov. 2, also at the Cafe. Want to enter? Here is what you need to know. Sign-up times for wort pickup will begin at 11 a.m. Wort will be distributed starting at 1 p.m. 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. Make sure to get there early, as supplies will be limited. Signing up early will help guarantee wort. You can send someone else to pick up your wort. We aren’t concerned with who takes it, just who turns in bottles to be judged in October. We do ask that you don’t bring friends or relatives who don’t brew, just so you can have an extra 5+ gallons of wort. We are relying on the goodwill of homebrewers to help each other out and share the wealth. Please help us make sure all who want to compete are able. You can add whatever you like to your recipe/submission. However, 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. We won’t know exactly how much we will end up with until the wort is made, but last year we were able to give 5 gallons of wort to 202 homebrewers. We hope to be in that ballpark again this year, but things happen during wort transfers that can affect that number. We recommend arriving early to sign up and make sure you get your wort.