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We are proud to announce that we will head to New Mexico early this fall. “Texas is a large market for us and adding a nearby state, made the most sense for us. We always want to make sure that we have enough beer for all of our existing customers before we add a new territory,” Bell’s CEO Laura Bell said. We are in the process of wrapping up our official state launch in Texas with an event in Austin this week. New Mexico will be the ninth new state we add to our distribution footprint since 2016, making it the 32nd overall. Our entire portfolio, including year-round and seasonal beers, will be available in New Mexico when it launches there later this year. “Our process will follow a similar timeline we have followed for our other new state launches,” Bell said. “We will start with searching for the right distributor partner(s) who will help us maintain the quality and customer service that are central to who we are. Then, we will make sure we have our own staff living and working locally,” she said. Additional details will be announced here as they become available. Fans are also encouraged to follow Bell’s social media for the latest updates on this upcoming expansion. Applications for a Bell’s sales position for this new territory will be accepted here soon.

We are proud to announce that Bell's will return as the title sponsor of the 2017 Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race! The 93rd annual race from Port Huron to Mackinac Island will set sail on July 22nd this year. This will mark our seventh year as presenting sponsor of the longest consecutively run freshwater race in the world. “To be a part of an event with such incredible, rich tradition that also showcases the beauty of our Great Lakes is incredibly important to us,” Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell’s Brewery said. More than 2,000 sailors are expected to participate this year on more than 225 boats. Larry Bell will again race the Cove Island course aboard the boat Details. “It is wonderful to have Bell’s Beer back as our title sponsor for the 2017 race. Their support has helped bring stability to the race that has allowed us to grow and make the race better for the sailors and fans,” said Hans Brieden, 2017 Bayview Yacht Club Commodore. “In Bell’s we have found a great partner, one that understand the tradition of the race and that loves Michigan and our waters as much as we do.” The annual race also helps support local economies with more than 75,000 sailing fans, families and partygoers attending a variety of events in Port Huron leading up to the Saturday start and festivities on Mackinac Island for the finish. The economic impact of the race on the these communities is estimated between $30 and $59 million, making it one of the premiere events hosted in the state of Michigan and one with major economic impact to a host of Michigan businesses, especially in tourism. “It is only March but this year it is looking like it is going to be another strong year for the race. We already have more than 100 entries and it is exciting to see the number of first time boats entered,” said Tricia Smotherman, 2017 Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race Chair. The Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race also helps support Set Sail for Autism, a program that allows young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder the opportunity to sail back from Mackinac Island to Port Huron aboard boats that compete. Also returning this year is live tracking. Sailing fans, family and friends, locally and globally, will be able to track the progress of all boats racing at bellsbeer.com and on the Bayview Yacht Club’s website through Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices provided by Yellow Brick Tracking. Additional details and Bell’s event information will also be shared as details are finalized.

It is always a tremendous honor to be ranked as one of the best by your fans. The readers of Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine recently honored us with a whole slew of honors including: Two Hearted – The best beer of 2016 Hopslam – The 27th best beer of 2016 4th most favorite brewery (for our size) Favorite stout or porter brewer (No. 10) Favorite Pale Ale brewer (No. 10) Favorite IPA brewer (fourth) Favorite lager brewer (11th) See the full list. Thank you, we are incredibly grateful to have the best fans in craft beer. Cheers! RELATED: Two Hearted ranked as one of the best by readers of Zymurgy magazine for the seventh year in a row.

Our 2017 release calendar features archive favorites, a new bottled beer and quite a few specialties. “We have a lot of exciting plans for next year and we wanted to give our fans and partners a preview,” Laura Bell, Bell’s Vice President and Co-owner said. Mars, The Bringer of War, will return for its second appearance. Mars was part of our limited seven-part Planets Series, inspired by the music of Gustav Holst. This Double IPA will see greater distribution than in 2014, but will still be limited. It will ship in April. Hell Hath No Fury … Ale, a Belgian-inspired Dark Ale, will also return from the Bell’s archive in September. “A few of our favorites will be taking a break, but aren’t being permanently retired,” she said. We also reserve the right to add a few surprises, she added. As previously announced, Am I Right or Amarillo, an American IPA made with 100% Amarillo® hops, will ship exclusively to Texas when we launch our 31st state in early March. One of our specialty stouts will also make its debut in bottles in the fall. Additional details will be announced at a later date. Oberon, our seasonal American wheat ale, will return on March 27. Five-liter mini-kegs will start shipping in May. Oberon will be the only Bell’s beer to be released in mini-kegs in 2017. Year round beers (Amber, Two Hearted, Third Coast Beer, Oatsmobile, Oarsman, Lager of the Lakes, Kalamazoo Stout and Porter) and other Bell’s seasonals (Smitten, Best Brown and Winter White) will all return. Other returning specialties: JANUARY: Hopslam (12 oz. cans and draught) FEBRUARY: Consecrator Doppelbock (12 oz. bottles and draught) MAY: Pooltime – Belgian-inspired Wheat Ale brewed with cherry juice (12 oz. cans and draught) JUNE: Quinannan Falls India Pale Lager (12 oz. cans and draught) SEPTEMBER: Octoberfest Beer (12 oz. bottles and draught) SEPTEMBER: Special Double Cream Stout (12 oz. bottles and draught) SEPTEMBER: Roundhouse India Red Ale (12 oz. cans and draught) SEPTEMBER: Expedition Stout (12 oz. bottles and draught) SEPTEMBER: Third Coast Old Ale (12 oz. bottles and draught) NOVEMBER: Cherry Stout (12 oz. bottles and draught) NOVEMBER: Christmas Ale (12 oz. bottles and draught) DECEMBER: Eccentric Ale (12 oz. bottles and draught) – Bell’s General Store and Eccentric Café release only (Kalamazoo) Stay tuned for more information and keep an eye on our social media for updates.  Download a PDF copy of our 2017 schedule. 

Our November tours were so popular, we decided to bring them back in December.  These exclusive and free guided tours will take guests through some of our new spaces including a look at our fermentation cellars, state-of-the-art Bottling Hall, our Packaging Hall and Robot Alley at our Comstock Brewery.  These spaces are not typically open to the public or covered during our normal tour offerings.  Available every Wednesday in December at 6 p.m.  Each tour only has a limited number of spots, book now!

Congratulations to our brewers for winning gold at the 2016 Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers (FOBAB) for Traverse City Barrel Aged Jupiter in the Strong Dark Beer category! FOBAB annually honors the best barrel aged beers in Chicago. This year, 422 beers from 179 brewers competed in 12 judging categories.  This version of Jupiter, an Imperial Brown Ale brewed with seven different varieties of malt, was aged in barrels from Traverse City Whiskey Company. With an ABV of 10%, it features notes of oak, bourbon, toffee and soft vanilla.  Jupiter was originally released as part of our Planets series, seven beers inspired by Gustav Holtz's orchestral suite, from Mars to Uranus. Previous Bell's winners at FOBAB 2015: Traverse City Whiskey Barrel Aged Expedition Stout - silver medal 2013: Le Bretteur - Best of Show and gold medal

The wait is over! The winners of our 7th Annual Homebrew Competition were announced during this year's All Stouts Day at the Eccentric Café. Eleven homebrewers placed out of the 146 that submitted this year. First place went to Evan Monroe for his hoppy saison brewed with peaches (Freedom of Peach). Monroe will get to brew his recipe at Bell’s original brewery to then go on tap at the adjacent Café. He will also head to the 2017 Great American Beer Festival in Denver as a guest of Bell’s and compete alongside a Bell’s brewer in the Pro-Am Competition.  “Our judges saw a lot of experimentation again this year and overall, there was a solid mix of traditional beer styles and those that pushed style definition. Our top winners reflect that mix very well,” said David Curtis, Bell’s General Store Operations Manager and competition organizer. Second place went to brothers Chad Hutson and Daryl Hutson for their Belgian double IPA. Third place went to Jay Vanbuskirk for his black IPA. This year’s runners up are (in no particular order): Ross Winter – Imperial stout w/bourbon soaked oak chips Steve Morren – Sour brown ale Kevin Kolk – Hibiscus and ginger fruit beer Andy Akers – Belgian wit/American pale ale hybrid David Cohoe – Golden ale with a roasty character David Lyman (2013 competition winner) – IPA Stephen Hardy – IPA David Nowell – Grape saison “The number and skill of those who have competed over the years is incredibly inspiring. We are very proud to support this community and to see that familiar drive and passion reflected by so many,” said Laura Bell, Bell’s Vice President and Co-owner. Look for more information about when this year’s winning recipe will be tapped at the Café as soon as it is available. Judges' comments for all homebrewers who submitted entries this year are available to be picked up at the Bell's General Store. Cheers and congrats to everyone! Previous first place winners  2015: Bale So Hard, a farmhouse ale brewed with HBC 438 and Mosaic hops, from David Hellen 2014: Coffee Mustache, a California common style beer brewed with coffee, from Matt VanNatter. 2013: Proud Mitten, a dry hopped IPA/pale ale made with Centennial, Citra and Simcoe hops, from David Lyman. 2012: Manden Med Leen, a black IPA brewed with Belgian yeast, from Nick Rodammer. 2011: A Bit of Heat from Geoff Groff, brewed with paradise seeds, rose hips and habaneros. 2010: Oscar’s Folly, a collaborative IPA from Jarrett Cupp, Bailey Cupp and Paul Gentz.

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.        

You an find us on a variety of social channels including Facebook, Twitter, Untappd and Instagram.    We are now also on Snapchat. Follow us for a behind the scenes look at our brewery, the Eccentric Café and at events. Cheers!

This post is part of an occasional series looking at the beers we develop at our original brewery, or B1. Tasting notes: Rich and malty, excellent hop, malt balance This recipe is the latest version of a Double Brown Ale to be brewed here at Bell’s. Another great beer to enjoy in the fall, this Double Brown Ale has a higher ABV, 8.5%. Best Brown Ale to compare, has an ABV of 5.8%. Rich malt, along with sweet milk chocolate notes, are balanced with a nicely integrated hop bitterness. Double Brown Ale was brewed in downtown Kalamazoo at our original brewery and firkins are going to see some limited distribution. The Eccentric Café is the only place where you can sample both the firkin version and the draught version side by side. Keep an eye on our Event Calendar to see if firkins are coming to a bar or restaurant near you. WHAT IS A B1 BEER? B1 is how we affectionately refer to our original brewery in downtown Kalamazoo, located adjacent to our pub, the Eccentric Cafe. This is where we got our start and where we still develop new recipes, experiment with new varieties of hops and brew small batches of specialty beers like The Wild One and Mango Habanero Oberon today. Most of the beers brewed there are typically only available on draught at the Cafe, but from time to time they do make their way to special events.