News

If you’re going to head to Texas, you have to go big. When we  launch in the Lone Star State, a special, limited release beer will be included alongside our full portfolio in early March, 2017! Am I Right or Amarillo (6% ABV) will be available exclusively in Texas. It is the first time we have brewed a beer specifically for a new market. “I have been telling people for quite some time, that if we ever head to Texas, this beer would be a part of it,” Larry Bell, Bell’s President and Founder said. “It’s a huge part of the celebration and of the commitment we are making to our 31st state,” Bell added. Brewed with 100% Amarillo® hops, Am I Right or Amarillo is an American IPA with big, bold aromas of citrus and tropical fruit, balanced with a firm malt backbone. A majority of this one-time only batch will be available in 12 oz. bottles, packaged in 6-packs. A limited amount will also be available on draught at bars and restaurants. We announced partnerships with our fourteen new distributors in September. Sales leadership positions, based in Texas, are also being filled. Additional openings can be viewed here.  Launch event details will be shared on our social media and at here at bellsbeer.com as soon as details are finalized, so keep an eye out.

We are proud to announce our new distributor partnerships in the great state of Texas. Fourteen distributors will help bring our entire portfolio to our 31st state. They are: Andrews Distributing of North Texas LLC, Brown Distributing Company, Del Papa Distributing Company, Inc., Falls Distributing Company, GG Distributing Co., Great Plains Distributors, LP, Kristen Distributing Company, KEG 1 O'Neal, LLC, L & F Distributors, LLC, Mike Hopkins Distributing, Reed Beverage Inc., Silver Eagle Distributors, Standard Sales Company, L.P. of Odessa and San Angelo and Tri-City Distributors, LP. Beer will begin shipping in the first quarter of 2017. We announced our intention to distribute to Texas back in April. Mississippi, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, South Dakota, Nebraska and West Virginia were all launched this year. County by county information is available in the searchable box below. Launch celebrations are also planned. Additional information will be announced as details become available here and on our social media. We are all very excited to come to Texas! About Andrews Distributing of North Texas LLC: Andrews Distributing of North Texas has more than 1,400 proud team members and distribution centers located in Dallas, Fort Worth and Allen. Founded in 1976 by Barry Andrews, they are celebrating 40 years helping their brewing partners, retail partners, team members and local communities thrive. Today, Andrews distributes more than 700 brands from 40 supplier partners in 16 North Texas counties. With their extensive industry experience, the Andrews team is committed to being the nation’s leading brand builder with a winning team culture.  About Brown Distributing Company: Brown Distributing Company is a family owned and operated beverage distributorship founded in 1962.  The company employs over 400 dedicated beer professionals and services 7 counties in and around the Austin area. We are proud of the community we live and work in and we give back by contributing to many non-profit, civic and educational organizations.  Our family culture at Brown takes great pride in working together to provide quality beverages and unparalleled service to our customers.  We are very excited to add Bell’s to our craft portfolio and are committed to helping build and foster the craft movement in our territory.  About Del Papa Distributing Company, Inc.: In 2010 Del Papa Distributing celebrated its 100th business anniversary. From its founding by an Italian immigrant, Omero Del Papa Sr., in Galveston in 1910, to its current operations distributing a variety of national, regional and local beer brands from three distribution centers serving seventeen Texas counties along the Texas Gulf Coast, Del Papa has remained committed to supporting and strengthening the many communities in which its customers and employees live. In 2015 Del Papa Distributing created 2-Row Distributing, a strictly craft beer focused division to provide its supplier and retail partners with the necessary focus,  expertise, and category management skills required for this exciting and growing category.  Del Papa Distributing still speaks today to those old fashioned values of quality, honesty, integrity and work ethic.  If anything these ideals have grown stronger over the course of a century. About Falls Distributing Company: Falls Distributing Company is a locally owned beer wholesaler, headquartered in Wichita Falls, covering 13 counties in North Central Texas. With our 19,800 square foot refrigerated facility and best-in-market equipment and sales team, Falls Distributing Company is able to provide unparalleled service to North Texas customers.  Since our company’s founding in 1961, our entire team, 63 members strong, is committed to making a difference in quality assurance, customer service, brand recognition, and a passion for craft beer. About GG Distributing Co.: Giglio Distributing was founded in 1955 by J.C. Giglio in Beaumont, Texas. J.C. started with himself, one employee, no revenue and one company truck.  Fifty nine years later J.C.’s son Charles formed a joint venture with Glazers Beverage, GG Distributing LLC based out of Longview, TX currently services thirty eight counties. With this strong heritage, our future totally depends upon building an outstanding team focused against great brands, maintaining quality and marketing attributes. About Great Plains Distributors, LP: Great Plains Distributors, LP is a third generation family owned wholesale beer distributor, operating in the southern High Plains of Texas since 1961.  Based in Lubbock, TX, Great Plains provides unrivaled service to customers across fifteen counties and takes great pride in their fierce dedication to quality assurance, customer service, brand building, responsible alcohol consumption, and a passion for craft beer. About Keg 1 O'Neal, LLC: KEG 1 began as a Knowledge Exchange Group of 10 of the nation's largest distributors of alcoholic beverages. With the creation of KEG 1, LLC, these 10 principals went beyond the traditional sharing of best practices and quarterly meetings to form a partnership whose combined annual distribution approaches 100 million cases. About Kristen Distributing Company: Kristen Distributing Company has been family-owned and operated since 1930.  Current President, John Kristen, is the 4th generation of leadership.   Kristen’s seasoned sales and delivery teams bring unparalleled customer service to the 28 central Texas counties in their territory.  Based in Bryan, Texas, Kristen Distributing Company operates 2 warehouses selling a diverse portfolio of alcohol and non-alcohol products.  We believe we sell the finest beverages in the world and are excited to welcome Bell’s Brewery to the Kristen Distributing Company family of brands.  About L & F Distributors, LLC: L&F Distributors is a third generation family business which focuses on distributing beer along the Texas and Mexico border. Our mission is to provide the best service for our customers, fully support our community, be the trusted source of knowledge for our industry, and provide an ideal place of employment. About Mike Hopkins Distributing: Mike Hopkins Distributing Company, Inc. prides itself on service, quality, and community involvement across its seven county central Texas distribution footprint.  With nearly 70% market share, MHD is the market leader and a 2nd generation beverage distributor proud to support local, regional, and international brands.  About Reed Beverage Inc.: Reed Beverage is a family owned distribution business that was founded in 1952 serving 37 counties in Texas. Our Mission is to build great brands and partnerships through our unwavering commitment to quality and service.  Reed Beverage is a responsible community partner, and very proud of the work we do and the great brands we represent.  We strive to excel in every phase of our business and set the standard in the beverage business for West Texas.  About Silver Eagle Distributors: Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P. is the nation’s second largest beer distributor. The company employs more than 1,400 employees that serve 16 counties in Texas through operations in Houston, San Antonio, Pasadena, Cypress, Conroe and Rosenberg. Silver Eagle distributes a broad selection of domestic and import brands as well as microbrews and craft beers and several non-alcohol beverages and waters. For more information, visit www.silvereagle.com. About Standard Sales Company: Standard Sales, in Odessa and San Angelo is located in Permian Basin of West Texas and West Central Texas. Our 32,000 sq. mile territory of oil rich land, is made up of 28 counties and Standard Sales proudly provides exceptional sales and service to the area’s 1,230 retail accounts. At Standard Sales, we understand each ingredient plays an important role in crafting a fine beer. It’s the perfect combination that gives each beverage its own spirit and we pride ourselves in selecting only the best products for your unique spirit, too. We share this attitude with our Standard Sales family – a family of individuals and partners with a variety of unique and diverse talents, abilities, thoughts, and feelings that together, make a perfect team. About Tri-City Distributors, LP: Tri-City Distributors, LP, located in New Braunfels, Texas, is a central Texas beer distributor servicing Comal, Gonzales and Guadalupe Counties.   Scott Brown, owner of Tri-City Distributors, LP which he purchased in 1988, started as a single supplier distributor with 350,000 cases of annual sales, to a distributor that offers brands from over 25 beer suppliers with expected annual sales of 2 million cases in 2016.  With a customer focused culture and a passion for beer, Tri-City has continued to grow and maximize its portfolio through relentless pursuit to customer service, investing in brand building awareness and staying locally involved in the communities it serves.

The Eccentric Café and our General Store will be closed on Sept. 19, with our brewery closed Sept. 19-21. Why is that? Every year, we shut down our brewery for three days and our pub for one day, so we can take some time to regroup as a family. Those three days will consist of meetings, professional development, presentations, activities and fun events in the evening. We also gather together to celebrate our successes over the past year and to get to know one another better. It’s a time for us to reflect, learn and help ensure we continue to deliver the quality you expect from all of us. The Café and General Store will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, Sept. 20. The Store will open at 10 a.m. and the Cafe will open at 11 a.m. Our Comstock Brewery will return to normal hours on Thursday, Sept. 22 (including brewery tours).

Our 7th annual Homebrew Competition Kick-off and wort giveaway was this past Saturday.  Just over 200 homebrewers signed up for wort, the first of which lined up just after 5 a.m.! Thank you to all who joined us for wort, the Expo (especially our vendors) and our brewers who worked through the night to get everything ready! Check out the photo gallery below and remember, competition entries (four 12 oz. bottles) are due to the Bell’s General Store by 7 p.m., Sunday, October 30. Also, if you haven't tried Bale So Hard (the winner from last year's competition), be sure to enjoy some while it lasts!

Our new Bottling Line now has a laser to help us and you ensure the freshest Bell’s beer is available. Going forward, all of our bottles will have their actual packaging date and batch information laser etched onto the back label. No more A, B or C. Each Bell’s bottle (and can) will also clearly state its shelf life. All of our lagers have a 3 month shelf life: Octoberfest, Lager of the Lakes, Quinannan Falls and Consecrator Doppelbock A majority of our ales have a 6 month shelf life: Two Hearted, Oberon, Best Brown, Amber and others A few have a 12 month shelf life: Java Stout, Cherry Stout, Special Double Cream Stout And a few others have an Unlimited shelf life: Black Note, Expedition Stout, Third Coast Old Ale, Eccentric Ale and a few other specialty beers that are released from time to time (30th Anniversary, Neptune and Saturn are examples). Keep in mind, the date etched onto our packaging is the date the beer was bottled, kegged or canned. It is not a “Best Before Date” or even a brew date. You can also find packaging info printed on case boxes (or mother cartons), the bottom of cans, the upper side wall of kegs and mini-kegs and on the side of 12-packs. Keep in mind, this new way of dating has just begun, so you may come across some bottles that do not have that info on the back label. If that does happen, you can also check the neck or shoulder of the bottle for its packaging date as well.  Find something that is not within its shelf life? Let us know.

Our newest specialty beer to be packaged has been packaged!  Earlier this week, Roundhouse debuted on our Canning Line for the first time.  Six-packs and kegs will start shipping after the holiday and will hit our markets in waves, so availability will vary. While this beer is limited, we are sending it to all of the areas we distribute to.  For help locating this Eccentric Cafe favorite, keep an eye on our Beer Finder (and remember to call ahead before heading out the door).  Cheers!

Porter's new look celebrates the balance of barley and hops, part of the beer's legacy. It was first brewed in 1987 and emphasizes the darker, roasted aspects of malt. Available year-round, this beer is perfect no matter what season. Bridging 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,  Not only are we excited to share Porter's new look with you, but it has also added to its awards with a gold medal from this year's Colorado State Fair (more to come on that soon). Learn more about Porter and where to find it near you.

Amber Ale's label has featured several different pieces of local art over the years.  It was first packaged with three different labels after it debuted in 1985. They featured a series of shorebirds – a seagull, a wood duck and a heron. Each was dated with the season and as the brewery grew, both the wood duck and the seagull were phased out. In 1990, the heron became the official label. In 2011, a series of paintings were chosen for Amber's packaging featuring Michigan inspired landscapes. The heron has returned as part of our packaging refresh that is making its way out into stores, bars and restaurants. This new look combines elements of both in a nod to Amber's heritage. Amber is the beer that helped build the brewery. First brewed in 1985, it's been a Bell's staple since then. A mix of toasted grain light caramel notes with a range of floral, citrus and herbal hop notes is capped by a clean bitterness. Amber is also incredibly versatile as a food pairing option and because of its balance, it is an ideal jumping off point to other beers in our portfolio. Find Amber Ale nearby. 

Today we are launching a brand new Untappd badge! Our "Cheers to fall!" badge is a celebration of two of our favorite fall offerings - Best Brown and Octoberfest.  You can unlock it by checking into one (1) of each anytime between now and Sept. 26. Both have started shipping. You can find Best Brown in 6-packs, 12-packs, 4-pack of 16 oz. cans as well as on draught.  Octoberfest is also available in 6-packs, 12-packs (for the first time) and on draught. This is the first time we have bottled Octoberfest in five years. For helping finding either, check out our Beer Finder (don't forget to call ahead)! And share your photos with use by using the hashtags #bellsbeer and #BestPartofFall. Cheers!        

This is the first of a series of blog posts that take a look at our new packaging. Special Double Cream Stout has 10 different specialty roasted malts, and its new label highlights the complexity those ingredients contribute. Those 10 malts include 2-Row, Munich, Victory, various caramel malts, Chocolate and Roasted Barley, giving the beer a remarkable depth of flavor.  The name is derived from its smooth, creamy texture, not the ingredients. No lactose is used in the brewing process. Learn more and find Double Cream Stout near you.