Packaging

Our signature summer beer, Oberon Ale, will get a new, temporary look to close out the summer. Inspired by the 2019 Oberon mini-keg design, limited edition Oberon packaging has already started shipping and will land on store shelves and in coolers soon. This refreshed look will be reflected across all Oberon packaging: 16 oz. cans (4-packs), 12 oz. cans (6-packs and 12-packs) and 12 oz. bottles (6-packs and 12-packs). “This is a fun way to celebrate the different parts of the summer season… rest assured, it’s the same beer you’ve grown to know and love,” said Larry Bell, founder and president of Bell’s Brewery. This same beautiful imagery has also inspired some brand-new Bell’s merchandise that can be purchased online and in person from the Bell's General Store. For recipes and more, go here. For help finding your limited edition taste of Oberon, check out our Beer Finder or reach out to your local bottle/can shop.

As part of our new packaging rollout, most, if not all, of our bottled beers will get their own unique crown.  Previously only Two Hearted, Oberon, Oatsmobile, Smitten and a few others got the crown treatment. But now Java Stout, Lager of the Lakes and so many more will each feature its own iconic imagery on the one last thing standing between you and your beer. The complete lineup is below. How many can you name?  Look for them at your local retail store now! Feeling crafty with our new caps? We'd love to see what you've come up with.

When fall approaches, that means it’s time for Best Brown's return. Best Brown was first released in 1988 and packaged. in 22 oz. bottles. It featured a plain type label and then a winter pine cone. The owl first appeared in 1993 and has been on the label ever since. There have been different styles, as seen in the gallery below, including one based on an acrylic painting by Kent Elliott of Black Lab Five.  Elliot said the painting was inspired by evenings in Marshall, Michigan, just east of Kalamazoo, when the beautiful autumn light rakes across the woods, lighting up a slight fog in the air. In 2016, Best Brown's label and packaging was given a refresh according to our new packaging architecture and updated Bell's logo. For its 2020 release, Best Brown underwent another packaging refresh.  “It's a mix of the old and the new. It hearkens back to our original labels while paying homage to the heritage of the brand, a modernized nod to the history of Best Brown,” Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell’s Brewery said.  Look for Best Brown beginning in August while supplies last. You can enjoy it in 12 oz. bottles (6-packs), 16 oz. cans (4-packs), 12 oz. cans (6-packs and 12-packs) or on draught with help from our Beer Finder. 

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.

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. 

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.

Earlier this year, we announced a new chapter in our family-owned brewery with a first look at our refreshed logo and packaging.  We've evaluated each beer's branding to make sure we maintained the heritage and vision of each while highlighting what makes each unique. We also made some other changes to our packaging: Highlighted each beer's style more prominently - on labels, six-pack carriers, mother or case cartons, cans and can wraps. Clarified shelf life: No more A, B and C. Going forward, each beer will clearly indicate whether it has a six month shelf life, a 12-month shelf life or whether its ideal for unlimited cellaring.  More room to shine: We've moved the (refreshed) Bell's logo to the neck label Updated beer descriptions on back labels. Given each beer its own unique crown or cap (more on those to come). The gallery below is just the beginning and you will start to see this new look at your local stores, in restaurants and elsewhere soon. Come back here for more updates - we're very excited to share our new look with you! 

For more than 30 years, we have focused on brewing beer that follows the vision of our President and Founder, Larry Bell. Our dedication to quality begins with sourcing the finest raw ingredients and continues into our brewhouse, our quality lab, all the way to your glass. We are continuously adding to, and refining our process in every aspect to ensure and reinforce those expectations of quality. As we continue to brew the best beer we can, we wanted to make sure our packaging reflected the quality of the beer inside. Over the past year, Larry Bell and our Vice President, Laura Bell, have been working with a team to look at the imagery of each beer in our family. We want to make sure our packaging and logo maintain the heritage and vision of our brands while highlighting the style of each beer, in a way that is consistent with who we are as a brewery. Today, we are very excited to share a first look at both before they begin to roll out later this year. Our logo is changing to better reflect the Bell’s name and the branding that we are so proud of. Certain brands will also change to highlight the flavor and characteristics of the beer inside. We are thankful to the artists who created the iconic art featured on so many of our brands. They have helped showcase our creative side and in turn, helped our brewery grow. Fan favorites, like the Two Hearted Brook Trout and Oberon Sun are not going anywhere. They will actually be displayed more prominently. While being respectful to those works of art, we also want to pay homage to where we’ve been. In line with our commitment to quality, we want our packaging to reflect the beer inside by highlighting styles and descriptions more clearly. The essence will remain the same. That will always be a part of who we are. In keeping in mind our commitment to sustainability and our environment, these changes will be introduced over time to cut down and eliminate waste. We’re proud of where we’ve been and are just as excited about where we’re going. This is the culmination of 30 years of inspired brewing. Our anniversary and Funvitational were just the beginning of the next chapter for our family-owned brewery, one that we are excited to share more about in the months ahead.