Porter

First things first... What's All Stouts Day?!  It's a holiday of our own creation - a celebration of brewing what we want, how we want, no matter what.  Listen to Larry tell us all about it right here.    How to Celebrate from Home! Get yourself some Bell's Stouts! We love dark, malty beers - so much that we even feature a few year-round, like our Kalamazoo Stout and Porter. Click the links below for food pairings, histories, and more!   Kalamazoo Stout Porter Special Double Cream Stout Expedition Stout Cherry Stout Something from your cellar! A vintage Expedition Stout, maybe that Black Note you've been holding on to forever? Anything from us with an Unlimited shelf life. Not sure where to find them?  Check our Beer Finder to see what's been delivered near you. The results show deliveries, not current inventory, so definitely use the info in the results to call ahead before making a trip!   Level up with glassware! Pouring into a glass lets you experience all the aromas and flavors that are part of experiencing beer as it's meant to be. Get some tasters, or grab a snifter from our Online Store.    Next steps... Invite some friends, pour yourself a little of each, and enjoy!  Tip... If they've been refrigerated, let them sit on the counter for a bit before cracking one open. Letting them warm up a little will help keep those taste buds from getting a cold shock and missing out on something delicious! Local? Celebrate at the Eccentric Cafe! Sunday, November 7th starting at Noon. Full event details right here. 

We are proud to share that two of our classic beers have won medals at this year’s Colorado State Fair. Bell’s Porter received a gold medal in the competition’s American Porter category and Kalamazoo Stout won a silver medal in the Foreign Extra Stout category.  Porter was first released in 1987 and Kalamazoo Stout debuted in 1988. Both beers debuted refreshed packaging earlier this year.  “Beers like Porter and Kalamazoo Stout were some of our original brews and, along with Amber Ale, helped build the brewery,” said Larry Bell, Bell’s president and founder.  “It’s incredible to see these darker, classic beers continue earning awards today,” he added.  Upper Hand Brewery, a division of Bell’s, also brought home three medals: bronze for Laughing Fish and its SISU Stout in addition to a gold for Yellow Hex.  Here’s a breakdown of all the awards: Bell’s Silver in Category 16D (Foreign Extra Stout) for Kalamazoo Stout GOLD! in Category 20A (American Porter) for Bell’s Porter Upper Hand Bronze in Category 12A (British Golden Ale) for Laughing Fish Bronze in Category 20C (Imperial Stout) for SISU Stout GOLD! in Category 27 (Historical Beer) for Yellow Hex

We are proud to announce brand new looks for two of our oldest craft beers.  Beginning in April (2019), fans will start to see refreshed packaging for Bell’s Porter (5.6% ABV) and Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout (6% ABV). Inside will be the same Bell’s beer our fans have loved from the beginning.  “We’ve been brewing both of these beers since the late ’80s. Along with Amber Ale, these two were some of our first craft beers to hit the market, offering a flavorful alternative to what was pretty much the only option at the time (domestic, light beer).” said Larry Bell, President and Founder of Bell’s Brewery.   Named after the city where it all began and where we still brew to this day, Kalamazoo Stout is one of Bell’s most classic recipes. Originally debuting in 1988, this smooth, full-bodied stout offers a blend of aromas and flavors of dark chocolate and freshly roasted coffee, balanced with a significant hop presence. Kalamazoo Stout is a mainstay in the Bell’s stout portfolio and a prefect craft beer to enjoy year-round.  Bell’s award-winning Porter bridges 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. Bell’s Porter is another one of Bell’s darker, roastier offerings that can be enjoyed during the warmer months as well as during the colder ones.  Our Porter and Kalamazoo Stout are both available on draft and in 12 oz. bottles packaged in 6-packs. Both beers are available year-round. 

Can't make it out to Bell’s Eccentric Café? Now you can follow along and make our legendary soup at home. Ingredients  1 onion, finely diced 2 ribs celery, finely diced 2 TBS minced garlic 2 TBS Dijon mustard 1/4 cup Worcestershire 2 tsp horseradish 1 stick butter 1/2 cup flour 2 cups Porter 6 cups milk or vegetable stock 4 cups of cream 1 lb of shredded cheddar cheese Salt and white pepper to taste In the kitchen  In a large pot, sweat the onions, celery and garlic in a few tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium heat. When the onions are translucent and most of their liquid has been cooked off, add the mustard, Worcestershire, and horseradish and give it a quick stir to ensure even coating. Add butter and melt it into the vegetables, add the flour, stir until all vegetables are coated. Cook until a light brown color (about 2 minutes). Whisk in the beer, let it come up to a boil and cook down for a minute to burn the alcohol off (you will need to stir constantly as this will be very thick). In a separate pot, heat the milk and cream (warm but not boiling). Once beer and vegetables are ready, slowly add the cream and milk, whisking it into the mixture. Bring to a boil and then add the cheese, handfuls at a time, whisking constantly and making sure all cheese is incorporated before you add more (if you do not do this, your soup may have a grainy texture). Taste for seasoning and add salt and white pepper as necessary. Serve hot with your favorite crusty bread!

Looking for a special dessert to go with your beer? Julie Frank of My Rustic Table posted this recipe for making chocolate cupcakes with our Porter. Frank writes: I used Bell’s Porter beer in the batter instead of the hot water. Porter is dark and thick with flavors of malt, dark chocolate, and coffee. The addition of beer brings out chocolate’s inner diva! Seriously chocolate. Sounds delicious. Here’s a link to the recipe. Learn more about how our beers pair with different foods. We also have recipes on our Pinterest page.