Winter White

Bell’s Winter White Ale is getting a new look and a new name for 2019. When our Belgian-inspired Wheat Ale returns this month, its look will be reminiscent of what fans have seen since 2003. This update speaks to the beer’s appeal beyond cold temperatures and snow. Nothing about the recipe has changed. Bright White Ale is the same bright alternative to stouts, porters and other darker beer styles fans have loved over the years. Stylish and refreshing, it is still fermented with a Belgian yeast strain, yielding a mix of clove and fruity aromas without the use of any spices. Bright White is inspired by the Belgian Wit (White) style of beer that has been brewed as far back as the Middle Ages. Unlike traditional Wit beers, Bright White includes no spices like coriander seed, orange peel, and sometimes grains of paradise. Bright White has several fruity aromas which all comes from the malt and yeast. This seasonal beer is enjoyable whether your view includes a snow man or a palm tree. “It is easy-drinking and lighter than the long list of stouts traditionally released in the winter months,” said Larry Bell, founder and president of Bell’s Brewery. “Stout should be enjoyed year-round but sometimes, you just need a break.” “We wanted to keep the new name simple and connect it back to the original. And since many of our fans use ‘bright’ to refer to this beer, it just made sense to play to those strengths,” said Bell. Availability At 5% ABV, Bright White Ale will be available on draft, in bottles (12 oz. bottles in 6-packs and 12-packs) and in cans (6-packs and 12-packs of 12 oz. cans and 4-packs of 16 oz. cans) beginning this month through the end of March, while supplies last. For help find this beer near you, visit the Bell’s Beer Finder and be sure to check out our Events Calendar. Coming in December Bell’s is teaming up with Untappd to offer a special Bright White badge celebrating its release. Available during the entire month of December, one (1) check-in will unlock it.

These cheesy fritters can't do anything about the weather, but they'll definitely make being snowed in tastier. Ingredients  16 oz. goat cheese 1/2 cup Bell’s Bright White 1 TBS chopped tarragon 1 TBS chopped rosemary 1 shallot, minced 1 TBS salt 1/2 tsp ground clove 2 cups flour 4 eggs, beaten 2 cups bread crumbs 8 cups canola oil Salt for seasoning In the kitchen In a mixing bowl, combine the goat cheese, Winter White, herbs, shallot, salt and spices until fully combined. Refrigerate the mixture for 1 hour. Once chilled, using a tablespoon, scoop out spoonfuls of the mixture and roll into small balls. Place them on a small cookie sheet and put into the freezer. Leave in the freezer until fully frozen. Place the flour, eggs, and bread crumbs into separate bowls. Roll the frozen goat cheese balls into the flour, then eggs, then bread crumbs until all the balls are coated. While you are breading the goat cheese, pour the 8 cups of oil into a heavy bottom pot at least 1 gallon in size and heat until the oil is 300-325 degrees Fahrenheit (you want to make sure you have plenty of room in the pot so that when you fry the fritters you don’t run the risk of the oil flowing over the top of the pot). Fry the croquettes, 4 to 5 at a time, until they turn a deep, golden brown. Place the fritters on a plate lined with paper towel and sprinkle with salt.  Enjoy with a pint of Bright White! Download the recipe.

Bright White is a Belgian-inspired Wheat Ale fermented with a Belgian yeast, yielding a mixture of clove and fruity aromas without the use of any spices. These traits make it the perfect beer to pair with food as you cook. Here are some suggestions and inspiration of cooking with Bright White from our own David Munro, one of our resident food and beer pairing experts. Mussels Mussels and Bright White are an excellent combination. Here is a recipe from Munro: Gently sauté a finely diced onion, three or four finely chopped cloves of garlic and two tablespoons of butter. Do this in a large enough pan that can hold two pounds of fresh mussels and has a tight fitting lid. Rinse the mussels with cold water and remove any opened ones. Once the onions and garlic have become translucent, pour a 12 oz. bottle of Bright White into the pan and add the mussels. Bring the liquid to a boil and cover with the pan with a lid. Reduce to medium/low heat and set timer for 5 minutes, or until the Mussels have opened. Turn off the heat, add a handful of roughly chopped cilantro and a four tablespoons of butter. Put the lid back on and shake (be careful not to burn yourself). You can either do family style service or use individual bowls. Be sure to pour all of the delicious broth over the Mussels and serve with a loaf of freshly baked crusty baguette to soak up all of that delicious broth! If you want spicy, use sriracha on the side, not in the cooking. Starters Here are some ideas of how you can use Bright White with appetizers and smaller dishes: Leek and potato soup made with Bright White. Bright White Chicken Chili: You can also have as an entrée, served over a baked potato. Sautéed local mushrooms, with a Bright White cream sauce of onions, garlic and fresh parsley. Use local thick cream for cooking. Bright White Cheese Fondue. Poached Asparagus with a Bright White Hollandaise style sauce. Entrees For an entrée or main course, think lighter. Seafood and chicken are complimentary. Beef, for the most part, is too much. A possible pairing with lamb. Here are other ideas: Scallops lightly poached in Bright White and served with a sauce of herbed chevre on a bed of stringozzi. Whole sole stuffed with leeks and crab, parchment baked with Bright White and served with Duchess potatoes. Seafood stew with Bright White broth. Eggs are also great with Bright White, including the omelet pictured above at the Eccentric Cafe. Dessert For dessert, pair with berries and cheese in combination or alone. Here are some more ideas: A layered mascarpone and berry trifle. Lemon Panna Cotta with Fresh Raspberry Coulis. Crepes with strawberry and cream cheese filling. A bowl full of fresh cherries, lightly poached in Bright White, chilled and topped with mascarpone ice cream. Have you cooked with Bright White or any of our other beers before? Let us know what you made on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #bellsbeer.

Following the successful launch of Two Hearted and Oberon Ale in 16 oz. 4-packs, we are proud to announce and share the look of the rest of our seasonal lineup in cans. Best Brown Ale, Winter White and Smitten Golden Rye Ale will be available in cans for the first time later this year and early next year. All three seasonal beers will continue to be available on draft and in both 6-pack and 12-pack bottles. “We love being able to offer these brands in both cans and glass to suit the various lifestyles of our customers and fans,” said Laura Bell, Bell’s Vice President. Best Brown Ale will be Bell’s third can offering and will be available along with bottles and on draft beginning around Labor Day. All three seasonal beers will be available in the same 16 oz. 4-packs. Cans of Winter White will be released in November and Smitten will return in February.