A look back at the history of Best Brown

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.