Now a trip to Michigan’s breweries can not be considered even close to complete without a stop at Bell’s Brewery and the Eccentric Cafe. Even though they are now owned by big brewing, our beer scene would not be what it is today had Bell’s not laid the foundation for Michigan breweries to succeed. Isn’t the yearly release of Oberon an unofficial state holiday and basically the way that we know warm weather and great times are ahead in the State of Michigan?
What would become Bell’s was started by Larry Bell in 1983, when he opened up a homebrew supply shop after taking up an interest in homebrewing. As more and more people wanted samples of his beer, Larry started brewing in a 15 gallon soup kettle, and opened up the Kalamazoo Beer Company. They sold their first beer on September 19th 1985, and was the beginning of Bell’s becoming an industry giant.
In 1989 Bell’s brewed their first batch of Expedition Stout, which is now the longest brewed Imperial Stout in the United States.
The year 1990 brought the first time Bell’s distributed out of state, with their beers being poured in Indiana and Wisconsin.
Fast forward to 1992, SolSun was first brewed. SolSun was the name originally given to the beer that we all now know as Oberon.
In 1993 Bell’s Eccentric Cafe opened for the first time. Which is home to many great events, live musical acts, touring comedians, and some of the most interesting beer parties you will ever go to. Eccentric Day is a must for anyone who has an alter ego that they need to unleash on the world. Along with my favorite beer event that any brewery hosts, All Stouts Day. 30 taps of stouts all day, yes please, and thank you.
1996 brought the arrival of their outdoor beer garden attached to the Eccentric Cafe.
In 1997, Bell’s brewed their first batch of Two Hearted Ale. Yes, that Two Hearted Ale, the one that has been voted best beer in America multiple times.
In 2001 Bell’s had reached the brewing capacity of the Eccentric Cafe, and began work on their production facility in Comstock, Michigan. It was completed in 2002.
2004 was the first year that Bell’s brewed Hopslam, which became a beer synonymous with beer truck chasing during its early years.
In 2007 Bell’s announced their first cellar expansion at the Comstock Brewery. This led to the first editions of Barrel-Aged Expedition Stout, and my favorite Bell’s beer of all time, Black Note Stout. If you have never tried Black Note, I feel really sorry for you. Super hard to find, but well worth it when you do. I have multiple years of it in my cellar, and I am not sharing, for any price lol.
2008 was the first year Bell’s reached the milestone of 100,000 barrels of beer shipped.
In 2011, after 3 million dollars in renovations Bell’s re-opened The Eccentric Cafe.
2012 was the first year that Bell’s shipped 200,000 barrels of beer. They also expanded to a brand new American-made 200 barrel brewhouse, with 14 400-barrel dry hop fermenters for making Two Hearted Ale.
In 2014 Bell’s reached the 300,000 barrels of beer shipped milestone. Also they planted their hop farm. Bell’s was very busy this year as they installed their first 800-barrel fermenters.
2016: More expansion including a bottling hall, warehouse space and additional fermentation space.
2017 was the first year the Two Hearted Ale won the best beer in America, and Bell’s was voted #1 brewery in all of America.
In 2018 Bell’s installed 12 additional 800-barrel fermenters. Which to give you an idea of how much beer this is. A half-barrel holds 124 pints of beer, so a full barrel holds 248 pints of beer. 248 pints times 800 barrels equals 198,400 pints of beer. So 12 800-barrel fermenters means that they can have 2,380,800 pints of beer fermenting at any given time. That is A LOT of beer.
By November of 2021, Bell’s had become so big that it was time to sell. They ended up selling to Lion Little World Beverages for an undisclosed amount. This is the same company that owns New Belgium Brewing Company. Which led to me being able to order Bell’s beer at the New Belgium Taproom in Fort Collins, Colorado less than a year later.
Even though Bell’s Brewing Company sold, they continue to keep the brand in Kalamazoo, and they employ people all over the globe. They bring Michigan and our beer culture to the world on a daily basis. So next time you are visiting Kalamazoo stop by and visit the Eccentric Cafe and pay respect to the brewery that helped shape the craft beer scene in Michigan and beyond.
They may not have been the first, but what started with a dream and a 15 gallon soup kettle, has become the most recognizable beer brand that Michigan has to offer. So to Larry Bell and Bell’s Brewing Company, we salute you, without you Michigan would not be the brewing destination that it is today. Cheers!
0 Comments