Preferences: Founders or Bell's?

I'm not answering the question because I have only had two-hearted and oberon from Bells, and I have had just about everything from Founders. So it would be unfair. However, I LOVE this thread because it is going about 50/50.

Bob

 

Very tough choice, but have to say Bell's probably because I love Two Hearted so much.

 

Lager of the Lakes, Consecrator, and Octoberfest will be found in bottles/kegs regularly/seasonally. Q Falls, Smoked Lager are among those that kegs will float around. There have been a bunch of cafe only lagers too.

 

founders

 

Both are world class breweries, I am very happy to live close to both. Bell's portfolio is larger and more diverse, includes lagers and sours, which puts them ahead of Founders in my book.

I prefer Bell's hoppy beers (Two Hearted, Hopslam, Oracle and Roundhouse) to Founders (Centennial, Double Trouble, Devil Dancer and Red's Rye). Red's Rye vs Roundhouse is the only one that is really close, a coin flip between those two beers. I exclude both Pale Ales because I do not drink either with any regularity. I also prefer the breadth of Bell's expansive stout line up to Founders, Founders may be a bit more "exciting" but simply cannot compare to the quantity that Bell's brings to the table.

If there is one deciding factor, it may be Wild One. I cannot drinks anything close at Founders.

 

Founders, but not by much. KBS, Breakfast Stout, Backwoods Bastard are what put them over the top for me.

 

My thought exactly

 

Two Hearted Ale, Hopslam and Oberon on draft say hello! Ahh, I'm just poking at you, don't get upset. I personally think both breweries are fantastic. The way you feel about Bell's is how I feel about New Belgium and Rogue.

 

Well... For me it would have to be Founders. We don't get Bell's in Houston yet. I hear it's coming and can't wait to be able to compare the two.

 

Bells - I have been to their brewery and was blown away by the pub only beers. Love the cherry stout in bottles.

I may change my tune if I ever get to try KBS and CBS.

 

As a Michigander I am very conflicted. Founders probably wins.

I can say that I thought I loved KBS until I tried Black Note, which blew me away. But, most founders beers are so incredibly solid that it wins over all. Backwoods bastard is insanely good.

I need to make my way out to Kalamazoo and check out the cafe. Founders tap room is incredibly awesome with some of the best sandwhiches ever. Once I get to Kzoo I might change my mind.

 

I feel that the IPA/Hoppy beers is a toss up however, founders makes better BA beers and stouts.

 

i thought we were supposed to be beer advocates?

 

I wasn't that enthralled with Hopslam, but Twohearted is a classic and a go to for me. I loved KBS and thoroughly enjoyed FIS, FBS, and the Porter.

Now that I think of it, I haven't had any of Bell's good stouts or Founder's IPA (not stout/porter) offerings. I need to try more beers from both, but for right now Two Hearted is holding it down.

 

Founder's Pale Ale > Bell's Pale Ale
Founder's Porter > Bell's Porter
Founder's Centennial IPA = Bell's Two Hearted
Founder's Breakfast Stout < Bell's Java Stout
Founder's Imperial Stout < Bell' Expedition Stout
Founder's KBS = Bell's Blacknote
No Founder's regular line up stout < Bell's Kalamazoo Stout
Founder's Curmudgeon < Bell's Third Coast Old Ale
Founder's Devil's Dancer < Bell's Oracle
I don't like Founder's All Day IPA, but Red's Rye is one of my all time favorite beers.

Adding all this up it looks like Bell's wins for me. However, I love having access to both.

 

It is very close for me, too, especially since Red's Rye is no longer $10/6, but I have been picking up a lot of All Day 15's.

Two Hearted is probably my most purchased IPA due to it always being available very fresh (got some 6/3 today). Love Centennial too, but rarely see it fresh. Dirty Bastard is my most purchased malt-bomb and is almost always in my fridge. Both breweries have a handful of seasonal/limiteds I really enjoy. I would probably pick Founders, but again, very close.

 

Founders because I love everything they make!

 

Really don't care for either.

 

Great thread. I'm in Southern Illinois and like these breweries so much, I've been to both (actually I've been to Bells Eccentric Cafe twice). Both times I visited with a good friend and had a great memorable experience.

Very hard choice for me. I love Founders seasonal releases and their Porter is my favorite (Eddy Fitz close second) and is a regular in my beer fridge along with Two Hearted. I love that Two Hearted and Oberon are now in cans - great move for Bells. Hopslam is the only beer I buy a case of every year and I like Java Stout better than FBS. But, I could drink FIS year round and love it. And, KBS was the first "big" beer I ever had and it blew my mind at the time (remember back when you could easily find it on the shelves for months?)

I'd probably have to go with Bells by a slight margin, an emotional decision, since Oberon and Two Hearted were my gateway beers into craft.