Bell’s Upper Hand Brewery to start production

Quince Love (BBA Wheatlove 13.7%) was on after Cinnamon Sunrise kicked. That was pretty damn good, too.

 

I can't wait to try the beers! They don't sound very interesting to be honest but who cares? I'm sure after things have been going for a while they'll start to expand the offerings. I also am a fan of the fact that Bell's is seemingly one of the only major MI breweries (along with Short's) that realizes the UP exists. I mean I wish they all cared about us, but I give them wild props for it.

 

Not just Yoopers. You hear that all over what we call "up north"

That being said, I am excited to try it, and I am sure Escanabba could use some jobs and economic development.

 

Agreed. My wife grew up in the UP and said she thought downstate was a city until she was older because that is all people ever said when they were going below the bridge.

 

I'd imagine it's pretty challenging/expensive to distribute beer from "down state to the upper hand" as that's many miles to travel to an area with not much going on in terms of a major market.

 

Aside from the limited release stuff, distro in the U.P. really isn't as bad as you would expect. Any shelf beers you could find in lower MI, from the major in-state breweries (ie. Bell's, Founders, New Holland, Dark Horse, Jolly Pumpkin, Short's), are readily available. Even smaller lower MI breweries like Greenbush are starting to distribute in the Yoop. Combine that selection with some of the great local breweries that have started retailing their beers and suddenly have some pretty decent options.

The stores that cater to craft beer drinkers are just much less common up there. There are really only a few places in U.P. that have a stellar selection. But most of the larger grocery stores do carry options worth picking up.

 

do they tend to be pretty fresh?

 

Just like anywhere else, it depends on where you are shopping. I've seen some pretty old Two-Hearted in a few places but I have also seen it incredibly fresh. You just need to be sure to check the dates. The stores that care about the freshness of craft beer, tend to have good relationships with their distributors and are willing to not leave things on the shelf until they sell. If beer is going to age out on the shelf it is at gas stations and out of the way grocery stores where BMC/adjunct products are the big draw for customers.

 

They brewed their first batch yesterday. I'm pretty excited to try this stuff out.

 

Kegged and rolled out to local bars by the end of Oct., according to TV6. They are also planning on doing some seasonal beers eventually too, which is great news.

 

Memo to Keweenaw...your days of peddling mediocrity in horrible looking cans grows dim.

 

I wish I could disagree with this, as Keweenaw Brewing Company is my hometown brewery, but you are right on. They do have better offerings at the taproom, the cans, not so much and ugly.

 

I was hopeful, but sadly the mixed can of sixers, a great idea by the way, had perhaps a 3.25 in the bunch @ best. Michigan is solid beer country & I was expecting the same from the UP, wonderful landscape btw.

 

Make no mistake, there is a ton of great beer to be had in the U.P.

 

BUT IT'S LOCAL!

Yeah I think they are not good as well. Widow Maker is pretty popular here, but it just... doesn't taste like much.

 

the only way that shit is making widows is if someone steps on one and falls down some stairs.

 

reason #2 why to support bells. i love the u.p.

reason #1 was bells make great beer.

 

It looks like they're doing a pub crawl in Escanaba this Thursday to launch UPA and Escanaba Black Beer.
https://www.facebook.com/events/362079313952531/362090060618123/