Bell's Lineup - Time to Retool?

Honestly? We get all their stuff here and the only ones I really drink are 2 Hearted, Expedition & Kalamazoo....well and Hopslam too if I can get it. The rest of their stuff to me is kind of boring. Truth.

 

I guess some of this comes down to - are the "classic" beers selling?
I know Great Divide killed off a lot of their original beers to make room for Yeti, Hercules, etc. which were selling a lot more.
Anyone have any insights as to how many of those beers are still doing well?

 

The MW Pale and Amber should be revamped/replaced IMO. I just found them subpar to the shelf space competition. Others I'm good with. I'm one of the few who likes Oarsman. Not quite at the level of some of the top Berlinners/Goses that came out this year, but still respectable and easy to find like Anderson Valley Gose is if I want a light, inexpensive sour style brew.

Bell's just started distributing in MD, so I'm patiently waiting for the Third Coast Old Ale. Had a bottle muled back from vacation and it was great. Can't wait to cellar a couple.

 

When I first got into craft, Bell's was one of my favorite breweries. They aren't anymore.

 

Please stay just the way you are Bell's!

While I actually agree with many of the OP's tweaks, I'm happy keeping things "as is" for fear of opening Pandora's box. I love that they are an old-school US craft brewery, with their big lineup of well made sixers. I hope they remain frozen in time. I don't want to start seeing them "update" themselves and come out with 22oz "brewed once" IPA variants.

 

Third Coast is definitely not a light lager and better not go away anytime soon because it's a fantastic BW available in 6ers. I really dig breweries like Bells that still offer a solid regular rotation including a light lager, amber, brown, and Porter.

 

My first thought after reading the OP was the thought already expressed by @montman: if these beers aren’t selling then the management at Bells would (will) make the decision to stop producing these beers.

I noted Keith (@Kadonny) opining: “The rest of their stuff to me is kind of boring.”

The ‘challenge’ of the BeerAdvocate forum is that we are an ‘echo chamber’ of a select part of the craft beer market; the ‘beer geeks’ if you will.

There are plenty of craft beer drinkers who like “boring”. The millions of consumers that buy Sam Adams Boston Lager, New Belgium Fat Tire, Blue Moon, Shock Top, etc. It very well may be that Bells brands like Midwestern PA, Amber, etc. sell very well to that portion (larger portion) of the craft beer market.

Cheers!

 

Bells has 2 beers called Third Coast and both are available in sixers.

Third Coast Old Ale - A big, bold, high abv old ale that ages with the best of them
Third Coast Beer - A light easy drinking Blonde Ale, easily mistaken for a lager

 

Bell's is just fine. I love the dark beers. I'm certain that they make business decisions everyday.

 

I say axe Midwestern pale and replace it with Larry's Stupid Quadrupid IPA

 

i'd be happy if Bell's would fill growlers of most of their eccentric taproom options (only 3 things being filled right now) and fill other growlers so I don't have a $30+ upfront cost. I have enough growlers... and I'd love my brother in law to bring me some surprises every once in awhile.

Other than that, keep on keepin on.

As much as YOU think their beers are doing ________ in certain markets etc, unless you are a distributor, beer manager, or bottle shop owner and have the numbers to back it up, it is probably selling just fine. Bell's is a business and they are not pinching pennies, they are expanding production, etc. They know how to do what they want to do. That might not be the same as what you want.

 

I saw that this is on at the taproom right now (citrus is on too). That wasan exceptional beer. I'd take more in a heart beat.

 

Completely agree with all of your points here. I'd love to see them revamp Oarsman and MWPA.

 

Only beer I'd like to see them do away with is the Cherry Stout

 

I don't think they need to change a thing. They're the king of Michigan beer production, and I've got to think they are for some very calculated decision-making throughout their existence.

During the summer, I drink a lot of Oarsman and Third Coast Beer. Two Hearted is always a go-to, and I think they've kind of nailed it on the seasonals and rotating taps.

At least in Michigan, they have a lot of shelf and tap space, and I think they are a lot of people's go to grab, despite the explosion of packaged options here. Their recipes are pretty timeless. Seasonals have a good tap reach at a lot of restaurants and bars. I am all about trying new beers, but I often find myself reaching for Bell's stuff that I've had time and time again, rather than reach for something new, because I know I am going to be satisfied with Bell's.

 

I just want to put all of the Wild One, in existence, into my mouth. That beer knocked my socks off. Would love to get another growler fill of it.

 

What about Lager of the Lakes? Are they allowed to make that one is that on the OP's shit list too?

 

Oh no! A brewery makes a beer one BA doesn't like! They should close up shop.

 

I believe Amber is their #2 selling brand, I doubt they're going to put that anywhere.
Also, No need to change their line-up as it is one of the more rounded and well balanced ones in the business.

And for my beer buyer/store manager description; The only struggle to sell is Brown Ale because brown's just simply do not sell in my area.
Keep em as is!

 

Smitten is on shelves well past it's prime in Grand Rapids. You can usually find 12 packs on sale for $6 at the end of the season. Couldn't tell ya the last time I bought anything from Bells... Oh wait, I did get a six pack of 30th anniversary, still have 2 left...