Bell's Brewery (2021)

Well that’s a bummer. Was looking forward to grabbing some this weekend, but will be out of town for a while for the holiday.

 

Did not see this one coming...

To the Kalamazoo Community and my Bell’s family:

When I first came to Kalamazoo as an ambitious freshman attending Kalamazoo College, I didn’t think I would stay here longer than my education required. I had aspirations to go far, but also had no idea that I would find my life-long passion and home in this city. It is here, in Kalamazoo, that I found my best friends and the hobby that has kept me around for the past four decades: brewing incredible-tasting beer alongside the people and community that I love.

It all started in the basement of my first house on Wheaton Street, which turned into my homebrew shop on Burdick Street, and ultimately grew into the downtown Kalamazoo and Comstock breweries you all visit and love to this day. But just like a stout sitting in a cellar, everything has its time, including me. That is why today, it is immensely exciting – and a little bittersweet – that I am writing to share some important news about the future of Bell’s Brewery.

I have made the decision to retire from the business that I have considered one of my best gifts in life, ever since I was an 18-year-old dreamer. When I started Bell’s, we were called Kalamazoo Brewing Company, a nod to our community’s original brewery that closed in 1915. I wanted to make a brewery that would last longer than us, for generations to come, like the great 500-year-old breweries in Germany – and I believe we have only begun on that path. But to keep Bell’s a strong and stable brewery for generations to come, we need someone to run it with the same energy and passion that I’ve had for these past decades.

That’s why this week, Bell’s finalized a sale agreement that will see us join forces with New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins, Colorado. By bringing together two of the largest and fastest-growing craft brand families in the country and unifying our companies under a single business model, we’re creating one of the best and largest craft portfolios in the country. Under the terms of the deal, I am selling my stake in Bell's to Lion, who acquired Colorado-based New Belgium in 2019.

As I make this announcement, I want to make two things very clear: First, Bell’s home is – and will remain – in Kalamazoo County. While I fully expect this alignment with New Belgium will result in countless new fans around the country and beyond, we are still a Michigan-based operation brewing (world-class) Michigan beer. Second, our values, our DNA and our dedication to this community will not change. If anything, our belief in positively impacting the world will only be strengthened through our work with New Belgium.

I know the brewery is in good hands. Bell’s and New Belgium are very similar in a lot of ways. We share the same values and commitments to our people, to our communities, and to the quality of our beer. As hard as it is for me to let go, I know I have found in Lion and New Belgium true partners – and beer lovers – who value the Bell’s brand, employees, culture and places we call home.

This was a tough decision to make and one that I did not decide on lightheartedly. During the past six months, I was reminded of all the hard times in our history – times when we were barely making payroll, fighting for distribution rights, passionately advocating for new laws and so forth. But I was also reminded of the memories that I will cherish forever: fans wanting Bell’s beer at their weddings and other once-in-a-lifetime milestones, the clink of the glasses in our pub when our craft brew is raised in celebration, and the love for this company and the team who are at the heart of it all. You wanted to have Oberon at midnight, so we started having release parties. When we brewed Eccentric Ale, you wanted to celebrate, and Eccentric Day was born. Beer needs people to drink it and Bell’s needs you.

It is important to know that much will not change day-to-day for Bell’s. The company will continue to craft the beers you know and love, and our leadership team and staff will remain in place in Comstock/Kalamazoo. The same is true for Upper Hand in Escanaba. What I believe will change, however, is the impact Bell's will be able to have on our local communities and causes, and our ability to introduce more fans to the ‘national’ beer of Michigan.

I know this isn’t all about me. I brewed the beer originally, but it’s what you all did with it that brings us here today. On a personal note, I want to thank the township of Comstock, the city of Kalamazoo, the city of Escanaba, our wonderful employees, and our many fans for all of the love and support you have shown Bell’s. When I founded the company in 1985, I never could have imagined how far we would come. I’m so proud of what we – our team, network, fans and partners – have been able to accomplish together over the last 36+ years. From what began as a personal passion for delicious craft beer and turned into a household name that millions love and enjoy each year, this has been an incredible and profoundly satisfying journey.

In the coming weeks, we expect to provide more information about our future with New Belgium and the opportunities it brings to the table. For more information, I encourage you to visit our website: bellsbeer.com/larrysretirement.

For now, let me just say cheers – and thank you, sincerely, because Bell’s is as much about you as it is me.


Larry Bell
Founder & President
Bell’s Brewery

 

Bell's and New Belgium are pretty interchangeable in my mind. Good luck to everyone.

 

Weird.

 

Not sure if you mean this as a compliment or an insult. I think Bell's is pretty excellent and New Belgium--while certainly not bad--is quite a bit behind them, but I admit I'm also not as familiar with their less-popular offerings.

 

Todd starts a new thread in 5...4...3...

 

Well, I know one of two things are going to be true. The BA Expedition being released on Black Friday will either be the best tasting beer Bell's has ever put out (and unfortunately the last under the OG!), or it's going to taste absolutely terrible, and is a testament that NB sucks green weenies. -And, this will thoroughly be expressed in trade value, hard stop.

 

I just hope that rumored Double Barrel Expedition Stout was well at rest in barrels before this happened...

 

Bummer. Was looking forward to another Funvitational Festival. The last one was epic.

 

who’s to say they won’t do another one?
Goose Island sold out, and they now have some of the best parties in the country.

 

What is weird?
Larry is getting up there in age & has had recent medical issues while Laura hasn't been part of the day to day operations in several years. This allows them to be retired & are selling to a group that has shown they are hands off so this seems like a pretty logical next step

 

See they announced BA expo for Black Friday but no word on chocolate.

 

And back to in person for some reason, they did online last year so they know that it works but I guess we're making people sit in the cold for hours again

 

I feel like I'm missing the joke as NB clearly has nothing to do with what will be released. But I'm still missing the joke?

Agree though that NB is levels below bells.

 

So, normally whenever a brewery gets purchased, anything after the purchase doesn’t taste as good. Obviously this is true some of the time, but other times people are just being jerks. Well, if people are really being shit birds, then not only will the new stuff taste like garbage, but the old stuff is obviously better. Not only that, but you can bet with near certainty that the last official batch is almost sure to be the best yet, because, obviously it is limited and you’ll never have it again.

I’m just poking fun of a slew of stereotypes and also certain trading personalities (no individuals, just the personality).

 

Yeah, prefer to just drop in and pick up quick. I understand no proxies to keep it more local but have never understood the making people wait in line. Seems like something useful when craft was just starting to get more publicity but those days are long gone.

with no chocolate, limited distro and waiting in line, makes me want to skip it and take my chances at local stores.