Bells Brewery (2022)

I hope you are right! Last year I’m not sure they did the variety packs but according to the article that @steveh posted above, the Cold Hearted was only in Kalamazoo. The rest I’ve seen in Grand Rapids.

 

From the Bell's 2022 lineup thread:

• 
  
  
  • More variety packs: A new variety pack is anticipated to start shipping in time for Valentine's Day that includes 12 ounce bottles of Two Hearted, Light Heated, Black Hearted and Cold Hearted. Another variety pack is anticipated to be released that includes four new Flamingo Fruit Fights flavors.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...-2022-beer-lineup-including-newcomers.663804/

Could be wrong but sounds pretty distro-ey to me.

 

Yeah, it’s starting to pop up here in SE MI…

 

100% agree with these comments. This batch is as good as ever in my opinion. There was a period in the mid-to-late twenty-tens where it veered too heavy to the sweet honey side, masking the hops. But the last few years have been right back to excellent.

 

Not to get contrary, but I never experienced this with Hopslam. My review from 2015 reports a lot about hop character.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/287/17112/?ba=steveh#review

 

Stumbled across Hopslam yesterday. Wasn't expecting it, thought it was available a bit later. Liked the format (4-pack/16 oz. cans) and the price was lower than the last few years.
Enjoyed it, wasn't bowled over as in the past, but looking forward to the next one. Will prolly pick up more.

 

Maybe masking the hops was too strong of a statement. I definitely felt some years in that period (may have been after 2015) had a stronger honey presence than previous years. But that could have totally been my palate.

 

In the south suburbs of Cleveland, we got the tall boys first. 12 ounce cans showed up about a week later.

 

I believe there is also an exception to allow certain packaging already in stock to be used up. This means labels, carriers, and mother cartons.
I have a 12-pack carrier of Lager Of The Lakes with that sentence thereupon. Maybe I will be able to unload it for megabucks at a breweriana event | auction*.

(* = Don't chuckle. A Budweiser 12-oz. can from the 1940s sold for $29,070 at a breweriana auction in November 2021.)

 

Thinking about swinging by the Cafe to pick up chocolate BA Expo, maybe grabbing a pour. If anyone’s there, please report back.

 

Bells posted on IG that they had (what look like) 22 ounce bottles of black note. Was this ever released in that format? I know they were in 750’s back in the day.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZZSfzCM_hi/?utm_medium=copy_link

 

I spy 22oz bombers AND a cork/cage 750 of Black Note hiding in the back of that pic. If I lived nearby I'd be calling in my PTO right now. Jealous!

 

I don't believe Black Note has ever been for sale in 22s & the picture shows Sample Not For Sale on those bottles so maybe they were originally for employees or an event

 

Where around metro Detroit can I get 16oz hopslams? Every place I have been to only has 12oz

 

Does the store still have Chocolate Expo or did it sell out?

 

It’s still available on the website.

 

Geez I didn’t even realize that was a thing. Thanks!

 

Was about to pick up their BOX OF HEARTS but passed on it... no way I'm paying for Light Hearted, and Two Hearted is solid but has been surpassed by so many local beers around here. There's a bottle shop nearby that often splits variety boxes, so I'll make a trek over next week to see if I can finally try Cold/Dark Hearted.