Bell's Brewery (2023)

To each his own, of course, but I appreciate a wide range of choice between head bangers and easy drinkers.

 

this is devastating

 

Trumer.

 

I really didn't think the new management would affect Bell's, but I'm starting to get worried. A lot of classic releases are now pub-only for some reason (Best Brown, Consecrator), everything is in a mixed 12-pack (annoying), and the new beers are just meh (thought Hazy Hearted was very mediocre). Hopefully it's just a rough transition.

 

I may be remembering this wrong, but didn't that start before the sale? At least with a few of those beers.

 

I don't understand changing the label of Two Hearted, from Two Hearted Ale to Two Hearted IPA, I doubt sales were hurting because some people didn't know it was an IPA.

 

Between the Lager of the Lakes news, the death of Best Brown, the voodoo rangerification of the Two Hearted brand, Bell's demise in Chicago, and the sudden replacement of pretty much all Bell's products by New Belgium "equivalents" here in New England (as if anything New Belgium makes could hold a candle to Bell's), this sure seems like the end of Bell's as we long knew it. I'm sure Two Hearted will still be good where it's available fresh, but the days of being able to turn to Bell's for a quality beer in just about any style in much of the country seem gone. Larry Bell deserves his very happy, very wealthy retirement, but the speedy destruction of this iconic brewery is a really sad story and as a drinker, I sure wish he had chosen a different way to exit the business.

 

Bell's demise in Chicago? What'd I miss?

 

Check out the post I linked to in my post. Sounds like all Bell’s draft lines at Sheffield’s have been switched over to New Belgium. I have fond memories of seeing 5 or 6 Bell’s options on tap there in the past.

 

Sorry, couldn't tell it was a link on my little screen.

Interesting development.

 

So deep has the rapid destruction of Bells legacy effected me that I had to sign in just so I could post for people who understand.


So Oberon day just happened, and naturally I got a 12 pack, because tradition and what not.
This current batch is so *clear* with NO haze or yeast sediment in the bottles. Very much unlike the Oberon I’ve been drinking for years.

 

This is just sad. I need to remember to grab that 6er of Expo next time I'm at the store.

 

Lager for the Lakes is on tap at Crunchy's in EL and I like it. It's better than Local's Light.

Changing one word seems to be a decision of the most douchy of corporate leadership, but whatever.

 

This does not bode well.

I'll get my annual six-pack this year, but I have doubts it will expand to the three or four I usually buy if the beer has really changed so much.

Nothing like the new owners taking steps to confirm our worst fears.

 

On the bright side, last years Uberon is still tasting great.

 

The wife had her yearly on at a local place, still hazy from the wheat proteins.

I'm not sure the new corporate overlords will have the same care and passion.

 

It certainly SMELLED like Oberon, the smell related memories were strong.

I’m looking forward to my first draft Oberon to see how it fares.

 

Exactly. The first thing I thought when I poured my clear Oberon yesterday was that a five year old running around with scissors made this year's Oberon. Just sad. An iconic beer (I admit it's not the best beer out there) that had it's own special day of the year has been changed. Why? Fu***** Fat Tire bull****.

 

I bought a 12 pack thinking it was just a label change. I have been drinking Lager OF The Lakes for years. Lager FOR The Lakes is a huge downgrade IMO.

 

This cracked me up. After reading so many posts about how so many legacy clear ipas are now being made hazy, the hazy beers are being turned clear? Brewers must just be messing with us at this point.