Preferences: Founders or Bell's?

Both.

Can't decide.

I swear Hopslam isn't what it used to be, and it isn't my palate changing, otherwise I would clearly choose Bell's.

 

Founders, but I'm not really crazy about either. Backwoods Bastard crushes everything from Bell's I've had though.

 

Bells wins! BA9K, Black Note, Wild One, Raspberry Wild One. They still have great limited release brews as well as great shelf regulars like Expedition and Oberon. Hopslam isnt that good any more though.

Founders has gone way down hill on thier limited releases and I dont really have any interest in thier shelf beers any more. KBS isnt what it used to be, it tastes cheap now. I do like going to the source and having a few draft pour of draft only Founders beers though.

 

What great timing for this thread as I went to Bell's for lunch and Founders for dinner today! I couldn't believe how busy Founders was for a Monday night and how even with the huge seating expansion I had to walk around for 15 minutes looking for an open table. One thing about Founders that pissed me off was how they update there website draft list. The time is always current but they didn't have half of the brewery only beers listed on the website when I showed up, in fact they still have the beers they ran out of yesterday as currently on tap on their website. But Bell's tap cam can kinda be that way too. Anyway it's a tough choice but I gotta go with Bell's, I find their IPAs to be superior and both are pretty even as far as stouts go.

 

I'd say Founders for all around go to beers. Centennial is practically a fridge main stay and I'd take it over Two Hearted every day of the week. Every other year round is a pristine example of the style. I drink All Day a lot as well. I can always get them under a month old fresh. Don't get me wrong though, Bells is extremely consistent across all styles. I bought some Amber last week so they still get in my fridge every so often. I have multiple vintages of Expedition and Third Coast Old ale in the cellar. Expedition beats out Founders RIS by a sizable margin for me, not to say Founders isnt awesome though. So much more complexity in the Expedition. So it is a close match, both are great for different reasons.

 

Founders wins for me so far for overall quality on a bunch of good styles that I have had from them. Although I have not had Black Note yet to compare to KBS. I've tried Two Hearted a couple of times since Bell's came to NY as was excited to be able to get it but just not that impressed. Hopslam not good enough to carry them

 

Bells but only because I loved this one goes to 11 and Java stout so much.

 

Which one distributes to my area? It would be my favorite.

 

Cheers to a great question. I don't think I've come across this one before. Proves that the best thinking comes at around midnight.

From a SoCal native that's had some of the regular offerings and a few of the limited brewings from both...

I prefer Expedition over Founders' RIS, esp if aged. But FBS and KBS set the standard in their respective classes.

Never had an IPA from Bell's that comes close to what Founders offers.

But TOGTE...
But Backwards...

I'd have to give it to Founders but only by a margin. All I know is that I need to visit MI asap.

 

Bell's - Two Hearted will always be one of my favorites, Hopslam is still outstanding in my opinion...

 

Gna have to go with founders...centennial, backwoods, breakfast stout, kbs, reds rye, imperial stout...awesome brewery

 

Founders by a slight margin. Very slight. (I flipped a coin to decide)

 

Founders hands down.

 

Founders. Maybe if Black Note could make it down to South Florida some time it would change my mind.

 

Having visited both breweries fairly recently, I enjoyed Bells more. Loved their tap room, Black Note is one of my favorite beers and Cherry Third Coast was outstanding. It'd be 55/45 Bells.

 

Founders. They experiment and push the envelope a little more (aka barrel aged and interesting concoctions) ... I like that.

 

Founders is one of my favorite breweries, period, so it has to be Founders. They make multiple beers that are just outstanding--Red's Rye, Backwoods, Imperial Stout, Breakfast Stout, Harvest Ale, KBS--and others that are solid in Double Trouble, Centennial, Porter, Pale Ale. EDIT: Almost forgot about Curmudgeon!

By comparison, I like Two Hearted, Expedition, Hopslam and Kalamazoo from Bell's, but none of them blow my mind. Smitten is pretty good as well.

I think part of what puts Founders over the edge is that they make a couple of non-stout/IPAs that are world class.

 

Had 2009 Expedition at the brewery back in the winter, was the best non-barrel aged stout I've ever had.