Bell's Lineup - Time to Retool?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by scottakelly, Oct 19, 2015.

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  1. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    I'm a big Bell's fan, and obviously they are doing things right with how they continue to grow and expand, so feel free to dismiss this suggestion, but I really believe it's time that Bell's refresh or retool its beer lineup.

    I see way too many of their beers (e.g. Midwest PA, Oarsman, Amber, Winter White) not moving at all on local retailer's shelves. My gut suspicion is that many of these styles just aren't in now with the modern average craft drinker.

    Even myself, as a big Bell's fan and not one to chase trends, pass over a lot of Bell's beers because of the redundancy: too many low gravity dark ale options, etc.

    If I were then, I would cull the lineup as follows:

    Get rid of Midwestern PA and make Smitten a year round offering

    Get rid of one of the two light lagers, Third Coast or Lager

    Get rid of Porter and stick with Kzoo Stout as the only tear round dark ale, do some serious editing of the multiple seasonal dark ale releases (I would probably just keep Double Cream and Expedition)

    Get rid of Winter White

    This one is probably the most heretical, but I would get rid of Amber and make Best Brown a year round offering

    My thought is that they could then do some more "exciting" seasonal and special releases, and also do any of the above culled bears as special draft only releases
     
    #1 scottakelly, Oct 19, 2015
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  2. hoppytobehere

    hoppytobehere Pooh-Bah (2,046) Aug 10, 2012 District of Columbia
    Pooh-Bah

    Go outside and read a book or something.
     
    #2 hoppytobehere, Oct 19, 2015
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  3. TonyLema1

    TonyLema1 Pooh-Bah (2,890) Nov 19, 2008 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Bell's porter is one of my favorites, so I don't want to see that go away. I agree with you on the Best Brown suggestion. Also, you can get rid of the Cherry Stout though

    @hoppytobehere, you almost made me spit out my coffee when I read your post:slight_smile:
     
    #3 TonyLema1, Oct 19, 2015
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  4. montman

    montman Maven (1,444) Mar 10, 2009 Virginia
    Trader

    If this is the case everywhere, then in theory this should take care of itself.
     
    #4 montman, Oct 19, 2015
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  5. Domingo

    Domingo Grand Pooh-Bah (4,252) Apr 23, 2005 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    Was actually thinking about this the other day since we got all of those flagships in Denver for the first time.
    Some are classics (Kalamazoo, Best Brown) but others (Amber, Oarsman, MW Pale) taste like they got stuck in the early 2000's...and not really in a good way. It's one thing if you're making a killer amber, pale, etc. - but I think those are all a little dated and don't stand out. They remind me a bit of the original Great Divide line-up, which they've since culled and revamped most of.
     
    #5 Domingo, Oct 19, 2015
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  6. rphx88

    rphx88 Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2014 Arizona

    Best Brown for year round makes sense. Perhaps a bomber format would help the issue as well.
     
    #6 rphx88, Oct 19, 2015
  7. kbuzz

    kbuzz Initiate (0) Jan 22, 2011 North Carolina

    Yeah, something tells me that someone in the Bell's machine would notice if this were truly the case...

    That said, I never ever buy any of those. Not sure I've ever even had the Winter White.
     
    #7 kbuzz, Oct 19, 2015
  8. jcos

    jcos Pundit (802) Nov 23, 2009 Maryland

    I like that there are 5 different stout variations that come out. For the consumer, it makes the odds of finding some a lot easier. While I love Expedition, I prefer to stock Java Stout and Kalamazoo Stout as they are lower in abv.

    I find it funny everyone is trying to make a lower abv "IPA", yet there are lower abv stouts already on the market and people just hype up ones that are 10%+....

    And while I do love Bell's Best Brown, I don't know if making it year round would make it as special.
     
    #8 jcos, Oct 19, 2015
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  9. deleted_user_950283

    deleted_user_950283 Initiate (0) Feb 25, 2015
    Trader

    we don't get Bell's here :flushed:
     
    #9 deleted_user_950283, Oct 19, 2015
  10. jacewg

    jacewg Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2012 District of Columbia

    I sort of stand in-between on this.

    I think Oarsman needs more tartness to really shine. And Midwestern Pale Ale, while well brewed, reminds me of the best beer on tap at a Buffalo Wild Wings/sports bar type location.

    I do think that Amber Ale is one of the absolute best examples of a beer style that doesn't get much love from beer nerds.
     
    #10 jacewg, Oct 19, 2015
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  11. jlsims04

    jlsims04 Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2013 Illinois

    Third coast is not a light lager.
     
    #11 jlsims04, Oct 19, 2015
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  12. Beeramemnon

    Beeramemnon Initiate (0) Sep 26, 2015 Georgia

    In theory I agree with all the original suggestions except the Porter/Kalamazoo. Porter is delicious and sells well at least around my area, Kalamazoo not so much. Switch it. But yeah, if their sales were suffering enough the brewery would have done something about it.

    I would personally like the pH of Oarsman dropped a bit. That beer has potential to be a great and inexpensive sour offering, and I bet it would sell better too.
     
    #12 Beeramemnon, Oct 19, 2015
  13. MikeySea

    MikeySea Pooh-Bah (2,165) Sep 17, 2015 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah

    Yea, I don't know what it is about their Porter...I just love it. And Best Brown, Two Hearted, and Expedition...couldn't do without them.
     
    #13 MikeySea, Oct 19, 2015
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  14. Domingo

    Domingo Grand Pooh-Bah (4,252) Apr 23, 2005 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    I can appreciate that. I'm not really a fan of that beer, but I do like amber ales. It feels like a sub-par ESB to me. I still really dig Fat Tire, Alaskan Amber, Dry Dock Amber, Avalanche, Ska Pinstripe, etc.
    The Bell's one felt a lot like the stuff I had at Rock Bottom and the Ram restaurants back in the day, but not as bold.
    I'd almost like to see it go all English and become a true ESB or drop the UK hops and go more American. I dunno.
     
    #14 Domingo, Oct 19, 2015
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  15. Kurmaraja

    Kurmaraja Initiate (0) May 21, 2013 California
    Trader

    He's probably referring to Third Coast Beer, not Third Coast Old Ale. Though it's an American Blonde, I can see why he's lumping it in with lagers ...
     
    #15 Kurmaraja, Oct 19, 2015
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  16. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    Correct

    I love Third Coast Old Ale
     
    #16 scottakelly, Oct 19, 2015
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  17. deakin

    deakin Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2014 Michigan

    Bells internal actually classifies TCB as a pale ale.
     
    #17 deakin, Oct 19, 2015
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  18. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    Porter is often passed on around here, I imagine because of the popularity of Founders Porter and Ed Fitz. It's a good beer, but Kzoo Stout is much better imo
     
    #18 scottakelly, Oct 19, 2015
  19. riverlen

    riverlen Pundit (852) Sep 16, 2009 Illinois

    I agree with making Best Brown a year round, or at least autumn through winter. I'm a big fan of Amber, I wouldn't want to see that go away.
     
    #19 riverlen, Oct 19, 2015
  20. jlsims04

    jlsims04 Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2013 Illinois

    Ahh thank you. I didnt realize they had two Third Coast's
     
    #20 jlsims04, Oct 19, 2015
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