Bell's Brewery (2023)

I already have one

 

Thought it was a good event. I got there about 15 min early and was out of the store with my beer at 11:10. So the wait wasn't that long. When I called earlier in the week they said they only had 70 cases this time around. While that did last into the afternoon, I doubt it lasted into the night (don't know since I left) and unless I was given bad info there won't be any more to re-stock the store. Was cool that they were filling crowlers with some of the good stuff in the store, opening the magnum of Batch 7000, and a few surprises on tap in the cafe'.

 

If any Yooper Ex-Pats are looking for a taste of home...
Bell's Has some of this for you at the General Store.

 

Was Upper Hand included in the sale to Kirin or is it a separate entity?

 

Since that post above, I have been trying to figure out what’s going on there. I’m glad you asked this question.

 

Yes, it was.

 

So Kirin has the Upper Hand?

 

When I was there a week or so ago the General Store had 3 or 4 different Upper Hand beers in the cooler including Sisu & crowlers of BA Sisu in the crowler fridge

 

The Lager of the Lakes was a favorite. This new Lager for the Lakes that has come out is not to my liking at all.

 

Yikes, I had not realized they changed the recipe (and slightly tweaked the name, whatever). Just checked IG to look it up and Bell's said the following. Sad news.

We’re saying goodbye to Lager of the Lakes with this release. Lager for the Lakes is a completely new recipe – an American Lager with low bitterness and easy-drinking flavor

Don't tell @steveh .

 

Well, that certainly sucks. I hadn't seen it in a while, this probably explains it.

More of my money to Trumer.

Also don't tell @jesskidden -- sorry man.

 

Exactly which Bell's fans is this supposed to appeal to?

I don't think any brewery sale has hit me in the feels like Bell's did. I actually told my wife the day it happened as if an old friend had been arrested for murder. She looked at me like I was drunk because she doesn't give a flying fuck about beer.

I can't say this is totally unexpected but it just feels like a step along an inevitable path toward a line up of punnily named two hearted spin offs and a seltzer line. I'm sure I'll finally get distribution out here when that transition is complete

 

In a beer world rife with novelty, Lager of the Lakes was always an old reliable I would grab when the new flavor of the week bullshit wasn't sounding good and I just needed a solid crusher I knew I would love. This sad news got me fucked up. RIP old friend.

 

Lager of the Lakes no more is sad news but I feel like even before the sale they started putting out some beers to appeal to non craft drinkers light hearted, lo sun, no yeah

 

Out of curiosity, why do you feel like light hearted isn’t a craft drinkers beer? I’m not really an IPA guy, so I haven’t tried it, but it’s clear from the activity on this board that NA options are popular for a variety of reasons, including lower-cal options. Isn’t that the point of light hearted (ie a “very flavorful” low-cal option)? Personally, I’d love to try some of the NA beers, but few are available in my area, and the ones that are only exist in packs, no singles, and I just haven’t been willing to buy a 6-pack. On the other hand, seems like light hearted has been well received for the category it is in.

 

Sorry, I thought Light Hearted was genius -- nicely hoppy without hitting you over the head. I think it was directed to craft beer drinkers who didn't want to sacrifice flavor for something a little easier to drink.

I wrote all in the past tense, but I'm not sure it's gone from the portfolio. Yet.

 

"Easy drinking". I never found the original Lager of the Lakes all that difficult to drink - ditto for the other US-craft brewed pilsners that are disappearing during the "lager revival" of 2018 2019 2020 2021... (you get the idea).

Lager for the Lakes? How 'bout Lager for the Birds?

To me, "easy drinking" is synonymous with "smooth" and "drinkable" and, of course, "light" - as used by brewers they all just means dumbed down to appeal to a broader segment of the market. I suppose that makes sense financially BUT only if they gain more buyers than the lose.

Whenever I drink Pilsner Urquell after not having one for some time, I'm always shocked at my glass's contents when I put in down after my first mouthful.
" Where'd all my beer go!"

I find that not just pretty damn easy, but unconscious and automatic.

 

Someone should tell these people that targeting the customers that find beer hard to drink might not be the best strategy

 

I didn’t like Light Hearted, it wasn’t for me as someone who does like IPAs and considering how top notch Two Hearted is maybe I would have been more accepting if it had been given it’s own branding

I also don’t care for NA beers and never seek low calorie so obviously I’m not their target on those beers