Is this normal for Bell's?

Didn't even know they made a sampler pack! This is badass...

Sounds like you got some sort of spring/summer variation if it is missing the Brown Ale and Stout.

 

Bell's does not distribute sampler packs, so you must have something that was put together by the distributor. You'll have to point your finger at them.

 

Kind of makes sense considering the strange beer laws in PA. I didn't think they made a sampler pack.. I was getting a little excited there for a minute.

 

That sure looks 'official' so that is the first time I've seen a sampler from Bell's.

 

That does look pretty official, I would send Bell's an email and ask if they put them together and if so why the difference from what the label says.

 

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I don't think PA distributors can legally make their own mixed packs. And of course, that looks pretty official there, as stated. I'm guessing they just stuck the wrong sticker on.

 

Bells has sold "official" variety cases (at least in PA) for at least a couple years now. I've seen the two different variety cases mentioned in the OP but I don't think I've seen anything other than those 6 beers in the mixes.

Probably mislabeled at the factory.

 

I can attest to this. I've seen Bells variety cases on several occasions. I never bothered to pick one up though.

 

I've had two different distributors tell me that they are not allowed to "break" cases and reconfigure them for sale in PA. Some still do it, but not with this kind of professional packaging. And the smart ones don't put them prominently out on the floor. They stash them someplace inconspicuous and direct their regulars to them.

 

Indeed, Bell's has been selling mix cases in PA for at least as long as I've lived here (a little over two years). As the photo shows, it sure doesn't look like anything put together by the distributors.

That said, however, I've never bought one. So as to your question about them being mislabeled...sounds like a simple case (HA!) of the wrong sticker being applied. Do the bottle dates work out in your favor, or do they seem to be on the older side?

 

I went to a Bells tasting at a beer distributor a few weeks ago for Pittsburgh Craft beer week, and the Bell's rep brought sampler cases with him. I saw the one that you said you got, with the porter, midwest, amber and oberon. I am guessing it was just accidentally mislabeled.

 

I see sampler packs (not Bell's) around that list all the beers that could potentially come in a sampler pack. Next to each beer listed is a box for a check mark, which indicates that the particular sampler pack has said beers inside. Was it a sampler pack like that? Perhaps the checks were just put in the wrong place? Just guessing here...

 

After seeing several hand marked mixed cases of Lagunitas at one distributor (definitely wasn't going to complain) I asked how they were allowed to break up cases and make mixed ones and they said they received special permission from only Lagunitas because of the number of cases they got from them. Not sure if there is anything in the PA law that prohibits this but the distributor did not seem at all concerned with that, only getting the OK from Lagunitas.

 

The recent Bell's variety case the wife picked up had Kalamazoo Stout, Brown Ale, Oarsman and the Amber Ale.

 

As far as I know, PA law prohibits distributors from selling opened/altered cases as that, for all intents and purposes would be the same as selling four individual six packs, which they aren't allowed to do. That said, I think if you keep it low key and no one complains to the LCB, they aren't going to come looking for it. The guys I know used to pack four six packs of the same style from different brewers and stick them in the back of the store where no one who didn't know they were there would ever look. Then they stopped doing it, so I'm guessing someone intervened. When I asked them about it, they looked at me and said, "we never did that."

 

Bell's definitely do make sampler cases and I have purchased one or two. I highly doubt the cases I've seen and bought were put together by the distributors, they looked pretty official to me.

 

Nope. I know what you're talking about though.....Founders does this but the Bell's sampler case has the beers written on the side I think.