No Bell's Cherry Stout this year

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by zieglemt, Sep 21, 2012.

Tags:
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 1 of 2
  1. zieglemt

    zieglemt Crusader (413) Apr 25, 2011 Illinois

    Early spring weather affects Bell’s Cherry Stout production for 2012
    Bell's Brewery, Inc.
    09.21.2012
    [​IMG]​
    COMSTOCK – Since it was first released in 1988, Bell’s Cherry Stout has always been brewed with 100-percent Montmorency cherry juice made from cherries grown in northern Michigan’s Traverse City region.
    We are extremely proud of this deep connection to our home state.
    This seasonal beer is released annually in October along with other stouts in our portfolio – Java Stout, Expedition Stout, Special Double Cream Stout and others. Unfortunately, that tradition will have to be put on hold this year.
    Warm temperatures followed by multiple frosts earlier this year severely affected Michigan’s tart cherry crop to such an extent that unfortunately, there will be no new batches of Cherry Stout in 2012.
    A small number of Cherry Stout kegs from 2011 will be released on a limited basis however.
    While we do hope that a bountiful harvest will allow us to bring this beer back to our fall stout line-up next year, more importantly, we are hopeful that it will allow Michigan’s fruit growers to recover as well.




    http://bellsbeer.com/blog/132-Early_spring_weather_affects_Bell___s_Cherry_Stout_production_for_2012
     
    #1 zieglemt, Sep 21, 2012
  2. steebo777

    steebo777 Initiate (0) Jun 30, 2009 Michigan

    Sucks, but we got hit hard with the freeze this year in Mich. My hops did pretty solid though.
     
    #2 steebo777, Sep 21, 2012
  3. mjshearer1

    mjshearer1 Initiate (0) Dec 16, 2011 Michigan

    Oh darn.

    </sarcasm>

    This is the only beer from Bell's that I've had so far and wondered what the hell I just drank. Not good stuff, IMO.
     
    #3 mjshearer1, Sep 21, 2012
    Dactrius and mattizmyname like this.
  4. jefeld

    jefeld Initiate (0) Mar 31, 2010 Illinois

    but isn't the barrel aged version supposed to be released soon?
     
    #4 jefeld, Sep 21, 2012
  5. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Well I'll hope to see the 2011 batch on tap somewhere to see what a year's aging in a keg will do for this beer. You have to be a little tolerant of the tartness in the cherries in this beer, but I enjoy drinking it occasionally.
     
    #5 PapaGoose03, Sep 21, 2012
  6. Zaphog

    Zaphog Grand Pooh-Bah (4,676) Sep 23, 2011 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    That sucks...I really like Bell's Cherry Stout.
     
    #6 Zaphog, Sep 21, 2012
    Skye1024 likes this.
  7. sherm1016

    sherm1016 Pundit (867) Aug 10, 2009 Wisconsin

    Disappointing, but not surprising. New Glarus Wisconsin Belgian Red is on hold for the same reason.
     
    #7 sherm1016, Sep 21, 2012
    funhog and weakness33 like this.
  8. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    The week or more of record high temperature in the first part of March, followed by a frost of freeze depending on where you were, resulted in a harvest that was 3% of the previous year.

    Apples will be about 10% statewide.

    The good news is that the tress will have a year to rest, and there should be a big crop next year if it is a good weather year.
     
    #8 hopfenunmaltz, Sep 21, 2012
  9. BeRanger

    BeRanger Initiate (0) Dec 11, 2011 Michigan

    Damn you mother nature for destroying this delicious fruit and the beers that are made from it!!!!!!!!
     
    #9 BeRanger, Sep 21, 2012
  10. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan

    Bell's could just hold on to those kegs for another year or two as far as I am concerned. I like this beer fresh, I really really like this beer with a few years on it.
     
    #10 kzoobrew, Sep 21, 2012
    steebo777 likes this.
  11. Mjmoser

    Mjmoser Initiate (0) May 6, 2012 Illinois

    Are you thinking about BA Batch 9000? If so, I hope it does!
     
    #11 Mjmoser, Sep 22, 2012
  12. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan

    Both have had labels approved. Rumors are out there but we will not know until it hits shelves.
     
    #12 kzoobrew, Sep 22, 2012
  13. Mjmoser

    Mjmoser Initiate (0) May 6, 2012 Illinois

    Great! Want to let me knw so I can drive up from Chicago? I can pay well for good info!
     
    #13 Mjmoser, Sep 22, 2012
  14. raymo55

    raymo55 Initiate (0) Oct 3, 2011 Michigan

    King Henry well? :sunglasses:
     
    #14 raymo55, Sep 22, 2012
    BedetheVenerable and JohnB87 like this.
  15. Mjmoser

    Mjmoser Initiate (0) May 6, 2012 Illinois

    BCS well? Would need to include the down low release Of Black Note as well! :slight_smile:
     
    #15 Mjmoser, Sep 22, 2012
  16. VncentLIFE

    VncentLIFE Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2011 North Carolina

    I like that they stuck to their guns. thats pretty awesome of them. More Hopslam then?
     
    #16 VncentLIFE, Sep 22, 2012
    BedetheVenerable likes this.
  17. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    More Hopslam? They did the big brewery expansion for a reason. Hope they have enough of the hops for Hopslam in the contracts.
     
    #17 hopfenunmaltz, Sep 22, 2012
  18. VncentLIFE

    VncentLIFE Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2011 North Carolina

    I thought they expanded their brewery to help with the demand for Two-Hearted. Just like Cigar City expanded just to make more Jai Alai.
     
    #18 VncentLIFE, Sep 22, 2012
  19. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    More production of Oberon, Two Hearted, and the list goes on.

    They did put in 14 of the shallow bottom cone 400 barrel tanks that they dry hop in. I think they had 2 of those tanks before. Seasonal Hopslam and Oracle production should benefit from this too, along with the year round Two Hearted.
     
    #19 hopfenunmaltz, Sep 22, 2012
  20. VncentLIFE

    VncentLIFE Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2011 North Carolina

    Oracle production didnt go up at all. I think Ive seen as much of it this year here in NC as I did last year.
     
    #20 VncentLIFE, Sep 22, 2012
Page 1 of 2
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.