Sun Singer Wines & Spirits, Ltd.
BELL'S BREWING
IS
BACK!
February 2009
Greetings!

We couldn't be happier that Bell's Brewing of Kalamazoo, Michigan has resumed Illinois distribution.

Bell's Brewery, Inc. formerly Kalamazoo Brewing Company, founded by Larry Bell as a home-brewing supply shop in 1983, sold its first beer in 1985. Originally brewing in a 15-gallon soup kettle, the company has grown remarkably from its production of 135 barrels (1 bbl = 31 gal.) in 1986 to over 90,000 barrels in 2007. Bell's Brewery has grown from a tiny operation renting part of a former plumbing supply warehouse to a bustling, regional craft brewery. Over twenty years of brewing, Bell's Brewery has built a nationwide reputation as a creative and talented brewery, playing a significant role in changing the beerscape of the nation.

Although the "microbrewery" revolution began on the West Coast in the 1970s, the Midwest saw this brewing development much later. Bell's Brewery stands as the oldest craft-brewer east of Boulder, Colorado. Originally self-distributed, Larry and crew brewed, bottled and delivered all of the beer to market for the company's first four years. By 1989, Bell's was shipping over 500 barrels annually and assigned its first wholesaler to further establish itself across the State of Michigan. After struggling several years to produce and sell robust, full-bodied ales against a tide of a mass-market domestic beer, Bell's began to see the demand for craft beer grow dramatically. Bell's soon ventured outside Michigan, continuing its solid growth and developing a reputation across the Midwest for the unique style and flavor of its Bell's brands. The brewery currently sells its beer across a fifteen-state area, through a network of over fifty quality wholesalers.

Several years ago, in a move that surprised many in the Craft Beer community, Bell's Brewing Company pulled out of the lucrative Illinois market over an issue with distributors. Their distribution rights were sold to a larger house who did not want to deal with their entire line, but just a few of the best sellers. Larry Bell and his crew, worried that this new company would not fully have the best interests of the Kalamazoo company at heart and would not know how to best service a craft label such as Bell's, opted to pull their business out of Illinois rather than work with a distributor who was not fully behind them. Fortunately, recent developments have allowed Bell's to return with their full line.

Stop by Sun Singer soon for your favorite selections from the Bell's brand!


Click here to take a tour of the Bell's brewery.
 
Lager Beer    
Original Gravity: 1.05   Alc. by Vol.:5.0%
As refreshingly crisp as a morning swim in a Great Lake, this brew is crafted with Pils and Munich malts. The pronounced hop character of this golden lager sparks thoughts of sandy beaches and rocky islands.

Bell's Porter    
Original Gravity: 1.055   
Alc. by Vol.: 5.6
A robust porter for all occasions. A blend of dark malts give this beer flavors of coffee and chocolate with subtle roasted notes.Gold medal winner in the Brown Porter category Brewers Association World Beer Cup 2008.

Third Coast Ale    
Original Gravity:  1.048   Alc. by Vol.:  4.8%
A golden beer brewed with pale malts. Large American hop additions contribute a crisp refreshing bitterness. A tribute to the Great Lakes, T.C.B. is a truly quaffable beer.

Pale Ale   
 Original Gravity: 1.05   Alc. by Vol.: 5.2%
  A refreshing, blond colored pale ale. Bell's pale ale is made almost exclusively from pale malt. It expresses a spicy floral hop aroma and taste.
 

 
Amber Ale    
Original Gravity: 1.056  Alc. by Vol.: 5.8%
Our flagship beer is made from mostly pale malt with some Munich and caramel malts. This gives it a slightly sweet flavor that is balanced by a melange of American hops. The result is a deep copper color and rich flavor.

Best Brown Ale    
Original Gravity: 1.06  Alc. by Vol.: 5.8%
Rich brown ale perfect for the fall and winter. Plenty of malt character and smooth sweet finish give this brown ale its distinct character.

Kalamazoo Stout    
Original Gravity: 1.063   Alc. by Vol.: 6.0%
A full-bodied stout with plenty of roast flavor. Kalamazoo Stout is available year round, leading our vast portfolio of stouts.

Hopslam    
Original Gravity: 1.087  
Alc. by Vol.: 10.0%
A biting, bitter, tongue bruiser of an ale. With a name like Hopslam, what did you expect?

Third Coast Old Ale    
Original Gravity:1.098    Alc. by Vol.: 10.2%
A barley wine with deep amber color. The brandy of ales, this beer has vintage character and will mature in the bottle at cellar temperature for years.