Formerly the Kalamazoo Brewing Company, Bell's Brewery, Inc. went through a corporate name change earlier this year. But they're still making the same great beers.
Started in 1983 by Larry Bell, who sold beer making supplies to the public, Bell's beers were first poured in 1985 making them the oldest microbrewer east of the Mississippi. Bell's started small, working the distribution channels themselves, and today they are producing beer in two facilities totaling over 60,000 sq. ft. The original Kalamzoo Brewing Company production facility is still being used for production of specialty beers crafted for Bell's Eccentric Cafe brewpub.
Bell makes a number of beers, but the two that I especially enjoy are their Pale Ale beer and their Third Coast Beer.
Their Pale Ale is full bodied, not too hoppy, with a smooth taste. It's very aromatic and full in flavor. Bell's Pale Ale is one of the few Pale Ales on the market that is brewed with nearly 100% pale malt. It's one of my favorite Pale Ale's available today.
Bell's Third Coast Beer is a lighter beer that also has a pale ale taste to it. It's got a nice flavor and smell to it and you don't get some of the aftertaste that you get with most pale ales.
Bell's makes about 20 beers - about six of them are available year round, with a number of seasonal beers and some single issue beers throughout the year, as well.
I'm kind of upset in that we were only about 40 miles from Kalamazoo when Cindy and I spent a few days up in South Haven, MI (see map) and never went over to Bell's Eccentric Cafe for lunch or something. But, it will give me a good reason for us to go back up into Michigan sometime in the near future just to give that a shot.
Bell's Beer is available all through the Midwest (see map where available) and if you can find a sixer or two of their beer, grab it, take it home and enjoy it.
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