COMSTOCK - On Monday, May 14, Bell's Brewery, Inc. kicked off a week long celebration with the grand opening of its new brewhouse and expanded production facility in Comstock, Michigan.

The day included a flag raising, a ribbon cutting and a press conference inside the new brewhouse.

For a detailed look at what happened and what our fans were saying about it on Facebook and Twitter as well as a look at how other media organizations covered the event, take a look at our Storify page here.

A public open house will be held May 19-20 from noon to 5 p.m. both days. Free food and soda will also be available.

Kalamazoo restaurants, along with the Eccentric Café, will join the celebration as we officially open our new 200-barrel brewhouse and expanded production facility.

Here is a look at who will be celebrating with us as well as what specials will be offered and when.

May 11-20

Zazios

Special menu items will be offered along with Oberon, Debs’ Red and Oarsman Ale.

Webster’s Prime

Special appetizers paired with Black Note, Best Brown, Oberon and Third Coast Beer.

Old Burdick’s Downtown

Special menu items will be offered along with Harvest Ale, Double Cream Stout, Oarsman, Two Hearted, Pale Ale, Amber and Oberon.

May 16

Old Burdick’s Downtown

Minute to Win It Party: Celebrate with games, trivia, prizes and beer (see list above) starting at 8 p.m. A firkin of Two Hearted will also be tapped before the event at 6 p.m.

May 14-18

Kalamazoo Beer Exchange

May 14: Green chili and pepper marinated chicken sate with a tomato, cucumber, cilantro and garbanzo salad with creme fraise paired with Third Coast Beer.

May 15: Chocolate decadent cake, chocolate mousse, white chocolate cream and strawberries paired with Java Stout.

May 16:  Herb and panko crusted pork chops with tomato, caper relish and grilled smoked polenta paired with Cherry Stout.

May 17: Lemon rosemary chicken kabobs with kalamata, couscous and grilled pita paired with Two Hearted.

May 18: Salmon Alyeska with twice baked potato and grilled asparagus paired with Oberon.

All week long

Stop by the Eccentric Café for a selection of 26 different Bell’s beers, many of which are not available elsewhere. While you are there, be sure to check out the daily specials board to see what tasty creations our kitchen has come up with help from our smoker!

One more: May 19-20

Don’t forget to stop by our open house: From noon to 5 p.m. on both May 19 & 20, everyone is invited to take a look at our new production facility at 8938 Krum Ave. in Comstock. We will also be grilling, so bring your appetite.

Before there was a Bell’s Brewery, our president and founder, Larry Bell, was a homebrewer.

In 1983, Bell opened a homebrew supply store on Burdick St. in downtown Kalamazoo (photo at right), not far from where the Eccentric Café is today.

Twenty-seven years later, Bell's will open a brand new 200-barrel brewhouse.

Homebrewing is at our core.

With that in mind we developed a home here, on our website, with information about homebrew events, demonstrations and of course, Bell’s Homebrew Expo & Competition, held annually in September. We provide the wort and the winner gets to brew their recipe on our system to go on tap at the Café.

We have also started a “homebrew hotline” where our fans can ask questions and get advice.

The resources on this new section will continue to grow with help from a new Tumblr blog as well. Look for recipes, equipment features and more in the days, weeks and months to come.

Take a look.