A look at Bell’s beer events this week in Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio and Florida.

Michigan

July 18

Buckets of Bell's: Mixer on the Mall After Party
Bell's Brewery and The Wine Loft are teaming up all summer long to host a Mixer on the Mall after party.  We’ll be back again this week with Amber Ale, Lager Beer, Oarsman Ale, Oberon, Porter, Third Coast Beer and Two Hearted Ale starting at 7 p.m. For more information on this year's Mixer on the Mall season, go here.

July 20

Meet and Greet
Join us at Webster's in Kalamazoo and celebrate Michigan Craft Beer month! Meet, greet and sample beer with brewery representatives from 5-8 p.m. Enjoy beer flights, food pairings, and an extended "Hoppy Hour" with $2 Michigan craft brews.

July 20- 29

Kalamazoo Restaurant Week with The Beer Exchange
Celebrate Kalamazoo Restaurant Week at The Beer Exchange with a three course menu paired with Bell's beers for only $25.

Here is the menu - 

First course: Amber Ale paired with fresh gazpacho made with vodka and topped with goat cheese croutons

Second course: Two Hearted paired with red wine and horseradish flank steak with bleu cheese mashed potatoes and bacon collards

Third course: Oarsman Ale paired with a strawberry gelato in a dark chocolate tart shell with candied sugar

Indiana

July 18

Two Hearted Firkin Tapping
Come out and enjoy a pint of cask conditioned Bell's Two Hearted Ale at Dicky’s Wild Hare in Fort Wayne starting at 6 p.m. There will be some great Bell's freebies as well.

July 22

Oberon Fiesta: Hacienda Mexican Restaurants
Celebrate Hacienda's Beach Party with the heart of our summer lineup, Oberon Ale. Most craft beer bottles (including Oberon) will be on special for $2.50 all day. We will also have lots of Bell's and Oberon goodies to give away as well.

Minnesota

July 19

Cask Ale Night
Join us for some traditional cask conditioned ale as we tap a firkin of Two Hearted Ale at Zorbaz in Gull Lake at 5 p.m. It won't last long, so get there early.

July 21

Highland Fest Beer Dabbler
Join us at Hillcrest Park in St. Paul for Cherry Stout, Oarsman, Two Hearted and Black Note.

North Carolina

July 19

Bell's Tasting
We are teaming up with Vintner Wine Market in Charlotte to host a fantastic tasting featuring Oarsman, Amber, Pale Ale, Two Hearted Ale along with a special cask of Two Hearted starting at 6 p.m.

Ohio

July 17

Black Note Night
Celebrate the new Lizardville location in Rocky River with a glass of the rare Black Note starting at 5 p.m. Lager, Oarsman and Two Hearted will also be on tap.

July 20

Sparkling Ale tappings
Seven Winking Lizard locations will host a special tapping of Bell's Sparkling Ale at 5 p.m.: Independence, Gateway, Bedford Heights, Mentor, Lakewood and Crosswoods in Columbus .

Third Friday on Mulberry
Come out and enjoy an evening of music, food and beer in downtown Lebanon. Stop by the Bell's booth for Oberon and Two Hearted from 5-11 p.m.

Florida

July 17

Tap Takeover
The Filling Station will be offering flights of Amber, Oberon, Two Hearted and Kalamazoo Stout. Receive a raffle ticket with your purchase of a flight for a your chance to win Bell's beer buckets!

Looking ahead

Join us for events in North Carolina, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, North Dakota, and more. Take a look at our full calendar here.

KALAMAZOO  - The Draft Board is about to get a little spicier – and we’re not talking about hops.

A Bit of Heat, the homebrew from Geoff Groff that won our second annual homebrew competition back in September will be tapped at 3 p.m. July 21 at the Eccentric Café.

Brewed with paradise seeds, rose hips and habaneros at our original brewery located next to the Cafe, this dry habanero-ed IPA or Strong Pale Ale comes in at 6.4% ABV.

Groff, who is originally from Troy and now lives in Climax, has been homebrewing off and on since about 1999. Although he points out that he has brewed a lot more since joining the Kalamazoo Libation Organization of Brewers (KLOB), a local homebrewing club based in Kalamazoo, a couple of years ago.

He decided the day before picking up his Bell’s wort to experiment with peppers, something he had wanted to do for a short while. He used habaneros that he grew.

But don’t let the pepper factor scare you away. There’s just the right amount of heat, hence the name.

“It is well balanced and is not as spicy as people may think. The spice is enough to recognize that's it in there and that it is peppery,” Groff said.

It comes out a bit more in the finish, he said.

Groff, along with Brewery Manager Andy Farrell and Specialty Brewer Zeke Bogan brewed about 10 barrels of A Bit of Heat in June on our 15-barrel system. This is also where we brew experimental and small batch beers like The Wild One and an ongoing series of beers that use experimental hops directly from growers’ trial plots among others.

I enjoyed being with Andy and Zeke, to watch them brew on a larger system, and seeing how different it is from brewing on a homebrew scale, he said.

“The fact that you can brew 10 barrels in not more than a few hours longer then it might take a homebrewer to make five to ten gallons is quite cool,” Groff said.

Groff is a substitute teacher in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties and hopes to start brewing professionally, perhaps even open his own brewery, someday.

Our 3^rd Annual Homebrew Expo and Competition Kick-off will be held on Sept. 8. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.

Here is a look at Bell’s beer events this week in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio and Alabama.

Michigan

July 9 – July 15

Michigan Craft Beer Month Celebration
Every week this month, Food Dance is featuring a different Michigan-based brewery and this week, they are featuring Bell’s! Call 269-382-1888 for more details.

July 10

Tap Takeover
We will have 11 beers on tap including Oberon, Two Hearted, Amber Ale, Third Coast Beer, Black Note and more at Lynch’s Tavern in Port Huron from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

July 11

Meet the Maker
Meet and greet with head brewer Andy Farrell at Martell’s in Kalamazoo. Oarsman, Third Coast, Amber and Porter are among the beers to be featured for the evening.

Bell's Brewery Night
Celebrate this year's Bell's Bayview Mackinac Race with Black Note and many other Bell's beers on draft at Vintage Tavern in Port Huron from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Beer and food pairings
Join us for Vienna Smoked Lager and a firkin of Third Coast Beer along with selected food pairings at Fuel Wood-fire Grill in Port Huron from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oberon and Amber Ale will also be featured.

Beat the Heat
Beat the heat with Oberon and Two Hearted, (beer of the month) on the lakefront patio of Jerry's Pub in Brooklyn. We will have bean bag toss (aka cornhole, baggo, bags) on the lawn, volleyball next to the lake and other games for prizes starting at 7 p.m.

Mixer on the Mall After Party
Join us at The Wine Loft and relax on the patio with a Bucket of Bell's Beer - Amber Ale, Lager Beer, Oarsman Ale, Oberon, Porter, Third Coast Beer and Two Hearted Ale will be featured. For more information on this year's Mixer on the Mall season, go here.

July 12- 14

Acura Beer Garden, Bell's Beer Stage: 2012 Blue Water Fest
Enjoy great entertainment and Bell’s beers - Oberon, Two Hearted, Amber, Lager of the Lakes and Oarsman. Oberon will also be featured at all beverage stations throughout the event. For more information, go here.

July 14

Bell's Bayview Mackinac Race
More than 200 boats and 2,500 sailors are expected to compete in the 88^th annual race from southern Lake Huron to Mackinac Island. bycmack.com

July 14-15

3rd Annual Meet Michigan
More than 45 Michigan food manufacturers will be on hand sampling and selling their products. We’ll be pouring Oberon and Amber Ale at this free and family friendly event in Livonia. For more information, go here.

Illinois

July 12

Green City Market Benefit BBQ
Green City Market's BBQ benefit in Lincoln Park features Chicago's finest chefs preparing dishes featuring Green City Market produce and products. We will be pouring Amber, Oarsman, Oberon and Two Hearted Ale. Tickets can be purchased online here.

Indiana

July 14

17th Annual Indiana Microbrewers Festival
Our rotating lineup for the day will include: Black Note, Harvest Ale, Oberon, Two Hearted, Oarsman Ale, Java Stout and a firkin of Amber Ale (in the cask tent).

Kentucky

July 12

Bell's Brewery Forecastle Weekend Kick Off
Celebrate the start of a big weekend of music at Louisville Beer Store with more than 8 Bell's beers on tap including a firkin of Two Hearted Ale starting at 5 p.m.

July 13-14

Bell's Weekend
Heading to the official Forecastle after hours party with Bell's on the Belle of Louisville? Stop by Patrick's O'Shea's on your way to the boat for some Oberon and Two Hearted.

July 13

Bell's Friday The 13th Happy Hour
Celebrate the start of a big weekend of music in Louisville with the rare and elusive Black Note, which is also a perfect beer for Friday the 13th! Other Bell's beers will also be featured at Garage Bar as well starting at 5 p.m.

Minnesota

July 14

Hopped Up Caribou
Bell's will once again be attending the Hopped Up Caribou at Caribou Highland/Moguls in Lutsen.  We will be pouring Oarsman, Hell Hath No Fury, Black Note and others starting at 3 p.m.

North Carolina

July 13

Black Note Tapping
Black Note will be featured at this rare tasting event hosted by the folks at Mellow Mushroom. This is the premier event in Greensboro before the Summertime Brews Festival the following day. Bell's Reps will be there to answer your questions and discuss all things Bell's from 7-10 p.m.

July 14

Summertime Brews Festival
Summertime Brews Festival is celebrating its seventh year - get out of the heat and enjoy this festival in the air conditioning inside the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. Visit the Bell's booth and see which VIP beers will be featured. For more information about tickets, visit www.summertimebrews.com or call 336-372-4264.

Ohio

July 13- 15

Bunbury Music Festival, Cincinnati
Stop by the Craft Beer Tent for a Bell's Two Hearted, Oberon and Pale Ale.

Alabama

July 12

Black Note Tapping
Join us for a tapping of the ultra rare Black Note along with other Bell's favorites at Hopsjacks in Mobile. This event will start at 7 p.m. sharp, so don't be late.

July 13

Oberon Patio Party - Mobile
Join us on the Bar's huge patio to celebrate summer with specially priced Oberon pints and lots of Bell's schwag!

Looking ahead

Check out our full calendar here.