Below is a look at our events this week in Wisconsin, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Indiana, Washington DC, Michigan, Ohio, Florida, Iowa, North Dakota and North Carolina.

Wisconsin

Nov. 12

Tasting: Whole Foods Milwaukee from 4-6 p.m. – Winter White, Best Brown, Christmas Ale and Two Hearted

Illinois

Nov. 13

Bell's Beer Dinner: Wild Monk in La Grange at 6 p.m. – take a look at the menu here.

Nov. 15

Bell's Beer Dinner: Carlucci Restaurant & Bar in Downers Grove – call 630-512-0990 for more information.

Michigan Beer Night: Hackney's Printers' Row in Chicago

Nov. 17

10th Annual FOBAB (Festival of Barrel Aged Beers): Bridgeport Art Center in Chicago from 1-5 p.m. & 6-10 p.m.

Nov. 18

Solidarity Event: The Firkin in Libertyville - This one goes to 11 Ale, Black Note, Two Hearted and Best Brown. Tickets can be purchased here.

Pennsylvania

Nov. 13

Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cherry Stout Tappng: Mad Mex in Pittsburgh at 5 p.m. Two Hearted will also be on tap.

Nov. 14

Bourbon Barrel-Aged Batch 9,000 Tapping: Mad Mex in Cranberry at 5 p.m.

Minnesota

Nov. 13

Night of the Imperials: Bryant Lake Bowl in Minneapolis at 6 p.m. - Black Note, This one goes to 11, Expedition Stout, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Batch 9,000, The Oracle and Hopsoulution

Nov. 14

Darkened Glass Night: 3 Squares in Maple Grove at 6 p.m. - Black Note, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Batch 9,000, Expedition Stout, Java Stout, Special Double Cream Stout, 2011 Cherry Stout, Oatmeal Stout, Rye Stout, Hell Hath No Fury, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cherry Stout and Kalamazoo Stout

Nov. 15

Bell's Night: Sunshine Kitchen & Moonshine Lounge in Brainerd at 6 p.m. - Bourbon Barrel-Aged Batch 9,000, The Oracle DIPA, Sparkling Ale and a few other specialties

Indiana

Nov. 13

Oracle Tapping: Bru Burger Bar in Indianapolis at 7 p.m. – other Bell’s beers will also be on tap.

Washington DC

Nov. 13

Bell's Beer Dinner: Capitol Hill Club in Washington DC at 6:30 p.m. Take a look at the menu here.

 

Michigan

Nov. 14

Tap Takeover: Old Town Tavern in Ann Arbor - Two Hearted, Winter White, Best Brow, Amber, Christmas Ale, Debs' Red, Golden Rye, Hopsoulution, Double Cream Stout, Le Contrabassiste and This one goes to 11

Tap Explosion: Diamond Jim's in Midland at 6 p.m. - Hell Hath No Fury, Sparkling Ale, This one goes to 11, Two Hearted and Midwestern Pale Ale

Bell's Beer Dinner: Vitale's of Comstock Park at 6 p.m. - 5 course meal will feature Best Brown Ale, Black Note, Java Stout, Special Double Cream Stout and Third Coast Beer. Call 616-784-6044 for more information or to make reservations.

Nov. 15

Tap Takeover: Shamrock Pub in Utica at 4 p.m. - The Oracle, a Best Brown Firkin, Amber Ale, Two Hearted and Porter

Beer & Cheese Tasting: D&W Fresh Market in Kalamazoo from 4-6 p.m.

Ohio

Nov. 14

Bell's Night: 101 Bottles of Beer in Kent at 5 p.m. - more than 10 different beers on draft including The Oracle, Cherry Stout, Winter White and more

Florida

Nov. 15

Blind Tasting & Tap Takeover: Coasters Pub in Melbourne from 5-9 p.m. – 13 drafts plus a firkin

Iowa

Nov. 15

Progressive Tap Takeover: Red's Ale House in North Liberty - 18 beers on tap - Black Note, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Batch 9,000, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cherry Stout, all of year round beers, Best Brown, Winter White, Christmas Ale, Expedition Stout, Third Coast Old Ale, Java Stout, Double Cream Stout and Oarsmen

North Dakota

Nov. 16

This one goes to 11 Tapping: Ho-Do in Fargo at 5 p.m.

North Carolina

Nov. 17

World of Beer Raleigh First Anniversary Celebration: - 30 beers on tap starting at noon - Bourbon Barrel-Aged Batch 9,000, Expedition Stout (2011 and 2012) and Black Note to name just a few

Looking ahead

Join us for a specialty night and tap takeover in Chicago, bourbon barrel-aged tappings in Minneapolis, dinner in Walled Lake, Michigan and more. Check out our full calendar here.

Below is a look at our events this week in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Virginia, Kentucky, Arizona, Minnesota, Ohio and Georgia.

Indiana

Nov. 5

Hail to Kale Dinner: JK O'Donnell's in Fort Wayne at 6:30 p.m. Take a look at the menu here.

Nov. 6

Hopsoulution Tapping: Beer Geeks in Highland at 5 p.m.

Nov. 8

Jazz Beer Event: Club Soda in Fort Wayne at 5:30 p.m.  – Our Jazz Series beers, Black Note and a live jazz band

Nov. 9

CASA 10th Annual Holiday Festival: Biomet Hangar in Warsaw from 6-10 p.m. – various Bell’s beers and food to benefit disadvantaged children in the community

Illinois

Nov. 5

Bell's Beer Dinner: Old Town Social in Chicago at 7 p.m. Five courses – take a look at the menu.

Nov. 6

This one goes to 11 Tapping: Rocking Horse in Chicago

This one goes to 11 Tapping: Delilah's in Chicago at 7 p.m. – We’ll also be showing “This is Spinal Tap.”

Nov. 9-10

Beer Hoptacular: Riverfront Theater in Chicago (1-4:30 p.m. & 6-9:30 p.m.)

Michigan

Nov. 7

Bell's Beer Dinner: Terry B's in Dexter – six course meal featuring Christmas Ale, Smoked Vienna Lager and more. Find the menu here.

Nov. 8

Music Series Night: Conor O'Neill's in Ann Arbor at 6:30 p.m. - beers from our Jazz Series, This one goes to 11, Best Brown, Two Hearted and Midwestern Pale Ale

Nov. 9

Winter White Release Party/Tap Takeover: Paint Creek Tavern in Rochester - wear your whitest whites to help us create a Winter White Out. Winter White Ale, Two-Hearted, Special Double Cream Stout and a few other special beers will be on tap.

Virginia

Nov. 7

Bell's Beer Dinner: Tuscarora Mill in Leesburg at 7 p.m. featuring Winter White Ale, Hell Hath No Fury, a flight of stouts and more. Full menu here.

Kentucky

Nov. 7

Bell's Night: Country Boy Brewing in Lexington at 4 p.m. – eight beers on draft including The Oracle and Hopsoulution

Arizona

Nov. 7

Bell's Night: Papago Brewing Co. in Tempe at 6 p.m. - Hell Hath No Fury Ale, This one goes to 11, Two Hearted, Porter, Oberon, Amber Ale, Best Brown Ale and Double Cream Stout

Nov. 8

12 Bell's Night: 1702 Pizza in Tucson from 6-8 p.m. – Porter, Winter White, Double Cream Stout, Kalamazoo Stout, Oberon, Amber, Two Hearted, Java Stout, Christmas Ale, Expedition Stout and Sparkling Ale

Nov. 9

Mini-Tap Takeover: Whole Foods in Scottsdale from 4:30-6:30 p.m. - Rye Stout (tapped at 5:30 p.m.), Two Hearted and Porter

Minnesota

Nov. 8

Darkened Glass Night: Boulder Tap House in St. Cloud at 5 p.m. - Black Note, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Batch 9,000, Expedition Stout, Java Stout, Special Double Cream Stout, 2011 Cherry Stout, Oatmeal Stout, Rye Stout, Hell Hath No Fury and Kalamazoo Stout

Nov. 9

This one goes to 11 Tapping: Sweeney's in St. Paul at 6 p.m.

Ohio

Nov. 9

Movie Night: The Moerlein Lager House in Cincinnati from 6-9 p.m. - This one goes to 11, Hopsoulution and a firkin of Best Brown, plus a screening of "This is Spinal Tap." Appetizer plate and one beer are included with admission. Seating is limited. Please call 513-421-2337 for reservations.

Georgia

Nov. 10-11

The Grand Fermentables - Beer & Cheese: Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomasville – two beer dinners, a meet and greet and a tap takeover. Go here for more information.

Looking ahead

Join us for dinner, a Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cherry Stout tapping, a night of Imperials and more. Take a look at our full calendar here.

One hundred and twenty six entries were submitted for the 3^rd Annual Bell’s Homebrew Competition and Nick Rodammer, pictured at right, took first prize with his Belgian black IPA.

All of the winners were announced during All Stouts Day on Nov. 4 at the Eccentric Café.

Rodammer will get to brew his recipe with Specialty Brewer Zeke Bogan at our original brewery in downtown Kalamazoo to then go on tap at the Café.

This is the same brewery where many of our smaller batches are brewed including The Wild One, the Jazz Series, Roundhouse IRA, Kal-Haven Ale, Harvest Ale, a number of specialty stouts and more.

Overall, judges were very impressed with the caliber of entries this year, noting lots of experimentation and a lot of hops.

There was also a good presence of beers made with wild yeast and bacteria, said David Curtis, Bell’s General Store Manager and coordinator for the competition.

Last year’s winner, A Bit of Heat, from Geoff Groff was brewed with paradise seeds, rose hips and habaneros.

Look for details for the 4^th Annual Bell’s Homebrew Competition to come in 2013.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

1^st place: Nick Rodammer, Belgian black IPA

2^nd place: Jay VonBuskirk, hoppy beer brewed with mango

3^rd place: Adam and Britani Wisniewski, brown ale brewed with smoked malt

Runners-up

Sam Mirto, coffee porter

Jerry Pardeik, citrusy IPA

Richard Dueweke, weissbier

Matt Holley, black IPA

Brad Wyant, coconut cream stout

Chris Carr, a beer fermented with lactobacillus and aged on oak and brettanomyces

Alex Mantakounis, chocolate peanut butter cup porter

Scott Fitzsimmons, citrusy pale ale

Sam Bailey and Kyle Smith, tropical IPA