We are marking an important milestone in the Ann Arbor and Michigan craft beer community with a special brew along with some exceptional events at Ashley’s.

The recipe for Ashley’s 30^th Anniversary Ale was written by Larry Bell and inspired by the month of February – a time of year when a little comfort goes a long way.

It is also a nod to a time when both Ashley’s and Bell’s first got their start and beers were much more malt driven rather than hop focused.

The aroma is full of toasted and caramel malts along with dark fruit notes, lightly balanced by a touch of herbal hops in the background.

Nine specialty grains lend a broad range of toasty, biscuit and bittersweet flavors matched to a deep caramel character.

This very drinkable and limited brown ale is available only on draft and exclusively at Ashley’s – both in Ann Arbor and Westland. The first keg will be tapped at 3 p.m. on Feb. 1 in Ann Arbor with a celebratory toast at 6 p.m.

Here’s to another thirty!

Also coming up

Feb. 5

30 for 30* Party: We will be celebrating all day. Stop by for lunch and chat with our reps.

Jazzy Hour will begin at 3 p.m. with the taping of our Jazz Series (Le Batteur, Le Pianiste and Le Contrabassiste) along with This One Goes to 11.

At 4 p.m., sit in on Bell's Beer 101 and learn about the history of our brewery, the brewing process and finish with some beer and cheese pairings. Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot today.

There will be two opportunities to spin the Wheel of Prizes and answer trivia, compete against us in a Minute To Win It style challenge and a few other activities to win some Bell's gear (6 p.m. and 9 p.m.).

Also on tap: Amber Ale, Ashley’s 30th Anniversary Ale, Best Brown Ale, Bourbon Barrel Aged Kalamazoo Stout on Nitro (6:30 p.m. tapping), Bourbon Barrel Aged Batch 9,000 (7 p.m. tapping), Bourbon Barrel Aged Cherry Stout  (8 p.m. tapping), Captain Spontaneous, 2011 Cherry Stout, Special Double Cream Stout, Harry Magill’s Spiced Stout , Hell Hath No Fury, Hopslam, Hopsoulution, Kalamazoo Stout, Lager of the Lakes, Pale Ale , Oarsman Ale, Oatmeal Stout, Porter, Raspberry Ale, Red Nose ESB, Roundhouse IRA, Smitten, Smoked Vienna Lager , Sparkling Ale , Third Coast Beer, Third Coast Old Ale, This One Goes to 11, Two Hearted Ale and Winter White Ale

Feb. 12

Fat Tuesday: Consecrator Doppelbock will be available all day along with paczkis (while supplies last). A firkin of Hopslam will be taped at 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 20

DARK: Join us as we indulge in the DARK side of the malt with Black Note, Expedition Stout, Hell Hath No Fury ... Ale and 2011 Cherry Stout among others starting at 6:30 p.m.

PHOTO CAPTION: 27 Bell's beers on tap at Ashley's back in October 2012

Below is a look at our events this week in Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

Michigan

Through Feb. 3

“I Love Beer Mini Tour:” Old Chicago in Portage - Hopslam, Two Hearted and Captain Spontaneous on draft. Bottle options are also available.

Jan. 30

Tap Takeover: Twisted Rooster in Chesterfield at 7 p.m. - Hopslam, Winter White, Two Hearted, Rednose ESB, Sparkling Ale and Harry Magill's Spiced Stout

Jan. 31

Tap Takeover: Little Joe's in Grand Blanc at 6 p.m. - Two Hearted, Winter White, Smitten, Hopslam, Sparkling Ale, This one goes to 11, Captain Spontaneous, Best Brown, Black Note, Bourbon Barrel Aged Batch 9,000, Midwestern Pale Ale and Lager of the Lakes

Feb. 1

Smitten at The Mitten Release Party: Ludington at 5 p.m.

Ashley's 30th Anniversary Release: Ashley's Ann Arbor at 3 p.m.  – Join us for the celebratory tapping of our special beer brewed to commemorate this very special occasion.

Missouri

Jan. 28

Hopslam Firkin Tapping: Flying Saucer in Kansas City at 7 p.m.

Jan. 29

Bell's Beer Dinner: Sycamore in Columbia – Call 573-874-8090 for more information.

Jan. 30

Hopslam Firkin Tapping: iTap Soulard in St. Louis at 6 p.m.

Minnesota

Jan. 28

Hopslam Tapping: The Muddy Pig in St. Paul at 6 p.m.

Hopslam Tapping: Bulldog Lowerton in St. Paul at 4 p.m.

Hopslam Tapping: Blue Door Pub in St. Paul (tapped at 11 a.m.)

Hopslam Pub Crawl Stop #1: DB Searle's in St. Cloud at 5 p.m. - This event is part of a progressive pub crawl over three nights, Jan. 28-30. Visit all three locations (which also includes Boulder Tap House and Old Capitol Tavern - see below). Get your card punched when you purchase a Hopslam. Turn in the card at Old Capitol Tavern on Jan. 30 for a chance to win a prize or better yet, the grand prize. Drawing will be held at 8 p.m. and you must be present to win.

Hopslam Tapping: 3 Squares in Maple Grove at 6 p.m.

Hopslam Tapping: Bulldog Downtown in Minneapolis at 4 p.m.

Jan. 29

Hopslam Pub Crawl Stop #2: Boulder Tap House in St. Cloud at 5 p.m. - don't forget to get your card stamped (see above, below)

Tappin' Tuesday: The Butcher & The Boar in Minneapolis at 6 p.m. - Hopslam, Bourbon Barrel Aged Batch 9,000, and Bourbon Barrel Aged Cherry Stout

Jan. 30

Hopslam Pub Crawl Stop #3 (final night): Old Capitol Tavern in Sauk Rapids from 5-8 p.m.  - Te final night of our progressive pub crawl which started Jan. 28.  Don't forget to turn in your completed card for a chance to win. Drawing will be held at 8 p.m. and you must be present. We'll also be featuring Black Note, Third Coast Old Ale, Bourbon Barrel Aged Batch 9,000 and Bourbon Barrel Aged Cherry Stout.

Jan. 31

Bell's IPA Night: Ginger Hop in Minneapolis at 5 p.m. - Two Hearted, Roundhouse and Hosplam

Feb. 1

"Inundated"....A Night of 21 Bell's Beers: Patrick's in St. Peter at 6 p.m. - Two Hearted, Rye Stout, Debs' Red, Smitten, our entire Jazz Series, Smoked Vienna Lager, Black Note, Sparkling Ale, Roundhouse, Bourbon Barrel Aged Batch 9,000, BBA Cherry Stout, Harry Magill's Spiced Stout, 2011 Cherry Stout, Oatmeal Stout, Raspberry Ale, Wedding Ale, Expedition Stout, Third Coast Old Ale, and Hopslam

Hopslam Cask Tapping: Bulldog NE in Minneapolis at 5 p.m.

Feb. 2

Best Brown Cask Tapping: JL Beers Moorehead at noon

Pennsylvania

Jan. 29

PGH Brewmasters: Bado's Pizza Grill & Ale House in Mt. Lebanon at 7 p.m. - Best Brown Ale, Kalamazoo Stout, Midwestern Pale Ale, Two Hearted Ale and Winter White Ale. More details here.

Jan. 31

Bell's Beer Dinner: BZ's Bar & Grill in Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. - Hopslam, Amber Ale, Oarsman, Special Double Cream Stout and Smitten. Go here for more information.

Illinois

Jan. 29

Hopslam Firkin Tapping: Tribes Alehouse in Mokena

Jan. 31

Hopslam Firkin Tapping: Global Brew Tap House & Lounge in O'Fallon

Feb. 1

Hopslam Firkin Tapping: SmallBar - Logan Square in Chicago at 7 p.m. – Smitten, Hopslam (draught) and Two Hearted will also be on tap.

Florida

Jan. 31

Bell's Tasting: The Woods in Orlando starting at 6 p.m. - limited release beers including two bourbon barrel aged favorites

North Carolina

Feb. 1

Winterfest: Sam's Quick Shop in Durham at 4:30 p.m. - Bourbon Barrel Aged Batch 9,000, This one goes to 11, Harry Magill's Spiced Stout, Roundhouse, Java Stout and 2011 Cherry Stout (see image)

Georgia

Feb. 2

Bell's Beer Dinner: The Rooster's Beak in Augusta – Call 706-364-2260 for more information.

Ohio

Jan. 31

Hopslam Tappings: Cock and Bull Public House in Glendale and Cincinnati at 5 p.m. - keep the Bell's snifter afterward

Kentucky

Jan. 31

Hopslam Tapping: Cock and Bull Public House in Convington at 5 p.m. - keep the Bell's snifter afterward

Indiana

Feb. 1

Two Hearted Firkin Tapping: Deer Park Pub in Fort Wayne at 6 p.m. - Smitten will also be on tap.

Looking ahead

Join us for 33 beers on tap at Ashley’s in Ann Arbor, a tap takeover in Bedford Heights, Ohio, Hopslam cask tappings and more. Check out our full calendar here.

How about a January warm up?

The artwork featured on this year’s 5-liter Oberon mini-keg isn’t meant to depict a specific location but capture that moment when you put your paddle down and really soak in summer, said Kent Elliott, Creative Director at Black Lab Five in downtown Kalamazoo.

“It's a mental compilation of many different summer trips on rivers and lakes in northern Michigan, with quite a bit of Isle Royale thrown in. I guess it's my Q Falls,” Elliott wrote in an email.

“My hope is that it will remind people of similar places they've been and spark fond memories,” he said.

Does it remind you of somewhere specific? We would love to hear about it. Drop us a note or leave a comment on our Facebook or Google+ page.

Oberon will return on March 25. Look for mini-kegs to arrive a few months after then.

We’ll keep everyone posted on events and other details as they become available as well.