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.

Here is a look at Bell's beer events this week in Michigan, Kentucky and Wisconsin.

Michigan

May 9

Chef's Table and beer dinner
Big E's Sports Bar & Grill in Midland will host a five course beer dinner featuring Oarsman Ale, Pale Ale, Two Hearted, Amber and Porter. For the full menu, go here. For more information, call 989-794-8585.

Black Note tasting
Big E’s will also host a Black Note tasting from 6-8 p.m. that same night.

Oyster dinner
A four course beer dinner, which will feature an unlimited, fresh, cold water oyster course will start at 6 p.m. at Real Seafood Co. in Ann Arbor. It will also feature Two Hearted, Double Cream Stout, Oarsman, Oberon and Third Coast Beer. Call 734-769-5960 for more information. For the full menu, go here.

Kentucky

May 10

Oberon pint night
The Cock & Bull in Covington (Mainstrasse location) will host this event beginning at 5 p.m. AND you get to keep the glass. Call 859-581-4253 for more information.

Wisconsin

May 12

Spend the day at the (Bell's) circus
Try your hand at the ring toss, bags, darts, dunk tank and ladder ball! This kid/family friendly event at Dexter’s Pub in Madison (1-8 p.m.) will also feature multiple performances from a fire breather in the late afternoon/early evening as well as soda, popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones and hot dogs. On tap will be Oberon, Two Hearted Ale, Amber, Pale Ale, Porter and Harvest Ale. Black Note will be tapped at 8 p.m. Participants are encouraged to use public transportation, ride a bike or walk as parking will be limited.

Looking ahead

Events next week include a Minute to Win It party in Kalamazoo, our new brewery open house and the World Expo of Beer. For more information or to see our entire calendar, go here.

KALAMAZOO – Representatives from KLOB (Kalamazoo Libation Organization of Brewers) will demonstrate the art of homebrewing at Bell’s Eccentric Café to celebrate Big Brew Day on Saturday (May 5).

This annual event organized by the American Homebrewers Association is a celebration of National Homebrew Day, which is May 7.

Every year homebrewers invite family and friends to brewing sites around the world on the first Saturday in May to celebrate this holiday. More than 5,000 homebrewers from North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and Australia are expected to participate this year, according to the AHA. 

All grain demonstrations will begin at 10 a.m. while extract demos will begin around noon. This demonstration will be an all day event, so feel free to come and go as you wish. All skill levels are welcome. Bring your questions and enjoy a Bell’s beer while you are there.

For more on Big Brew Day, including a look at this year’s official recipes, go here.