Our History

1976-1985

From Homebrew Shop to Brewery

Bell’s Brewery is deeply rooted in homebrewing, our community, and sharing our craft with beer lovers old and new. Coming to Kalamazoo to attend Kalamazoo College, Larry Bell started homebrewing in the early 1980s and opened a homebrew supply shop in Downtown Kalamazoo in 1983. As more and more people were requesting samples of his beer, Larry began brewing commercially in a 15 gallon soup pot and opened Kalamazoo Brewing Co., which sold its first beer on Sept. 19, 1985.

1986

Brewing Milestone

Beer production reached 135 barrels (1 barrel = 31 gallons). Originally self-distributed, Larry and a staff of nine others bottled and delivered everything for the next four years.

First Brewed: Third Coast Beer

An homage to the Great Lakes coastline, Third Coast Beer was crafted before the craft beer market really took hold in the United States. People were afraid of beer called “ale.” Even though it was technically a Pale Ale, it was dubbed a “beer” to be more approachable. TCB went to Larry’s Library in 2017.

1988

First Brewed: Kalamazoo Stout

The first Kalamazoo Stout, an American stout and one of our most classic recipes, was brewed.

1988

First Brewed: Cherry Stout

The first Cherry Stout was brewed, crafted with 100% Montmorency cherries grown in Michigan’s Traverse City region. Beers with adjuncts (non-malt sources of fermentable sugar) were uncommon at this point in time.

1988

First Brewed: Third Coast Ale

The first Third Coast Old Ale was brewed. An American barley wine, this beer is named after America’s “Third Coast” which surrounds the Great Lakes.

1990

First Pour: Indiana

Brewing Milestone

Brewing capacity increases with the installation of a 2-barrel brew system.

First Pour: Wisconsin

1992

Brewing Milestone

A long way from the original soup kettle, a larger, 15-barrel brew system was installed. We still brew on this system to this day.

First Brewed: Oberon

First brewed as SolSun, Oberon Ale started a revolution in craft beer. It became one of the most iconic brands and introduced a whole generation of beer drinkers to craft. Oberon release day has become an annual celebration of friends, the approach of warmer weather, and the start of baseball season.

1993

June 11

Eccentric Café Officially Opens

Bell’s became the first Michigan brewery to open an onsite pub, the Eccentric Café at 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave, after Larry worked with the Michigan Legislature to change state law regarding breweries selling beer in tap rooms.

1996

Beer Garden in Bloom

This outdoor space beside the Eccentric Café officially made its debut. It has grown by leaps and bounds ever since, hosting events and concerts by popular artists such as Bruce Hornsby, George Clinton, Billy Strings, Greensky Bluegrass, and Kurt Vile.

2001

Comstock, Here We Come

Bell’s purchased five acres in Comstock Township, Michigan, seven miles east from Bell’s original downtown Kalamazoo brewery. This new land soon became the home of Bell’s main brewery. The Kalamazoo location continues to brew experimental and exclusive beers for the Eccentric Café and is open for tours.

First Brewed: Java Stout

2003

First Brewed: Winter White Ale

The first Winter White Ale (now Bright White Ale) was brewed.

Comstock Brewery Open for Business

Bell’s Comstock brewery opened about seven miles east of Kalamazoo on a 32-acre site. The original footprint was just over 35,000 square feet. The construction brought John Mallett to Bell’s, who would oversee brewery operations for the coming decades.

Keg Line Installed

Our Comstock Brewery received an additional way to package Bell’s beer through keg line automation.

2006

Quality Focus

An Anton Paar instrument for measuring alcohol, density, and estimating calories was installed in the Bell’s Quality Lab.

First Brewed: Lager of the Lakes

Lager of the Lakes, our year-round bohemian-style pilsner, was first brewed.

First Brewed: Octoberfest

Spending a full six weeks fermenting, the first Octoberfest Beer was brewed as a flavorful session beer perfect for fest season.

First Brewed: Consecrator Doppelbock

The first Consecrator Doppelbock, a traditional doppelbock and Bell’s General Store exclusive, was brewed.

First Brewed: Hopsoulution

The first Hopsoulution Ale was brewed.

2011

The Eccentric Cafe Reopens

After $3 million in renovations, our Eccentric Café reopened, transformed into a state-of-the-art music venue with expanded restrooms, additional seating options, a transformed Beer Garden, a new patio, and a new main entryway.

2013

Apr. 25

Introducing Upper Hand Brewery

Construction began on our first ever sister brewery, Upper Hand Brewery in Escanaba, located within Michigan’s upper peninsula.

First Brewed: Sparkleberry

The first Sparkleberry, an American interpretation of a Belgian-style tripel brewed with raspberries, was released at Kalamazoo Pride in 2013 to celebrate our sponsorship of the event.

First Pour: New York

Quality Focus

Our first full-time microbiologist is hired as part of the Bell’s quality team.

2015

First Pour: Louisiana

Quality Focus

Construction in Comstock continued—the Cube (a.k.a. our waste water treatment facility) came online. Plus, our Quality Lab added ICP (inductively coupled plasma) for measuring water quality and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for the analysis of beer DNA.

Best and Brightest

Eccentric Café Kitchen Expansion

The 150-square-foot kitchen that served the Café’s guests for more than 20 years got fully redone and reopened with a brand new, expanded bar and additional draught options.

First Brewed: Double Two Hearted

The first Double Two Hearted Ale was released with everything you love about Two Hearted, but doubled (including 2.5X Centennial hops)!

Happy 30th Anniversary Bell’s Funvitational

How do you celebrate 30 years of Inspired Brewing? You invite breweries from all over the world to your hometown for a beer festival like no other. More than 4,000 people attended, and more than 200 beers were poured—many had never been tapped before in Michigan!

Our 30th Anniversary Ale, an American Imperial Stout was also released to commemorate the occasion.

2016

Expansion

Construction is completed on a brand new Bottling Hall, warehouse space, additional fermentation space, employee care areas, and Logistics Center.

2017

More Dry Hoppin’

Sixteen 400-barrel dry hop fermenters are added to Cellar A.

First Pour: Texas

2H = No. 1

After seven years of being ranked #2, American Homebrewers Association members voted Two Hearted Ale as the #1 Beer in America! Bell’s was also named the #1 Brewery in America!

First Pour: New Mexico

Beer First Brewed This Year

2019

First Brewed: Flamingo Fruit Flight

The first Flamingo Fruit Fight, a passionfruit and lime tart ale, was brewed and released. This marked the launch of a new brand family that celebrates fruity flavors like raspberry, pomegranate, and lemon-lime.

2021

John Mallett Scholarship Announced

In celebration of Bell’s Vice President of Operations John Mallett’s 20th anniversary with the company, a scholarship was established in his name to assist individuals wishing to undertake studies with the Master Brewers Association of the Americas.