KALAMAZOO – Today, Bell’s Mead was officially released as the third in our Eccentric Café 750ml bottle program.

The bottles, only available at the Bell’s General Store, are a unique way for us to make some of our pub only beers available to the public.

The program debuted in June with Raspberry Ale and was followed by Wedding Ale.

This traditional crisp, dry and time-honored beverage is made with Michigan honey. About 400 hand numbered bottles of Mead were released and retail for $19. There is a limit of two bottles per person.

Next up in the series are The Wild One Ale, Quinannan Falls Special Lager (Q-Falls), Sparkling Ale and Golden Rye.

Stay tuned for specific release dates.

A look at Bell’s beer and music events coming up this week.

Tuesday, Aug. 16

Brew-B-Que featuring Bell’s Brewery and Velvet Smoke BBQ
Where: Piccolo, 23 Village Square, Glendale, Ohio
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Cost: $15 per person
Details: Five Bell’s beers plus one pulled pork slider, one beef brisket slider and one side. Additional food will be available to purchase.
More information: Call 513-771-6612.

Wednesday, Aug. 17

Michigan beer night
Where: American Ice Company, 917 V Street, Washington DC
Details: Join Bell’s and New Holland for some rare and favorite beers on tap.
More information: Call 202-758-3562.

Beer and slider pairing
Where: Sheffield’s Beer & Wine Garden, 3258 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Cost: $12 per group
Details: Group 1 - Prime Rib Slider with Bell’s Porter, Sheffield’s House Smoked Beef Brisket with Bell’s Amber; Group 2 - Meatloaf Slider with Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout, Pico de Gallo Burger with Bell’s Golden Rye; Group 3 - Fried Buffalo Chicken Slider with Bell’s Pale Ale, Italian Beef Slider with Two Hearted.

Thursday, Aug. 18

Bell’s beer and cheese pairing
Where: Little Miss Whiskies, 1104 H Street, Washington DC
Time: 7 p.m.
Cost: $30
Details: Join Derek Zomonski for a casual tasting of six Bell’s beers each paired with a different cheese. Space is limited.
More information: Call 812-369-9990.

An evening with Lying Delilah
Where: Bell’s Eccentric Café, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo, MI
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Cost: $5
Details: Lounge, progressive, rock
More info: www.lyingdelilah.com/

Friday, Aug. 19

An evening with Bryan Michael Fischer Band
Where: Bell’s Eccentric Café, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo, MI
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Cost: $6
Details: Blues, rock, R&B

Saturday, Aug. 20

An evening with Minor Profits
Where: Bell’s Eccentric Café, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo, MI
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Cost: $5
Details: Rock, Americana, acoustic
More info: www.myspace.com/theminorpr?ofits

Looking ahead to next week

3^rd Annual Traverse City Summer Microbrew & Music Festival, October Fest pairing at Longman & Eagle (Illinois) and Bell’s BBQ and Bluegrass. Find more events here.

First and foremost all of us here at Bell’s want to thank you for the support you’ve shown for our beers this year! Our growth over the past few years has exceeded everyone’s expectations to the point that we simply are not able to keep up with demand. We’d also like to assure you that we do not have any intentions of pulling out of any states that we are currently selling beer in.

We feel that we are able to do this because we have started the process of increasing capacity to meet that growing demand.  The expansion project includes an additional, larger brewhouse, increased fermentation and dry hopping capabilities, and new grain handling facilities.  The additional capacity is scheduled to come on line early in 2012. Unfortunately until that time we will be forced to spread the beer we can produce to our existing customers as best we can.

The hardest hit has been Two Hearted Ale as demand has been off the charts!  Beyond the simple numbers crunch however, this beer requires special fermentation tanks for the dry hopping process making it impossible to shift brewing from other brands.  The additions to the brewery will include significant enhancements to our overall brewing capacity and to Two Hearted production in particular.  It is important to note that we will continue to allocate this brand until the new production facility is up and running.  We will be working with all of our distributor, retail, and restaurateur partners to apply this as evenly as possible throughout our current footprint.

Thanks again for all that the support that you’ve shown for Bell’s and we very much hope that you will bear with us through our growing pains knowing that there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel.

Sincerely,

Marty Compton
Sales Manager                         

Laura Bell
Marketing Director

Photo caption: Construction of new brewing facility is underway in Galesburg, Michigan.