The first Michigan brewery to open an onsite pub and sell beer by the glass, Bell's has grown to become a premier craftbrew destination for the Great Lakes region and beyond with distribution in 43 states, two facilities, a taproom, a concert venue, a unique beer garden, and 500+ passionate employees making thoughtfully-, artistically-, and crea. Bell's beer is distributed in forty-three states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Copyright 2023 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved. Bells Brewery sells to Lion, an Australian-owned company that is part of the Kirin Group. Larry Bell brewed his first beer in Kalamazoo with a 15-gallon soup pot in 1985. 147 First Avenue East As of 2018, Larry Bells net worth is estimated to be $1.5 billion. On Wednesday, it was revealed that Bells Brewery, an Australian subsidiary of Japans Kirin, would be acquired by Lion, an Australian subsidiary of the company. New Belgium has a long history of producing craft beers and venturing into new markets. Each tour does include 2 oz. 2503, The combined company will be known as Bells and New Belgium, and it will create a new craft beer market leader in the United States. Finally, the deal is intended to increase New Hollands sales and distribution in the coming months. Info and Contact - Bell's General Store Online Kirin Just Bought Bell's Brewery. Why Is Bell's Concealing - Beervana Together, Bells and New Belgium will become one of the nations largest craft beer companies. Currently, Bells brews over 20 beers for distribution at its Comstock brewery. Eventually, New Belgium staples like Fat Tire may make an appearance on guest taps as well, but it is not something the two companies are looking at during this stage of integration, Yunker said. Events & Details About Bell's Eccentric Cafe - Bell's Brewery The brewery also has a General Store located in downtown Kalamazoo, where visitors can purchase merchandise and beer. Its been really refreshing to see how almost eerily similar, when you think about founder-led and founder-built breweries and as they age and look to take their next steps, to really look at what the focus and commitments are for each of the businesses. I mean, he deserves it. Yet unlike so many bloodless M&A announcements, the reason may have everything to do with the difficulty of this sale. Bells, which opened in Kalamazoo in 1983 as a small home brewing supply shop, has grown into an internationally known beer brand that helped put Michigan on the map for craft brewing. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 7/1/2023). This deal caused quite a stir in the craft beer community, as many craft beer lovers feared that this would mean the end of Bells as an independent brewery. By. Bell's brews its Porter, Kalamazoo Stout, Lager of the Lakes, Light Hearted Ale, Amber Ale, Two Hearted Ale, Hopsoulution Ale, and Official year-round. Larry Bell brewed his first beer in Kalamazoo in 1985, using a 15-gallon soup pot. By browsing this site, we may share your information with our social media partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Book a Tour of Bell's Brewery | Bell's Brewery - Bell's Brewery Bells, at the time of its sale, was the sixth largest craft brewery in the United States and the largest independently owned brewery in Michigan. Safety, quality, and human resources have all improved over the years at Bells. 5 beer, and Bells as the best brewery in America. an open letter posted to the Bells website. Bell's employees more than 550 people and has a 500,000-barrel brewery . Brewing company in Comstock, Michigan, US, This article is about the brewery. Bells Brewery was founded in 1985 by Larry Bell and is headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Lion Brands, the parent company of New Belgium Brewing, purchased Bells Brewery. Innovation is at the heart of that, she said, and that starts with the employees. The company will continue making beer in Comstock, Kalamazoo and Escanaba. Downtown Kalamazoo. bought Kona Brewing Co. and Redhook Brewery in a deal valued at more than $200 million. We are eager to continue supporting New Belgium as it expands its presence both domestically and internationally. Locations. In October of 2018, it was announced that Anheuser-Busch InBev had reached a deal to acquire Bells Brewery. Larry Bell created his first beer in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with a 15-gallon pot of soup in 1985. The brewery started out as a small operation in Kalamazoo, Michigan, but soon became one of the most popular craft breweries in the country. Bell's founder Larry Bell,. Lion Little World Beverages Inc., a division of Japans Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd., is acquiring Bells Brewery. According to Fechheimer, their shared goal is to provide world-class beer while also adhering to a people-first business philosophy. 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave. Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (269) 382-2332. Bell's Brewery to be sold as founder retires; New Belgium owner to take For blended Scotch whisky, see, "Corporate Entity Details: Bell's Brewery, Inc", "Bell's Brewery, Eccentric Cafe and General Store", "Brewers Association Releases Annual Craft Brewing Industry Production Report and Top 50 Producing Craft Brewing Companies for 2021", "Bell's Brewery and New Belgium Brewing Join Forces to Form a New American Craft Beer Leader", "Articles of Incorporation-The Kalamazoo Brewing Co., Inc", "Restated Articles of Incorporation - Profit-Bell's Brewery, Inc", "Brewing Sustainably | Green Building and Design", "Bell's Brewery Inc. entirely family owned and ready to make 'kooky' beer, says founder", "Bell's Brewery Inc's Upper Hand Brewery opens in Escanaba", "Bell's Brewery's Upper Hand Brewery to Add Distribution to Michigan's Lower Peninsula", "Bell's Brewery Inc.'s Two Hearted Ale named second best beer in the country, Founders ties at No. In addition to its many flagship and seasonal beers, the brewery also produces a number of limited edition and specialty beers. This decision ultimately came down to two determining factors, Bell said in a statement. The Bell familys legacy of producing high-quality beer will not be forgotten by Lion, a company with a long history of brewing excellent beers. In 2020, Bells Brewery was one of the seven largest independently owned breweries in the United States, making it a bit of a surprise. As Lion takes over as the new leader of Bells Brewery, its a good time to take advantage of the brewerys potential to grow and thrive. Amy Sherman/For Hearst Midwest Spring is in the air, and Bell's. King has stated that he has no plans to change the way Bells does business, and that the brewery will remain headquartered in Kalamazoo. The company has been growing and changing since the day she started, and the only thing that would be truly different is if it stopped doing so, Yunker added. Bells beer is available in over 20 different styles, and it was founded in 1985. In October of 2018, it was announced that Anheuser-Busch InBev had agreed to sell its stake in craft brewer Elysian Brewing Company to New Belgium Brewing Company. Larry Bell, the founder of Bells Brewery, announced on Monday that he had reached an agreement with Lion, an Australian brewer. Lions acquisition of Bells Brewery of Kalamazoo, Michigan, will be the second major American craft brewery to be acquired by the Australian beverage company. Larry Bells net worth has been greatly boosted by the success of his brewery. Larry Bell has decided to step down as the organizations leader. Our History The brewery is best known for its line of fruit and vegetable-infused beers, which include the popular Peanut Butter Banana Stout. Traditionally that had been a very Larry-driven, Larry-focused piece, she said of Bells philanthropic work. Hang in there, and dont worry! In July of 2018, an investment group led by Mark King, the former CEO of Pabst Brewing Company, announced the purchase of Bells Brewery in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Always check availability with the locations in your results before making a trip. Search All Products and reach out to locations in the results for more details in the meantime. Bell says he has taken a break from beer to get his taste buds back. The Australian company is a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Kirin. Fat Tire and Voodoo Ranger IPA are two notable new Belgium beers. Homebrew Central, Eccentric CafeConcerts & EventsTour the BreweriesHost a Private EventRecipes & Food Pairings, Terms of Use CA Prop 65 CA Supply Chains Act. Carrie Yunker, Bell's executive vice president, will continue to lead day-to-day operations for the company's brand. While Kalamazoos beloved independent brewery is being sold to a global big beer company, Michigan brewers contacted by MLive say this isnt a sell-out situation. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. On December 31, New Belgium officially completed the sale of Kalamazoo-based Bells Brewery. 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave. Kalamazoo, MI 49007. You know theyre not even in Michigan.. Kalamazoo-based Bells Brewery, one of the biggest craft beer makers in the Midwest, has been acquired by New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins, Colorado. Founded in 1985 in Kalamazoo, Michigan by Larry Bell, Bell's Brewery is still owned and operated by the Bell family. -0.05%. Since its inception, Founders has been known for its high-quality and flavorful beers. . 450 Following. Bells Brewery was acquired by Lion, a subsidiary of a Japanese beverage conglomerate. When a local, independent company is sold to an international buyer like Lion, Vanderkamp said there can be some skepticism among craft beer lovers. Bells employs approximately 550 people, most of whom are based in Michigan. Copyright 2021 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Weve spent a lot of time together as a combined leadership team already, Yunker said, referencing the leadership team headed up by New Belgium CEO Steve Fechheimer. Several other beers are sold seasonally: Oberon Ale from late March through September (year-round in Florida, Arizona, and Puerto Rico), Best Brown Ale in September and October, Christmas Ale in November and December, and Bright White Ale (formerly Winter White Ale) from November through January. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 7/1/2023). YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Please make sure you have booked online or bought a ticket at the General Store before arrival. In other words, the brewery is worth at least $500 million. By browsing this site, we may share your information with our social media partners in accordance with our. He deserves retirement like we all do, but we wish it could have been somehow local.. Bells Two Hearted Ale was ranked as the No. For MLives guide to Oberon Day and to see what Yunker had to say about the March 21 event, click here. The Bells Brewery, Inc., located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was founded in 1985 as a result of a desire for better beer and a 15-gallon soup kettle. Purchasing the brewery is Lion, an Australian-based beverage company that purchased Fort Collins, Colorado-based, New Belgium Brewing Co. in 2019. Brewing Beer: Which Pronunciation Is Correct? The companys growth is a testament to the popularity of its beer and the craft brewing scene in Michigan. More than 3.6 million barrels of craft beer have been sold so far this year. Kalamazoo's Bell's Brewery to merge with Colorado-based New - WTVB According to the Brewers Association, Bells Brewery ranked seventh largest independently owned manufacturer in 2020. For Kim (Jordan) and Jeff (Lebesch), when they founded New Belgium, they had dreamed it would eventually become a business. Our History If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. When Larry Bell began his journey as a homebrewer, he was dedicated to brewing flavorful, unfiltered, and high-quality craft beers. Following the sale of Bell, beer drinkers should not notice any changes to their current beers. Kalamazoos popular brewery is being sold to an Australian brewing conglomerate. The sale will result in Bells being in close alignment with New Belgium Brewery, a Colorado brewery owned by Lion in 2019. We intend to achieve net-zero emissions and carbon neutrality by 2030. Dragonmead offers a large selection of ales, beers, and lagers, with two gold medal winners from the Beer World Cup among their offerings. In October of 2018, Bells Brewery was sold to Anheuser-Busch InBev for a reported $250 million. Prior to the sale, Bells was majority owned by the Stange family, with Larry Bell serving as the CEO. Amy Pancato said she isnt a local, but was working across the street on busy Kalamazoo Avenue when she heard news of the sale. By bringing together two of the largest and fastest-growing craft brand families in the country and unifying our companies under a single business model, were creating one of the best and largest craft portfolios in the country. His next opportunity to sample is likely to come in July at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, where he will sample a Big Porch Ale. Bell's Brewery Announces Sale - 9&10 News That makeshift brewhouse is long gone, sold to a small brewpub elsewhere in the Midwest, and today's Kalamazoo Brewing Co. is a . 3", "2017 Best Beers in America Results - American Homebrewers Association", "Bell's Two Hearted Ale named best beer in America again", "Beer: Retailers are slammed over Hopslam Ale", "Hopslam or Hypeslam? The brewerys taproom is open to the public for tours and tastings. According to sources, dozens of small to mid-sized craft breweries are still looking into sales. In 1966, Curt and Claudia Bell founded Bells Brewery in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Big buzz behind limited edition beer", "Bye-Bye Bell's How Illinois beer distribution laws, fiercely protected by a powerful industry, drove away one of Chicago's favorite small brewers", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bell%27s_Brewery&oldid=1145422789, Short description is different from Wikidata, Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 19 March 2023, at 02:22. When that disappears, I think things change and people get nervous that things may drift from the origin of the company.. Furthermore, Lion owns Fort Collins, Colo.-based New Belgium Brewing Co., which is the vehicle for the transaction. But Fechheimer said just because Lion is involved with major corporate brands doesnt mean anything should be expected to change at the local level. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is estimated that AB InBev paid between $100 and $250 million for the brewery.