Homebrewing

Every year, we celebrate our roots by hosting a the Bell’s Homebrew Competition.  Our most recent winner, Matt, brewed his recipe at the request of a friend who wanted to learn how to make beer. Heather’s Request is an Apricot IPA and is going on tap at 2 p.m. this Sunday at Bell’s Eccentric Café. The winning beer was picked by Bell’s employees out of more than 110 entries. Learn more about the story behind the beer and what it was like for Matt to brew at our original Downtown Kalamazoo Brewery:   [[{"fid":"9380","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default"}},"link_text":null,"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]   Want the chance to have your beer on tap at Bell’s? The 10th Annual Bell’s Homebrew Competition Kick-off and Expo will be held this year on Sept. 14 at our Eccentric Café in downtown Kalamazoo. The winner will be announced on All Stouts Day, Nov, 3. 

Our General Store team is very excited to launch a new Homebrew Recipe program. Each month, one of our store clerks will share one of their own homebrew recipes. August 2019's recipe is below. You can purchase the ingredients online and at our General Store (355 E Kalamazoo Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007). We also have a batch of each recipe tapped in the store to try (while supplies last). If you have any homebrew questions, please reach out to the General Store. We’d be more than glad to help you. Give us a call at 269-382-5712 or drop us a note. bill's "smash" Created By: Bill Gallup Estimated OG: 1.047 Estimated ABV: 5.3% Estimated IBU: 57 Estimated Color: 3 SRM 5 gallons - all grain 9 pounds Briess Brewer’s Malt 2 oz. Citra Hops for 20 min. 1 oz. Citra Hops for 0 min. 1 oz. Citra Hops Dry Hop Imperial Bell’s House Ale A62 Yeast 5 gallons - extract 6.6 Pounds Briess Golden Liquid Malt Extract 2 oz. Citra Hops for 20 min. 1 oz. Citra Hops for 0 min. 1 oz. Citra Hops Dry Hop Imperial Bell’s House Ale A62 Yeast Do you have a homebrew club? We’d love to take you on a behind the scenes tour, which includes a customized homebrewing demonstration from our General Store staff. Reach out to us. See more Homebrew recipes here.

The 10th Annual Bell’s Homebrew Competition Kick-off and Expo will be held this year on Sept. 14 at our Eccentric Café in downtown Kalamazoo. Things to keep in mind if you decide to enter this year's 10th annual homebrew competition: Homebrewers should bring a sanitized vessel with them to transport their wort home. Buckets, carboys (please be extra careful handling glass carboys) and cornelius kegs are the most common vessels. You can leave them in your vehicle until it’s time to pick up your wort, but again, please sanitize your vessel prior to your pick-up time to help us make sure everyone gets their wort. New this year... sign up for a specialty homebrew tour and be one of the first to receive wort. Registration for the tour will open on August 14th at 9am. Limited spots available. Sign up here! Make sure to get there early, as supplies will be limited. Signing up early (starts at 11 a.m.) will help guarantee wort. We will start distributing wort at 1 p.m. You can send someone else to pick up your wort. We aren’t concerned with who takes it, just who turns in bottles to be judged in October. We do ask that you don’t bring friends or relatives who don’t brew, just so you can have an extra 5+ gallons of wort. We are relying on the goodwill of homebrewers to help each other out and share the wealth. Please help us make sure all who want to compete are able. You can add whatever you like to your recipe/submission. However, if your entry is chosen as the winner, we will have to be able to figure out a way to make your beer on a much larger scale. So please, take good, detailed notes of everything you do to the wort. We won’t know exactly how much we will end up with until the wort is made, but last year we were able to give 5 gallons of wort to nearly 200 homebrewers. We hope to be in that ballpark again this year, but things happen during wort transfers that can affect that number. We recommend arriving early to sign up and make sure you get your wort. Competition entries (four 12 oz. bottles) are due to the Bell’s General Store by 7 p.m., Sunday, October 27. For more on this year's competition, go here. 

Are your homebrew skills enough to get your beer served alongside Two Hearted, our Amber Ale, Oberon and others? Here’s your chance to prove it. The 10th Annual Bell’s Homebrew Competition Kick-off and Expo will be held this year on Sept. 14 at our Eccentric Café in downtown Kalamazoo. The homebrewer who takes first place will get to brew their recipe at our original brewery to then go on tap at the adjacent Café. The first place winner will also attend the 2020 Great American Beer Festival (Sept. 24-26) in Denver, Colorado as our guest. “We’ve seen some incredible skill over the past decade of this competition and we will continue to proudly support the community that helped start all of this so many years ago. It was homebrewing that got us started and its homebrewers who continue to honor us today,” said Larry Bell, Founder and President of Bell’s Brewery. Members of the American Homebrews Association voted Two Hearted and Bell’s Brewery the Best Beer in America and Best Brewery respectively for the past three years. The Bell’s General Store has been supporting the homebrewing community since 1983 – offering advice, homebrew ingredients and kits (a variety of clone recipes of some of Bell’s most popular beers are available to purchase). Bell’s homebrew connection predates the brewery which opened in 1985. Earlier this year, Bell’s began offering its signature house ale yeast directly so homebrewers could brew with it in their own way. Additional contest & Expo details As in previous years, there is no cost to enter the competition and the only requirement is that you use Bell’s wort, which will be available for free at the kick-off while supplies last. New this year: sign up for a specialty homebrew tour and be one of the first to receive wort. Registration for the tour will open on August 14th at 9 a.m. online at www.bellsbeer.com/tours. Limited spots are available. Additional sign-up times for wort pick up will begin at 11 a.m. In past years, more than 200 homebrewers have been able to receive wort. This year’s Expo will run from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. and will feature local homebrew clubs, local vendors, interactive demos, as well as representatives from the American Homebrewers Association. Competition entries (four 12 oz. bottles) are due to the Bell’s General Store by 7 p.m., Sunday, October 27. The winner of the competition will team up with a Bell’s brewer for the 2020 Pro-Am Competition and attend both the awards ceremony and members’ only session at GABF. Bell’s will cover the cost of airfare to Denver and back (must be within the continental U.S.) and provide lodging for two nights. 2018 winner tapping The 2018 winning recipe, from Matt MacQuillan (Heather’s Request, an Apricot IPA) will be tapped for the first time at 2 p.m. on Aug. 25 at the Café. All are welcome and encouraged to stop by the Café and help celebrate this incredible accomplishment. Previous winners are – 2017: Damson Plum Crisp, Saison brewed with damson plums and toasted sugar from Steve Vroegop. 2016: Freedom of Peach, hoppy Saison brewed with peaches, from Evan Monroe. 2015: Bale So Hard, a Farmhouse Ale brewed with HBC 438 and Mosaic hops from David Hellen. 2014: Coffee Mustache, a California Common style beer brewed with coffee from Matt VanNatter. 2013: Proud Mitten, a dry hopped IPA/Pale Ale made with Centennial, Citra and Simcoe hops from David Lyman. 2012:Manden Med Leen, a black IPA brewed with Belgian yeast from Nick Rodammer. 2011: A Bit of Heat, brewed with paradise seeds, rose hips and habaneros, from Geoff Groff. 2010: Oscar’s Folly, a collaborative IPA from Jarrett Cupp, Bailey Cupp and Paul Gentz. For more information and for updates, keep an eye here on our Bell’s website or join us on social media - Facebook, Twitter and Instagram,

Our General Store team is very excited to launch a new Homebrew Recipe program. Each month, one of our store clerks will share one of their own homebrew recipes. July 2019's recipe is below. You can purchase the ingredients online and at our General Store (355 E Kalamazoo Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007). We also have a batch of each recipe tapped in the store to try (while supplies last). If you have any homebrew questions, please reach out to the General Store. We’d be more than glad to help you. Give us a call at 269-382-5712 or drop us a note. danielle's "what a lovely ipa!" Created By: Danielle Herwig Estimated OG: 1.078 Estimated ABV: 7.8% Estimated IBU: 48 Estimated Color:7 SRM 5 gallons - all grain 7 pounds Maris Otter Malt 5 pounds Briess Brewer’s Malt 2 pounds Briess Flaked Oats 0.25 oz. Briess Caramel 20L Malt 1 oz. Nelson Sauvin Hops for 30 min. 0.5 oz. El Dorado Hops for 10 min. 0.5 oz. Citra Hops for 0 min. 1 oz. Galaxy Hops Dry Hop 1 oz. El Dorado Hops Dry Hop 0.5 oz. Citra Hops Dry Hop Imperial Juice A38 Yeast 5 gallons - extract 3.3 Pounds Briess Pale Ale Liquid Malt Extract 5 Pounds Briess Golden Light Dry Malt Extract 2 pounds Maris Otter Malt 2 pounds Briess Flaked Oats 0.25 oz. Briess Caramel 20L Malt 1 oz. Nelson Sauvin Hops for 30 min. 0.5 oz. El Dorado Hops for 10 min. 0.5 oz. Citra Hops for 0 min. 1 oz. Galaxy Hops Dry Hop 1 oz. El Dorado Hops Dry Hop 0.5 oz. Citra Hops Dry Hop Imperial Juice A38 Yeast Do you have a homebrew club? We’d love to take you on a behind the scenes tour, which includes a customized homebrewing demonstration from our General Store staff. Reach out to us. See more Homebrew recipes here.

Our General Store team is very excited to launch a new Homebrew Recipe program. Each month, one of our store clerks will share one of their own homebrew recipes. June 2019's recipe is below. You can purchase the ingredients online and at our General Store (355 E Kalamazoo Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007). We also have a batch of each recipe tapped in the store to try (while supplies last). If you have any homebrew questions, please reach out to the General Store. We’d be more than glad to help you. Give us a call at 269-382-5712 or drop us a note. ethan's gilded belgae Created By: Ethan Barth Estimated OG: 1.083 Estimated ABV: 8.3% Estimated IBU: 34 Estimated Color: 6 SRM 5 gallons - All Grain 14 pounds Pilsner Malt 2 pounds Briess Bonlander Munich Malt 1 pound Simplicity Belgian Candi Syrup 1 oz. Tettnang Hops for 60 min. 1 oz. Perle Hops for 30 min. Imperial Triple Double B48 Yeast 5 gallons - Extract 6.6 pounds Briess Pilsen Liquid Malt Extract 3.3 pounds Briess Munich Liquid Malt Extract 1 pound Briess Pilsen Dry Malt Extract 1 pound Simplicity Belgian Candi Syrup 1 oz. Tettnang Hops for 60 min. 1 oz. Perle Hops for 30 min. Imperial Triple Double B48 Yeast Do you have a homebrew club? We’d love to take you on a behind the scenes tour, which includes a customized homebrewing demonstration from our General Store staff. Reach out to us. See more Homebrew recipes here. [[{"fid":"9156","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default"}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]  

Our General Store team is very excited to launch a new Homebrew Recipe program. Each month, one of our store clerks will share one of their own homebrew recipes. May 2019's recipe is below. You can purchase the ingredients online and at our General Store (355 E Kalamazoo Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007). We also have a batch of each recipe tapped in the store to try (while supplies last). If you have any homebrew questions, please reach out to the General Store. We’d be more than glad to help you. Give us a call at 269-382-5712 or drop us a note. Cameron’s You Oat-A Know Created By: Cameron Spencer Estimated OG:1.066 Estimated ABV: 6.5% Estimated IBU: 40 Estimated Color: 24 SRM 5 Gallons - All Grain 9 pounds Maris Otter Malt 2 pounds Briess Flaked Oats 9 oz. Briess Chocolate Malt 6 oz. Briess Victory Malt 4 oz. Briess Roasted Barley 1 oz. Cascade Hops for 60 min. 1 oz. Fuggle Hops for 30 min. Imperial Darkness A10 Yeast 5 Gallons - Extract 6.6 pounds Briess Pale Ale Liquid Malt Extract 2 pounds Briess Golden Light Dry Malt Extract 1 pound Maris Otter Malt 2 pounds Briess Flaked Oats 9 oz. Briess Chocolate Malt 6 oz. Briess Victory Malt 4 oz. Briess Roasted Barley 1 oz. Cascade Hops for 60 min 1 oz. Fuggle Hops for 30 min Imperial Darkness A10 Yeast Do you have a homebrew club? We’d love to take you on a behind the scenes tour, which includes a customized homebrewing demonstration from our General Store staff. Reach out to us. See more Homebrew recipes here.

Our General Store team is very excited to launch a new Homebrew Recipe program. Each month, one of our store clerks will share one of their own homebrew recipes. March 2019's recipe is below. You can purchase the ingredients online and at our General Store (355 E Kalamazoo Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007). We also have a batch of each recipe tapped in the store to try (while supplies last). If you have any homebrew questions, please reach out to the General Store. We’d be more than glad to help you. Give us a call at 269-382-5712 or drop us a note. Nick's Kolsch Ya Later? Created By: Nick Light Estimated OG: 1.046 Estimated ABV: 4.5% Estimated IBU: 25 Estimated Color: 4 SRM 5 GALLONS - ALL GRAIN 7 pounds Pilsner Malt 8 oz. Briess CaraPils Malt 1 pound Briess Bonlander Munich Malt 3 oz. Briess White Wheat Malt 1 oz. Kent Goldings Hops for 60 min. 1 oz. Saaz Hops for 10 min. Imperial Kaiser G02 Yeast 5 GALLONS - EXTRACT 5 pounds Briess Pilsen Dry Malt Extract 8 oz. Briess CaraPils Malt 1 pound Briess Bonlander Munich Malt 3 oz. Briess White Wheat Malt 1 oz. Kent Goldings Hops for 60 min. 1 oz. Saaz Hops for 10 min. Imperial Kaiser G02 Yeast Do you have a homebrew club? We’d love to take you on a behind the scenes tour, which includes a customized homebrewing demonstration from our General Store staff. Reach out to us. See more Homebrew recipes here.

Our General Store team is very excited to launch a new Homebrew Recipe program. Each month, one of our store clerks will share one of their own homebrew recipes. March 2019's recipe is below. You can purchase the ingredients online and at our General Store (355 E Kalamazoo Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007). We also have a batch of each recipe tapped in the store to try (while supplies last). If you have any homebrew questions, please reach out to the General Store. We’d be more than glad to help you. Give us a call at 269-382-5712 or drop us a note. lexi's cupbearer ipa Created By: Lexi Koperdak Estimated OG: 1.060 Estimated ABV: 6.2% Estimated IBU: 50 Estimated Color: 11 SRM 5 gallons - All Grain   7.5 pounds Golden Promise Malt 3 pounds Flaked Wheat 0.75 pounds Briess Caramel 20L Malt 2 oz. Briess Midnight Wheat Malt 1 oz. Magnum Hops for 60 min. 1 oz. Lemon Drops Hops for 10 min. 1 oz. Ahtanum Hops for 5 min. 2 oz. Ahtanum Hops Dry Hop 1 oz. Lemon Drop Dry Hop Imperial Yeast House A01 5 gallons - Extract   4 pounds Briess Pale Ale Dry Malt Extract 3 pounds Briess Bavarian Wheat Dry Malt Extract 0.75 pounds Briess Caramel 20L Malt 2 oz. Briess Midnight Wheat Malt 1 oz. Magnum Hops for 60 min. 1 oz. Lemon Drops Hops for 10 min. 1 oz. Ahtanum Hops for 5 min. 2 oz. Ahtanum Hops Dry Hop 1 oz. Lemon Drop Dry Hop Imperial Yeast House A01 Do you have a homebrew club? We’d love to take you on a behind the scenes tour, which includes a customized homebrewing demonstration from our General Store staff. Reach out to us. See more Homebrew recipes here. [[{"fid":"8535","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default"}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]  

Our General Store team is very excited to launch a new Homebrew Recipe program. Each month, one of our store clerks will share one of their own homebrew recipes. February 2019's recipe is below. You can purchase the ingredients online and at our General Store (355 E Kalamazoo Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007). We also have a batch of each recipe tapped in the store to try (while supplies last).  If you have any homebrew questions, please reach out to the General Store. We’d be more than glad to help you. Give us a call at 269-382-5712 or drop us a note. connor’s NBA brown ale Download a PDF of the recipe. Created by: Connor McCririe Estimated OG: 1.053 Estimated ABV: 5.7% Estimated IBU: 29 Estimated color: 26 SRM 5 GALLONS - ALL GRAIN 5 pounds Briess Pale Ale Malt 3 pounds Maris Otter Malt 1 pound Red Rye Crystal Malt 0.75 pounds Briess Special Roast Malt 0.5 pounds Briess Chocolate Malt 1 oz. East Kent Goldings Hops for 30 min. 1 oz. East Kent Goldings Hops for 10 min. Imperial Yeast Flagship A07 5 GALLONS - EXTRACT 6 pounds Briess Pale Ale Dry Malt Extract 1 pound Red Rye Crystal Malt 0.75 pounds Briess Special Roast Malt 0.5 pounds Briess Chocolate Malt 1 oz. East Kent Goldings Hops for 30 min. 1 oz. East Kent Goldings Hops for 10 min. Imperial Yeast Flagship A07 Do you have a homebrew club? We’d love to take you on a behind the scenes tour, which includes a customized homebrewing demonstration from our General Store staff. Reach out to us. See more Homebrew recipes here.