Light Hearted

A light twist on a classic, best enjoyed during Taco Funday... or any day! Ingredients 3 oz. Bell's Light Hearted 2 oz. silver tequila 1 oz. simple syrup .5 oz. orange liqueur Juice of 1/2 lime Hop salt for garnish Instructions Mix the tequila, lime juice and simple syrup. Add the lemon and lime for extra flavor.  Pour hop-infused salt in a shallow dish/plate. Moisten the rim of each glass with a lime wedge and dip into hop salt.  Place 4-5 ice cubes in a glass (or more if you prefer).  Fill glass with mix, top with Light Hearted and enjoy!

This recipe makes 6-8 servings and is best enjoyed with a Light Hearted (or a few). Ingredients 1tsp cinnamon 1tsp ground nutmeg 2tsp ground All spice 3tsp paprika 2tsp dried thyme Red onion – peeled and rough chop 6 Habanero peppers – remove seeds 2tsp sea salt ¾ C dark brown sugar 1/2 C mustard powder 4 limes, zest and juice 1 head of garlic, peeled ½ C Cider vinegar 1 can of Bell’s Light Hearted or chicken broth 2 whole chickens cut into portions, drumsticks, thigh, breast, bone in cut in half Or 8 chicken thighs/drumsticks Directions In a blender, place all ingredients (except Chicken) and blend until smooth. Place chicken pieces in large bowl or Ziploc bag, cover and coat with marinade, refrigerate overnight, up to 2 days ahead. Place chicken on a foiled tray, removing some of the marinade, bake at 275*F for 25 minutes. Pre heat BBQ grill to medium hot. Remove chicken from oven and finish on the grill until the skin begins charred and golden brown. Do not burn! Remove from grill and serve with rice and beans, grilled corn on the cob and a pint of Bell’s Light Hearted Ale

There are lots of ways to use this light tempura batter, from veggies to fish and beyond.  INGREDIENTS 2 cups All-purpose flour – sifted Teaspoon of salt 4 egg whites 12oz can of Cold Light Hearted 4oz – ice cold water DIRECTIONS Sift flour into a large mixing bowl with salt. In a separate bowl whisk egg whites until they form a soft peak. Gradually stir in ¾ of the Light Hearted to sifted flour. Add egg whites and fold into flour and beer mixture. Use the remaining Light Hearted and then the ice cold water, folding the batter as you add it, to achieve a perfect tempura batter consistency. Make fresh each time and use immediately, it does not hold up well as you are looking to benefit from the carbon dioxide in the beer and aerated egg whites to have a light and airy batter. Use ice cubes to keep cold if making more than one hour ahead, substitute cold water for ice cubes. Oil for tempura, high quality frying oil , rapeseed or peanut oil 355* - 365* how to use the tempura light hearted batter: It is important to allow vegetables to dry for 30-45 minutes before frying, slice, place on paper towel, turn after 15-20 minutes, this will give you best results. Sweet potato into rounds with the skin on. Sweet Vidalia onion rings, thinner slice than pub style! Eggplant, slice into wide strips lengthwise or in rounds if a large one. Baby zucchini you can leave whole, just cutting off the ends, cut regular zucchini into wide strips. Carrots, slice on a bias nice and thin or into matchsticks. Green beans, leave whole, just cutting off the tops and tail Asparagus, use the tips for best results, 3-4 inches in length. Seafood and meats, again allow meat and seafood to dry for 15-20 minutes before battering and frying, follow same directions as for vegetables; Deveined and butterfly shrimp, leave tail on – 16/20 recommended. Thin fresh chicken strips, 2-3 inches long Thin slice sirloin with soy, garlic and ginger After drying, sprinkle with salt and pepper, I use a little white pepper and fine Himalayan salt mixture and a light dusting of cornstarch to help batter adhere to your food choice . Run vegetables/seafood/meat through the batter and allow excess to fall back into bowl, carefully drop into oil, don’t overcrowd oil when doing Tempura. Fry until cooked, floating, turn over when on the surface. Remove from oil, drain excess cooking oil on absorbent paper. Serve immediately with fine salt, lemon wedges and with a can of Light Hearted Ale. Enjoy!

This recipe doesn’t use Two Hearted but it does pair with Two Hearted! 4 servings Ingredients 12 lbs of trout, skin on, cut into 6-8 oz portions 6 Serrano or birds eye chilies, seeded and finely diced 2 lbs Brussels sprouts, cut in half 1 red onion, large diced 4 cloves of garlic, minced ½ cup chopped parsley 1 grapefruit, segmented 2 Tbs olive oil Salt and Pepper to taste Directions Preheat your oven to 400F and turn your grill on. If not using a grill, you can use a cast iron skillet or a stove top grill pan. On a large sheet tray, with parchment paper underneath, mix together the Brussels spouts, onion, garlic, and chilies with the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast the vegetables at 400F for 12-20 minutes or until the Brussels are softened and browning along the edges. While the vegetables are cooking, oil both sides of your fish and season with salt and pepper. Grill the fish, skin side down, for about 5-8 minutes, or until the flesh of the fish has turned opaque along the edges. Flip the fish and finish cooking flesh side down for a few minutes. Once the vegetables come out of the oven, put them into a bowl and mix in the segmented grapefruit and parsley, taste and season with salt and pepper if necessary. Serve the trout, skin side up over a few spoonfuls of the roasted vegetables and a pint of Two Hearted.

A delicious and tasty new recipe for our newest year-round beer, Light Hearted! 6 servings Ingredients 12 lbs of shrimp, peeled and deveined 3 cups of fresh snow pea pods 2 cups of matchstick carrots 1 large red onion, small dice 3 Tbs minced garlic 3 Tbs minced ginger 2 jalapenos, seeded and diced 3 Tbs canola oil 2 oranges, zested and segmented  ¼ cup soy sauce ¼ cup sake mirin Season with salt and pepper Steamed rice and sliced green onion for garnish Directions In the largest skillet you have, add the oil and heat it up until the oil shimmers. Toss in the onion, carrots, pea pods, and jalapeno and sauté on high heat until the vegetables are slightly starting to brown. Add the garlic and ginger, cook until fragrant Add the shrimp, soy sauce and mirin. Continue cooking over high heat, continuously stirring until the shrimp are cooked. Off of the heat, toss in the orange zest and orange segments Taste and season with salt and pepper, if needed, and serve with steamed rice, thinly sliced green onion, and a pint of Light Hearted Ale.

This recipe calls for our brand new Lo-Cal IPA, Light Hearted! Check back often for others. You can always find our recipe collection here.  INGREDIENTS 2 cups All-purpose flour – sifted Teaspoon of salt 4 egg whites 12oz can of Cold Light Hearted 4oz – ice cold water DIRECTIONS Sift flour into a large mixing bowl with salt. In a separate bowl whisk egg whites until they form a soft peak. Gradually stir in ¾ of the Light Hearted to sifted flour. Add egg whites and fold into flour and beer mixture. Use the remaining Light Hearted and then the ice cold water, folding the batter as you add it, to achieve a perfect tempura batter consistency. Make fresh every time and use immediately, it does not hold up well as you are looking to benefit from the carbon dioxide in the beer and aerated egg whites to have a light and airy batter. Use ice cubes to keep cold if making more than one hour ahead, substitute cold water for ice cubes. Oil for tempura, high quality frying oil, rapeseed (canola) or peanut oil 355 degrees - 365 degrees HOW TO USE THE TEMPURA LIGHT HEARTED BATTER It is important to allow vegetables to dry for 30-45 minutes before frying; slice, place on paper towel, turn after 15-20 minutes. This will give you the best results. Sweet potato into rounds with the skin on. Sweet Vidalia onion rings, thinner slice than pub style! Eggplant, slice into wide strips lengthwise or in rounds if a large one. Baby zucchini you can leave whole, just cutting off the ends, cut regular zucchini into wide strips. Carrots, slice on a diagonal, nice and thin or into matchsticks. Green beans, leave whole, just cut off the ends Asparagus, use the tips for best results, 3-4 inches in length. Seafood and meats, again allow meat and seafood to dry for 15-20 minutes before battering and frying, follow same directions as for vegetables De-veined and butterfly shrimp, leave tail on – 16/20 recommended. Thin fresh chicken strips, 2-3 inches long Thin slice sirloin with soy, garlic and ginger After drying, sprinkle with salt and pepper, try using a little white pepper and fine Himalayan salt mixture and a light dusting of cornstarch to help batter adhere to your food choice . Run vegetables/seafood/meat through the batter and allow excess to fall back into bowl, carefully drop into oil, don’t overcrowd oil when doing Tempura. Fry until cooked, floating, turn over when on the surface. Remove from oil, drain excess cooking oil on absorbent paper. Serve immediately with fine salt, lemon wedges and a can of Light Hearted Ale (of course)! Enjoy!

We have an exciting, brand new way for our fans to show their love for Two Hearted Ale, Official Hazy IPA and the brand new Light Hearted Ale - our Fish Your Heart Out Sweepstakes. Craft beer fans can enter for a chance to win a custom grand prize adventure at one of three of the best fishing locations in the U.S. Twenty first-prize winners will win a Bell’s retro cooler filled with Bell’s swag. “These three IPAs are perfect for all adventures. Why not send some of our amazing fans on the adventure of a lifetime?” Larry Bell, President and Founder of Bell’s Brewery said. This celebrates the beauty of our home state and but also other areas that are part of the Bell’s community,” he said. The grand prize winner (and one lucky friend) will get to choose from the following locations: Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Two Hearted’s namesake, the Two Hearted River; the Davidson River in North Carolina or the North Platte River in Colorado and Wyoming. We will also cover airfare for two, hotel and money toward food and a car rental. To enter for a chance to win, visit Fishyourheartout.com or text “bellsfish” to 31996. Bell’s Fish Your Heart Out Custom Adventure closes May 31. Winners will be drawn on or around June 5, 2020. Eligible winners must be a resident of the contiguous 48 states, 21 year of age or older, and cannot be employed by a liquor license holder or wholesaler. For complete rules, visit the official sweepstakes website. Bell’s Fish Your Heart Out Sweepstakes is one of a handful of sweepstakes Bell’s fans will be able to enter in 2020. Stay tuned; we'll share more here on bellsbeer.com and on our social channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn).

The eagerly awaited Light Hearted Ale is now available! A Low-Cal IPA with only 110 calories, Light Hearted is the newest year-round release from Michigan’s largest independent craft brewery. With a 3.7% ABV, it is the latest addition to Bell’s Hearted family (Two Hearted is available year-round; Double Two Hearted will return in August). “We did not just set out to make a lighter version of Two Hearted. We wanted to brew the best tasting, low-cal IPA we could. It all begins with quality ingredients. Balance, hoppiness and aroma are all there,” said Larry Bell, Bell’s president and founder. While Light Hearted may not share the exact ingredient list as Two Hearted (Bell’s flagship IPA is brewed with 100% Centennial hops), it does share many of the defining characteristics that make Two Hearted what it is. “One thing we did not do, was take a shortcut; no corn and no rice. Our goal was to deliver the same quality you would expect from a Bell’s beer, but with a lower ABV and with less calories,” Bell said. Light Hearted is brewed with Centennial and Galaxy hops with only 110 calories per 12 oz. serving. It cuts down on the things many beer drinkers don’t want, but keeps everything about Two Hearted they love. This new year-round beer was the first release in Bell’s General Store Exclusive Series; limited, small batch releases only available at Bell’s pub, the Eccentric Cafe, and its General Store. Focused on innovation, the GSE series serves as a testing ground for new recipes, small batch re-releases of fan favorites and other experimental brews. Light Hearted is now available in cans (12 oz. packaged in 6-packs and 12-packs) and on draft. Fans in Michigan will also be able to purchase 12-packs of 12 oz. cans later this month. Bell’s Two Hearted Ale, the brewery’s flagship IPA, has been named the No. 1 Beer in America three years in a row by members of the American Homebrewers Association. It has been at the top of numerous “Best of” lists and consistently ranks as one of the most popular craft beers on the market. Keep an eye on here on the Bell's website and our social media channels for the latest information and release updates. You can also check out our Events Calendar and our Light Hearted merch! [[{"fid":"10235","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Bell's Light Hearted is a Lo-Cal IPA available on draft and in 12 oz. cans. ","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Bell's Light Hearted is a Lo-Cal IPA available on draft and in 12 oz. cans. "},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Bell's Light Hearted is a Lo-Cal IPA available on draft and in 12 oz. cans. ","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Bell's Light Hearted is a Lo-Cal IPA available on draft and in 12 oz. cans. "}},"link_text":null,"attributes":{"alt":"Bell's Light Hearted is a Lo-Cal IPA available on draft and in 12 oz. cans. ","title":"Bell's Light Hearted is a Lo-Cal IPA available on draft and in 12 oz. cans. ","height":800,"width":1200,"style":"float: right; height: 467px; width: 700px; margin: 10px;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]About Light Hearted Style: Lo-Cal IPA Tasting notes: Citrus and pine aromas; easy-drinking Description: Made with Centennial and Galaxy hops, and a variety of specialty malts, Light Hearted is aromatic, balanced and incredibly easy-drinking. This IPA has only 110 calories, yet all the Heart. Nutritional information & specs ABV: 3.7% Calories: 110 Carbs: 8.7g Protein: 1.3g Fat: 0g Availability: Year-round Packages: Draft and cans Shelf life: 6 months

We are proud to announce an incredible beer lineup coming to coolers, store shelves and draft lines in 2020. The first few days of January saw the packaging and release of Hopslam Double IPA. Coming in at 10% ABV, Hopslam was again released in 12 oz. cans, packaged in 6-packs, on draft and in 5L mini-kegs. New for this year, is a brand new Hopslam mini-keg design. Cans and mini-kegs are limited, and have already arrived on many store shelves and coolers. Each batch is packaged and shipped as quickly as possible so this beer can be enjoyed fresh. The most anticipated release for the year is the brand new, low-calorie, Light Hearted Ale. A Lo-Cal IPA, this member of the Hearted family shares many of the characteristics of our award-winning Two Hearted Ale. At 3.7% ABV and only 110 calories (per 12. oz serving), Light Hearted is now shipping (and in many locations, arriving) in 12 oz. cans, packaged in 6-packs and on draft. Twelve-packs of 12 oz. cans will also ship in February in Michigan. “This is going to be another exciting year for us. In addition to our release calendar, I am also very proud to celebrate our 35th anniversary. Funvitational (2020) will be a huge part of that milestone and we’ll have other ways to celebrate throughout the year,” said Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell’s Brewery. Bell’s Official Hazy IPA will also be back for its second-year after an incredible reception by fans and beer writers in 2019. It is available now on draft and in 12 oz. cans packaged in 6-packs. Twelve packs are also an option. Seasonal beers, Best Brown and Bright White, will both return (Bright White is available now through March or while supplies last). Oberon, Bell’s summer flagship American Wheat, will return on March 23 with midnight release parties, special tappings and more (available until September). In May, Oberon limited mini-kegs will begin shipping featuring a brand new design as well. Returning specialty offerings include: Flamingo Fruit Fight (Tart Ale brewed with passionfruit and lime zest), Octoberfest (Märzen), Special Double Cream Stout (Sweet Stout), Expedition Stout (Russian Imperial Stout), Third Coast Old Ale (Barley Wine), Cherry Stout, Christmas Ale (Scotch Ale) and Lampshade Party Ale (a Double IPA previously only released in 2018). Double Two Hearted (11% ABV) will return in August. New to the Bell’s specialty release lineup is another Flamingo Fruit Fight variation; a Gose-style Ale brewed with lemon and lime. Cans and kegs of Lemon Lime Flamingo Fruit Fight will ship in July. Incessant, a Double New England-Style IPA, will be released in 16 oz. cans, packaged in 4-packs and on draft for a wider release in May. Incessant was previously a Bell’s General Store Exclusive. With Incessant’s release this spring, Bell’s will offer four different Double IPAs for a wide release in 2020 in addition to the year-round Hopsoulution (Great Lakes state area distribution only). Bell’s Leaves of Grass series, seven beers each inspired by a different Walt Whitman poem, will conclude in 2020 with three remaining offerings. Song of the Open Road, a Winter Warmer Ale, is available now. Salut au Monde will ship in March and Spontaneous Me will conclude the series in May. The General Store Exclusive Series will also continue in 2020 with a variety of new beers and possibly some old favorites returning from Larry Bell’s Recipe Library. That includes yet another member of the Hearted family, Black Hearted, which will debut in “celebration” of Valentine’s Day. Black Hearted will only be available on draft at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe and in 12 oz. bottles packaged in 6-packs at the Bell’s General Store. “Now, this isn’t all we have lined up for 2020. We always like to keep a few things close to the vest. We’ll have plenty more to share in due time,” Bell said. Bell’s fans should save Sept. 12, 2020 for Bell’s Funvitational Beer Festival. This will be Bell’s second Funvitational and will feature a variety of breweries from across the globe at Homer Stryker Field, home of the Kalamazoo Growlers, in downtown Kalamazoo. The original Funvitational was held in 2015 in celebration of Bell’s 30th Anniversary. Additional details will be announced at a later date. Keep an eye here on the Bell’s website and its social media channels for the latest information and release updates. [[{"fid":"10181","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Bell's 2020 release calendar is now available. ","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Bell's 2020 release calendar is now available. "},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Bell's 2020 release calendar is now available. ","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Bell's 2020 release calendar is now available. "}},"link_text":null,"attributes":{"alt":"Bell's 2020 release calendar is now available. ","title":"Bell's 2020 release calendar is now available. ","height":814,"width":1200,"style":"margin: 10px;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]] Download a PDF of Bell's 2020 release calendar.  Bell’s 2020 release calendar at a glance Year-round Two Hearted (7% ABV), Light Hearted (3.7% ABV), Official Hazy IPA (6.4% ABV), Lager of the Lakes (5% ABV), Amber Ale (5.8% ABV), Kalamazoo Stout (6% ABV), Porter (5.6% ABV) and Hopsoulution (8% ABV - MI, WI, IN, IL, OH, MN only). Seasonal Bright White (5% ABV), Oberon (5.8% ABV and Best Brown (5.8% ABV) Specialty Hopslam, Flamingo Fruit Fight (5% ABV), Oberon 5Ls, Incessant (8.5% ABV), Flamingo Fruit Fight Lemon Lime Gose (4.8% ABV), Octoberfest (5.5% ABV), Special Double Cream Stout (6.1% ABV), Expedition Stout (10.5% ABV), Third Coast Old Ale (10.2% ABV), Cherry Stout (7% ABV), Christmas Ale (7.5% ABV) and Lampshade Party Ale (9% ABV). Leaves of Grass Song of the Open Road (8.5% ABV), Salut au Monde and Spontaneous Me General Store Exclusives Black Hearted (7% ABV) and many others TBA.

Light Hearted, our low-calorie IPA is almost here! After taking its inaugural run on the Canning Line, our team is working with our distributor partners to help get this beer out to all of our fans as fresh as possible. We will continue packaging and shipping it throughout the year, adding more and more locations as possible. It will arrive at our General Store on Jan. 20, the same day it will be tapped at the Eccentric Cafe.  Here are some details about Light Hearted:  3.7% ABV 110 calories 8.7g carbs 1.3g protein 0g fat Brewed with Centennial and Galaxy hops and our House Ale yeast For more information, including state by state shipping info, please visit our Help Center.  Related Our General Store has all of your Light Hearted gear. Take a look.