Today is the 65th birthday of brewing legend, Larry Bell, the iconoclastic former owner of Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A few years ago, Larry was on a quest to attend every Chicago Cubs home game. Three years, there was the Bell’s 35th Anniversary I had planned on attending, but in the end could not due to that pesky pandemic. Sadly, now Larry has retired, but hopefully he’ll still be around.a beer functions. Bell’s doesn’t often get the credit it deserves for being the spark for craft beer in the midwest, having started in 1985, well before almost everybody else inside the two coasts. Join me in wishing Larry a very happy birthday.
Larry with Alan Sprints, from Hair of the Dog at the Full Sail Smoker during the Oregon Brewers Festival a few years ago.
Larry, with Ed and Carol Stoudt, from Stoudt Brewing, and Ken Allen, from Anderson Valley Brewing at the Craft Brewers Conference in Austin, Texas, in 2007.
Larry accepting the BA Recognition Award at CBC a few years back.
At OBF in 2008.
Four years ago in Portland for CBC, wearing the Belmont Crown for a Bell’s event there.
They make some very nice stuff. I sure wish that I could get a hold of some of their Rye Stout. I’ve not had it in a log time and haven’t seen it anywhere.
I wrote him about their Rye Stout and he responded within an hour…what an nice thing to know about a founder. He did say that it will be out this fall in kegs and bottles. Just thought I’d follow up and let you know.
June 9th seems to be a fortuitous birthday for talented if somewhat wacky brewer types like me, Larry Bell, Ray Daniels, Todd Ashman.
Anymore of us outhere?
Michael Bowe
Angel City Brewing
Was in Indy this weekend for a funeral and spent Sunday night at the Beer Sellar drinking $10 pitchers of Two Hearted. Wish we could get that here in Oregon — spectacular beer.
And not to make anyone jealous, but we did slip a couple of pitchers of 3 Floyd’s Alpha King and Gumballhead in there. Yes, all at $10 each.