May 2013
1 post
March 2013
3 posts
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2013 Hop rhizome update: Six varieties, price
Hop rhizomes have arrived at the Bell’s General Store on March 30. They cost $4.50 each.
Available varieties: Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Nugget, Willamette, Challenger and Canadian Red.
Call 269-382-5712 for more information.
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2013 hop rhizomes expected at the Bell's General...
Our rhizome supplier has been experimenting with some different growing techniques and as a result, has produced some very large stock for this year (see photo for an example).
We are expecting delivery on March 30 at the General Store in downtown Kalamazoo.
More information to come as we receive it.
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CANCELLED: Homebrew Workshop at Tillers... →
UPDATE: Unfortunately, this event has been cancelled.
The General Store’s David Curtis and Ryan Kramer will lead a homebrewing class at Tillers International in Scotts on March 16.
Cost is $95 per person, which includes lunch and beer to take home, for this all day, all grain workshop (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.).
February 2013
1 post
New homebrew recipes available to download →
Just added recipes for a Biere de Garde, Mid-Winter Pale Ale and Rye Porter to our Homebrewing page. Cheers!
January 2013
2 posts
“I hope this shows that you don’t have to have been homebrewing for years...”
– We’re tapping the winning beer from our 3rd Annual Homebrew Competition at the Eccentric Cafe tomorrow at 3 p.m. Read more about the winner and his beer on the Bell’s Blog.
November 2012
3 posts
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And the winners of the 3rd Annual Bell's Homebrew... →
October 2012
2 posts
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Learn to brew and bottle at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe
Upcoming Bell’s homebrew events for the rest of 2012:
Oct. 17 - Brewing and bottling demonstration
Nov. 3 - Teach a Friend to Brew Day (time TBA)
Nov. 4 – All Stouts Day – we’ll also announce the winner of our 3rd Annual Bell’s Homebrew Competition (we open at noon, announcement will be later in the afternoon)
Dec. 12 19 - Brewing and bottling demo
They are all free to attend and generally...
September 2012
3 posts
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“Your dad was into craft beer before you were and he has one of the best...”
– Dads are the Original Hipsters
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New homebrew recipes available to download →
We just posted our recipes of the month for August and September over on our Homebrewing page. Download the recipes for The 3rd Rule (a barley wine) and Brunch Milk Stout here.
August 2012
4 posts
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Homebrewing questions? We may be able to help
Did you know that we offer a homebrewing help line?
You can reach us via the Contact page on the Bell’s website.
Cheers!
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Q&A: Bell's 3rd Annual Homebrew Competition
Here are some commonly asked questions (and answers) about this year’s Homebrew Competition. For more on the competition itself, go here.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: There is no charge. The 5 gallons of wort are free.
Q: How much wort will be available?
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 205...
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Details for 3rd Annual Bell's Homebrew Competition... →
Wort can be picked up on Sept. 8 at the Eccentric Cafe in downtown Kalamazoo.
This will be the same day as Bell’s 27th Anniversary Celebration, our annual Homebrew Expo and 6th Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest.
For more details, visit the Bell’s blog.
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Drop off your entries for the Michigan Renaissance...
Save time and shipping costs by dropping off your entries for the Michigan Renaissance Festival Homebrew Competition at the Bell’s General Store.
Registration info and rules can be found at: www.snobsbrewclub.com/renfest/
Deadline to drop off entries at the store is August 25.
July 2012
6 posts
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Celebrate Mead Day with discounts at the Bell's...
In honor of Mead Day, the Bell’s General Store has lowered prices on not only honey, but also copies of “The Compleat Meadmaker” by Michigan author Ken Schramm now through Saturday.
Cheers!
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July homebrew recipe of the month: Best Bell's... →
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Homebrew gadget spotlight: The Brew Hauler
This handy carboy transportation system from Plainwell, Michigan, is easy to install and adjustable. It fits 5 gallon and 6.5 gallon glass as well as Better Bottle carboys. Available in several colors, Brew Hauler is washable and bleach resistant.
For more information, visit brewhauler.com. This item is available at the Bell’s General Store in Kalamazoo and online.
Caption: Brew Hauler at our...
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Recipe download: Belgian White Wheat →
Download a copy of the featured recipe from our July homebrew demonstration at the Eccentric Cafe.
Our next demo is scheduled for Aug. 15.
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The winning entry for Bell's 2nd Annual Homebrew... →
A Bit of Heat, the homebrew from Geoff Groff that won our second annual homebrew competition back in September will be tapped at 3 p.m. July 21 at the Eccentric Café.
Brewed with paradise seeds, rose hips and habaneros at our original brewery, this dry habanero-ed IPA or Strong Pale Ale comes in at 6.4% ABV.
Read more about it on the Bell’s Blog and be sure to mark Sept. 8 on your...
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Michigan Beer Cup entries due to Bell's General... →
Before dropping them off here in downtown Kalamazoo, be sure to register your entries at michiganbeercup.com.
Cheers and good luck!
June 2012
9 posts
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Two Hearted ranked No. 2 (again) on 2012 Best... →
Zymurgy readers once again voted Two Hearted No. 2 on this year’s Best Beers in America list.
This is the third straight year that Two Hearted has been honored.
Thank you to all who voted and cheers!
Other notable Bell’s related rankings:
Brewery Rankings: No. 5
Best Portfolio (tie): No. 6
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Recipe for chocolate chip pretzel cookies will...
Have some spent grain on your hands? Make some cookies - here’s how.
Recipe courtesy of Beth Campell-Raich.
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup spent grain
1 cup roughly...
Father's Day Discount: Give dad the gift of beer
Looking for a gift for dad? 15% off Brewer’s Best ingredient and starter kits through Sunday at the Bell’s General Store in downtown Kalamazoo. Just mention who it’s for …
Cheers!
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June homebrew recipe of the month: Partial Mash...
This month’s featured recipe is also the same one we used for our homebrew demonstration on June 13 at the Eccentric Cafe in downtown Kalamazoo.
Download it here.
Cheers and happy brewing!
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Download our guide to your first brew, bottling...
For those unable to attend last night’s homebrew and bottling demonstration, you can download the 2 handouts below.
More information on future homebrew demos and events can always be found on our Homebrewing page.
Cheers!
Brewing/bottling basic steps PDF
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Pimp My System: Homemade Drip Irrigation System →
This clever DIY project came to our attention today from the American Homebrewers Association. Cheers!
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June homebrewing demonstration will feature a...
Just a quick reminder that we will be hosting our monthly homebrewing/bottling demonstration this Wednesday at the Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo.
This time we will bottle the American Pale Ale from our last demo and brewing a partial mash Rye IPA.
Demo starts at 6 p.m. and as always, all are welcome. Hope you can join us.
Other upcoming demonstrations/events:
July 11
Aug. 15
Sept. 8: 3rd...
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Quick poll: Would you attend an all-grain...
While our monthly homebrew demonstrations are typically held during the week, we have been mulling over the possibility of offering an all-grain demo on a Saturday at the Eccentric Cafe in downtown Kalamazoo.
Would you attend?
May 2012
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Compete in the 3rd Annual Michigan Beer Cup; drop...
Start brewing now to enter the 3rd Annual Michigan Beer Cup.
To save you time and money, the Bell’s General Store will again serve as a drop-off point for this year’s competition.
Exact details for the drop-off are still being finalized, but registration for the competition will be available online starting in June. For more on the competition itself, visit their website.
Check back...
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Help us choose the Bell's General Store's next hop...
We have an open spot for a new hop variety at the Bell’s General Store and we want you to help us choose which one to offer.
Below are the descriptions for each, along with a poll to vote for your favorite.
Voting will close on Tuesday, May 29 at 10 a.m.
MILLENNIUM: A triploid, high alpha acid variety with Nugget as the mother with a mild herbal aroma. Used for ales, stouts and barley...
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May homebrew recipe of the month: When The Weather...
In honor of American Craft Beer Week, here is our recipe of the month for May.
When The Weather Is Fine Wheat Ale
Yield: 5 gallons
Color: Purple/Copper
Gravity: 1.071
ABV: ~7%
Maturation: 3-4 weeks
Bitterness: ~14 IBUs
90 minute all-grain boil, 60 minute extract boil
All-grain recipe:
4.25 lbs. Wheat Malt
4 lbs. 2-Row Brewers Malt
2 lbs. Maris Otter
1 lb. Flaked Wheat
...
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New homebrewing gear: Stainless steel strainer...
This new addition to the Bell’s General Store is a stainless steel 2-stage strainer that offers a course filter and a fine filter.
The course filter basket easily removes for easy cleaning and the entire unit is adjustable to fit over nearly any sized bucket.
Cost is $34.
This item is currently only available at the General Store in downtown Kalamazoo.
Call 269-382-5712 for more information.
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Deadline to submit homebrew entries for ABC Brews...
Any-one interested in saving on shipping for entries in the ABC Brews Crews Homebrew Competition needs to get their entries to the Bell’s General Store by Wednesday, May 15.
Entries should be registered online at brewscrews.aabg.org and dropped off at the store with all the appropriate paperwork and payment.
The entries will be stored in our cooler and hand delivered to the judging site in...
3 tags
Welcome to the new Bell's homebrew blog!
Today, we are launching a new section on our website along with a new blog with a focus on, well - homebrewing.
We hope these new resources will help everyone be a better brewer.
We have plenty of features lined up and plenty of recipes to share. We will also post answers to some the most frequently asked questions. So, if there is something you would like to know or can’t find an answer to...
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Coming soon: A new homebrew resource
We will launch our new blog soon. Bookmark us and stay tuned for more information.
Cheers,
Bell’s Homebrew Blog
