Celebration Series

We are proud to announce our designation as a Veteran-Friendly Employer by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. The announcement was made to the public on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, during the celebratory release of Goin’ Dark at our pub, Bell's Eccentric Café in downtown Kalamazoo. The Veteran-Friendly Employer designation recognizes Bell’s as an employer that commits to military veteran recruitment, training and retention practices to better support veterans. “We are committed to supporting veteran employees and celebrating veterans, active duty, spouses and family members of veterans. We are proud to be considered a Veteran Friendly Employer and are committed to continuing to improve our efforts to support, recruit and retain veteran employees,” said Larry Bell, Bell’s president and founder. This partnership with Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency allows us to better follow-through with its commitments to vets. It also provides a framework for meeting the needs of veteran employees. Lastly, open positions at Bell’s will be easier to find and more accessible to veterans moving forward with the MVAA website. As a Veteran-Friendly Employer, Bell’s will provide resources to veteran employees, providing veteran specific welcome activities and recognizing veterans, active duty, and spouses of veterans, among others. Goin’ Dark (6.3% ABV) was conceived, brewed and packaged by a committee of more than 20 Bell’s employees who either served in the military, are currently enlisted or are family members of veterans. The Coffee Milk Stout was brewed with bourbon barrel-aged coffee beans and is the third release in Bell’s Celebration Series, beers that highlight different underrepresented groups within the company that make Bell’s a better company. “Bell’s is truly greater than the sum of its parts,” said Carrie Kramer Yunker, Vice President of Human Resources at Bell’s. “Our Celebration Series helps illuminate groups that make us great through something that brings us together every single day.” “It helps us build on what we’ve already been doing. Diversity is part of our DNA,” she added. Earlier this year, Bell’s employees brewed Unite Hibiscus Saison as part of International Women's Collaboration Brew Day and Alliance Lemon Lager to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. More Celebration brews are planned for 2020.

We're honoring veterans, active service military members and their families with a special beer release on Veterans Day. “Goin’ Dark” (6.3% ABV) is a Coffee Milk Stout brewed with bourbon barrel-aged coffee beans. The beer was conceived, written, brewed and packaged by a committee of more than 20 Bell’s employees who either served in the military, are currently enlisted or are military family members. “Celebrating Diversity has always been core to our company,” said Larry Bell, founder and president of Bell’s Brewery. “It’s an honor to recognize the men and women in our military as well as their families and extend that celebration to those who make that sacrifice.” Bell’s Celebration Series Goin’ Dark is the third release in the Bell's Celebration Series that highlights different groups within the company that make Bell’s Brewery what it is. Earlier this year, our employees brewed Unite Hibiscus Saison as part of International Women's Collaboration Brew Day and Alliance Lemon Lager to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. More Celebration brews are being planned for 2020. There will be a special beer release (Tappening) for Goin’ Dark at Bell’s Eccentric Café, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave. in downtown Kalamazoo, at 4 p.m. on Nov. 11. The beer will be available to enjoy on draft at the Café and to purchase in 12 oz bottles, packaged in 6-packs, exclusively from the Bell’s General Store. The group wanted to bottle the beer so it could be shared with family members when they return from deployment. As part of the event, Bell’s is working with Section Collection, a local nonprofit that provides direct support to veterans in need. Section Collection will be at the Tappening event. Goin’ Dark merchandise will also be available to purchase at Bell’s General Store located adjacent to the Cafe. Keep an eye out for a special announcement at the event related to veterans and hiring. We hope to see you on Veterans Day at the Cafe!