It started with a 15-gallon soup pot
Larry Bell started brewing in 1985, making Bell’s one of the oldest craft breweries east of Colorado.
More than 30 years ago, things were a lot different. Bell’s had one employee. Larry Bell.
The brew kettle was a 15-gallon soup pot. Kegs were washed on an inverted pallet and the heat exchanger was a copper coil in a bucket.
When customers showed up on Friday nights to buy one-gallon plastic, collapsible containers filled from the tap, the thermostat was turned up from 50 to 60 degrees. There was even a jump rope to help keep you warm.
Kalamazoo
Step back in time as we lead you through the original Bell’s Brewery where beers like Amber Ale and Oberon were first brewed.
This tour focuses on the origin of Bell’s as a homebrewer’s dream come true for Larry Bell. What started in 1985 as a tiny little brewery surrounded by train tracks, grew to become one of the largest craft breweries in the country and a staple of the Kalamazoo community.
This 45-minute experience begins inside Bell’s Eccentric Café with beer samples. We end the tour in Bell’s General Store, an institution for homebrewers and the spot where you can pick up unique Bell’s gear (and exclusive beer) to go.
COMSTOCK
Peek inside windows of the 200-barrel system that brews Two Hearted Ale among other hits from the Bell’s playlist!
Enjoy samples of our work while we take you on a journey from grain to glass. Our Brew Gallery Tour features Larry Bell’s original soup pot and a 36-foot timeline documenting our history along with samples to enjoy throughout your experience.
We even have a small retail shop where you can purchase exclusive merch to take home!
