Tours

It started with a 15-gallon soup pot

A younger version of Larry Bell raising a glass of beer.

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.


UPDATE: Tours of our original brewery in downtown Kalamazoo will be back beginning Jan. 23. 2022! To start, tours will be offered on Sundays at 12 pm, 1:30 pm & 3 pm with limited capacity. Reservations are strongly encouraged to secure your spot. We will be utilizing the CLEAR Health App for all tours & all guests must wear masks. For more details, please visit our Blog. We look forward to reopening our Comstock Brewery later this spring. Please keep an eye here on our website and social media. We look forward to having you visit!

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.

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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!

 


Our Comstock brewery tour features a comprehensive visual look at Bell's history.
Our Comstock brewery tour features a comprehensive visual look at Bell's history.
Our Comstock brewery tour features a comprehensive visual look at Bell's history.
Our Comstock brewery tour features a comprehensive visual look at Bell's history.
This mural shows some of the history of Bell's original location.
Visitors can sit and enjoy samples of Bell's beer or just the impressive atmosphere of the brewhouse.
Bell's Comstock brewhouse offers unique merchandise for sale.
Before heading out, take one last look at a giant mural of our original locations displayed above the entrance.
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