Larry Bell Stepping Down, Selling to New Belgium's parent company

[T Murph]

@ITV thanks for sharing. Makes me smile, the last time I saw Larry we were in our early 30s.

 

[Jayjay1976]

Bell's general store was my point of entry into homebrewing, I love Bell's and I love Kalamazoo.
Thank you Larry for your commitment to excellence in everything that you do, including the way you chose to divest. I trust in your decision to sell to LWB, who has demonstrated piety in their acquisition of New Belgium, and will hopefully continue to do so with Bell's. Cheers.

 

[mashpaddled]

I would be surprised if Kirin makes changes at Bell's. As others have mentioned, New Belgium hasn't seen a change in product quality although there has been changes to the lineup. New Belgium had a lot of underperformers and outdated ideas about new beers. I don't know if Kirin/Lion had anything to do with that but they streamlined out some of the beers they tried to force into the market unsuccessfully and expanded their Voodoo Ranger series which is their biggest seller by far these days.

 

[Broothru]

I would be surprised if Kirin makes changes at Bell's. As others have mentioned, New Belgium hasn't seen a change in product quality although there has been changes to the lineup. New Belgium had a lot of underperformers and outdated ideas about new beers. I don't know if Kirin/Lion had anything to do with that but they streamlined out some of the beers they tried to force into the market unsuccessfully and expanded their Voodoo Ranger series which is their biggest seller by far these days.

I remember when the original Ranger came out. I was in Denver staying at a downtown hotel, having a beer at the bar, and was approached by one of New Belgium's "Rangers" (how the beer got it's name) who was there promoting this new beer. At the time I was ambivalent towards IPAs, but he talked me into trying one.

Mind blown!

Really liked it, so when they changed the recipe a few years back and started introducing the Ranger 'series' I felt abandoned. But slowly I started warming up to the Voodoo varient of the original. Evolution, maybe?

 

[hout17]

I remember when the original Ranger came out. I was in Denver staying at a downtown hotel, having a beer at the bar, and was approached by one of New Belgium's "Rangers" (how the beer got it's name) who was there promoting this new beer. At the time I was ambivalent towards IPAs, but he talked me into trying one.

Mind blown!

Really liked it, so when they changed the recipe a few years back and started introducing the Ranger 'series' I felt abandoned. But slowly I started warming up to the Voodoo varient of the original. Evolution, maybe?

I thought their original Ranger IPA was great too!

 

[Fly_Guy]

There are two breweries that I stopped buying beer from once abinbev took over.
Breckenridge Brewery - their beers went way way downhill. Im not sure what happened there. My family used to buy two or 3 24 packs of the Christmas ale throughout December. After they got bought not a single one of us was able to stomach them. Maybe it's just that abinbevs ingredient supplier is different?
Goose Island - i was never a huge fan of them to begin with, but I feel like 312 is heavier now than it was previously.

 

[gencinjay]

Oberon was the beer that really opened my eyes to craft beer. I had enjoyed some pales prior but really didn't understand the scene at the time. Oberon made me want to dive in headfirst. Because of this, it will always have a special place in my heart. I understand the reasons for selling and don't hold it against them in any way, but it still stings. I wish Lary nothing but the best and hope he is able to live a full and long life after this. I'm toasting him and everyone involved in the company all weekend with a fridge full of Bell's products. Thank you for some truly great beers. Great beers that have been a part of special moments shared with family and friends for more than 20 years.

 

[Broothru]

Oberon was the beer that really opened my eyes to craft beer. I had enjoyed some pales prior but really didn't understand the scene at the time. Oberon made me want to dive in headfirst. Because of this, it will always have a special place in my heart. I understand the reasons for selling and don't hold it against them in any way, but it still stings. I wish Lary nothing but the best and hope he is able to live a full and long life after this. I'm toasting him and everyone involved in the company all weekend with a fridge full of Bell's products. Thank you for some truly great beers. Great beers that have been a part of special moments shared with family and friends for more than 20 years.

I'm working my way through a sixer of Oberon, along with Jai Alai/Jai Low and the last of some Festbier and Ayinger Marzen. Life is good, beer life is great!)

 

[Fly_Guy]

Oberon and Two Hearted were all I drank in the UP before a bunch of smaller local breweries opened up when I was attending school up there.
I didn't know bells owned upper hand brewery (makes one of my favorite dark lagers)

 

[ITV]

I went to the grocery store today and came home with Bell's Christmas Ale which is a Scotch Ale. The label states "Enjoy with the company of friends and family" Very well done, cheers Laura & Larry!

 

[fourfarthing]

Kirin is notorious for their research on expanding the horizons of beer (I remember a podcast from a Belgain brewer that was at New Belgium pre acquisition where he raved on them). I have no worries about this transition as an avid consumer of the brand. Good for Larry, and two of my all time favorite breweries are now under the same umbrella. If they had to get gobbled up, glad it was this umbrella.

 

[KenSchramm]

Any corporate entity that added Two Hearted and Oberon (et al, really) to their portfolio would be beyond stupid to mess with them, and I don't see that being the case here. Those two labels are both massively successful just as they are. Lion can keep the ship on the same course and make a handsome profit for the foreseeable future. If John Mallett stay on at the Kalamazoo facility, all we be fine for our drinking prospects.

Larry deserves the chance to go enjoy the world and reap the reward for bringing us all some phenomenal drinking for a few decades. I am ecstatic he was able to find as positive a path forward for all concerned as he has.

 

[ITV]

I picked up my Bell’s grill that I won through Binnys today.
I picked up some Bell’s beer as well why the going is still good.