Homebrewing

April 5, 2018 - 4:15pm

Homebrew Q&A: How to Brew Consistent Batches

Question:  What are 3 tips to a homebrewer that you can give to help them achieve batch consistency from one brew session to the next? Answer: 1. Fermentation temp control. To me, this is the biggest challenge to homebrewers getting started and makes the biggest difference in the finished product. 2. Pitch healthy yeast. Making proper sized yeast starters for...

April 5, 2018 - 4:11pm

Homebrew Q&A: Why Your Bubbler Isn't Bubbling

Question:  Just brewed a new batch of IPA 3 days ago and the bubbler is not showing any bubbling activity. Just wondering if I need to add more yeast? Just trying to knock out some ideas. Answer:  Bubbling is not always going to be a dependable sign of fermentation. There are ways that gas can escape out the bucket lid (I’m assuming it’s in a bucket) or the...

April 5, 2018 - 4:08pm

Homebrew Q&A: How To Split a Brew Day

Question:  I have a hard time getting 5-6 hours to spend on a brew day. I was wondering if you had advice on splitting a brew day into a two-day brew process. Not to be confused with overnight mash. I am thinking of making wort and chilling (or maybe not chill?) on day one then boiling and completing the process on day two. What are the effects and impacts of this...

February 15, 2018 - 1:51pm

LEAF PEEPER: Bell's EMPLOYEE HOMEBREW WINNER WAS DRY HOPPED 5 TIMES

Homebrewing is a part of our roots at Bell's, and we continue to honor that tradition by promoting it both with our fans and within our brewery. Every year, we host a homebrew competition for our employees, and this year's winning beer is Leaf Peeper, an IPA with big dank and tropical fruit aromas. It was dry-hopped five times over five days and comes in at 6.8...

November 6, 2017 - 3:28pm

The winners of the 2017 Bell's Homebrew Competition are ...

The winners of our Bell’s 8th Annual Homebrew Competition were announced during this year's 9th Annual All Stouts Day at the Eccentric Café on Sunday. Six homebrewers placed out of the 136 entries submitted this year. First place went to Steve Vroegop of Kalamazoo for his Saison brewed with Damson plums and New Zealand Rakau hops. Vroegop will brew his recipe at our...

August 31, 2017 - 3:00pm

What you need to know for our 2017 Homebrew Competition

Things to keep in mind if you decide to enter this year's homebrew competition: Homebrewers should bring a sanitized vessel with them to transport their wort home. Buckets, carboys (please be extra careful handling glass carboys) and cornelius kegs are the most common vessels. You can leave them in your vehicle until it’s time to pick up your wort, but again, please sanitize...

August 10, 2017 - 3:16pm

Details for 2017 Bell’s Homebrew Competition now available, 2016 winner to be tapped Sunday

The 8th Annual Bell’s Homebrew Competition Kick-off and Expo will be held this year on Sept. 9 at the Eccentric Café in downtown Kalamazoo. The homebrewer who takes first place will get to brew their recipe at our original brewery to then go on tap next door at the adjacent Café. The first place winner will also attend the Great American Beer Festival in Denver,...

June 8, 2017 - 9:55am

Save the date: 8th Annual Bell's Homebrew Competition Kick-off and Expo

This year's annual homebrew competition will kick-off on Sept. 9, 2017 at the Eccentric Cafe. As in previous years, wort will be given out on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning at 11 a.m. There is no cost to enter, the only requirement is that you use our wort (which is also free).  The homebrewer who takes first place will get to brew their recipe at our...

April 3, 2017 - 2:24pm

Take 15% off select homebrewing supplies from our General Store in April

For the month of April, our General Store (both in-store and online) is offering a 15% off discount on some of our homebrewing supplies. This sale covers: All wheat malts and extracts Ingredient kits that have any wheat malts or extracts German and Czech hops Natural flavorings Fruit purees Online discounts will be made once items are added to your...

March 8, 2017 - 4:29pm

Homebrewing Oberon: Tips on cloning our American Wheat Ale

Before we were a brewery, we were a homebrew supply store. That's how our president and founder Larry Bell got his (and our) start. It wasn't until two years after the Bell's General Store opened that we sold our first official beer as a brewery.  More than 30 years later, our homebrew roots still run deep. From our support of the American Homebrewers Association to our...

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