A Bell’s beer by any other name is probably still a Bell’s beer, right?
That’s why there’s excitement in Chicago that Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, Mich., plans to start selling three brands of Kalamazoo beer in Illinois.
Rumors that this would happen have appeared on several Internet discussion boards (I first read it in the Beer Mapping Project forums) but a story in Crain’s makes it quite official.
The basics:
– Bell’s left Illinois last year after a dispute with National Wine & Spirits Inc., a distributor.
– Brewery founder Larry Bells says he is finalizing contracts with two distributors to bring beer branded as “Kalamazoo” to a few bars and restaurants. Each bottle will have a label reading: “Brewed especially for the people of the great state of Illinois.” And just to be clear, the labels state the beer is brewed at Bell’s Brewery, which used to be known at Kalamazoo Brewing.
– Bells says officials NWS have told him they will sue to stop the sale of Kalamazoo beers in Chicago.
“I think it will be a very interesting court case,” Bell told Crain’s.
My guess is that if Bell succeeds you’ll be able to walk into a bar, order “Two Hearted Ale” and get a classic American IPA without a bartender even asking “Did you mean Kalamazoo IPA?”
Oh but Stan, Larry said, ““This is a different beer,” he says. “These are not the beers that were assigned to them.” *internetwink*
Andrew – I probably should have written that a little more carefully, because it surely will be a different beer. Why make it easy for NWS to win a suit?
Wonder what he’ll call Oberon? 😀
Go Larry! Go Larry!!
You’ll notice that the first set of labels don’t include a wheat-based beer.
And, you are allowed to come knock me upside the head, I was talking to John Mallett of Bell’s yesterday. But about what he learned about hops and malt supplies during a large trade show in Germany and I didn’t think to bring this up (hadn’t seen the Crain’s story, but Beer Mapping already had me on alert).
We even discussed the supply of Centennial hops at Two Hearted. What a dunce I am!
“We even discussed the supply of Centennial hops at Two Hearted.”
And?! And?! Don’t stiff man!!!! :O
He says, “I’m sleeping at night.”
Heh — good to know, but I suppose that could also mean he’s dreaming of profits! 😉
Where and when can this ‘new’ beer be purchased???