How much to they love hops at Bell’s?
Let’s start with the license plate on the back of production manager John Mallett’s truck (above).
Then there’s the collection of plates at the entrance of the Eccentric Pub, which is where Larry Bell started what was then called Kalamazoo Brewing. They still brew “downtown” but most of production — which will surpass 100,000 barrels this year — takes place in the purpose-built brewery in nearby Galesburg.
Four 200-barrel fermenters in the brewery look just a little different than the others. They have special large tops to make dry hopping easier. The brewers can easily open them to dump in a bunch (yes, the technical brewing term) of Centennial hops.
This car spotted in the pub parking lot indicates a certain level of satisfaction with the effort.
Posted: July 14th, 2008 under Beer culture, Beers of conviction.
July 15th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Any hop farms in MI?
July 15th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Todd — I believe that answer is yes, though maybe not anything significant. Word has gotten out that Larry Bell has a few friends cultivating hops and Kalamazoo has been experimenting with batches served up at the Eccentric Cafe.
July 16th, 2008 at 5:27 am
No commercial hop farms.
Bell’s has beautiful vines at the Eccentric Cafe, but the hops wouldn’t be usable because everything is on an old industrial base. They’ve also got vines at the production brewery, but not enough for even one 50-barrel batch.
There have been farmers selling Bell’s a few hops for years. Here’s something I wrote a while back.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Im just wondering Stan if you’ve gotten your IQ tested lately. 120bu’s is a lot to live up to!!
HA
Kristen
July 16th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I can’t resist. I guess that’s why they call it a vanity plate!
http://tinyurl.com/6la67w
July 17th, 2008 at 5:16 am
Sweet — the Brewmaster at one of the local brewpubs (Art at Flatlanders, Lincolnshire, IL) has had the same plate on his pickup for years — since back when he started home-brewing: I BREW. Makes me wonder what the local constabulary might think…
July 17th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Kristen - care to guess the BUs on Two Hearted?
July 18th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Stan I would guess right around 50 or so. Another beer you shouldn’t be drinking! HA HA
July 19th, 2008 at 5:10 am
Kris - Good job. Most people peg it in the 60s, but it is high 50s (that’s measured, not calculated).
July 19th, 2008 at 10:43 am
@Stan Hieronymus - Not true! There is a commerical hop farm in Saranac… not very big, but I’ve bought and used their Fuggle and Nugget, pretty good! But I think they’re too small to supply a brewery, just homebrewers.
Also, word is there is a new comm Hop Farm going in near Holland…