myboyblue Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I know that this thread is only interesting to a handful of people but I thought it deserved some attention outside of "Now Drinking". When they pulled Bell's from Illinois, it just plain hurt. Looks like Larry Bell, the owner, came up with a creative solution which will ultimately lead him to get sued immediately. He's a craft beer pioneer and it's great what he's doing. The fact that he pulled out of Chicago is related to some archaic law from prohibition times that resulted in the largest distributor for Miller limiting their beer sales here. Linky Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mountain bed Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Yay for our friends in Illinois! I hope this all works out for the best. Bell's make some of my very favorite beers. It's almost time for Hop Slam to makes its appearance again! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
myboyblue Posted November 20, 2007 Author Share Posted November 20, 2007 Yay for our friends in Illinois! I hope this all works out for the best. Bell's make some of my very favorite beers. It's almost time for Hop Slam to makes its appearance again! I knew that you would be interested despite living in Indiana... they do make some of the best beer in the country undoubtedly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mountain bed Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Yeah, I felt the bat-signal calling me there. In other news, my wife and I stopped at a liquor store in nearby Anderson the other night and we could not believe that they still had Oberon in the cooler. It's been a couple of months since they quit making that one (for this year). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I am now out of my chair and doing a little dance! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IATTBYB Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Driving by Bell's Eccentric Cafe this morning on the way to the office, I noticed that December 7 is Eccentric Day. Let the freaks loose! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Boots Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I love my Bell's I've got this on my car Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattZ Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Would anyone be willing to do a B&P for a U of M grad residing in NY?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EL the Famous Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 man, they make a GREAT amber...this is cool news. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Would anyone be willing to do a B&P for a U of M grad residing in NY?? They've got it in Philadelphia, apparently ... not that that's all that close, but if you ever get down that way... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nalafej Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 This is great news, but....we need a Kalamazoo Oberon! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jesselne Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 Good to hear Mr. Bell is one step ahead in this chess game. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
squarewave Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 I really hope that this doesn't result in an overzealous douchebag distributor somehow pulling a legal move and owning a little brewery with a great potential who decided to stand up against them and break a contract. Stranger things have happened... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
myboyblue Posted July 31, 2008 Author Share Posted July 31, 2008 Now Bell's is REALLY heading back to Chicago. Bell's beer headed back to ChicagoBy Jim Kirk | Tribune staff reporter9:44 AM CDT, July 31, 2008 Bell's Brewery Inc. beers are headed back to the Windy City nearly two years after the company pulled its brands out of the Chicago market following a nasty dispute with a distributor. Comstock, Mich.-based Bell's Brewery on Thursday announced new distribution agreements with Central Beverage Co., Schamberger Brothers and Skokie Valley Beverage Co. that will mark the return of Bell's brands in Chicago beginning Friday. Bell's, makers of Oberon Ale, Bell's Amber, and Kalamazoo Stout, left the Chicago market in late 2006 after a fight with its distributor at the time, National Wine and Spirits Inc., which had sold the rights to distribute the Bell's brands to another distributor, Chicago Beverage Systems. Illinois state law basically forbids beer companies from jumping to one distributor to another without a buyout or some other agreement. Instead of paying, Bell's owner and co-founder Larry Bell decided to pull his brands out of the state even though the market accounted for more than 10 percent of his sales. At the time, the battle drew national attention and headlines. Craft brewers like Bell have complained for years that state laws favor distributors and mass brewers while hurting small brewers' ability to grow, especially in big markets like Chicago. But few have taken as dramatic action as Bell by abruptly pulling out of a key market. "I love Chicago and there's no big city I spend more time in,'' said Bell, a native of south suburban Park Forest. He added that he doesn't believe he will face a court battle when the brands return to area bar taps. Executives at Chicago Beverage, which is owned by Rosemont-based beverage and foodservice giant, Reyes Holdings, could not be reached early Thursday. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kimcatch22 Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 I think I just fainted from happiness. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PigSooie Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Hey, Kim. My boner stretches all the way to Chicago. Look out your window! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JUDE Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Bunch of pathetic alkys. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Hey, Kim. My boner stretches all the way to Chicago. Look out your window!You posted this PM. In a thread about beer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mfwahl Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Good stuff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IATTBYB Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Two weeks ago Larry Bell spoke to my Rotary club and I had 2 questions for him: (1) His position on citrus fruit in your glass of Oberon and (2) the status of his re-entry into the Illinois market. For the record, his response was (1) personally thinks its a sin, but to each his own and (2) no comment. Now I understand why the no comment. to our friends in Illinois from Kalambrew MI edit: Link to Kalamazoo Gazette Story - looks like some trucks are on their way today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigshoulders Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Hey, Kim. My boner stretches all the way to Chicago. Look out your window!Does bell use little blue pills in his craft beers, I wonder? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 As a Kalamazoo native, former Chicago resident, and Bell's fan, I am quite pleased by this news. It's been amazing to watch a formerly tiny local brewery turn into a regional giant without turning its back on what made it great. Happy days in Chicago! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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