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Rollacrit Partners with Voodoo Ranger IPA for New Kickstarter, Heroes of Barcadia: Heroes for Hire Tabletop Game

B. Kline — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 16:15:17 +0000

Rollacrit Partners with Voodoo Ranger IPA for New Kickstarter, Heroes of Barcadia: Heroes for Hire Tabletop Game

Rollacrit’s Logo

The Game has New Heroes, New Power-Ups, New Chaotic Effects and a New Voodoo Ranger Character Cup Available First in a Limited Number at Gen Con

Wilmington, Delaware, July 24, 2024 – Rollacrit, the premiere lifestyle brand for tabletop games, has announced today that it is partnering with Voodoo Ranger IPA, the #1 IPA in the USA, on its new follow-up to its massively successful Kickstarter Heroes of Barcadia tabletop game. The next adventure, titled Heroes of Barcadia: Heroes for Hire (launching this September on Kickstarter), promises more excitement, more strategy, and more chaos. Gamers will battle new monsters, build custom dungeons, and compete with friends in this unique Liquid Life System TM board game where players must take a drink when they receive damage. The game comes with four new Heroes for Hire character cups which are designed to replace a character from the original Heroes of Barcadia base game and/or party pack. This means players can seamlessly integrate these new heroes into their existing game setup, keeping the maximum number of players at 8 for optimized playthroughs.

Voodoo Ranger IPA by New Belgium Brewing Company

“Voodoo Ranger has supported tabletop gaming for over six years through community and the events that surround it. We played Heroes of Barcadia as a team at the brewery and we all fell in love with how it brings together tabletop gaming and beer,” said Patrick Morgan, Community Manager for Voodoo Ranger.

Voodoo Ranger’s character cup comes with Rangerous new powers that bring players together for a temporary truce because everyone can agree on good beer. One thousand of these Voodoo Ranger cups will be available for purchase at www.vootique.com on July 31st, while supplies last and at the upcoming Gen Con next month (August 1st through the 4th) at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis at the Rollacrit booth #3027 and at Nevermore Union Station. When they are gone, the only place to find them will be as an add-on in the Heroes for Hire Kickstarter launching in September of this year.

Purchasing the Voodoo Ranger Character Cup at the Rollacrit Gen Con booth will entitle gamers to a free wooden drink token good for one Voodoo Ranger beer at Nevermore Union Station (must be 21+ years old) during Gen Con. Nevermore is a fantastic pub that’s the perfect spot to relax, indulge in delicious food and drinks, and demo Heroes of Barcadia.

Not only are there new characters in Heroes for Hire, but gamers also get to play with a new mechanic — the Die of Barcane Chaos. Crafted by the Chaoschasers (Alchemist Wizards who reveled in the unpredictable nature of magic), the Die of Barcane Chaos has the power to alter reality and make the game much more…chaotic. More will be revealed when the Kickstarter launches, but suffice it to say that a player’s Loot Card strategy will never be the same again. Gaming enthusiasts will be able to play a demo of Heroes for Hire at the Rollacrit booth during Gen Con.

New Belgium Brewing Company, via their Voodoo Ranger series has previously collaborated with Magic the Gathering for Voodoo Ranger – Vastwood Seer IPA. You can read more about that here: New Belgium Teams Up with Magic the Gathering for Vastwood Seer IPA.

Introducing Heroes for Hire

Heroes of Barcadia – Heroes for Hire on Kickstarter

Ready for a new adventure? The original Heroes of Barcadia are facing a new challenge! The Grand Drink Guardian found an ancient artifact in the dungeon — the Die of Barcane Chaos, and released its chaotic energy. Feeling overwhelmed, our original heroes retreated to the Plastered Pony Tavern to regroup, where they ran into Brewtus Pintsmasher, the event organizer of the drinking contest.

After telling him what was going on, Brewtus sent out letters to distant lands, calling for help. His plea was answered by four valiant heroes — the Heroes for Hire. With rewards aplenty should they succeed, they venture into the dungeon, facing trials even tougher than those of the original Heroes.

Rollacrit is adding NEW HEROES in Heroes for Hire, and here they are:

Sip-Jin the Drunken Fist: Master of balance and fluidity from the Brew Shang-La Monastery.
Biggswigg the Buzzkiller & Chaser the Rat Queen: Goblin tinkerer and his regal rodent partner.
Ontaprielle, the Alchemist: Centaur wizard with potions to heal, harm, or bewilder.
Dram the Aged & Oaken & Gulp the Frog: Druidic construct with a unique bond to nature.

Each of these characters comes with 1 Health Bar Cup, 1 d20, 1 Signature Move Card, and 3 new Power-Up Cards themed around the character.

Not going to Gen Con? Sign up to get notified when the Heroes for Hire Kickstarter goes live. Plus, if you sign up for updates and back the project, you will receive a free Die of Barcane Chaos Power-Up Card after it’s fully funded! Sign up now to get notified when Heroes for Hire launches on Kickstarter.

To schedule an interview at Gen Con with Rollacrit CEO, Erin Zipperle and Voodoo Ranger Community Manager, Patrick Morgan, please contact publicist Dan Madsen at dan@rollacrit.com or his cell at 303-570-6273.

About Rollacrit 

Rollacrit is a lifestyle brand and hub for those who share a love of tabletop and board games. Rollacrit works with game studios to create tabletop and board game collectibles, accessories, apparel, and more.  Rollacrit is also the official merchandise partner of Gen Con, the largest tabletop convention in North America. Join Rollacrit on their epic quest at Rollacrit.com as they spread the joy of tabletop and board games to all. Follow Rollacrit on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Voodoo Ranger IPA

Voodoo Ranger, made by New Belgium Brewing, is the fastest growing and #1 IPA brand in craft beer. Initially launched as three beers in 2017, Voodoo Ranger has released over 20 beers in the past few years including the flagship Voodoo Ranger IPA, Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA, and Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA, along with recent releases like Juice Force IPA and Tropic Force IPA. For more information and a Rangerously good time, follow @voodooranger on Instagram. To learn more about the Voodoo Ranger portfolio, visit voodooranger.com.

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VooDoo Ranger Series Adding Tombstone IPizzA (New Belgium)

B. Kline — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 15:25:10 +0000

New Belgium Adding Voodoo Ranger Tombstone IPizzaA

New Belgium teams up with Tombstone Pizza to create VooDoo Ranger IPizzA (photo courtesy of Beer Street Journals)

Beer and Pizza

What goes better together than Beer and Pizza? So with that in mind…. New Belgium Brewing decided “why not combine them”?

There’s an undeniable charm in the timeless pairing of pizza and beer, but have you ever imagined enjoying pizza within your beer? This intriguing concept has come to life with the introduction of I(Pizza)A, an innovative collaboration that marries the iconic flavors of Tombstone’s frozen pizzas with the craft mastery of New Belgium Brewing Co.’s Voodoo Ranger IPA.

Crafted for the adventurous palate, Voodoo Ranger’s I(Pizza)A stands out in the realm of food-inspired brews, offering a taste experience that’s as savory as it is unique. Just in time for the celebrations of National Beer Day on April 7, this beer promises to captivate your senses with the essence of a piping hot Tombstone pizza. Envision the crispness of the crust, the tanginess of tomato sauce, and a medley of savory herbs and spices, all rounded off with the unmistakable zest of pepperoni.

For craft beer aficionados and pizza lovers alike, this pizza-infused beer epitomizes culinary innovation, making it a must-try for those who cherish bold flavors and new experiences. Dive into the world of I(Pizza)A and let your taste buds embark on a journey they won’t soon forget.

Although Voodoo Ranger’s I(Pizza)A won’t be available until National Beer Day (April 7th, 2024), from now through April 7 you can sign up to win a free four-pack and a Tombstone pizza. Enter the contest by going to New Belgium’s VooDoo Ranger website here: VoodooRanger.com.

For enthusiasts eager to get their hands on a pack, it’s important to note that this unique beer will be sold in limited quantities across select markets for a brief period. Be prepared: a four-pack of this exclusive brew is priced at around $50.

I(Pizz)A

Introducing the Voodoo Ranger Tombstone IPizzaA, a distinct IPA crafted with natural flavors. This brew boasts a 7% ABV and will be available in 16oz cans. Keep an eye out for more information on its release.

Unsurprisingly, the pizza-inspired beer has sparked quite the conversation. With nearly 2,000 comments flooding an Instagram announcement by Voodoo Ranger, fans are expressing a mix of confusion, excitement, and curiosity about this unique collaboration.

One commenter expressed their ambivalence: “I don’t know how to feel about this one.”

Others are skeptical, wondering if this announcement might be an early April Fools’ Day joke. “Y’all early for the April fools,” one skeptical comment noted.

Would you dare to sample a pizza flavored beer? (Especially for 50$ a four pack?)

For More Information on New Belgium Brewing Company

The following information comes from Untappd. New Belgium Brewing Company is a Subsidiary of Kirin Brewery Company and is a macro brewery from Fort Collins, CO. They have 688 unique beers and over 6,299,000 ratings (just shy of 6.3 Million) with a global average rating of 3.63 (as of 3.20.24). Their Untappd description reads: New Belgium Brewing was founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, Colo., by Kim Jordan, a social worker, who built her company the only way a social worker would: People first. Over the past three decades, New Belgium has turned that ethos into a unique “human-powered” business model through practices that were and still are rare in the business world: fully paid healthcare premiums for all coworkers, paying a living wage, open-book management, renewable energy sourcing, a free onsite medical clinic and physician, a deep commitment to philanthropy and advocacy, and much more. With expansions to Asheville, N.C., in 2016; Denver, Colo., in 2018; San Francisco in 2021; and the 2021 acquisition of Bell’s Brewery, based in Kalamazoo, Mich., this people-centric model has led New Belgium to become arguably the most popular and fastest-growing American craft brewer today. New Belgium is famous for its flagship beer, Fat Tire Amber Ale; year-round favorites like Voodoo Ranger IPA (America’s #1 IPA brand), Dominga Mimosa Sour, and La Folie Sour Brown Ale; and an award-winning wood-aged sour program and innovative limited release beers. To learn more about New Belgium, visit NewBelgium.com

You can find them on the following social media pages:

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New Belgium Brewing and Subpar Parks Join Up For The Lack Of Wildlife Is Alarming

B. Kline — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 03:42:00 +0000

New Belgium Brewing is teaming up with Subpar Parks to create The Lack of Wildlife is Alarming Pale Ale

New Belgium Brewing is teaming up with Subpar Parks to create The Lack of Wildlife is Alarming Pale Ale. This “subpar” pale ale is will be hitting at 6% ABV and will be packaged and sold in 12 oz cans. The can art features Yosemite National Park.

Subpar Parks

From New Belgium’s website – Who is Subpar Parks:

Amber is a designer, illustrator, and hand lettering artist with a passion for the outdoors. Her colorful, often punny work is inspired by her interests: spending time outside any way she can, building a creative business, the ups and downs of owning far too many house plants, and, as a major introvert, spending time recharging at home. After years working as a professional graphic designer for non-profits and small businesses, in 2020 she took the leap and began working for herself full-time, when her passion project, Subpar Parks, went viral, and went on to become a New York Times Bestselling book. Now she spends her time creating greeting cards, stickers, prints, and other products featuring her artwork.

When she’s not creating new products or trying to keep her plants alive, she’s probably hiking, camping somewhere in the middle of the desert in her Xterra, or fixing up the 127-year-old Victorian house she lives in with her husband, Taylor, and their feisty cat, Suki.
Who is Subpar Parks? – New Belgium Brewing

A gallery of Subpar Parks ‘postcards’.

You can find more information on Subpar Parks here: Outsider Online – Subpar Parks.

For More Information on New Belgium Brewing Company

The following information comes from Untappd. New Belgium Brewing Company is a Subsidiary of Kirin Brewery Company and is a macro brewery from Fort Collins, CO. They have 688 unique beers and over 6,299,000 ratings (just shy of 6.3 Million) with a global average rating of 3.63 (as of 11.24.23). Their Untappd description reads: New Belgium Brewing was founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, Colo., by Kim Jordan, a social worker, who built her company the only way a social worker would: People first. Over the past three decades, New Belgium has turned that ethos into a unique “human-powered” business model through practices that were and still are rare in the business world: fully paid healthcare premiums for all coworkers, paying a living wage, open-book management, renewable energy sourcing, a free onsite medical clinic and physician, a deep commitment to philanthropy and advocacy, and much more. With expansions to Asheville, N.C., in 2016; Denver, Colo., in 2018; San Francisco in 2021; and the 2021 acquisition of Bell’s Brewery, based in Kalamazoo, Mich., this people-centric model has led New Belgium to become arguably the most popular and fastest-growing American craft brewer today. New Belgium is famous for its flagship beer, Fat Tire Amber Ale; year-round favorites like Voodoo Ranger IPA (America’s #1 IPA brand), Dominga Mimosa Sour, and La Folie Sour Brown Ale; and an award-winning wood-aged sour program and innovative limited release beers. To learn more about New Belgium, visit NewBelgium.com

You can find them on the following social media pages:

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New Belgium Brewing Collaborating with The Steps Of Faith Foundation for Thundergong and Thunderguzzler

B. Kline — Sat, 19 Aug 2023 21:30:00 +0000

Thundergong

New Belgium Brewing is teaming up with The Steps Of Faith Foundation to create Thundergong! Wheat Beer and Thundergong: Thunderguzzler.

The Fort Collins, Colorado brewery – New Belgium Brewing Company – is collaborating with The Steps Of Faith Foundation to create the beer for Jason Sudeikis & Friends Thundergong. Thundergong will be held on November 11, 2023 at the Uptown Theater at 7:30 PM, hosted by Jason Sudeikis.

Thundergong! Wheat Beer is a wheat ale by New Belgium Brewing. It will only be 4.1% ABV and have notes of coriander, orange peel; it is listed as a Hefeweizen. It will be sold in 12 oz cans and its release should coincide with the performance – so on, near, or around November 11th, 2023.

Thunderguzzler

New Belgium Brewing is also releasing Thundergong! Thunderguzzler. This will also be releasing around the time of November 11th, 2023. It is also a Wheat Ale and is a collaboration with The Steps Of Faith Foundation. Look for more information in the upcoming future.

For More Information on New Belgium Brewing Company

The following information comes from Untappd. New Belgium Brewing Company is a Subsidiary of Kirin Brewery Company and is a macro brewery from Fort Collins, CO. They have 669 unique beers and over 6,270,000 ratings with a global average rating of 3.63 (as of 5.15.23). Their Untappd description reads: New Belgium Brewing was founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, Colo., by Kim Jordan, a social worker, who built her company the only way a social worker would: People first. Over the past three decades, New Belgium has turned that ethos into a unique “human-powered” business model through practices that were and still are rare in the business world: fully paid healthcare premiums for all coworkers, paying a living wage, open-book management, renewable energy sourcing, a free onsite medical clinic and physician, a deep commitment to philanthropy and advocacy, and much more. With expansions to Asheville, N.C., in 2016; Denver, Colo., in 2018; San Francisco in 2021; and the 2021 acquisition of Bell’s Brewery, based in Kalamazoo, Mich., this people-centric model has led New Belgium to become arguably the most popular and fastest-growing American craft brewer today. New Belgium is famous for its flagship beer, Fat Tire Amber Ale; year-round favorites like Voodoo Ranger IPA (America’s #1 IPA brand), Dominga Mimosa Sour, and La Folie Sour Brown Ale; and an award-winning wood-aged sour program and innovative limited release beers. To learn more about New Belgium, visit NewBelgium.com

You can find them on the following social media pages:

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New Belgium Adding Voodoo Ranger Cashmerize IPA

B. Kline — Mon, 15 May 2023 11:38:11 +0000

Voodoo Ranger Cashmerize IPA (photo courtesy of Untappd and New Belgium Brewing Company)

Voodoo Ranger Cashmerize IPA

New Belgium is adding another beer to their long lineup of Voodoo Ranger series beers – Cashmerize IPA. The ever growing series is getting another IPA to add to their library and will be releasing soon (check back for details on when).

Voodoo Ranger Cashmerize IPA will be 7.5% ABV and will be considered a New England Hazy IPA. It will be distributed throughout New Belgium’s normal Voodoo Ranger footprint – so you should expect to see it throughout the Central PA area. It will come in 12 oz cans and possibly be added to variety / anthology packs later as well.

For More Information on New Belgium Brewing Company

You can find them on the following social media pages:

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

MAPS OF BREWERIES

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

New Bells-gium – New Belgium Brewing and Lion Acquires Bell’s Brewery

BKline — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 03:44:55 +0000

New Belgium Brewing and their parent company Lion purchase Bell’s Brewery

Blockbuster News

Talk about a blockbuster news story today. I’ve been a bit under the weather the past two days, so apologies for posting this late, but wow, what blockbuster news we got today in the craft beer world. I first saw it while half – awake / half – asleep (while sitting on my back patio in the sun, trying to feel better, while reading a book and dozing in and out of sleep) – a Facebook post by New Belgium Brewing where they were saying the thing missing from Fat Tire was a ‘bell’ attached to the bike… and I didn’t really read it and just skimmed it, thinking they were talking about a collaboration between the two, and promptly dozed off in the gorgeous Pennsylvania November warm sun. (Two years in a row now during this week we have had fantastic weather.)

Then, later on in the day, my phone blew up with four different friends all messaging me with the news. And after taking care of a few things, and starting to feel better, I dug down into this and did some reading and writing this article up. (And maintaining our daily article count for November.)

New Belgium

New Belgium Brewing Company is one of the bigger names in the craft beer industry – as far as still genuinely is craft beer. According to their Untappd page New Belgium Brewing Company:

New Belgium Brewing is a nationally distributed brewery recognized as a leader in sustainability and social responsibility. Founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, Colorado, the company expanded to Asheville, North Carolina, in 2016 and Denver, Colorado, in 2018, and is now the fourth largest craft brewery in the U.S. Dedicated to proving that business can be a force for good, New Belgium is a Certified B-Corp and was the first brewery to join 1% for the Planet. The brewery has donated over $26 million to charitable causes since 1991. New Belgium is famous for its flagship beer, Fat Tire Amber Ale, along with year-round favorites like Voodoo Ranger IPA and La Folie Sour Brown Ale as well as an award-winning wood-aged sour program and innovative limited release beers. To learn more about the full product line-up and New Belgium’s Human powered Business model, visit NewBelgium.com
Untappd: New Belgium

Interestingly, Untappd lists them as a ‘macro’ brewery. They have 429 unique beers with a global average rating of 3.63 (as of 11.10.21) with over 8.62Million check-ins and 1.2Million (+) being unique check-ins. They are listed as a subsidiary of Kirin Brewing Company.

New Belgium is best known for their Fat Tire and VooDoo Ranger IPA series. If you go to any Sheetz, Rutters, Exxon, or other beer selling gas station, or any distributor, you will see a large range of New Belgium brews on the shelves in six packs and four packs, in both cans and bottles. They certainly command a strong shelf presence; right up there with the ABV InBev owned “craft breweries” (Goose Island, Blue Moon, Elysian, etc.).

Bell’s Brewery

Once again dipping back into Untappd, let’s take a look at Bell’s Brewery’s page:

Bell’s began in 1985 with a quest for better beer and a 15 gallon soup kettle. The dedication to brewing flavorful, unfiltered, quality craft beers that started in 1985 is still with us today. We currently brew over 20 beers for distribution as well as many other small batch beers that are served at our pub in Kalamazoo, the Eccentric Cafe. Our ongoing goal is to brew thoughtfully, creatively and artistically. 100% family-owned and independent. Bell’s Brewery, Comstock, Michigan
Untappd: Bell’s Brewery

On Untappd, Bell’s Brewery is listed as a Regional Brewery with 486 unique beers and a global average rating (as of 11.10.21) of 3.85. They have a total of 7.36Million (+) check-ins with 967,019 (as of 8:41PM) being unique check-ins.

Bell’s Brewery has a pretty large distribution footprint similar to other large or regional breweries; such as Founders (another Michigan brewery). Some of their bigger or more well known brews are Oberon, Hopslam, Two Hearted Ale, and Expedition Stout.

Two Hearted Ale is one of the more celebrated ‘all around’ easy drinking beers that makes numerous lists. And Hoslam is a seasonal favorite right on par with Nugget Nectar and Mad Elf; a beer people set their watches to (or I guess calendars to).

The Merge

This is certainly going to be one of the bigger merges of craft breweries…. in a long time. Up there with ABV InBev buying Wicked Weed or Goose Island; or the Samuel Adams and Dogfish Head agreement; and bigger than the Victory and Southern Tier agreement.

You can watch Larry Bell’s retirement video that was posted to the Bell’s Brewery YouTube page below:

Larry Bell announces his retirement and the acquisition of Bell’s Brewery by New Belgium

You can view their YouTube channel here: Bell’s Brewery on YouTube.

As he says above in the video, he incorporated the company when he was 25 years old in 1983 and has ran as president of operations for the 38 years since. He is stepping down and announcing his retirement due to many factors, but the notable one being age and health issues.

From MLive.com:

KALAMAZOO, MI — Bell’s Brewery is set to become the second major American craft brewing company to be acquired by Lion, an Australian-based beverage company with a growing international portfolio.
Lion recently purchased Fort Collins, Colorado-based, New Belgium Brewing Co. in 2019.
Bell’s founder and president Larry Bell told the Kalamazoo Gazette/MLive Wednesday that the board of directors at Bell’s voted in January to begin exploring the sale of the company. Upper Hand Brewery in Escanaba, which Bell opened in 2014 in Escanaba, will also be part of the sale.
mlive.com – Bell’s Brewery Being Bought by Australian Company that Purchased New Belgium Brewing in 2019

From Brewpublic:

By aligning with New Belgium, Bell’s will expand on its own commitments to coworkers, communities, and customers by adopting many hallmark, human-powered business practices – including seeking B Corporation certification, 100% carbon neutrality by 2030, $1 per barrel philanthropy, and 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index. Bell’s fans can expect the same meaningful involvement with the Michigan community, driven by events like Oberon Day and supporting Kalamazoo Pride, which have been core to the company’s vision and values from the beginning.
“In Bell’s, we see a likeminded group of people dedicated to making the world’s best beer – doing business in a way that improves the wellbeing of the people who power our success,” said New Belgium CEO Steve Fechheimer, a Michigan native and longtime Bell’s drinker. “We couldn’t be happier to welcome the entire Bell’s team. Joining together will immediately strengthen our ability to serve and expand the craft community, deliver more value for our partners, and continue to redefine how business is done in a world facing historic economic, social, and environmental challenges. Personally, I can’t wait to celebrate Oberon Day in 2022!”
Over its 30 years in business, New Belgium has pioneered a unique ‘human-powered’ business model grounded in the idea that building the most successful and resilient business requires prioritizing the prosperity of coworkers, communities, and customers across the company’s operations. This novel approach has been the foundation for New Belgium’s industry-leading growth and standout ability to reach younger, more diverse beer drinkers. That model will now grow to include Bell’s approximately 550 employees, 500,000-barrel brewery in Comstock, Mich., and beloved brands like Two Hearted, voted the best beer in America multiple times.
Brewpublic.com – New Belgium Brewing and Lion Acquire Bells Brewery

This has certainly become the hot topic of the craft beer online world. With nearly every beer group on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter that I’m engaged in and read and check out all having people talking about it, speculating about the merge, and what all it means for both New Belgium and Bell’s Brewery, as well as us the consumers. Thankfully as Larry Bell stated in his video, the workers look to be well taken care of and that the transition looks like it will be a good and smooth one for the employees (of both companies).

Even Yahoo News covered the story in an article:

New Belgium Brewing and Bell’s Brewery will become one entity led by New Belgium CEO Steve Fechheimer, according to New Belgium. Bell’s Brewery’s, which distributes to 43 states and was listed as the seventh largest U.S. craft brewing company earlier this year, has 550 employees who will become New Belgium employees once the acquisition is finalized in the coming months, according to New Belgium spokesperson Megan Olson.
No changes are currently planned for either brewery’s beverage options, operational footprints or Bell’s Brewery’s “deep presence in the Kalamazoo community,” Olson confirmed Thursday.
Yahoo News: Michigan’s Bell’s Brewery acquired by New Belgium

Larry Bell

Larry Bell announces his retirement via YouTube video

Larry Bell is one of the most respected brewers, owners, and activists in the brewing company. Announcing his retirement today and stating health issues, a flood of well wishers, congratulations, and attaboys flooded the internet from those in and out of the industry. His impact is far and well felt in the community of the craft beer industry, as well as by the consumers.

Bell’s Brewery employs 600~ employees and has a distribution footprint of 42 states in America as well as Puerto Rico. Bell’s Brewery annually produces 310,000 barrels of beer. As per the Bell’s Brewery wikipedia page:

Larry Bell incorporated The Kalamazoo Brewing Company, Inc., in 1983 as a homebrewing supply shop in Kalamazoo, Michigan.^[8] In September 1985, the company began to sell its own beer, brewed in a 15-US-gallon (57 L) soup kettle and fermented in open fermenters covered with plastic wrap. The company produced 135 barrels in its first year. In 1993 the company opened an adjacent brewpub, the Eccentric Café.^[9]
In 2003, Bell’s opened an additional brewing facility in nearby Comstock, Michigan.^[9] The company legally changed its name in 2006 to Bell’s Brewery, Inc., reflecting the name by which it was popularly known.^[10] A larger production facility in Comstock opened in 2012, increasing the company’s brewing capacity from 180,000 barrels to 500,000 barrels per year.^[11]
In late 2012, the Bell family repurchased all stock held by outside investors, returning the company to full family ownership.^[12]
Wikipedia: Bell’s Brewery

We here at The Beer Thrillers wish Larry Bell a happy retirement and hope his health issues get better and that he has a long and well preserved retirement. Would be fantastic to have a pint with him in Kalamazoo.

Mainstream News Sources

Check out the following mainstream news sources to read more about New Belgium acquiring Bell’s Brewery:

Social Media:

Bell’s Brewery:

Facebook: Bell’s Brewery
Twitter: Bell’s Brewery
Instagram: Bell’s Brewery

New Belgium:

Brewery Expansions, Openings, Closings, News

For some of our other links on brewery expansions, openings, closings, and news, check out the following:

Thanks For Reading

As always, thanks for reading everyone. This was certainly a big news day in the craft beer world! And I’m starting to feel better. Thankfully tomorrow and Friday are my weekend, so I should be able to get back to work Saturday. Be sure to check out all of our social media pages. And as November continues, we here at The Beer Thrillers are continuing with our daily articles. So be sure to be checking back here at the blog daily to stay up to date!

Cheers!

-B. Kline

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

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