Bell's Brewery
Comstock, Michigan, USA · Est. 1985
Tally's Take
Why this matters
The legendary creators behind Two Hearted Ale and Oberon, now merged operationally with New Belgium under Kirin.
The Museum
Timeline
- 1985Founded
Bell's Brewery begins brewing in Comstock, Michigan.
- 2021Acquired
Acquired by Kirin/Lion in 2021, merging operations with New Belgium.
The People
Behind the beer
Started with a soup pot in 1985; sold to Lion in 2021.
The Beer Library
Beers
Two Hearted Ale
Year-RoundAmerican IPA
Single-hopped entirely with Centennial, which is close to reckless in an IPA. It has repeatedly been voted the best beer in America, and Larry Bell started the brewery with a soup pot in 1985.
Drank this? Add it to your passport →Oberon Ale
SeasonalAmerican Wheat Ale
Released the same March day every year, and Michigan treats it as the official start of spring. Seasonality as an event rather than a shelf rotation.
Drank this? Add it to your passport →Black Note Stout
LimitedBarrel-Aged Imperial Stout
A blend of Bell's own Double Cream Stout and Expedition Stout aged in bourbon oak. Blending two finished beers is closer to how whisky is made than beer.
Drank this? Add it to your passport →Follow the money
How it changed hands
1 recorded move- 1985Founded
- 2021Acquired
Acquired by Kirin/Lion in 2021, merging operations with New Belgium.
Today the chain tops out at Kirin Holdings (Lion).
Show your working
Sources
- controlConfirmed
Bell's Brewery is controlled by Public company.
Kirin Report 2025 · Kirin Holdings · 2025
PrimaryHigh reliabilityAccessed 2026-08-05Reviewed 2026-08-05
Only the claims above are sourced. Everything else on this page is the archive's own research and has not yet been tied to a document — which is worth knowing rather than hiding.
Straight answers
Common questions about Bell's Brewery
- Who owns Bell's Brewery?
- Bell's Brewery is owned by Kirin Holdings (Lion). Bell's Brewery is based in Comstock, Michigan, USA.
- Is Bell's Brewery still independent?
- No. Bell's Brewery is owned by Kirin Holdings (Lion) and is no longer independent.
- When was Bell's Brewery acquired?
- 2021. Acquired by Kirin/Lion in 2021, merging operations with New Belgium.
- When was Bell's Brewery founded?
- Bell's Brewery was founded in 1985 in Comstock, Michigan, USA.
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