so i found out tonight that Bells is stopping distribution in chicago (or is it all of illinois?). fucking sucks. guess the owner wasn't keen on its distributor selling it's rights to a beer wholesaler which basically has a monopoly in the city, and has terrible business practice. so, it's great that they're fighting the good fight, but bad because Bells is fantastic and i will temporarily grow thirsty.

It ain't far to Kalamazoo, especially if you've got a gig at the brewery with all the free Bell's you can drink.

i know but i also have a liquor store right down the street

is it glunz that's fucking up?

They've done good things in chicago, but they is greedy.

And you have to pay the price.

I'd say that your best bet is to contact bell's and see if it's chicago or all of IL. If it's just chicago, you can make a side trip to Firkin in Libertyville (short hop from your in-laws) have a nice dinner and some bell's, and failing a situation like that, it's time to book the Pilots in Kalamazoo.

you're right on all counts, again.

now you know what it's like to live in boston and not be able to get yuengling.

Chicagoans,

Have you ever tried "the beer that don't go flat"?


It's a south side specialty. I have no idea what's in it but it has amazing fizzing properties.

Yeah, if I could possibly swing it, I'd drive down to see you guys.

Bell's is a great place to play Ryan, you should do a little Michigan tour.

Only if you come up North, above the bridge.

Damn indeed! That would suck ass, now that you know it and have gotten used to it being around. Fuckin Bells doesn't make a less-than-amazing beer.

i drank a ton of that stuff when i was in detroit, and you're right, good stuff. we have the same problem with our distributor here, and there's loads of stuff from chicago/michigan that we can't get at all. while i've got sympathy for your loss, i feel a little better to know that it's the whole industry, and not just our guys, that are fucking up.

Yuengling was about the only thing that made my trip to Harrisburg/Hershey cool a few years back when my oldest sister won a trip from the Hershey/Reeses Chocolate Co. I spent every evening at the resort drinking a crap ton of beer and watching the World Cup.

Hopefully they keep pumping it into Wisconsin. I don't think i could handle not having some Two Hearted Ale every once in awhile.

i'll have to go back and stock up tonight. that and/or do a permanent michigan tour.

Is Bell's the beer that comes with an orange slice? If so, that's good stuff.

one good thing i can say....

bells is right acrossed the street from my place

nope, that's blue moon. bells is the good beer that doesn't require fruit

true. If you have to add fruit to a beer you should probably just drink a wine cooler.

no you are right.....bell's winter white comes with an orange....and its my favorite beer. and yes, its similar to blue moon. WW replaces oberon nov-march

Yeah, Yuengling will make you feel like poo-poo the next day.

Almost as bad as High Life.

Ryan, you should check out Great Lakes Brewing Company, they're distributed by Glunz also. Out of cleveland, i like their beers even more than Bell's, and I do love Bell's.

Michigan beer is The Shit.
Bell's Oberon is (was?) my summer beer of choice.
Grand Traverse Brewing Company's Stout is my winter beer of choice.

Now I have to stock up on TWO labels when I make my yearly trek up to Traverse City.
Damnit!

Bell's Two Hearted Ale is hands down the best beer available for purchase in America.