Bell's Brewery invites community to see how it's grown

The public is invited to see just how big Bell’s Brewery has gotten when the company opens its doors to show off its latest expansion at an open house from noon to 5 p.m. May 19 and May 20. It will include free food and soft drinks.

Bell’s new production facility includes an expanded grain handling facility, a 200-barrel brewing system, new fermentation vessels and a sophisticated energy storage system that enhances Bell’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.

The facility has the potential to produce 500,000 barrels of beer annually.

It features 16 main silos and 10 specialty silos. In the expanded brewery, 2,000 pounds of grain can be milled in approximately four minutes using the new 200-barrel brewing system. Grain took one hour to be milled in the old 50-barrel system. Each brewing cycle yields more than 66,000 12 ounce bottles or about 400 standard-size kegs.

There also are new fermentation vessels. The 14 400-barrel tanks are designed for dry-hopped beers like Two Hearted Ale and manufactured by Paul Mueller Co. in Springfield, Missouri.

Since the business began in 1985 it has grown into a regional craft industry giant that employs more than 165 people over an 18-state area, plus Puerto Rico and Washington DC.

"This new brewhouse reflects not only the hard work of our employees at Bell’s, but the 400 skilled trade people that worked tirelessly over the past two years to create a space that is not only functional, but beautiful. It is a reflection of our community and its creativity, initiative and skill," says Laura Bell, Marketing Director at Bell’s.

Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave
Source: Laura Bell, Bell’s Brewery, Inc.