View full sizeOne of the 100-year-old wooden fermenters sits on the floor of B Cellar Room at the Bell's Brewery Inc. production facility in Comstock Township. The barrels were built at the turn of the century and used by Stroh's Brewing Co. in Detroit until about 50 years ago.KALAMAZOO, MI --
When two of the brightest minds in Michigan beer sit down to lunch, good things can happen.
John Stroh III, whose great-great-grandfather founded
in Detroit in 1850, and John Mallett, the production manager at
, had lunch together more than two years ago.
During their conversation, Stroh mentioned a series of old wooden fermenters sitting in a warehouse in the Detroit area.
Intrigued, Mallett told Stroh he'd like to incorporate them into the planned expansion of Bell's Brewery Inc.'s Comstock Township facility. Fast forward to earlier this week when Bell's
and Mallett's idea is a little closer to fruition.
In the B Cellar Room of the new 200-barrel brewhouse sits, in several pieces, about four of the 100-year-old-plus fermenters. Mallett said during the grand opening of the brewhouse on Monday that he plans to re-build three fermenters to make draught-only beers using an open-fermentation process. The project is large and somewhat complicated, given the age of the equipment. The company has no timeline for when -- and, given the complexity, if -- it will make beer.
Bell's Brewery Inc.'s new brewhouse
When:
Noon to 5 p.m. May 19-20
Where:
Bell's Brewery Inc., 8690 Krum Ave.
Cost:
Free (food and soda provided)
Contact:
269-382-2338,
Potentially, it is an exciting project that connects Michigan's beer-making past with its future.
The public can view the room, as well as the rest of the brewhouse, during tours from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
"I've worked with wood tanks before," Mallett said. "There are a number of old breweries around the country that have had wood tanks, certainly. But to rebuild them and go up that way, I don't know anybody who's doing that."
That portion of the brewhouse was designed about 16 months ago specifically for these old behemoths, built at the turn of the century and used at Stroh's until the late '50s or early '60s, Mallett said. They've been resting in a warehouse in the Detroit area for more than 50 years, he said. They have a 12-foot diameter will stand about 8 feet tall, Mallett said.
View full sizeThe barrels were marked with specific numbers. The interior was coated with beeswax and other substances, Bell's production manager John Mallett said."I can't wait to build one of these up ... It's going to be a big project," Mallett said.
When the barrels were disassembled, Mallett said interior cooling coils were removed with torches, causing metal to drip down to the base of the ferementers, as well as leaving scorch marks along the sides. Mallett picked out the ones with the least amount damage.
Stroh's was one of the largest breweries in the country until in closed in 1985, the same year Bell's sold its first beer.
Prior to his move to Michigan, Mallett said Stroh's was his favorite of the big beers of the time. But what impressed him most about Stroh's is the "litany of phenomenal brewers" who worked there and contributed to the beer industry.
"I would be honored to continue that particular legacy of smart, active engagement in the state of Michigan," Mallett said.
As for the beer, Mallett said there is still a lot of work to be done on the fermenters, but Mallett and Bell's president Larry Bell are discussing what to make in them.
"Larry and I have talked about doing something with historical ties in there. I've got really smart people who used to work at Stroh's that are good friends. It might be kind of cool to see what they think," he said.
John Liberty can be reached at 269-370-7372 or jlibert1@mlive.com. Follow me on Twitter @JohnTLiberty