Old wooden tanks put to new use by Bell’s brewery

Bell’s from Kalamazoo, Michigan – the eighth largest U.S. craft brewer – has released its first beer fermented in wooden tanks, which were once used by the long-defunct Stroh brewery in Detroit, media reported on 6 October 2015.

The beer, named Andrews’ Ale, is inspired by the traditional English-style Extra Special Bitter. Bell’s uses a semi-retired malt variety, Chevallier, that was popular in England in the 19th century.

Andrews’ Ale is described as “toasty and biscuity with notes of caramel and a grassy hoppy flavour”. It is on tap at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe.

Bell’s acquired the tanks in 2012 from Stroh. They had been sitting in a warehouse in Detroit for more than 50 years. They were transported to Bell’s in pieces and reassembled by local carpenters. Each tank is 12 feet (4 metres) in diameter and 8 feet (2.70 metres) tall.

Bell’s Director of Operations John Mallett had the idea to make Andrews’ Ale with a heritage barley malt and to use the wooden tanks.