(Courtesy Bell’s Brewery)

For the longest time Bell’s Brewery enjoyed wide distribution throughout the US, everywhere except for in the Pacific Northwest.

But things are changing…

At a time when many craft breweries are backtracting their distribution to strengthen their prospects in an increasingly competitive environment, Kalamazoo, Michigan-based Bell’s Brewery is staying aggressive and expanding its reach into the Pacific Northwest.

On April 13, Crain’s Business reported that Kalamazoo-based Bell’s had inked deals with distributors in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Utah to bring its beers to new markets.

“As part of this Pacific Northwest expansion, Bell’s popular Two Hearted IPA and rotating variety packs will be available year-round in cans and bottles and on draft in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Distributors in all five states will have access to Bell’s Oberon Ale from March to September.”

“Expanding our footprint to become a national brand is a top priority this year, and we can’t wait to share Bell’s beer with more fans across the country,” Carrie Yunker, Bell’s executive vice president, said in a statement. “We’re particularly excited about entering the Pacific Northwest market, a notably strong craft beer market already, where folks have been asking for Bell’s for decades.”

In 2021 Bell’s Brewery, then the seventh largest craft brewery in the US, was acquired by Australia-based Lion Little World Beverages Inc., a subsidiary of Japan’s Kirin Holdings which also owns Fort Collins-based New Belgium Brewing. The Pacific Northwest expansion includes deals with 10 wholesalers that also carry New Belgium Brewing products.

In the year ended in March 2022, Kirin saw US beer sales generate $454 million for the company, accounting for 3% of global sales, and the Japanese drinks giant expects that to grow to 5% this fiscal year.

Bell’s Brewery now sells beer in every US state except for Hawaii, plus Puerto Rico.

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