E-Malt.com News article: USA, MI: Bell's Brewery launch in Escanaba delayed

The new Bell's Brewery building in Escanaba is almost completed but title and licensing are taking more time than anticipated, delaying the opening date by months, Daily Press reported on April 30.

"It is what it is," said Larry Bell, company president. "I've learned that the first rule of the brewing business is 'Nothing happens fast.'"

Bell's Brewery Inc., headquartered in downstate Comstock, is constructing a state-of-the-art 11,550-square-foot beer-brewing and bottling facility called the "Upper Hand Brewery" on Airport Road in Escanaba.

The name relates to how people show where the U.P. is with one hand and refer to Lower Michigan with the other hand, explained Bell.

Construction of the new building began last November with Gunlach Champion as the general contractor.

"Our contractor did a great job working through this winter," commented Bell. "The building is mostly done."

Workers are waiting for the ground to thaw to do outdoor concrete pouring and landscaping. Road restrictions also have to be lifted before paving can be done as well, he said. Bell said he expects equipment to start arriving next week.

"Most of the interior work is completed," he said, with the exception of pipefitting and hookups for the equipment. The tasting room also has to be finished, he added.

"Things are progressing along," Bell said. "I know everybody's excited about it."

While the building itself is progressing, the project experienced delays in the title work mostly due to the nature of the business being on airport land, he said.

The Upper Hand Brewery is located on property in Delta County Airport's Renaissance Zone. The zone, which offers tax incentives, was created in 2002 to develop the property as a means to support the county airport.

Because of the title-work delays, the company wasn't able to apply for a federal license until last week, said Bell.

Once a federal license is approved - which could take more than three months - the company will apply for a state license then seek approval for certificates of labels, Bell said, hoping the Escanaba brewery opens around Labor Day.

Bell has been involved in the brewery business for more than three decades. What started out as a hobby for him turned into a successful company with product sales in 18 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C.

Several local grocery stores and taverns offer a variety of Bell's products. New beers are being developed to sell throughout the local region.

The Upper Hand Brewery will manufacture and distribute beer but not sell beer directly to the public. Free beer tasting will be offered in the brewery's sampling room.

Bell's employs just over 200 people at a brewery and pub in Kalamazoo, a distribution center in Galesburg, and a brewery and corporate office in Comstock. The local brewery will employ five people.


02 May, 2014