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Michigan Beer

Bell’s Brewery to Celebrate Historic Event With 5 Great Lakes Breweries

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Kalamazoo, Michigan — November 2025 Bell’s Brewery is thrilled to announce the 32nd annual Eccentric Day, returning on December 1, 2025, at the Eccentric Café in downtown Kalamazoo. This beloved “Bell’s Holiday” will feature exciting new elements, including five unique collaboration beers crafted with regional breweries, live music, a costume contest, and a vibrant array of food and drinks. What began as a humble coworker holiday party over 30 years ago has grown into a cornerstone event for Southwest Michigan’s craft beer community. “Eccentric Day is about celebrating our community and the creativity that defines craft beer,” said Carrie Yunker, Bell’s Executive Vice President. “This year, we’re returning to our roots while infusing fresh energy into the festivities.”

A highlight of Eccentric Day is its specialty beer releases, with 2025 showcasing collaborations with 3 Floyds Brewing, Upper Hand Brewery, Brewery Vivant with Broad Leaf Brewery & Spirits, One Well Brewing, and Wax Wings Brewing Co. “These collaborations make the beer the star of the show,” said Brewmaster Andy Farrell. The lineup includes:

  • 3 Floyds Brewing’s Ale (7.0% ABV, draft & 6-pk 12oz bottles)
  • Brewery Vivant & Broad Leaf’s Pineapple Kiwi Saison (5% ABV, draft)
  • One Well Brewing’s Blueberry Thai Basil Porter (6.66% ABV, draft)
  • Wax Wings Brewing Co.’s New England Double IPA (10% ABV, draft)
  • Upper Hand Brewery’s Barrel Aged Sour (12.7% ABV, draft & 750ml bottles) “Collaborating with these talented brewers to create beers our community loves is a highlight of Eccentric Day,” Farrell added.

Beyond the brews, Bell’s is deepening its community commitment with a $15,000 donation to local nonprofits, including $5,000 to Communities in Schools of Kalamazoo for children’s winter apparel and additional funds to organizations chosen by the collaborating breweries. “Our community’s support has fueled Eccentric Day’s growth, and giving back through our partners’ chosen causes strengthens that bond,” said Yunker.

The free event is open to those 21+ with valid ID. Attendees are encouraged to don costumes for a contest offering prizes like a tour of Bell’s Comstock brewery and a beer-paired dinner by Executive Chef Kristofer McDonough. Live entertainment will feature the Andrew Rathbun Jazz Band, Run 4 Cover, and a Kalamazoo DJ.

About Bell’s Brewery Founded in 1985 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Bell’s Brewery has grown from a 15-gallon soup kettle into one of America’s leading craft breweries. Known for iconic beers like Two Hearted IPA, Oberon Ale, and Hopslam Ale, Bell’s embraces its “Inspired Brewing” philosophy to foster creativity, sustainability, and community. Distributing over 20 beers nationwide and to Puerto Rico from its Comstock brewery, Bell’s also crafts small-batch brews for the Eccentric Café, continuing to unite people through exceptional beer and shared values.

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Saugatuck Brewing Company Taps Anheuser-Busch and Wholesaler Veteran to Lead Brewery

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SAUGATUCK, Michigan – Saugatuck Brewing Company (SBC) is pleased to announce John Miller as its new President and CEO and Brad Mixan as new CFO.

As President and CEO, Miller is taking the helm of a company that is focused on growth. SBC acquired Kalamazoo-based Gonzo’s Biggdogg Brewing in 2019 and followed up with the purchase of Grand Rapids-based Creston Brewery in 2021. After the difficult decision to close its Westnedge location in 2022, the brewery fulfilled its plan this year by reopening that brewpub in the former home of Olde Peninsula Brewpub and Restaurant in downtown Kalamazoo. SBC also recently launched two new product lines with the Lake Street Lager and Rainbow Rodeo IPA.

Miller said, “SBC’s focus has always been on the people that work here, the beer we make and the brew pubs we operate,” and he is excited about the opportunity to put his stamp on the vibrant beer market that is West Michigan.

“Being in the beer business as long as I have, you learn quickly that there are a handful of markets in the country that are uniquely passionate about beer, and West Michigan is at the top of that list,” Miller said. “So, this is an amazing opportunity for me to be a part of this. At SBC we believe it is time to invest. I know our best days are ahead, and we are doing what we need to make things happen.”

Miller has amassed 33 years of experience in the beverage industry since his college days. He most recently served as general manager/operating partner at Double Eagle Distributing, where he was recruited to oversee the purchase, integration and operations of an existing beer and non-alcoholic South Florida beverage distributor.

He also spent more than 22 years with Anheuser-Busch, holding various sales and marketing leadership positions mostly in the Midwest and south east regions of the country. All the while, he interacted directly with many of the best wholesalers in the industry. A “lifelong beer guy,” Miller has seen every facet of the beverage industry, from supplier to wholesaler to retail, and believes he can relate to people in the industry, because he has done their jobs before.

In his free time, he loves to fly fish, which coincides nicely with SBC’s recent release of Rainbow Rodeo IPA, snow ski, and is a “die-hard New York Yankees fan.” As a father of two sons, John, along with his wife Beth, enjoy traveling, spending time on the tennis courts and playing an occasional round of golf.

Miller succeeds Ric Gillette, who has been president and CEO of SBC since 2009.

SBC also welcomed aboard Brad Mixan as the brewery’s new CFO. A CPA with more than 20 years of experience, Mixan most recently served as corporate controller for Nexben Inc., where he oversaw more than $17 million in monthly client funding cash flows and assisted the firm’s financial planning and analysis team with $20 million annual budget management and reporting.

“We’re really looking to leverage technology to position the brewery for future growth and success,” said Mixan. “I think it’s going to help us make better decisions. It’s going to allow us to more effectively manage and operate our brewpubs and brewhouse.”

Mixan has lived in Saugatuck for almost seven years with his wife and their two daughters and has been a fan of SBC for many years.

“I’ve been homebrewing for more than 30 years now and in the financial world for almost 25 years, so being able to combine those two passions has been so rewarding,” he said.

Outside of work, he enjoys homebrewing, exploring nature with the family, cheering on the Spartans and enjoying his new favorite, Rainbow Rodeo IPA, at SBC’s Douglas brewpub.

About Saugatuck Brewing Company:

Saugatuck Brewing Company (SBC) first opened its doors on June 23, 2005 as a small, intimate, start-up brewery in Douglas, Michigan. In 2008, SBC moved the entire operation to the 25,000 square foot facility that serves as the headquarters, brewery, warehouse, and Pub and Brew House. In 2019, SBC opened the second taproom in Kalamazoo, Michigan and in 2021 SBC acquired Creston Brewery in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In June 2022, SBC made the decision to close the Kalamazoo Westnedge location in order to invest in a new location in downtown Kalamazoo that opened April 10, 2023. SBC is distributed in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Missouri, Tennessee, Kansas and Colorado and five foreign countries.

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Mothfire Brewing Slated To Open in Ann Arbor

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ANN ARBOR, Michigan – This spring, a new brewery and taproom will ‘hatch’ on Ellsworth Road in Ann Arbor. Mothfire Brewing Co. will be moving into their new home after three years refining their craft beer operation on Industrial Highway. This 6,000 square foot space at 713 W. Ellsworth Road will help the brand continue to spread its wings with state-of-the-art brewing equipment and space to host craft beer enthusiasts, artists, musicians and foodies. Mothfire is partnering with Ann Arbor Chefs Bobby Rosenberger and Kyle Young and their new venture, Carrozza Pizza, a new wood-fired school bus, focused on fresh, unique, ingredients and eclectic pairings with Mothfire beer.

Mothfire Brewing Co. will feature a design-forward taproom which opens up to a large 75+ person patio opening later this summer. The patio space will offer multiple fire pits, live music and immersive rotating art installations.

The brewery operations are helmed by head brewer Alexis Jorgensen, a California native, who has been part of the Michigan brewing scene for several years. Founders Noah Kaplan and David Becker have spent the last 1,000 days bringing the Mothfire Brewing Co. brand to life.

“Mothfire’s vision is all about sparking a cultural bonfire to gather the community around art, music and beer. This new space provides us creative freedom to fully extend our wings and share our beer more widely both locally and across the state of Michigan. We couldn’t be more excited for this metamorphosis.” says Noah Kaplan who also owns Leon Speakers adjacent to the brewery.

The brewery’s design is being brought to life by Synecdoche creative studio, also based out of Ann Arbor. Guests can expect a bright and welcoming artful space with large windows and clean sightlines into the handcrafted Koenig brewhouse.

Mothfire’s beer philosophy focuses on collaboration, creativity, quality craftsmanship and local ingredients. All base malts and select hops are sourced from Michigan farms to create beers that are brighter and nuanced. Although IPAs are a core focus, Mothfire also specializes in craft Pilsners, stouts and fruited sours. The taproom will feature sixteen taps, including local kombucha and craft hard seltzer cocktails for those with gluten sensitivities. Patrons can also purchase cans to go, including special taproom only releases and branded merchandise. There will also be a limited quantity of memberships into the Mothfire Eclipse, launching in May, which provides exclusive access into brewery operations, limited releases and discounts.

The taproom is slated to open early June and will be open six days a week. Mothfire is now hiring for a Taproom Manager and ‘beer-tenders.’ Resumes can be sent to mothfirebrewingco@gmail.com.

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