Seasonal Beer From Bell's Caps Off a Great Trip to Michigan

I try to keep up with what's brewing at my favorite craft breweries outside Colorado, but it's hard when those beers don't make it to Colorado bars or stores. On a trip to Michigan this past weekend for a good friend's wedding and to visit family, I made a point to sample some offerings from this burgeoning craft beer state. One seasonal treat I enjoyed was Smitten Golden Rye Ale from Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo.

Bell's is a craft brewing institution in the Midwest, widely considered one of the nation's best and most beloved breweries. Many beer lovers perk up when hearing the names of Oberon Ale, Two Hearted Ale, Hopslam, Black Note, and many more. Bell's was started by Larry Bell in 1985, and has grown into a large craft brewery that includes an excellent pub in downtown Kalamazoo and a newer 200-barrel production facility in the nearby community of Comstock. I try to make it into The Eccentric Café, Bell's pub, for beer tasting when I spend time in Kalamazoo, but timing on this trip prevented a visit. I did, however, stumble upon a couple bottles of Smitten, Bell's spring seasonal this year.

Smitten spices up the American pale ale style, as it's brewed with malted rye in addition to the base malts. Bell's says Smitten is one of its older recipes, first brewed as part of a rye beer series at The Eccentric Café. Rye, which is a grassy grain similar to barley, is often used in brewing to add certain flavors to the beer. Many breweries all over the country are increasingly embracing malted rye, seemingly most often with pale ale or IPA styles. Smitten pours a bright orange color with a thick head of foam, and has a sweet, earthy aroma similar to honey. American hop varieties give the beer citrus flavors with a touch of pine right up front, then the rye malt presence adds a sweet yet spicy and earthy quality. It finishes dry, but the hop complexities help make it a crisp and refreshing beer. Smitten is a satisfying summertime beer with a lot going on, and a 6 percent ABV keeps it sessionable.

I've had a lot of different rye beers, and plan to try many new ones out there. This special type of grain provides beer styles with another layer of intrigue. With Smitten, Bell's pulled off a very enjoyable rye beer that pleases the palate without overwhelming it.