Bell's Best Brown 6Pk

Bell's Best Brown 6Pk is a year-round American Brown Ale from Bell's Brewery in Michigan, packaged in a 6-pack of 12oz cans at approximately 5.8% ABV. As one of the longest-running offerings from a brewery that helped define Midwest craft beer, Best Brown has earned a loyal following for its approachable malt complexity and balanced hop character.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~5.8%  |  Origin: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA  |  Style: American Brown Ale  |  Brewery: Bell's Brewery

Production & Heritage

Bell's Brewery was founded in 1985 by Larry Bell in Kalamazoo, Michigan, making it one of the earliest craft breweries east of the Mississippi River. The brewery operates from its production facility in nearby Comstock and was acquired by Lion Little World Beverages, a subsidiary of Kirin Holdings, in 2021. Best Brown Ale uses a blend of specialty malts to achieve its deep amber-brown color and layered flavor, with American hops providing enough bitterness to keep the malt sweetness in check without dominating the profile.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Toasted bread and caramel malt lead, followed by subtle nutty and toffee-like undertones. A faint hop earthiness rounds out the nose without asserting itself.

Taste: The palate opens with rich caramel and biscuit malt flavors that transition into toasted nut and light cocoa notes at mid-palate. Moderate hop bitterness emerges to balance the sweetness, keeping each sip from tipping into cloying territory. The malt backbone remains the star throughout.

Finish: Medium in length with a clean, dry close and lingering toasted grain character. A gentle nuttiness persists as the hop bitterness fades gradually.

How to Drink Best Brown

Best Brown is well-suited to drinking straight from the can or poured into a pint glass at cellar temperature (50–55°F) to let the malt nuances open up. For mixed drinks, try it in a Brown Ale Shandy with fresh lemon juice for a lighter warm-weather serve, a Beer-a-misu float with vanilla ice cream that echoes its caramel and toffee notes, or use it as the base in a Brown Ale BBQ Michelada where the malt richness complements smoky, tangy flavors.

Best For

• Casual weeknight drinking when you want flavor without high ABV
• Pairing with grilled burgers, smoked meats, or autumn cookouts
• Introducing a friend to craft brown ales beyond mainstream lagers
• Building a Michigan craft beer tasting flight alongside Two Hearted Ale and Bell's Porter

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Best Brown taste like? Bell's Best Brown delivers toasty caramel malt up front, with nutty and lightly cocoa-tinged mid-palate flavors balanced by moderate hop bitterness and a clean, dry finish.

How does Best Brown compare to Newcastle Brown Ale? Best Brown leans more toward American craft sensibilities with a slightly bolder hop presence and deeper toasted malt character, while Newcastle tends to be lighter-bodied and sweeter with less hop assertiveness.

Is Best Brown good for beginners? Yes — at roughly 5.8% ABV with a balanced, malt-forward profile and no aggressive bitterness, it serves as an excellent gateway into the brown ale style for anyone transitioning from lighter beers.

Where is Best Brown made? Bell's Best Brown Ale is brewed by Bell's Brewery at their production facility in Comstock, Michigan, just outside Kalamazoo, where the brewery has operated since 1985.

What foods pair well with Best Brown? Smoked brisket or pulled pork, where the toasted malt mirrors smoky char; sharp cheddar or aged Gouda, which complement the nutty caramel notes; mushroom risotto, whose earthiness aligns with the ale's toasty depth; and pecan pie or bread pudding for a dessert pairing that echoes the toffee and nut character.

What sizes does Best Brown come in? This offering is a 6-pack of 12oz cans, which is the standard retail format for Bell's year-round lineup.

Is Best Brown worth the price? Bell's Best Brown positions as an accessible, everyday craft beer priced in line with other quality six-packs from established regional breweries — strong value for the depth of flavor it delivers relative to its approachable price tier.

Why Best Brown?

Bell's Best Brown stands as one of the more complete American Brown Ales on the market from a brewery with nearly four decades of production credibility. The recipe prioritizes malt complexity — toasted grain, caramel, and nut — without burying it under excessive hops, which is a balance many brown ales struggle to achieve. As a year-round offering from Bell's, it benefits from the consistency of a large-scale craft operation that still treats this style as a core part of its identity rather than an afterthought. The 12oz can format makes it portable and practical, ensuring the beer stays fresh without light exposure.