Bell's Pooltime Ale 6Pk

Bell's Pooltime Ale 6Pk is a Belgian-style witbier brewed with Montmorency tart cherries, packaged in a six-pack at 5.2% ABV. Brewed by Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this wheat ale distinguishes itself through the use of 100% Montmorency tart cherries grown in the Traverse City region of Michigan — a detail that gives it a character entirely its own within Bell's seasonal lineup.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.2%  |  Origin: Kalamazoo, Michigan  |  Style: Witbier with Tart Cherries  |  Brewery: Bell's Brewery

Production & Heritage

Bell's Brewery, founded in 1985 by Larry Bell, is one of the earliest craft breweries in the Midwest and a cornerstone of Michigan's brewing culture. Pooltime Ale follows the Belgian witbier tradition — a wheat-forward base fermented with a Belgian yeast strain that produces characteristic clove-like phenolics. What sets Pooltime apart from a standard wit is the addition of 100% Montmorency tart cherries sourced from Michigan's Traverse City region, one of the most prolific tart cherry–growing areas in the United States. The result is a hazy, fruit-forward wheat ale that leans into its regional ingredients rather than relying on artificial adjuncts.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Belgian yeast phenolics arrive first — light clove and a subtle spiciness — followed by a restrained cherry note that reads more like cherry pulp than bright, candied fruit. There's a soft wheat backbone beneath it all.

Taste: Cherry moves to the foreground on the palate, presenting as slightly tart but leaning toward the sweeter side. The wheat base integrates smoothly with the fruit, creating a cohesive, refreshing mid-palate rather than a jarring contrast. Expect a fruity, lightly spiced progression that stays balanced without becoming cloying.

Finish: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation, Pooltime finishes clean and drinkable. Residual cherry sweetness fades gradually, leaving a dry wheat note and a faint echo of Belgian yeast spice.

How to Drink Pooltime Ale

Serve cold — around 40–45°F — in a tulip glass or standard pint to let the cherry aromatics open up. This is a straightforward warm-weather sipper that doesn't require much ceremony. For those who enjoy beer cocktails, Pooltime works well in a Radler mixed with fresh lemonade to amplify the tart cherry character, a Shandy blended with ginger ale for added spice and effervescence, or a Beermosa topped with orange juice at brunch where the witbier base and cherry fruit complement citrus naturally.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and poolside drinking sessions where sessionability matters
• Introducing Belgian-style wheat ales to someone who prefers fruit-forward flavors
• Pairing with a summer charcuterie board featuring stone fruits and soft cheeses
• Stocking a cooler for a lake weekend with a crowd that appreciates Michigan craft beer

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Pooltime Ale taste like? Pooltime Ale delivers a fruity, refreshing wheat beer experience led by sweet-tart cherry flavor layered over light Belgian clove spice and a soft wheat base. It is light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation, making it highly drinkable.

How does Pooltime Ale compare to Bell's Oberon? Multiple reviewers describe Pooltime Ale as tasting like Bell's Oberon with added sweet cherry character, which is a useful shorthand — both share a wheat-forward base and approachable body, but Pooltime swaps Oberon's citrus-and-spice profile for prominent Montmorency tart cherry fruit. Oberon tends to be spicier and more traditionally witbier in style, while Pooltime leans distinctly fruity.

Is Pooltime Ale good for casual drinking? At 5.2% ABV with a clean, fruity profile, Pooltime Ale is built for sessionable, low-effort drinking in warm weather. It doesn't demand focused attention — it rewards relaxed, repeated pours.

Where is Pooltime Ale made? Pooltime Ale is brewed by Bell's Brewery at their facility in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Montmorency tart cherries used in the recipe are sourced from the Traverse City region of Michigan, one of the country's top tart cherry producers.

What foods pair well with Pooltime Ale? Grilled chicken or shrimp skewers complement the cherry and wheat flavors without overpowering them. Fresh summer salads with goat cheese and dried cherries create a natural echo of the beer's fruit character. Light fish tacos with a lime crema play well against the tart-sweet profile. A mild Brie or Camembert lets the Belgian yeast spice come through, and fruit-based desserts like cherry cobbler or lemon bars make for a harmonious finish.

What sizes does Pooltime Ale come in? This listing is for the six-pack format, which is the standard retail packaging for Bell's Pooltime Ale.

Is Pooltime Ale worth the price? Pooltime Ale positions as an accessible, everyday craft beer priced within the standard range for regional six-packs. The use of real Montmorency tart cherries rather than artificial flavoring gives it a genuine quality advantage over many fruit-flavored wheat ales at a similar price point.

Why Pooltime Ale?

The defining feature here is the use of 100% Montmorency tart cherries from Michigan's Traverse City region — a real, traceable ingredient that separates Pooltime from generic fruit wheats relying on extracts or syrups. That commitment to regional sourcing is consistent with Bell's broader philosophy as one of the Midwest's original craft breweries. With an 82 on BeerAdvocate and a 3.5 rating on Untappd across nearly 49,000 reviews, it has proven broad appeal as a warm-weather seasonal. For anyone who enjoys Bell's Oberon but wants a fruit-forward variation rooted in the same Michigan wheat ale tradition, Pooltime Ale fills that role precisely.