De Proef-Bell's Collaboration Announcement

Bell’s Brewery named as partner for 2009 De Proef Brewmaster’s Collaboration Series

SBS Imports of Seattle, Washington is pleased to announce that Bell’s Brewery has agreed to be the 2009 partner for the latest brew in the De Proef Brewmaster’s Collaboration Series. The yet to be designed beer will be brewed in March at De Proef in Lochristi, Belgium and released to the USA market in September 2009.

The initial beer in the series was Signature Ale – originally brewed in 2007 with Tomme Arthur of Port Brewing/Lost Abbey. Jason Perkins of Allagash collaborated in 2008 on Les Deux Brasseurs. Both beers have been exceptionally well-received by beer enthusiasts.

“Each year it is my pleasure to invite a noted American brewer to participate in this series,” noted SBS Founder Alan Shapiro. “I am thrilled that John Mallet & Bell’s have agreed to be the 2009 partner.”

“I am really looking forward to this project,” added Bell’s Production Manager, John Mallet. “I have several family ties to the area which makes this invite to brew with Dirk Naudts at De Proef even more special.”

Bell’s Brewery of Kalamazoo, MI is one of the most highly regarded and creative breweries in the country, known for its bold, unfiltered, bottle-conditioned beers. Since its founding in 1983 by Larry Bell it has garnered numerous medals and accolades. Its 2007 production of over 90,000 barrels ranked it among the top 15 of American craft breweries. More information on Bell’s is available at www.bellsbeer.com.

De Proef Brouwerij of Lochristi, Belgium was created in 1996 by highly regarded brewing engineer and professor, Dirk Naudts. The ultra-scientific brewery blends modern equipment and technologies with both traditional and new world brewing techniques.

SBS imports a unique range of beers from De Proef under the De Proef Brewmaster’s Collection branding. SBS Imports was created in 2002 by specialty beer industry veteran Alan Shapiro. In addition to the DeProef brands, SBS represents Aspall Cyders from Suffolk, England and Batemans beers from Wainfleet, England. More information on the SBS portfolio is available at www.sbs-imports.com.