Bell's Brewery pulls out of Summer Beer Festival over political fundraising

A well-known Michigan brewer has pulled out of the Summer Beer Festival in Ypsilanti because of planned political fundraising at the event.

Bell's Brewery Inc. won't participate in this weekend's 16th annual festival after the brewer's founder and president Larry Bell learned about the Protect Michigan Craft Beer Political Action Committee's plans, the Kalamazoo Gazette reported.

"I don't want to be part of it," Bell said this week. "I find it distasteful that they are bringing politics into the fest. I have no idea where that money will go. I don't want to be part of trying to raise political money from drunk or slightly intoxicated people."

Protect Michigan Craft Beer is an independent political action committee formed two years ago by Brett VanderKamp, of New Holland Brewing Co., and Tim Suprise, of Arcadia Brewing Co. Suprise said brewers in the state including Bell's will benefit from the PAC.

"The committee intends to raise resources for advocacy so we can have a voice and a seat at the table. I think it's a fairly well-understood part of our state regulatory environment and on the federal level," said Suprise, whose brewery is located in Battle Creek.

Scott Newman-Bale, treasurer of the Michigan Beer Guild and chief financial officer of Short's Brewing Co., said the PAC attended the event last year and Bell received a refund after voicing concerns. The missions of the guild and the PAC are similar but separate, he said.

"The guild's mission is to introduce people to Michigan beer and the PAC is on that direction on the legislative side," Newman-Bale said.

The guild said it is disappointed Bell's is skipping the Ypsilanti event, which is sold out. The festival runs Friday and Saturday. Officials plan to resolve issues before the guild's annual U.P. Fall Beer Festival in Marquette in September, Newman-Bale said.