Conversations with Curtis Bell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Curtis Bell.

Hi Curtis, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My brother and I have always been entrepreneurs, opening their first small business in 2004. We ran a landscaping company during middle school and high school. It made for some long hot summers, but it gave us an idea of what real work was.

After earning their engineering degrees, my brother and I discovered brewing. It came from a local brewfest (I think it was Feast of St. Arnolds), I then took a brewing class at our local homebrew shop (Fermentations Beer and Wine making). Just like other homebrewers, the first few batches were not our best work, but we turned our technical expertise to crafting exceptional beers.

I took his first brew class in 2015 at Fermentations in Colorado Springs after my wife, Liz, told me to get a hobby. I had just finished my undergrad and had nights and weekends free. She decided I was spending too much time around the house. Over the next few years, we studied the process and moved from extract-only to all-grain brews. I have earned my BS in Computer Engineering from UCCS and my MS in Engineering Management from Penn State.

Cody (my younger brother) has a fantastic mind and remembers just about everything he has ever read, heard, or experienced. He read every book, subreddit, and doctoral thesis he could find on the brewing process. His dedication to research and the scientific method are directly responsible for Bell Brothers’ tasty brews.

These days, Cody is the head brewmaster at B3 and can often be found behind the bar, serving his creations to customers. He earned his BS in Materials Engineering and Metallurgy from the Colorado School of Mines.

Our mission is to engineer exquisite brews for the downtown Colorado Springs community while providing something enjoyable for everyone who enters our establishment. We ran a YouTube channel, “Engineers Talk’n About Beers” for a few years.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I made a gamble on starting our construction and path to opening during COVID-19. It took a full year for us to get the space build-out, rather than the 6 months we expected.

Since opening, the market has been difficult and people are still getting used to going out. Although I expect the cost of living increases we are seeing in Colorado are not helping the expendable income people would normally spend at a brewery.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work for an engineering firm, Parsons, where I lead a team of Solution Architects. We provide technical expertise and leadership to respond to Government and commercial requests for information and proposals.

Our focus is on Space architectures, but this leads to discussions on AI/ML, Radio Frequency, Networking, Cybersecurity, construction, software engineering, and many other subjects. The team is dedicated to learning about any subject we can get our hands on.

What do you think about happiness?
Hiking with my brother and friends in the Colorado mountains. We like to get out of the city a few times a year and do 4 or 5-day hikes. It is a time away from technology, the stress of small business, and a chance to reconnect with my brother and friends. Nature has a beauty that needs to be experienced with a quiet mind.

Pricing:

• Flagship Draft Beer – $6
• Rotator Draft Beer – $7
• Beer Cocktails – $12-$14
• Colorado Cocktails – $10-$14
• Colorado Wines – $12

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bellbrothersbrewing.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellbrothersbrewing/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BellBrothersBrewing/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bell-brothers-brewing/about/?viewAsMember=true
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bellbrothersbrewing
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/bell-brothers-brewing-colorado-springs
• Other: https://untappd.com/BellBrothersBrewing