(Kalamazoo, MI) – Big things are happening at Bell’s Brewery.

The calendar has turned to January which is normally when Hopslam fever sets in. This time, however, it started around Christmas and the fever has already spread. The anticipation of Hopslam mini-kegs could have something to do with that. Sources in Indiana, Ohio and Georgia are all reporting that the beer will hit their markets beginning next week. As for those mini-kegs, a brewery source says that fewer than 7,500 are expected to be produced. I’ve included states where Bell’s beers are available at the bottom of the post (this does not necessarily mean each region will get Hopslam).

On a side note, a Michigan launch next Monday would sure coincide nicely with the kickoff of the first-ever Kalamazoo Beer Week.

MLive reports that Bell’s produced nearly 154,000 barrels last year, an increase of 23% from 2010.

Meanwhile, Triple Pundit outlines 2011 growth plans and ongoing sustainability initiatives:

We are currently wrapping up a major renovation to the Eccentric Café. This expansion includes a new indoor performance hall and bar. When completed, we will have a total of 40 taps between two bars. We also just awarded the contract for our new 200 barrel brewhouse to GEA-Huppmann. This expansion to our production site is projected at $17 million and will include the brewhouse upgrade, employee care facilities, new utilities, and some specialty fermentation capacity. We are expecting to break ground in April 2011 and be brewing on the new system in January 2012.

If all of that weren’t enough, the brewery posted a photo of at least 36 barrels on Twitter last week with the caption, “Closing 2010 with anticipation: barrels of Black Note Stout maturing for 2011. No date set. Awesome takes time.” If all 36 barrels contain Black Note, that would be enough for a bottle run, no? Per Bell’s website, “One of the most sought-after stouts in Bell’s history, Black Note Stout blends the complex aromatics of Expedition Stout with the velvety smooth texture of Double Cream Stout and ages the combination in freshly retired oak bourbon barrels for months.”

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*Distribution states courtesy of Triple Pundit: Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Arizona as well as Puerto Rico and District of Columbia.