This invention is directed to a process for making a methanol product from a synthesis gas (syngas) feed using a fluid bed reactor. Internal reactor heat transfer is balanced between feed preheat and catalyst bed temperature using appropriate backmixing of feed and catalyst. Backmixing can be appropriately controlled using a number of control points, including any one or more of superficial gas velocity, catalyst density in the reactor, reactor height to diameter ratio (preferably at least in the region of the dense catalyst bed), and catalyst particle size.