Bell's Oberon Ale - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

zac16125

South Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a weizen glass
Bottled on 8/17/11

Pours a crystal clear light amber yellow with 1.5 fingers width of white colored head, which takes a while to dissipate down but leaves effectively zero lacing.  Aromas of biscuity malts, some mild citrus including lemon zest and Orange rind.  Not an especially great aroma but not bad.  Taste is not terribly complex,but quite enjoyable.  Citrus is more prevalent in the taste than on the nose.  I get a lot of pear, some mild orange, and a faint of peppery spice.  A big wheat character as well.  Pretty tasty.  Mouthfeel is crisp and clean, on the lighter side of medium bodied, with an appropriately high carbonation.  Drinkability is good. Overall, a pretty good sessionable beer for a warm day in the sun.  Not overwhelmingly impressive, but a beer I've enjoyed many times and surely will drink again if the setting is right.  

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 01:57:57 | More by zac16125

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a weizen glass at refrigerator temperature.

L - Hazy deep gold color with a massive 4 finger thick bubbly white head. Excellent retention and some of the best lacing I’ve ever seen.

S - Lots of bready malt and lemon or orange zest aromas. Perhaps the slightest scent of earthy and citrus hops.

T - Bready malt and wheat followed by the fresh sweetness of citrus fruits like lemons and oranges. Gets a hint of bitterness at the end from citrusy hops. Not much to describe but it has a clean, refreshing taste.

F - Light bodied with a slight tingling sensation from the carbonation, a creamy texture, and a crisp, clean finish.

O - This is a very solid summer session beer. Not very complex but tasty nonetheless and very refreshing. Plus, it’s light on the ABV so you can sit out on your porch in the warm weather and have a few without feeling like a zombie. Not much else to say here except that it’s a wonderfully designed beer for the late spring and summer months.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 21:42:58 | More by BlackBelt5112203

msh4k3

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz Bottle poured into ping glass. Packaged 2/23/2012

A. Translucent yellow bottom, and a dull orange on top. 1 1/2 finger head.

S. A little citrus, a little of the malts, and a little wheat. A little more than you get on some macros.

T. A hint of lemon, then a bit of biscuity malts. Then you're left with a hint of a hop/wheat bitter after taste which is pretty nice.

M. Real creamy, and easy to drink. Little bitter back end which wants you to drink more.

O. Its a pretty good Wheat Ale. Pretty mild, smooth, and creamy beer. Pretty decent price point $8sih a 6 pack with a decent ABV. If you're a fan of bells malts and style then this shall suffice you on a hot spring/summer day!

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 01:37:38 | More by msh4k3

Swim424

Florida

3.35/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into terrapin/proof pint glass

A-golden yellow, sort of copper orange up to light. small retaining head. lots of bubbles

S-wheaty, with some possible orange or apricot.a bit weak

T-strong wheatiness, with a fruity finish. Maybe orange, mango.

MF-high carbonation, thin body. Sort of citrusy aftertaste.

O-definitely a summer beer to enjoy by the pool, with fruity finishes and light feeling. maybe a little less carbonation

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 01:39:37 | More by Swim424

Nuke77

Tennessee

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into an Allagash glass the beer presents straw- colored, light yellow and cloudy. If poured and served too cold there is a significant amount of yeast floating around. The smell is very subtle but does get more yeasty as the beer warms up a bit. The taste is light and refreshing with a very light and fizzy mouth feel. Overall this is a delightful little hot weather brew that I could drink all day.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 18:02:50 | More by Nuke77

ChadSimmons

Indiana

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at a local bar for the first time and it was so delicious I had to stop by a local bottle store and pick up a sixer.

A- Pours a cloudy, golden-yellow color that is very inviting with 1.5" head. Visible sediment is apparent.

S- Smells very fruity! Apricots with hints of citrus.

T- Hints of citrus but not too overwhelming. The citrus is a perfect balance to the malt. There is a trace of hops but it is well hidden.

M- Medium to light body that leaves a semi-dry finish. Very refreshing!

O- A very good beer that hits the spot on these warm days Indiana has been having lately. I would definitely buy it again. Yes, I will say it . . . sessionable!

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 23:12:47 | More by ChadSimmons

DavyTheFatboy

North Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a Roth Brewing pint glass.
This has always been what summer looks like to me, going back all the way to when it was Solsun. It's a golden yellow, cloudy, rich-looking cup of sunshine. The head is fluffy, white, and leaves a sticky lacing that won't wash away.
Smells, as others have noted, of wheat, orange zest, and just slightly of malts.
Taste is unmistakably Oberon: Plenty of wheat to tweak your tastebuds, but lots of smooth citrus notes as well, none that bite though. It's the magic of this beer to leave all the bite to the wheat, none to the citrus notes or hops. Speaking of hops, they're in here but only in the background, and even then you have to look for them. There is also a mild presence of esters but nothing that seems on par with anything European. The beer finishes cleanly with more orange zest and an almost dusty aftertaste. It may sound odd but it's good.
The mouthfeel is rich and wide. This beer quickly coats the palate and begs for barbecue to compliment it. Carbonation is dead-on this year. It has been in the glass for over 10 minutes now and I can get lost watching the cascade effect as the bubbles go up and the particle floaties come down.
Overall, as a native Michigander I may be biased but this beer is just about perfect for summer.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 19:57:20 | More by DavyTheFatboy

anth0ny

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured fresh from a bottle from yesterday's release day. Love the label design, especially the box.

Ok, this year's batch of Oberon is hazy gold with some unfiltered floaties. Beautiful silky solid white head with great lacing that just coats the glass. Definitely looks appealing.

The nose is dropping hints of 'thin' and 'light'. Light wheat and lemon/orange rind aroma. Eh.

I'm getting all wheat and orange in the taste, some light sweetness. Very mild flavor with an extremely light aftertaste. Very drinkable.

Medium-light body, extremely smooth on the mouth. Perfect carbonation. Good summer session beer.

Overall Oberon is a very inoffensive beer from all angles that most anybody can enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 03:06:46 | More by anth0ny

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Oh how I miss Oberon when its gone. Had to go out and grab a sixer when it came it at lunch.

Pour is a slightly cloudy bright yellow. Tight white head. Strong wheat twang, light hints of clove. Taste pretty much follows suit. Up front wheat twang, with a bit of clove and Belgian esters hidden in there somewhere. Very full body, with the sweetness of a German Hefeweizen without the loads of yeast esters. This is what separates Oberon from other Wheat Ales. It has the backbone without being too sweet.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2012 18:48:28 | More by VncentLIFE

merryjoulton

Arkansas

2.5/5  rDev -34.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a pint glass and had to double check to make sure I wasn't pouring a bmc... color is very light yellow with no head at all to speak of even with a vigorous pour. Minimal bubbling in the body. Smells like the back alley of a college bar, just generic malt and stale hops. Mouthfeel is on the verge of being flat. Overall a disappointing brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 18:48:33 | More by merryjoulton

elNopalero

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I’ve been drinking Oberon long enough to remember when it was called Solsun. The original name stuck with me, and now I still think of it whenever I have this brew.

This pours a clear golden color. Theres’s a good amount of foam topping it, with a light aroma. Tastes smooth, with a wheaty finish and some sweetness. Real crisp and clean. Crack one open and enjoy the memory of a Michigan summer!

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 21:15:01 | More by elNopalero

00trayn

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a lovely golden color with a generous head, slightly hazy in the glass.

S - Like the bottle says, it smells like a summer days. A fruity scent is balanced with sweet and citrus notes.

T - A refreshing fruity beer with a hint of spice to it. A classic belgian wheat with a twist. Finishes sweet and delicious.

M - Creamy and just the right amount of carbonation. It's great when it's 90 degrees out.

O - A fantastic summer beer that I wouldn't mind enjoying all year round.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 01:22:21 | More by 00trayn

angusdegraosta

New York

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got a six pack from a Publix Supermarket in Sumter County, Florida. Bell's Oberon is a beautiful golden orange color, well-carbonated and crisp; head retention is average. Not hugely aromatic, but you can smell some of the wheat-style hops and malt. Taste and mouthfeel are both very enjoyable. The complex citrus tartness combined with the carbonation makes this beer fit the crisp and refreshing bill. I like the term American Pale Wheat Ale to differentiate this style from a classic Hefeweizen. Bell's Oberon is a great example of this American homegrown style; neither brutally hoppy nor insipidly bland, it's a good, lively, drinkable ale in warm weather.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 04:36:14 | More by angusdegraosta

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for giving me a bottle

Consumed 1/9/11

Appearance: A bright golden color with some orange - cloudy, with a little white head that leaves spotty lacing

Smell: Very mild - some light wheat - a light spiciness and some light fruitiness - a little citrus, a little lemon - not much in the aroma, but not much to complain about

Taste: A solid wheat beer - light, clean, slightly toasted wheat - some mild spices, like clove - light fruits - some citrus, orange and lemon - lightly sweet - more complex than I anticipated

Mouthfeel: Light, smooth, nicely carbonated

Overall: A great American Wheat Pale Ale

I probably drank this a few months late, but it's still very good. It's not the best, but it's surprisingly complex. Much like just about every beer I've had from Bell's, I would drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 06:49:08 | More by angrybabboon

DrinkinBoy

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bell's Oberon Ale pours a hazy orange tinged gold with a creamy white head. The head has good rentention.

It has aromas of malt with hints of spice and citrus.

The taste is crisp with hints of lemon citrus and some hints of fruity esters.

Its mouthfeel is crisp and refreshing with a good amount of carbonation for the style. Its body is on the light side of medium.

Overall this is a good example of the style. It is very sessionable and perfect for the season.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 05:19:11 | More by DrinkinBoy

Jparker37

Wisconsin

3.7/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a weizen glass.

A - Nice medium sized white head consisting of medium sized bubbles. Turbid yeast in a yellow beer. Left no lacing to the glass.

S - I get bright lemon foremost. The smell can also seem to be a little tropical. I get a big smell of wheat also.

T - I get a slightly sweet, light wheat flavor right away. Midpalate is where I pick up on that powdery belgian yeast. Also here there is a bit of earthy/piney hop flavors. Finishes with a good bit of hop bitterness and a little bit of warmth. Balanced to a point but maybe a little bit on the hoppy side.

M - Has a mid to light body. Carbonation is moderate which might be a little low for the style. The feel seems to be semi-dry with an alcoholic warming finish.

O - I enjoyed my first American Pale Wheat Ale on beer advocate and honestly didn't know what exactly to expect. The appearance was pleasant but maybe I should have decanted differently as to not disturb yeast as a traditional hefeweizen. The smell was bright with reminiscent belgium saison characters. Lemony/tropical vs banana/clove. Taste had great wheat flavor and again cool yeast, also the hop curveball was pleasantly unexpected. There was sold body for the style, it was under carbonated for my liking. Doesn't seem to hide alcohol very well. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 22:49:44 | More by Jparker37

WrathsU

Florida

3.28/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Golden body with bright white head. The head isn't that thick and doesn't last that long but the body color and head color is fantastic.

S - Not much here. Pretty faint malt smell.

T - Nice light wheat and fruit tastes. Slightly orange tasting, but again kind of light and not that pronounced.

M - Medium-light body with a nice carbonation level. No alcohol burn.

O - Good session beer, very drinkable, unfortunately just lacking in intensity.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 23:11:42 | More by WrathsU

soju6

Missouri

3.35/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours a hazy orange-copper color with a nice head and some lacing.

S: Aroma of citrus and sweetness. There is some hint of wheat and herbal spice.

T: Taste is a bit too sweet with some citrus and herbs. No real bitterness and sticky sweet finish that lingers.

F: Medium body and smooth.

O: Decent beer, but not one that I really enjoyed due to the sticky sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 18:29:02 | More by soju6

Airedoggie

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: A hazy orange-amber with sediment bits floating in suspension. Nice frothy head with moderate retention and decent lacing

S: Clean citrus, spices, and sweet wheat, almost yeasty.

T: Lemon and orange citrus hops up front, with a lingering earthy and spicy aftertaste.

M: Smooth, medium bodied with a nice balance of carbonation

O: A delightful wheat brew. Easily drinkable. My favorite summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 03:10:58 | More by Airedoggie

erosier

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

L: Pours a hazy amber orange color with a medium sized and medium bodied white colored head that laces the glass nicely on the way down.
S: Smells of sweet toasted malts, sweet wheat malts, hints of citrus and a bit of yeasty aromas at the end.
T: Tastes of sweet wheat, nice hints of citrus (orange, grapefruit, and a bit of lemon) and yeast flavors to finish it off. It's a nice take on the Pale Wheat genre.
M: Crisp, refreshing, perfect amount of carbonation, medium bodied.
D: Overall this is a very sessionable beer with a nice mix of flavors that aren't too overpowering, and a nice feel to it.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2011 11:22:55 | More by erosier

Duhast500

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip glass.

The color is a hazy yellowish/orange with two finger of foamy white head and some nice lacing left on the glass.

The smell is a nice wheat aroma with some slight funk that comes into some bitterness before coming back into a nice sweetness.

The taste is grapefruit and bitter hops mixed with citrus flavors. There is some rose pedal flavor that comes up into the flavor and turns things around. There is a bit of a juicy-fruit flavor that comes and goes before retreating into the background.

The feel of this beer is a good drinking beer with some interesting flavor notes and a body that is full of surprises. This beer is smooth and still sweet with some things tied in the back end with malts.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 07:20:24 | More by Duhast500

AEArider

Arizona

4.28/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

"Light" and "refreshing" tend to be catch words for beers that don't usually bring a lot to the table in terms of complexity or overall quality. Well, this is an exception. Poured a slightly hazy orange with a very fluffy head, leavings lots of lacing. Smell was dominated by citrus, but not in an overbearing or artificial way, rather, well complimented by yeast/wheat tones. Tastes delicious. Hits the mouth with a crisp explosion of citrus, ending with an enjoyably hoppy bitterness that lacks in other interpretations of the style. Loved the mouthfeel. . . light enough to drink at a summer bbq without compromising on what really makes a good beer a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 03:03:41 | More by AEArider

Neorebel

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy amber hue. Lots of sediment in the bottle. Medium head with some lacing present. Vibrant citrus and floral aromas jump out with sweet candy, and a funky wheat. the wheat flavor is very sweet and crisp. It coats the mouth with a tingling 'pull' on the palate in the finish. Definitely a good beer for the summer.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 02:12:56 | More by Neorebel

jifigz

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into a pint glass.

A: The beer pours a clear orange/yellow with a nice head that lingers for quite a while. The beer left great lacing throughout the drinking process.

S: The aroma is of very light wheat and some sweetness.

T: This beer is extremely light on the palate. There isn't much flavor at all other than a mild wheat flavor. There is a tiny bit of hop bitterness towards the end of the swallow. There may also be some notes of light citrus and some spice.

M: This beer has the creamy wheat like MF that I have come to expect from American wheat ales.

O: This isn't a bad beer, and the longer I took to drink my glass and the warmer the beer got the more I appreciated the flavor. The warmth also started to bring out some more complexity that I didn't notice at colder temperatures. A pretty good summer ale and I like the allusion to the Fairy King and Shakespeare.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 15:36:33 | More by jifigz

drtth

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a footed, straight sided glass similar to a Stange glass. Glass of cold water on the side to sip from periodically. Bottled Aug 2nd, 2011.

Appearance: As served the beer is a rich, hazed golden amber color with a ¼” white head that recedes slowly. Sipping leaves scattered bits of lacing. By the end of the beer the head and lacing are gone.

Smell: The aromas involve some wheat and a goodly amount of fruitiness that is definitely citric and smells a lot like orange.

Taste: The flavors include some nice light crisp sweetness from the malt that is nicely tinged with traces of orange and lemon, including enough zest like character to give the beer some zip. None of the flavors dominates the others and so the beer has a nice light complex character not always found in Pale Wheats I’ve tried.

Mouthfeel: The mouth feel is on the light side of medium and goes with the refreshing flavors that fill the mouth. The carbonation is persistent. The finish begins in the sweet fruitiness which persists for a while until everything turns nicely dry at the end.

Drinkability and Overall Impression: I found this one nicely drinkable and it has earned a place among my top choices for future purchase in this style of beer. It is a smooth drinker and quite refreshing. The last half of the beer also went quite well with the Cheese Quesadillas and green salad that I had for lunch. My overall impression is that yet again Bells has come up with hit rather than a miss. While it s not a home run it clearly a base hit is at least a double or even a triple bagger.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2011 17:10:40 | More by drtth