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

HellsBELLS24

Michigan

4.7/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Nice citrusy wheat for the summer. Tastes very smooth and has nice undertoes of citrus and floral. Had in bottles as well as on tap. The tap is much better than the bottle. I would still buy this ale for those long summer boat trips.

The mini-keg can (5l) size is also as good as the tap. I recommend no garnishes with orange or lime because I feel that the acidity of the fruits change the flavor some.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2006 02:18:08 | More by HellsBELLS24

EvilKeith

Alabama

3.63/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From notes of 05/01/2006 visit to BoneDry

Poured a dark hazy golden color, thick, dense white head. Lace was impressively thick and sticky.

On tap was served a bit too cold. I allow it to warm.
Smell devoloped into a mixture of citrusy, spiced, yeasty dough and wheat.

Taste is what you would expect for the style. Nothing overtly out of character. Nice, crisp and clean finish.

Medium-light bodied. Moderate carbonation.

Though it may be cliche, I found it to be quite refreshing. A definite session beer. Highly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-03-2006 10:21:55 | More by EvilKeith

DarkerTheBetter

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer came a honey straw color with a light fog to it and a thin creamy film of head.

Smelled of an underlying sour wheat, some dry powdery gumballs and a light grassy hop.

Tasted of light powdery wheat and baking flour with a light sticky melon and powdered sugar. I’m also getting an odd bit of lime popsicle.

The mouth feel is creamy and smooth but tragically heavy for the style with a light tingly carbonation.

Not too bad. The color’s nice, but the heaviness combined with the sweetness made this one a little much.

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2006 20:18:13 | More by DarkerTheBetter

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this on tap at the Berkley Front in Michigan. It was served in a pint glass with an orange wedge.

Smelled wiezeny and citrucy, and tasted like a classic hefe-wiezen. Maybe not as malty or heavy as Schnieder's, but pretty good anyway. I'll probably try it in a bottle next, since I can buy it close to home.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2006 00:42:59 | More by TurdFurgison

joedon

Minnesota

2.75/5  rDev -28.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

No head, lacing, little carbonation. Just a cloudy, orange-juice color.

Tiny aroma of wheat and a little citrus.

Taste was very bland, citrusy with a touch of malt.

OK mouthfeel for a wheat beer but no distinctive flavor or aftertaste.

Barely drinkable. A real disappointment. Maybe something wrong or outdated with the keg?

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2006 00:17:08 | More by joedon

stof0048

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

*Poured from a 5L keg
A: Hazy golden color with a thick head that quickly turns into a ring around the glass. Moderate lacing sticks to the glass.

S: Not a very potent smell... hints of lemon or other citrus, very light smell.

T: Wheat, citrus, faint malts, almost non-existent hops... overall a very light citrus taste that would be great for a hot summer day.

M: Very light body, quickly glides over the tongue, moderate carbonation.

D: Very easy to drink, this is a great beer. Would definitely be a nice one to have around during the summer months.

I would recommend this beer to anyone looking for a very light and crisp beer. Very clean taste but still delivers. Subtle reminder of Gose, good stuff. Will definitely have to try more of Bell's.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2005 06:35:50 | More by stof0048

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: A hazy Orange, likely caused by the Polyphenoles in the Saaz Hops used to brew this fine summer beer. Nice off white head. Loaded with yeast.

Smell: Fruit, Sweet oranges, lemon grass, coriander, a regular potpourri of dried flowers

Taste: hard candies and sweet breads, hazelnuts soaked in orange juice and laced with edible flowers, Christmas dried oranges, maybe cloves too.

Almost no wheat in either the smell or taste. This beer is all fruit and flowers.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and smooth with just enough carbonation to make your tongue tingle without having a bite.

Drinkability: High, very high. Easy on the stomach, mind, and palate.

Notes: Oberon is significantly more creamy and more aromatic on tap than in the bottle. Also, it is better in the spring/early summer than in the fall/late summer. In spring it is crisper and the aromas are more flowery whereas the beer begins to smell more of rotten oranges by September and loses something in its body. The mouthfeel, smell, and drinkability all suffer.

Or… I just get sick of it by fall.

---Update---

It's now October 12th and last night I had what will be my last pint of Oberon for the season. It tasted, looked, and felt like Miller Lite with a few drops of Blue Moon in it. This is definitely not a beer that ages well. Drink it young and early!

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2005 21:26:10 | More by DaPeculierDane

PatYoda

Colorado

2.7/5  rDev -29.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Not terrible I suppose. Hazy Orange with no head. Where is the carbonation? I've had it from several places with the same problem. Aroma is too subdued for my tastes. Some nice things there though, with citrus and a wheaty grain taste dominating. Not much spice or banana. Taste doesn't have as much of a zing to it, tastes a little muddled to me. About the same flavors as detected in the smell. A little bit of bitterness on the finish is nice. Body is a bit heavy without the carbonation to hold it up in the mouth though.

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2005 22:03:37 | More by PatYoda

beveragecaptain

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pint glass poured at Come Back Inn in Madison, WI. Hazy orange with half an inch of white foam. The aroma is a little weak: some lemon and apricot, not much wheat. Tastes like a fruity pale ale. Not much wheat flavor. Crisp lemon. Mouthfeel is thin. Sure this beer is quite quaffable, but other than that it is not impressive. A decent summer beer, but I don't get the cult following.

Serving type: on-tap

09-11-2005 19:52:10 | More by beveragecaptain

tjthresh

Indiana

3.73/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

I came across this beer on tap at Waldo Pizza. I was server to me in a standard American pint glass. Hazy yellow with a small white cap. Citrus aroma. I’d swear there was Cascades in there. Wheaty and citus/spice with a nice touch of bitterness. A real thirst quencher.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2005 12:44:28 | More by tjthresh

Golden2wenty1

Wisconsin

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

On-tap at the Glass Nickle location on Atwood Ave here in Madison. Enjoyed with a bloody mary and a half/half Thai/Mexican pizza that was amazing.

Pours a golden straw color, a little cloudy and with a tiny white foamy head that turns to a spotty, thin coating. Smell is fresh - fruity and floral notes with a pale hoppiness and a bit of wheat graininess. Taste is much of the same and the fruit and floral aspects become more pronounced as it warms. Fairly highly carbonated, but not to the point of a bite. Mouthfeel is creamy but refreshing nonetheless. A good summer beer that went down well on a hot summer day that is approaching 100 degrees. I'm not much of a pale ale advocate, but this was a pretty tasty, fairly complex brew that I wouldn't hesitate trying again on a hot day.

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2005 20:56:46 | More by Golden2wenty1

redmosquito

Michigan

3.78/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Well I've probably had this beer over 100 times and I've never rated it, so last night when I had one I figured its about time. Yellowish opaque white in color (served with an orange which I removed) with a white head. The beer is loaded with malt, bread and sweet wheat, and citrus. The flavor is sweet with moderate bitterness, wheat malt blended fresh bread, and a slightly fruity and even more slightly spice. As a wheat beer it has plenty of body and a nice lingering sweetness. This is one of the best summer beers out there, refreshing, not overly hopped or spiced, and well balanced.

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2005 18:15:40 | More by redmosquito

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

One of the better American Wheat Beers.

Aroma: Quite mild. Low maltiness. Low fruit. Low yeast evidence. Slightly tart. Slight bitterness. Slight sourness. Yet, mouth watering in it's subtleties.

Appearance: Mainly a murky orange with some golden shades. (Good for the style) Dense 1" head that remained firm at about 3/4". Nice carbonation. This one wants to come out and play.

Taste: Actually a little maltier than I expected. Malt is quickly held in check with bittering from mild hops and yeast bitt-ey characters (by the way, not bad.) An astrengent tartness helps out...of the nature of lemon rinds. A creamy body. A round body. A full body. Not thick. More like...refreshing. Slightly spicy or peppery throughout...maybe a touch of corriander, cinnamon, and clove. Slightly bannana-ey and bubble gum-ey. Finishes a bit tart, but not terribly dry.

Aftertaste: tart fruit flavors stay around after sweetness and bittering subside. Leaves crisply and refreshing.

Impression: a great everyday beer. It will beat most American wheat ales anytime. And for the price, it's a bargin. One of the best thirst quenchers around. It's not Bell's summertime beer for nothing.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2005 03:13:55 | More by BEERchitect

BuckSpin

Maine

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tried this on tap this evening. Poured a SOP murky, pale slate-gold with a tight 1/4" head of mildly clinging white foam dancing on a fountain of numerous bubbles.

Nose is very mild, citrusy if anything. Initial taste on the tongue is like the nose - mild, citrusy (faint lemon), maybe some spiciness, kinda creamy. The tastes level off on the pallete and it finishes sharper on the throat with more pronounced flavors of the initial tastes. Aftertaste is slick, but not unpleasant.

This is a safe beer. No real adventure to speak of. This would fall into the "if nothing else is available" category it would be a good beer, but I'll pass on buying more.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2005 23:41:47 | More by BuckSpin

TastyTaste

Minnesota

4.72/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Much better (and I assume fresher) than last time I had this beer. There was a big malty presence that was clearly the basis for the classic wheat beer flavors, Which were delicious anyways. I could taste a little alcohol, which was definitely an attribute of this beer. Excellent wheat beer, served at my request without citrus garnish. This is a good beer for any summer wheat occasion.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2005 04:48:40 | More by TastyTaste

Brian700

Michigan

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

I've been drinking this beer for years. Time for an update on my review. this beer pours and orange color with foamy white head when poured right. The head usually disappears a while after the pour. It smells of fruity esters, citrus, & yeast. The taste pretty much follows the nose. There is a definate fruit presence. Orange and also a yeasty flavor that is rather nice. Maybe my taste buds have changed over the years but this beer taste a little more yeasty than it had in years past. Good mouthfeel and overall a very drinkable beer. I consume more Oberon than any other beer ever. A beer like this can make Michigan winters real long since this is a seasonal summer brew.

Serving type: on-tap

05-31-2005 07:24:30 | More by Brian700

asabreed

New York

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

Served in a pint glass at Bado's in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

A great name for a beer, and I've been excited to try this one for a while. And now that it's summer, let's do it.

Appearance: I expected this to be more yellow than orange for some reason, but it seems to be more orange in color, and that makes for a more beautiful beer in my opinion. Hazy, with a nice head that stays close to the top of the glass with the pour and also stays nicely on top of the beer with each sip.

Smell: Some herbal tones, grassiness, malt, yeast, zest, some sweetness. However, it seemed pretty unbalanced, and the amalgam wasn't as cohesive as I wanted it to be.

Taste: You're damn straight you should be drinking this in summer, and I wouldn't want to consume it at any other time. Here the taste is more balanced than the aromas, as the sweetness of the malt comes through mostly at the beginning, with the zest following closely, finally leaving a slight hop bitterness into a balanced malt sweetness. Though this could be more interesting, it's done well, and it's very refreshing.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied, and though I wish it was creamier, it's still quite nice. Seems to become a bit less palatable as it warms, but only slightly. I wouldn't want it ice cold, but I wouldn't want to drink this from the cellar either of course.

Drinkability: There are other beers I'd rather have than this, though it's still a great treat and surely something to be drinking on a summer day for a refresher for both body and taste buds. With some more care and attention this could be a damn fine beer, but as it stands it's good. Not something I'm going to buy a case of, but something I'll definitely try again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2005 19:11:20 | More by asabreed

jasonpeckins32

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a pint glass with an orange wedge. A cloudy pale gold color with a decent white head that leaves nice lacings around the glass. It smells citrusy, a lot like oranges. Also smells of strong of hops, and some wood-like notes. This beer tastes of mildly bitter hops at first, followed by a lemony-orange flavor that is finished with a warm bread taste. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied. This one makes a wonderful summer beer. Definitly worth a try!

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2005 19:00:30 | More by jasonpeckins32

SupaCelt

Michigan

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

The appearance was of a super cloudy, copper toned, glass full of sludge. A fresh keg spewed forth this less than ready to be served offering. It had a tannish wheat style head and produced no glass garnish. It just was not looking like a proper way to start the Oberon season.

The nose had orange peel scents and yeasty accents. Smells light and wheaty.

The taste was just unimpressive. I hope this glass was just a premature serve, because this was not the stuff I once knew. There was an unpleasant bitterness that didn't fit the picture quite right. It is hard to characterise. Watery and off bittered with no help of a sweet backbone. WTF? Disappointment to be sure.
I remember this particular beer being a heck of alot mo' betta around the turn of the century ( maybe 98, 99, 00 ). I used to look forward to its arrival during those days. Yeah, it was about the only micro I had ever dipped into in those dark ages. Malt liquor and other macros were my bread and butter and Oberon was my only trump card. Still, I think it has depreciated in character and taste since then based on the last few sixers I've drained. Now I had a crummy glass off tap too. I am shocked and hurt. I want my Solsun back! I have hope.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2005 07:59:08 | More by SupaCelt

soper2000

Texas

2.8/5  rDev -27.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

From scrawled notes:
Arrives at the table with some doubts. The beer is a super light, almost yellow orange but with a decent head, which quickly recedes. Aroma is of malt and wheat. I don't get many bannana or hop notes from the nose. Taste is well balanced but just lacking something for me. Starts grassy, has a little citrus kick in the middle and finishes with wheat accents. Mouthfeel seems a little too thin in my opinion. While it's very drinkable, this just does nothing for me. In a way I was hoping for beer more in the vain of Gumballhead, but what i got was more crossover beer/Berghoff-esque. Will try again, but I'm not too excited about it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2005 01:49:54 | More by soper2000

lackenhauser

Maryland

3.8/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Saw this in the store but shyed away from it since Im not the biggest wheat beer fan around. Went to dinner that nite and it was the only decent thing on tap. Poured a nice lite hazy orange color. Not a lot of aroma-slightly floral,almost a touch grassy. Nice crisp flavor-touch of citrus. Some fruit notes in there but I cant honestly say what kind. Very well balanced and refreshing. Good summer beer or a great alternative to anything heavier you might have with a meal.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2004 22:20:50 | More by lackenhauser

donnebaby

North Carolina

3.23/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served very cold. Cloudy light gold color with a milky thin froth. Nose was sweet pear.

Basic taste, with some light toastiness in the aftertaste.
Shallow carbonation. Smoothed out as it warmed.

Not too impressed with this beer, which seemed to be a basic wheat summer brew. Good looks and nose, but not even very drinkable. Would've liked a little more of a thick mouthfeel.

Will have to try this beer again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2004 18:36:08 | More by donnebaby

99bottles

Pennsylvania

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

On tap at KClinger's.

Apperance: Body is a very hazy yellow-peach color and has a foamy, rocky head of about an inch with below average retention.

Smell: Interesting. A dry and hoppy breath of Saaz and some citrus flavors of lemon and orange.

Taste: This is a unique beer. It's like a witbier but not quite. The taste has light spicy nutmeg, some clove, and loads of citrusy orange and lemon and a really odd sweet aftertaste. It's like cake-mix. It's um, different. Yeah. Different.

Mouthfeel: Nice and light, like a witbier ought to have. The taste gets in the way though.

Drinkability: I could see these going fast if it's your style. But it's just a little too strange for me. But, I did finish my pint unusally fast, trying to figure this one out. So, drinkability is good.

Serving type: on-tap

08-30-2004 17:34:25 | More by 99bottles

Southernbrew

Georgia

3.13/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the Hopleaf in Chicago.

Nice looking light orange color, average head.

Big yeast and light citrus aromas, so far on target for a wheat beer.

Very creamy, little carbonation. Very light flavors in every department. Yeast and orange flavors are most noticable but not particularly strong.

Not too impressive, I was excited to try a Bell's product, but I probably should have picked something else, pretty boring.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2004 16:49:17 | More by Southernbrew

alexgash

Connecticut

4.2/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I must say that I like this beer much more on tap than in bottle--and I'm not generally one to make a huge deal out of the serving. With that said, out of the tap comes a lightly hazy golden lemonade body with a wispy white head. Smells of snappy wheat malt, with refreshing citrus hoppiness and yeasty character throughout. Taste is solid, crisp, wheaty malt up front with a light biscuit element. Mones into a refreshing, almost sour citric hoppiness. Some yeasty taste. Finish is citrus bitter tang. Medium bodied, yet thirst-quenching and a great summer beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2004 02:31:56 | More by alexgash