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

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I had purchased a 5L CAN on my last excursion to Pinocchio's and I had it sitting in the reefer awaiting an appropriate moment to tap the sucker when my neighbor invited me over for a backyard BBQ. He thought I was joking when I said that I had a keg that I would bring with me, not knowing the scope of The CANQuest (TM).

From the CAN: "An American wheat ale with the scent and color of a midsummer night's dream."; "[2011] Art by Philip Kaufman".

The trick with an oversized CAN like this is to have it on the edge of a table or sink so that the glass can be held far enough below the tap to create some head. I got a finger of soapy, bone-white head with decent retention from my pour. Color was a very cloudy orangish-yellow. Nose had a wheat-like sweetish snap to it which was very pleasant with dinner. Mouthfeel was quite soft with an initial orange and lemon citrusiness on the tongue, but then the mustiness of the yeast took hold. Finish was dry and musty and quite pleasant. I may be drinking the remainder for a couple of days so it is a good thing that I like it.

Serving type: can

09-05-2011 20:27:12 | More by woodychandler

WoodBrew

Illinois

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

Neighbor bought one of those huge cans....that poured like it was from the tap...but was in a can. The Oberon from Bells is a very good wheat beer. The color is cloudy light amber with nice off-white head. The scent is spicy with hints of orange. The taste is very good...proper balance with hops and malt with a good spice and tinge of orange peel. The mouthfeel is very easy...definite session ale.

Serving type: can

08-01-2011 23:52:56 | More by WoodBrew

kingcrowing

Vermont

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

2L mini-keg poured into a tulip.

Pours a hazy amber color with a small white head with almost no lacing. Nose is fruity, yeasty and a bit malty.

Taste is smooth and crisp a bit sharp but very tasty and very easy drinking. Mouthfeel is creamy and refreshing. Overall it's very good.

Serving type: can

07-02-2011 00:57:14 | More by kingcrowing

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

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

I had this from a 5 liter draft can. Poured chilled into a tulip.

A - A hazed dark golden w/ 2 finger rocky frothy head. There is a nice effect of visible carbonation and a light cap of large bubbles

S - A yeast and wheat odor dominates w/ lemony hop notes

M - Creamy feel w/ a soft yeast texture, moderate carbonation, med body and sweet nutty finish

T - The taste is crisp with lemony notes as the carbonation subsides w/ puffed wheat cereal flavor that has a creamy edge. The flavor of yeast is present w/ a nice mellow spice from wheat and hints of American hops are there as it finishes

D - High drinkability and smooth quaffability - perfect ale for summer since it is light in mouthfeel but not light on flavor.

Serving type: can

08-04-2009 11:28:06 | More by Slatetank

gabeerfanswife

Georgia

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

Some friends got a hold of one of those mini kegs of this stuff. So it was a very large can.

A: hazy like a wheat beer; straw in color.

S: bready with a bit of tang.

T: very different than a wit or hefe; a lot more barley taste. Kind of a straw flavor but with some tangy aftertaste.

M: creamy and smooth.

D: I could drink this all day but I won't. Its the queen of tailgating beers, especially if you are looking for better offerings than BMC.

Serving type: can

07-29-2008 22:20:47 | More by gabeerfanswife

Hoptrollop

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I was surprised when I found out this was a wheat beer, it was while I was drinking my second glass. Once I knew that I could pick up some of those attributes but mainly in the nose and mouthfeel. The hops really overwhelm the wheat but then the finish is sweeter then the usual pale ale.

Serving type: can

07-12-2008 17:42:19 | More by Hoptrollop

shroompod

Ohio

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

5 liter mini keg, I'll call it a giant can.2007.

Pours a golden cloudy color, good head. Minimal lacing.

Smell is fairly muted, faint grassiness. This could be my allergies.

Taste is minimally hoppy. Slight lemon zest.

Mouthfeel is crisp, somewhat dry. Good Carbonation.

Drinkability of this beer is high. A good lawnmower, summer session drinker.

Serving type: can

05-28-2007 16:06:58 | More by shroompod

Roman5150

Michigan

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

bottle into pint glass

appearance: cloudy yellow- orange unfiltered with 1 finger white head

smell: citrus, cloves, coriander, wheat, rye,

taste: very smooth wheat backbone with subtle citrus and rye notes, very refreshing and highly drinkable.

mouthfeel: highly carbonated, light body

overall: Perfect summer beer, I went to school in Kalamazoo and Oberon Day is one of the best days of the year. Don't even bother if it's more than 3 months old, i'd even stop at 2. It's amazing fresh and and tap as well, even served with the stereotypical orange peel. Highly drinkable, if you like wheat beers this is one of the better American versions, maybe because they use only ingredients from Europe.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 05:48:31 | More by Roman5150

bobbyr5

Michigan

4.54/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Orange/ yellow

S: Orange, Wheat

T: Taste the citrus from the orange. Surprisingly good compared to other wheats

M: Medium carbonation.

O: One of the staple Bell's beers, and deserves the credit. Cheap price for what you get.

Serving type: Bottle in pint glass, no orange peel

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 21:48:25 | More by bobbyr5

andrewjraab

Michigan

4.56/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A - pours a pale orange with good head at first, that quickly disappears. Decent lacing, not much head retention.

S - orange peels, grains, wheat, bread. A light nose, but smells wonderful.

T - The most amazing blend for a wheat ale. I don't usually prefer wheat ales, but this brew is the most unique and drinkable beer I have ever had in this category. Crisp and refreshing, citrus notes, faint bitterness to close to bite just a bit for some lip smacking goodness.

O - This beer defies the odds for me. I can't place my finger on it. I don't really enjoy any other beers in this category, nor would I choose to drink any in this category. This beer needs its own genre and that would be ass kicking, highly (and dangerously) drinkable summer ale. It is the quintessential american summer ale and is an absolute must try. Note - although it goes against the grain for the beer purist, you must try it with an orange peel. This beer paves the way for the right of spring in Michigan. Amen Bells. Amen Oberon.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 03:40:31 | More by andrewjraab

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.81/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Served on tap in a pint glass

Appearance – The beer pours a very hazy golden amber color with a one half finger white head. The head has a moderate level of retention, fading over about a 5 min time period to leave a lighter level of lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The nose is quite heavy of an orange citrus mixed with lots of grainy wheat. Along with these smells is a yeasty nature as well as a little bit of cardamom and clove spice. Rounding these smells out are some grassy and more herbal hop aromas giving a rather nice mellow smell overall.

Taste – The taste begins, as the nose would have suggested, with a wheaty and orange citrus flavor. As the flavor advances, the yeasty flavors come along and bring with them flavors of a light corriander spice and some banana. A grassy flavor comes to the tongue more toward the middle of the taste and gets slightly stronger as the taste advances to the end. Along with the grassy flavor, the wheaty flavor grows in strength and becomes more grainy with more yeasty flavors coming to the tongue as well. With the mix of flavors that reside at the end, a rather grainy wheat and yeasty citrus flavor is left to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel- The body of the beer is on the average to slightly creamier side for a brew of 5.8% abv with a carbonation level that is rather average to slightly above average. The creamier body is very nice for the wheaty and grainy flavors of the brew while the citrus is nicely accentuated by the moderate to slightly higher carbonation.

Overall – A nice drinking American Pale ale with a good blend of wheat, yeast, citrus and grassy flavors. Rather tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2013 00:56:53 | More by Darkmagus82

Auraan

Arizona

4.9/5  rDev +27.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured a beautiful cloudy golden with a finger and a half fluffy white head that left lots of lacing. Scents of yeast, bread dough, and a bit of a citrus and orange. Flavor is crisp and refreshing with flavors of orange peel, doughy wheat bread, floral hop notes and some earthy flavors on the finish. Mouthfeel is light bodied, with moderate carbonation, a bit thicker than a normal wheat beer but with less carbonation than usual. An amazing wheat ale, the best I've tasted. The best part is that you can get it easily year round in Arizona.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 08:54:47 | More by Auraan

magictacosinus

California

3.64/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured on tap in a 6oz tumbler at a Beer Garden we found in Chicago. Review is from my notes.

Presents itself as a pale, light golden amber color complete with a frothy head that lasts a long while. Lacing abounds all over the glass in a delightfully sticky presentation. Carbonation is modest, with very little bubbles gliding to the top. Appears to be slightly thicker than I imagined with each swirl (probably due to the yeasty, wheat backbone on this), but overall is a pleasant, inoffensive American pale what ale.

At the nose there are lots of citrusy and floral bittered notes that meld with a honey sweetness and yeasty, fruity flavor combined with cracked golden grains. The aroma gets very soapy as this warms up, but that doesn't stop it from being good enough. There's racked golden grains, slight touch of sugar cane, and citrus notes ranging more towards the lemon side. A little bit of an alcohol sting creeps in, but it's subtle. Nothing's too complex here, although it is mellow.

The flavor continues more of the same, with the emphasis growing on the flowery, nectar flavor as well as the soapy hops melded with the wheat and grain. The wheat luckily makes this a slightly thicker drinking experience, and while I wasn't used to the floral flavor at first, I eventually learned to enjoy it as it combined with the grainy sweetness and crispness. There's a tinge of banana, maybe pears at the tongue, but it seems the emphasis is on the grains and the floral hoppy notes. Gets a little too soapy at the finish, although there's a sweetened aftertaste that makes this refreshing. The beer is definitely chewy enough, although it does lack some character in loosing carbonation way too fast. Gets a little watery towards the finish. Somewhat pedestrian, although not necessarily mediocre.

Like all the beers I had at this place, this one by Bell's works very well in the warm weather, especially sitting outdoors and pairing with a nice sandwich. Nothing offensive here, although definitely didn't enjoy too much of the soapy flavors. I really found the floral notes pretty flavorful, and it was good to see that twist in this otherwise way too overdone style. This is one by Bell's that I wouldn't mind grabbing again when I'm in the area again, although there's many more I'd like to try from them!

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2013 18:47:29 | More by magictacosinus

downeyj4

Michigan

4.64/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

There's a reason why this is the leader of Bell's Brewery. It's a great beer. It's great to drink on a warm day. Your friends drink it too. It's on tap just about everywhere (In Michigan at least...). It comes with an orange, sometimes. There is a great amount of citrus and the Saaz hops really bring it all together. Overall, one of my favorites.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 03:52:53 | More by downeyj4

sharlie

Michigan

4.64/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I love this beer for the summertime. It has a bright dark golden hue along with a lively mouthfeel. It is great for the summertime because it has a very crisp and citrusy flavor. It has a slight finish of yeast and hops. I think that a Oberon is similar to my favorite beer, Blue Moon. Finish the beer off with a slice of orange makes it a perfect beer for a summer day.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2013 11:45:02 | More by sharlie

Kelsiemoeller

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Applearance-Very cloudy orange, some carbonation, ligher than last year's color

Smell-Wheat, orange, lemon, some spice (clove) notes. With a tad bit of citrus hops.

Taste-Oranges, wheat, lemon, some grass, good balance, slight bitterness. (served with orange slice, typically)

Mouthfeel-Light to medium bodied, some carbonation, but slightly watery. (good summery drink)

Overall-A wonderful summer beer, sweet and easy to drink drinking.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 18:11:37 | More by Kelsiemoeller

Thaddeus

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Golden orange, with about a finger of a frothy white head.

Aroma & Taste: Not an overpowering nose, has orange notes with some grain. The beer is medium bodied with orange and citrus. There is also a slight bitter, earthy aftertaste. Great summer beer, especially when garnished with an orange.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 15:58:52 | More by Thaddeus

armiakhe

Michigan

4.18/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

The appearance of this OBeron Ale from Bell's Brewery was a pale orange almost gold with a white foam edge. The smell a slight citrus with grainy in it. The taste was a little bit of grain with an orange character taste with a hop to it as well. The overall quality of the beer was very good and I'd recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 13:22:15 | More by armiakhe

Anker13

District of Columbia

3.28/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Appearance - Cloudy with chunks of yeast floaties that eventually settled to the bottom, pale orange, thin white head

Aroma - not a lot there, slight citrus and bread, grainy

Mouthfeel - moderate CO2, medium bodied (fuller than I imagined), slight coating

Taste - sweet bread, slight fruitiness, grain, little orange character

Residual - slightly off aftertaste, coating

Overall - Was expecting more. Over the last month I've seen an excessive amount of 20+ case displays of oberon so I figured it was worth checking out. Wasn't a terrible beer, but also wasn't a particularly good one... I certainly do not understand the hype. There are a lot of better wheat beers out there.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 02:08:54 | More by Anker13

noahallington

Michigan

4.65/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

One of my favorite beers! A scent of oranges greets you as you pour it out of the bottle. It is a brilliantly clear deep golden color. It has a distinctively wheaty, yeasty flavor, with a bit of hop on the end, rounded with a citrus flavor. The tartness of the citrus notes make it a crisp, refreshing beer, perfect for a summer day.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 22:57:23 | More by noahallington

Catherine8189

Michigan

4.59/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Great beer for a good mood with a bright dark golden hue and full, lively mouthfeel. Crisp, citrus flavor is very relaxing with a slight finish of yeast and hops. I love this beer. Wish it was available all year long, but then the opening day would not be aas fun. I equate Oberon to the McRib, in as its scarcity makes it even more desirable. Great Michigan Beer from a great brewery!

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 21:36:29 | More by Catherine8189

finstadp

Michigan

3.63/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Bell's Oberon Ale is a Michigan craft beer. This beer has an amber appearance with a nice foamy head. The smell is a little hoppy and has a strong hint of orange. The taste also has very strong orange notes. It has a light mouthfeel. Overall this is a very refreshing beer and I would strongly recommend it to non-beer drinkers trying to ease into beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 03:04:41 | More by finstadp

orcsinspace

Virginia

3.21/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Okay, this beer is exactly why I tend to be annoyed by the recent "craft" craze. Bell's has quickly become the darling of the craft movement--at least where I live--and this beer is average at best.

The head was totally absent, and the beer's color was the same as if I just pissed into a glass after some light yard work. It is watery and thin, and a sickly pale color when compared to other wheats, like Starr Hills The Love, for example. The mouthfeel was water, and similar to a Bud. Sorry, but I have drank a lot of Bud, and this has the same feel to it.

The smell was average. It just smelled like someone popped open an adjunct lager. Nothing to writng home about, and nothing to really dog the beer over.

The taste was very mediocre. It was not bad, but it also was not great. This is a huge problem to me, because this beer runs about 12 bucks a six pack, and it doesn't even compare to most local or national brands. I could almost buy twelve better beers for just a few bucks more.

This is the first beer that I had of Bell's, and it basically backs up everything that I think about people acting snobbish about craft beer; this beer is hands down the most overrated beer that I have ever consumed.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2013 19:01:19 | More by orcsinspace

punky796

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass.

A - Golden-yellow, cloudy honey color. About two fingers of cream-white head that leaves healthy lacing. Can actually see particles in suspension.

S - Citrus, wheat, a bit more alcohol than you might expect from this type, and just a hint of coriander, but maybe I'm imagining that. Hops, too. It's all there.

T - Wheat, honey, orange, lemon, coriander (again, maybe), banana (a nice touch in wheats and their brethren), hops, and alcohol (but not too much). A blast of awesomeness that shouldn't be able to be this well-balanced, but it is.

M - A little more carbonation than you might expect, but it works for this beer. Leaves you with a fuzzy feeling and that neat oily, filmy feeling on your teeth & tongue.

O - Oberon has always been one of my favorites. I'm proud to say I killed a mini-keg of this stuff once on a summer tubing trip in college - so it's sessionable, but not THAT sessionable. It's like drinking a bottle of sunshine and I look forward to its release every season.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 11:03:23 | More by punky796

sbxx

Illinois

2.68/5  rDev -30.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75

Bottled 3/20/13
Poured into pint glass

Appearance - Very cloudy honey color. 2 fingers of foam. Thick, splotchy lacing.

Smell - Musty wheat.

Taste - Wheat, malt, background citrus.

Mouthfeel - Medium body, light/med carbonation, wet finish

Overall - One of the most overrated beers I've had to date. Is it bad? No. But I have no idea why I keep hearing about it. Glad I just have the one to try and not a full six pack.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 00:12:09 | More by sbxx