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

srv33

Michigan

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

Cloudly golden pour, this bottle has a bit of sediment. Wonderful scents of orange, coconut, cream, and grapefruit. Taste is great, very much a pleasing beer. Sessionable. Taste of light tangerine, wheat, almond, very balanced. Would get again, a solid summer brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 23:27:40 | More by srv33

Dave1999

Virginia

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

Pours a light hazy yellow coliur with a foamy white head.

The smell is is wheat with a little bit of lemon.

The taste is much the same as the smell with a small amount of hops.

The mouth fell is light to medium and fairly well carbonated.

Overall a very light summer beer, not really my thing but probably one a non craft beer drinker would enjoy.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2012 22:49:44 | More by Dave1999

cfrances33

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Bottle poured into a Bell's snifter.

Pour: Pours a mostly hazy, bright orange, with three fingers of frothy white head. Lots of lacing, and the head hangs around for the majority of the glass.

Smell: Big, bright wheat up front, and bready yeast. A touch of orange and lemon rind. More doughy sweetness closes out the nose.

Taste: Follows the nose exceptionally, but with a greater doughiness. Lots of bright yeast, doughy sweetness, and then some smooth light lemon and oranges. Finishes with a prolonged breadyness.

Mouthfeel: Amazingly drinkable. Really is a classic spring/summer refresher. Doughiness hangs on the palate, but in a refreshing way.

Overall: One of my favorite easy drinking summer beers. I'll always enjoy this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 19:59:49 | More by cfrances33

Jadjunk

Georgia

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

A popular summer beer by Bell's Brewery, Oberon is commonly found in most package stores that carry a craft beer selection in the Atlanta area. The recent appearance of summer kegs of this beer remind me that this is a bottle that I should do a review of.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to my Bell's Tulip. Served at 44º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a crisp frothy head of a slightly off-white color. Retention is about average, and the head thickens as it settles down to a thin creamy surface blanket. Lacing is lacking as well. Body color is a golden yellow, very hazy with tons of pulpy yeast sediment to be found through the entire beer. An interesting appearance and very "summery", although the head quality is a bit shallow and the plentiful sediment is going to either make or break fans of the beer. 3

(Smell) Aroma is mostly a mild wheat base with subtle hints of citrus and mild bittering hops of a low Alpha Acid variety, as the overall beer smells neither hoppy nor fruity by comparison. A slight crackery yeast accelerates the light aromas of the beer and also contributes a mild peppery smell, neither a frontrunner of the aroma. In this regard, the beer is very mild and approachable to many, although the potential for it to expand in any direction has never been higher. Potency is a bit low and this makes many of the subtle aromatics difficult to pick up, although a less subtle banana and clove come in as it warms a bit. For a simple aroma, it's pleasant and still manages to pack some charisma and diversity into the smell. 3.5

(Taste) Flavors include a yeasty wheat cracker malt profile with a bit of bitter orange and lemon peel to pair. Finishes very dry. The dominant flavor is certainly the wheat, and like in the aroma, most of the remaining flavors that could be are very mild and hard to pick up, so they come through in small doses. Overall, this is a light flavored beer so it's highly drinkable save for the slightly too-tart and dry finish which detracts from the drinkability a notch. It's enjoyable for those who are mostly interested in wheat with little extra on the side. 4

(Mouthfeel) Semi-crisp body texture is a decent pair for the brunt of the wheat malt. Mild bitter citrus fruit on the finish along with a heavy cracker and resiny yeast profile seems to finish this beer very dry, a bit too much so to do it good. Alcohol presence is low to none. Body is light. Decent pair for the taste. 3

(Overall) This is a highly drinkable and enjoyable summer beer. There's nothing too complex about the flavor but the subtleties compliment the brew well. I find this as a beer that could go anywhere; it's not too far from being a Hefeweizen, yet it carries some subtle Wit qualities with it as well. For a Pale Wheat ale, this is a pretty nice candidate for a session beer, although the resiny dry finish clashes a bit with the rest of the beer and drags down drinkability a bit. There's not much that makes this beer highly original amongst the rest of the bunch, but it is likely to be a good choice for those who are looking for a simple, yet enjoyable mild wheat ale to pass the hot summer months. 3.5

Bell's Brewery, Inc.'s
Bell's Oberon Ale
3.65/5.00

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 19:54:46 | More by Jadjunk

CreamCity

3.55/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into pint glass

S- Herbal, citrus

A- 1 finger head, pale amber color, low carbonation, cloudy, looks dull/flat. Good lacing.

T- Slightly citrusy, wheaty with hints of yeast

M- Medium, smooth carbonation, tastes..juicy

O- Complex, can't taste alcohol

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 07:30:20 | More by CreamCity

Luigi

North Carolina

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

Pours out a cloudy orange/yellow color with a big creamy head. The retention is great as it sticks around half a finger high with lots sticky lacing in the glass.

The aroma is hinting soft wheat bread, orange peel, a light citrus hop with a mild pine background.

The light, but not lacking, citrus flavor from the hops mixed with I assume orange or lemon peel is refreshing. Soft bread matches the citrus with a mildly hoppy refreshing finish. The pine notes in the hops linger for bit.

Light and crisp in body with a creamy head

A great pick for the summer. Easy to drink and tasty American Wheat Ale.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 19:46:56 | More by Luigi

chugalug06

Colorado

3/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Cloudy orange colored brew with fluffy white head. Streaked lacing.

Lots of dirty wheat, not much else. Light lemon, rubber, and cat urine.

Very wheaty and slightly hopped. Light, smooth, crisp, and over carbonated.

A very refreshing brew for a 100+ degree day... I can't imagine having more then one Oberon, but the one is good, a mess, but good. Lots of carbonation distracts from the smooth flavor.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 03:39:59 | More by chugalug06

AwYeh

California

3.4/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottled on 4/18/12, poured into pint glass.

A: Pours a cloudy golden color– nearly opaque but pretty bright and vibrant. There's a half-finger or so of fine, white head, and a decent quantity of carbonation bubbles flowing through the glass.

S: Light bready, wheaty smell, accentuated by freshly cut grass, orange and lemon peels.

T: Quite a punch to follow up the relatively light aroma– bread and fresh grass show up initially, with citrus flavors backing them up. Taste intensifies on the finish, then lingering yeast and bitter grass/citrus flavors remain for a while. The yeast overpowers the other flavors a bit, but is not unwelcome. I might just be imagining it, but the beer seemed to taste a bit better after I poured the sediment at the bottom of the bottle into my glass.

M: Light, smooth, and crisp, with moderate carbonation. Just a bit of a tingling resulting from the beer's bitterness.

O: Despite my limited experience in the American Pale Wheat style coupled with the dramatic variance of beers within it, this one's strong flavors make it better than average. I definitely see the appeal in drinking a few of these on a hot summer day, and wouldn't mind revisiting Oberon in the future.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 21:56:50 | More by AwYeh

djbst73

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Hazy straw in color, looks refreshing. A bit of lacing, but it doesn't last more than a few minutes.

S- A bit musty with some citrus, lemongrass.

T- More wheat than I expected, but also quite a bit of citrus and a bitter finish.

M- Satisfying body, just right for this style.

O- Very good representation of the summery wheat ale. Plenty of flavor and good for sipping on a hot day.

Gonna squeeze an orange or lemon in it next time.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 01:27:32 | More by djbst73

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

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

Poured from a bottle into a New Belgium tulip. Pours out fairly hazy (unfiltered) gold with a thin head. Getting a nose with crisp notes of apple, wheat, and banana.

The beer is light-bodied with a nice firm mouthfeel and an oh-so-refreshing flavor profile. In the front of the mouth, I get a nice grainy biscuity taste and a hint of marmalade. At mid-palate a slight sour apple tartness comes in and balances out the sweetness. This beer just glides along your palate and down the back of your throat. The finish is slightly dry with just a hint of apple.

This is fast becoming a summertime classic throughout a large portion of the country. One bottle and you see why. It is one of the best, most refreshing American wheat beers out there. It's like summertime in a glass. Drinking it actually makes you WANT to go outside and mow the lawn (as an excuse to enjoy another one afterwards).

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 20:49:12 | More by deadonhisfeet

lwillitz

Florida

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12-oz bottle into thick beer mug

A - several fingers of white head atop a cloudy yellow body with plenty of floating sediment and just a few carbonation bubbles

S - wheat, citrus, honey sweetness, grass

T - wheaty malt with oranges and lemons, grass and spice from the hops leading into a dry finish

M - medium/full body, average carbonation

O - Oberon is a tasty and refreshing wheat ale. Perhaps a bit heavy for a summer brew, but a good brew nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 19:24:49 | More by lwillitz

Kendo

New York

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

Got it on tap at the Flying Pig in Malvern, PA.

A: Body is light golden with a fluffy white head.

S: Wheat twang and a touch of citrus. Relatively light in the nose.

T: Overall impression is that it's light and mild. Wheat taste is there but only faint. Some citrus (lemony orange) and spice. Finishes pretty clean.

M: Light in heft, as expected for the style.

O: Pretty good. I've had better, but it was solid.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2012 20:32:44 | More by Kendo

Rukasu

District of Columbia

4.03/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-Hazy golden, significant bottle yeast with a thick two-finger white head

S-Little scent, but some cut grass and bready wheat, faint citrus

T-Lightly nutty wheat with more faint citrus and hop bitterness

M-Fairly strong carbonation which really fills the mouth, otherwise light body and taste

O- One of my favorite summer beers, perfect for a hot afternoon outside reading or out with friends for dinner.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 19:34:20 | More by Rukasu

augustgarage

California

3.83/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Nice and fresh - exactly a month old. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Central Waters shaker pint.

Cloudy pale Stil de grain yellow liquid with a shock white collar and faint surface slick. Lees float around in suspension. Vague lacing and retention.

Heavy lemon zest aroma with hints of buttermilk, wheat, and jawbreakers.

Mellow wheat flavors incorporate a pleasing acidity and a smooth graininess. Faintly bready finish with a low hay-tinged bitterness throughout. Yeast adds a touch of complexity far in the background. Decidedly American...not a hef.

Sticky yet largely light-bodied with a touch of creaminess and zippy carbonation.

A refreshing Summer beer, best served with light meals (or in this case, paired with fresh Mennonite cheese curds).

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 05:19:27 | More by augustgarage

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

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

A-golden with a nice thick white head

S-fresh corn with a bit of fresh grass. Fairly hoppy. Medium strength

T-comes in with a great fresh taste of fresh weeds. It's a very bitter in and out. The tastes are very strong.

M-medium carbonation with crisp finish

O-One of the most bitter wheat ales I've had. This was very refreshing on a nice summer day. Definitely something I could have a lot of, though it isn't something I'm necessarily going to search out. 

Serving type: on-tap

06-03-2012 04:38:15 | More by AdamBear

JohnnyMc

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This pours out a very hazy orange and yellow with a creamy 1 finger white head.

It smells of wheat, grains, slight spices and citrus.

The taste is heavily wheat/grain with a tasty citrus/orange character followed with a slight spicyness.

Very easy to drink and incredibly refreshing. For a summer beer, you can't beat this flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 23:20:11 | More by JohnnyMc

mltobin

Connecticut

4.15/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served on-tap at some random pizza joint in Milwaukee.

Appearance is orange-ish with a couple fingers of head. This looks nice, been waiting for this one. Its` nose has wheat, grain, a little citrus. Taking a sip of this, I taste bread, citrus hops and more of the wheat. Mouthfeel is easy going, this one drinks easily, although it is near 6 %. A couple of these would be great while doing some yard work or other outdoor activity. It was on a long weekend out of town that I finally got to try this...glad I did.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2012 01:15:27 | More by mltobin

webmanspidey

Michigan

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

This is a cloudy unfiltered yellow color with moderate head. Smell contains sweet oranges and light spiciness. Taste is mostly a crisp, sweet orange flavor with very light hop undertones. This is extremely drinkable and refreshing, and a perfect cold beer for the summer.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 19:13:08 | More by webmanspidey

littlelorib

Virginia

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

Cloudy yellow-amber brew with a persistent one finger head. Smells of bread, yeast, and malt. Taste pretty much follows the smell, with a fair amount of bitterness, which i like. Mouth feel is on the light side with a fair amount of carbonation.

Haven't tasted many wheat ales, but this seems to match the description. If it is any indication of what beers in this category taste like, i should be drinking more American pale wheat ales.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 00:07:15 | More by littlelorib

happy4hoppybeer

Pennsylvania

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

Hazy/cloudy yet very light yellow with bubbly white head, very thick at the top.Very beautiful thick head, very whirly and gorgeous-looking.

Very grainy and grassy nose, with some faint fruit sweetness in the back. Defintley fits the bill of "wheat beer".

Tasty mouth full of grainy wheat, some nuts, and light malt. No hop presence. Light to medium body with thick carbonation.

A satisfying and pleasant lawnmower/summer brew, and good representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 22:59:59 | More by happy4hoppybeer

WankelEngine

Illinois

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

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass

A: This beer is a golden-straw color with a foamy white head. Head retention is decent, as it slowly fades leaving spotty lacing.

S: Smells of lightly hopped wheat and grain. A little bit of lemon zest.

T: Pale wheat is the name of the game. This is complement by some mildly earthy grains. More lemon zest with a bit of floral hops. Clean, crisp finish.

M: Thin but not watery with mild but sharp carbonation.

O: A very drinkable, summer beer. Light and refreshing. This compares favorably with 312.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 23:09:47 | More by WankelEngine

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pale hazy yellow-orange with a cropped head. 3.5

Pale wheat malt and lemon zest aroma with grains abound. Light orange. 3.5

Crisp with hop bitterness, lemon, orange, and light wheat bread. Spicy afterburn. A little green peppercorn, coriander, and hint of clove. 4.0

Well-carbonated. Thinner than medium-bodied. Tough to drink quickly. More to swig. 3.5

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2012 02:11:57 | More by thecheapies

SteveMi

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - Hazy yellow with a well lasting white head. Poured from the bottle into a standard pint glass.

S - Banana and wheaty. Sometimes I swear it smells like light caramel corn.

T - Citrus, little bitter hop. Very refreshing and smooth.

M - Well balanced. Not too creamy, not too light.

I've had this beer on tap once and, oddly enough, I liked it bottled better. The best serving I had was in a Weizen glass.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 22:03:05 | More by SteveMi

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 Oz bottle poured into a sam adams pint glass

A- Murky looking light yellow with a lot of little particles and different liquid densities in here/ A two finger big bubbled white head.

S- A lightly hopped wheatiness up front. A little fruiteness but its all about the wheat here. Fairly grainy but refreshing.

T- A nice fruity bitterness up front followed by a heap of wheat and grain. A refreshing bitterness with a light hop profile. A clean taste.

M- Very cleansing and refreshing. Light but not watered down. Goes down easy and keeps you interested.

O- This is a great summer brew, get it white its hot.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 21:40:34 | More by TwelveOunces

russwbeck

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: I mistakenly poured some of the yeast in the bottle into my Bell's tulip. It should be alright, though. The yellow color almost glows through the glass, and a nice full head rose up. The retention is really great and some lacing is noted as well.

S: Wheaty, banana-like aroma, not unlike a hefeweizen. Very light, like a Pale Ale / Hefe mix.

T: The taste is really very nice. Clean, crisp, full of wheat and a little bit of yeast (probably from my bad pour). Really the best way to describe it is refreshing.

MF: Bit of a twinge of carbonation, medium body with a musty finish. Really a very drinkable beer.

O: Nothing special about this, but I could certainly put away a lot of them. Little Sumpin/ Sumpin' was better.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 01:54:37 | More by russwbeck