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

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

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

Bottle from the brewery. Refreshing, particularly in Indian Summer day. Pleasant malty aroma on a medium yellow body with a lot of white creamy head, that leaves droplets of lace. Creamy mouthfeel, easy drinking above average mouthfeel. Pleasant beverage throughout, wheat well integrated, mild bitterness that finishes a tad sweet from wheat.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2009 02:18:38 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Oberon: King of the Fairies in William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. It's a little past midsummer night I'm afraid, but an early July day will have to do.

Significantly hazy lemon-amber with a large, bone white head that falls sloooowly and settles at a thick disk for nearly the life of the beer. A decent amount of lace in scattered scraps finds its way to the glass. The nose is of wheat and spice with a hint of pear-like fruitiness.

I'm enjoying the taste and the mouthfeel very much. Oberon is more flavorful than the vast majority of wheat beers and is both light/easy drinking and substantial at the same time. The flavor profile is equal parts untoasted wheat malt and softly bitter, spicy-herbal hops. Again, there are subtle, but unmistakable, pear and green apple notes.

The beer favors sweet right out of the chute and on the backstretch, while favoring dry and crisp at the wire. It's also blessed with a quality body/mouthfeel that matches the flavor perfectly and is just right for a summer seasonal; not overly thin like many.

This just might be my favorite wheat beer to date. Bell's has done a wonderful job with Oberon and I now wish that I had picked up an entire six-pack.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2004 18:30:48 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

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

Don’t ask me how I had one of these left in my fridge all this time, but I found it last night and decided to give it a try. Poured a nice golden amber, with a nice yellow hue. A nice medium sized head of white fizzy foam started on top and then faded gently down into just a thin film across the top. Some decent side glass lace. Smell was light, lots of grain with a somewhat muted hoppiness in the back, kind of pilsner like. A light bread like base made up most of it. The taste was pretty straightforward. Light bodied summer ale, lots of wheat with a hint of orange peel in for good measure. There was the slightest touch of a bitter pine finish at the end. Overall this was a nice summer brew. It came off a little bit bigger then your average light ale and had a decent bright flavor profile. I would say this would fit nicely on a warm day and it was a quality session ale. I really can not fault it, it is what it is, and it was decent.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2007 01:21:53 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.25/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Gabriel for sharing this one.

A: The pour is a very vibrant straw color with a pronounced cloudiness and a bit white head.

S: Quite a bit of the wheat comes though on the nose to provide a definite sweet, cereal aroma. There is a hint of tartness as well, but overall a very light nose.

T: A similar story when it comes to the flavor. Light on the palate with some lemon and wheat flavors, almost berliner weiss like. Still, some sweetness comes through at times.

M: Quite light on the tongue with a crisp carbonation that would definitely make this one refreshing on a hot day.

D: I do not understand why this beer does not get slammed like others of a similar style do. This is really no different than most of the beers being advertised by brewpubs as "hefeweizens".

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2010 21:49:51 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

G: Poured into, of course, a Bell's Oberon pint glass.

A: Pale golden-orangish-yellow (enough colors?) with a naze haze.

S: The pale wheat is definitely there, and somewhat obscured by a citrus spiciness.

T: Citrus and spice along with the wheat backbone.

M: Quite light and crisp; good carbonation.

D: A very nice summer beer and one that is quite sessionable indeed. My gateway beer to the craft world.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2009 05:44:01 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a yellow-orange body with a full, foamy head that evaporated rather quickly.

Smell: An aroma that's discreetly wheaty, with only a very, very minor amount of clove and banana.

Taste: A brief malt sweetness with hints of orange juice and lemon before a burst of yeasty sourdough kicks in. The taste of freshly grated nutmeg synches up with the light, spicy hop finish.

Mouthfeel: Light-bodied. High carbonation. Slightly oily mouthfeel.

Drinkability: Lively, smooth, and refreshing. Oh, and I really do appreciate the restrained wheatiness, Bells!

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2007 03:52:33 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

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

Appearance: Pours a cloudy pear nectar with a modest head that leaves a couple of lacing waves

Smell: Tangy sour orange aroma

Taste: Starts with a wheaty and orange fruit flavor; mid-palate, a burst of brown sugar appears and hangs around ; the finish develops a pithy tartness

Mouthfeel: Medium body (surprisingly thick for the style) with prickly carbonation

Drinkability: Unusual flavor profile for the style, but rather enjoyable

Thanks, DrunkenPanther, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2006 17:19:49 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.33/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a hazy yellow ale with some white haze and a medium bubbly white head with average retention. Aroma of weak wheat with some discernable hops. Taste is quite refreshing with a nice dose of wheat back with some sensible Saaz hops, which provide character without shadowing all the malt. Body is above average and about right for the style. Very enjoyable beer overall and would make a great session beer for hot summer days.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2006 19:54:01 | More by Phyl21ca

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

oberon

North Carolina

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

It is very much a Michigan summertime staple,although my friends stock up to drink it year a round.Good cloudygold'orange color,taste of orange in the palate along with a little buttery tinge.The butteriness comes through for me on tap,have drank way to many of these I think,and boy I do miss it so!

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2003 08:07:53 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

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

With summer comes Oberon... glowing, golden, and hazy like the sun through southern California smog! The bright white head holds well, buoyed by rising bubbles from beneath, but the lacing is a bit limited given the wheat content.

In the nose, wheat malt dominates with just a bit of yeasty/citrusy hop fruitiness.

The flavor, however, offers a little more with the addition of some more citrus fruitiness that includes a touch of lemon and a light dusting of non-descript spice (clove?). It's maltiness is lightly bready and nicely balanced by a firm bitterness and citrusy acidity, and it finishes chalky dry with a lingering note of dried fruit (apricot, tangerine, citrus rind).

A decent enough summer beer to be sure, and one with just the right amount of character to fit in at any number of events (back yard BBQ, fishing, sporting event, relaxing at sunset, etc.).

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2006 20:35:43 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

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

Served in a Devil's Backbone weizen glass.

Figured I'd grab one o' these guys before they disappear for the rest of the year. It pours a pretty clear pale straw, riddled with particulates, topped by over a finger of healthy white froth. The nose comprises orange peel, mandarin orange flesh, puffed rice, and wet wheat. The taste comprises corn syrup, wheat, light mandarin orange, and flowers. The body is light, with a light carbonation and a thickly watery feel. Overall, a decent APWA, nothing close to special, but highly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2010 21:42:01 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

Brewed and kegged one week ago (3-25). keg tapped 5 minutes ago.
It's a hotly anticipated sign of spring in the Midwest, the arrival of the Bell's Oberon, and I'm ready for my first, fresh sip of the season.
Color: a thick, opaque yellow/orange body. Tap Oberon is thick and cloudy at the top and the bottom of the keg, but it pours clear after a few a few pints are pulled. Head is nice and white, thick and lasting.
Aroma is delicate, but brimming with zesty citrusy notes, spices, sea-foam. In a nutshell, the tingly orange flavor dominates Oberon's taste profile. Carbonation is low, yeasty component of this unfiltered brew is tasty, tasty, tasty and adds significantly to the supremely delicious and downable mouthfeel.
As with many other Bell's products, the style is not presented clearly in the name or on the label. This used to be called Solsun, until a Mexican Brewery took umbrage. I believe they steal the name from Shakespeare's Fairy King in "A Midsummer Night's Dream." It is described as "an American wheat ale with European ingedients", which still doesn't answer all the questions. Czech saaz hops are used, and imported (from where?)wheat malt, but no curacao zest or coriander are mentioned. That aside, it tastes more like a Belgian witbier than anything else, but, like many Kalamazoo offerings, it belongs in a class by itself.
This beer plays very lightly on the palate, delivering zingy, spicy, and very fruity hops, with an utterly delicate, and thirst-quenching texture. Wheat isn't tasted as strongly as in other wheat beers, goes down very smooth, but still adds considerably to the texture. This is a beer that makes itself at home in the mouth, and makes one quite comfortable during it's stay. Long, delicious finish. Light body. So easy to drink! Everlasting finish!
There are many tasty, thirst-quenching wheats out there, but only one Oberon. The fruitiness really pushes it forward! Supreme acheivement, and a beer I'll be enjoying all summer long!

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2003 17:22:58 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

4.05/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a hazy gold color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a wonderfully refreshing scent that boasts of pale and wheat malts along with a light citrus zest. It has a light breadlike character that adds a bit of depth to the malt bill. The taste is good. It has an extremely smooth malt flavor that boasts of pale, Munich, and wheat malts. It goes down easy and finishes slightly breadlike with a mild fruity zest and wheat malt crispness. The mouthfeel is great. It is a medium/full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a great summertime treat. It's fuller bodied than most, but it has tremendous flavor.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2007 19:15:26 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

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

Beer is yellow and hazy, forms a head of small white bubbles that doesn't leave any lacing on the glass. Carbonation is moderate.

Aroma is slightly sweet and has a little but not much fruit aroma to it.

Medium body, nice carbonation in the mouth. Some sweetness, finishes wet. Some grainy bitterness in back. Its a good summertime light ale for drinking after a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2010 01:18:21 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

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

The beer pours a hazy yellow color with a medium-sized white head. The aroma is wheat, pepper-like spices and citrus. The flavor is heavy on the wheat, black pepper and orange. Reminds me of orange sherbet. Very low bitterness. Low carbonation and a medium, creamy soft mouthfeel. This would be a great beer to drink on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2010 04:35:26 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

4.19/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.75

12 oz bottle pours out a cloudy, pumpkin-like color. There was white, one-finger head and some lacing. I smelled lemon and other citrusy flavors. I could definately taste the yeast flavor and the citrus, as well. The mouthfeel was a little grainy, but it was still pretty drinkable. I think it is a good wheat.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2006 00:16:07 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

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

A: The beer is hazy pale yellow in color. It poured with a quarter-finger high off white head that died down and left lacing on the surface and a thin collar around the edge of the glass.
S: There are moderate aromas of wheat in the nose along with notes of orange peels.
T: The taste has a very slight amount of sourness along with flavors of wheat, notes of orange peel and hints of spices.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and clean on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is very flavorful for the style and is also quite drinkable. It is a good summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 01:42:53 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

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

Pours a hazy straw color with a hint of orange. No real head when poured but when roused forms a thinish white head. Aromas of yeast, fresh bread, wheat, and a bit of lemony acidity. The taste is spritzy, lemony, with a hint of yeast imparted complexity (perhaps a hint of banana and a bit of clove). This is a nice easy drinking hot weather beer. I like the bit of lemon-acidity, whithout which this beer would be a dud. As this beer warms up the fruitiness picks up a bit. There is a nice bit of spiciness, which seems to be from a hop contribution. Certainly recommended if you are in need of Summer time refreshment.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2004 00:41:26 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.47/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Acquired via trade from Frozensoul327, so a big “Thank you” goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a weizen glass.

A: The beer is a light amber color with a large off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a spotty lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is full of citrus (orange & lemon) along with a a little wheat and decent burst of hops.

T: The taste is very fruity with flavors of lemon and orange along with a mild wheat background. There’s a mild flavor of hops bitterness that comes in next and gets stronger as you continue to drink the beer. The malt character is mild. The after-taste is sweet and slightly bready.

M: Crisp and very smooth, light-to-medium body, medium carbonation, very clean finish.

D: Very tasty, goes down very easily, not too filling, good representation of style even if it’s close to being an IPA with less hops. This is an excellent beer that I could drink for long, long time.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2007 02:37:22 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

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

A really great beer for the spring and summer. The beer is an orange golden color with a nice head on it. The aroma screams citrus more specifically orange. The taste is citrusy just like the aroma. The aftertaste is juicey and refreshing with a little tingle in the back of the tongue. The wheat gives the beer a light mouthfeel which in turn makes this brew quite good.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2011 02:20:19 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a hazy straw color with 3 fingers of off-white head. Average head retention & lacing

S: Slight straw with grassy & lemon notes

T: Lemon & orange hops up front. Honey malt with white pepper & lemon with just trace of estery yeast in the finish

MF: Medium bodied with low carbonation & great balance

Drinks easy, a nice, if expensive (purchased in Charlotte, NC) summer quaffer

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2007 22:13:12 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

3.38/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle, batch 9772,

A: Pours a cloudy dark yellow with a moderate white head, some lace.

S: A mild nose, some notes of lemon Pledge and wheat, some orange, but I'm not too excited at this point.

T: Orange heavy right off the bat, with some notes of white spice mid-palate. Hops are relatively high for the style leaving a bitter pine finish, this is nowhere near pale ale bitterness, but it is there.

M: Biting carbonation, crisp, lemony aftertaste. Relatively light-bodied and easy going on the palate.

D: I finally get to try the Midwest summer classic, Bell's Oberon. For the style it's above average, better than Blue Moon, but it does remind me a lot of that beer, the bitter spice component is similar in both beers.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2010 03:21:30 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

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

Poured a cloudy yellowish orange color with a 1" head. The aroma was of strong citrus and yeast. The flavor was decent as the wheat gave a grainy texture to the brew, while citrus and yeast tones were strong. Possibly a touch of honey flavor in there too. Kind of sweet for wheat brew.

The mouthfeel was dry and smooth at the start. The finish was dry with a light graininess. Enjoyable, and an overall nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2004 23:50:30 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

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

Poured very cloudy yellow with a thin, but well-retained white lace.
The smell was citrusy - especially lemon and wheat.
The taste was just that - wheat and citrus fruits - mostly lemon, some orange.
The taste was creamy and thick for a summer brew. It had a touch of a tang from the wheat. Very refreshing.
A friend of mine recently went on a trip to Michigan. I asked her to bring back some Michigan beer for me and she returned with this. When I saw I thanked and and thought: "Another boring summer brew?..." But, I was pleasantly surprised. I wish that they sold this around here. It's a good summer brew!

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2006 18:13:20 | More by jwc215