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

FFudnam

Michigan

4.55/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

2004: Just purchased my first case (this year, heh.) and the Oberon maintains its wonderful flavor profile. I wholeheartedly agree with the review written by feloniusmonk. Could I have said it better? Perhaps, but his review sums it up nicely.This stuff rocks my world.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2004 22:23:37 | More by FFudnam

cdrogers

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from bottle to Sam Adams glass.

Appearance> Golden in color. Very clear, not much haze at all. Long-lasting white head.

Smell> First smell hit me with room-temperature smashed strawberries. It smelled a lot like I was making strawberries and shortcake, nice warm-sweet aroma. Citrus hit after the strawberry and then I could smell the wheat coming through. Light and wonderful.

Taste> Light to medium wheat flavor, hops come through, but definite fruit as well as other citrus notes (read the smell description above).

Mouthfeel> Medium carbonation, medium body.

Overall> Exceptional session beer. Very smooth and the fruit and other citrus notes make this great. Not overwhelming with the body and it's an all-around great American wheat beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 01:27:37 | More by cdrogers

centbeerfest

Missouri

4.55/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a frozen pint glass and served with an orange
Deep golden hazy color with an excellent head. Nicefruit bouquet. Hits the mouth with a crisp and welcome depth. Not a light unassuming beer but more of a spicy complex flavorful beer
This has lunch written all over it.
Added the orange halfway through. Don't recommend. Dulled the flavor and lessened the impact.

ithis would be a fantastic beer if you were buying a keg for both casual and more interested beer drinkers to enjoy.

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2011 16:48:56 | More by centbeerfest

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

Sixpack595

Michigan

4.53/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Yellow-orange in color, slightlt coudy with a thin white head. Aroma is lemony with a floral hop note. Flavor is light and fruity with a strong malty base. Sweetness is balanced almost a hint of a sweet tart. Flavor is moderately dry with a very slight sweetness lingering. Mouthfeel fairly light without being watery. Drinkability is outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2004 07:05:01 | More by Sixpack595

beakerboy

Kentucky

4.53/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Selection from Liquor Barn's Ultimate Brew Crew-July 2006, Summer Seasonal Beers

A:Unfiltered hazy yellow with a nice sized white head. As the head receedes, a substantial laceing is left behind on the glass.

S:The smell of yeast, malt, hops, and nutmeg(?) dominate.

T:Great taste. There is more hop flavor and less citrus flavor than many other wheat beers.

M:Very good on the pallette.

D: A great all-around summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2006 20:44:58 | More by beakerboy

waltonc

Colorado

4.53/5  rDev +18%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Oberon is a summer time favorite of mine from the days in Ann Arbor. Brings back fond memories of drinking on the porch after an afternoon of canoing, jumping off the railroad bridge into the Huron River, or doing nothing. Clearly, my review of this beer is biased by associations, but whatever.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2007 03:18:11 | More by waltonc

marcpal

New Jersey

4.53/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had first at Eulogy in Philly and enjoyed another bottle to try again- both equally tasty.
Poured this bottle into a blue moon chalice.

A: Hazy orange with a pillow big frothy head. Lacing sticks around.

S: Predominantly belgian wheat. Fruity aroma without being too sweet.

T: Pleasant sweetness and a touch of hops with the complete wheat taste. Spicy orange, in this version as well as I was unhappy they tossed an orange in it at Eulogy.

M: Unique, a full body and chewiness for a wheat of the style. The dense beer is still incredibly refreshing. Really shined here.

D: Oh so drinkable. Tasty and one of the most refreshing on the market.

Highly recommended, have to grab a case next time Im in PA- great summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2008 20:16:42 | More by marcpal

wnh

Missouri

4.53/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

12 oz. bottle poured into a pint glass.

Pours a cloudy orange-tinted-straw, more orange than many wheats. Held up to the midday window, suspended yeast particles can be seen filling the glass. Smooth, creamy white head that diminishes to a light film across the surface; more fizzy as the glass empties.

Nose is bright and sweet, though not as bready up front as I was expecting. I can't say this is necessarily negative, as it smells wonderful nonetheless. Bright, clean citrus that seems to be a careful and expressive balance of lemon and orange.

That missing bready quality comes through on the tongue. A quick and fun interplay of orange, then wheat, then orange again. A light splash of lemon comes in next, to brighten the overall experience. A few more sips and the yeast starts to poke through, but not forcefully. Rounds out the palate with a nice slightly sour bready twang.

Medium bodied, as expected due to the cloudiness and suspended yeast. Rich, but not thick -- a good thing in a wheat. Lots of lively carbonation, and quite quenching. Somewhat dry on the finish, which despite bringing things down a notch beckons me to take another sip (gulp, perhaps) to quench the dryness.

Very drinkable. Flavorful enough that every sip is pleasant, but not so in-your-face flavorful as to make every sip a chore to decipher. I can nail down the flavors in a few sips, then sit back and simply enjoy them while I finish the glass.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2009 15:56:38 | More by wnh

ibbjamin

California

4.53/5  rDev +18%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

My girlfriend just got back from a trip back to the hometown in the midwest and brought back 9 12 oz bottles of this. She picked the up for $8.49 for a six pack of 12oz bottles from Discount Liquor in Milwaukee, WI. Three bottles didn't make it back.

We attended UW-Madison and this was the beer of choice for us chilling in the summer on the terrace listening to bluegrass and having good time with friends. Those were the best days and this was the best summertime brew. Served on tap at the terrace, I'm not sure if anything could have beat it for those hot summer days chilling on the lake. So I pour a cold one into a pint glass on this 100+ degree day and reminisce of the good ol' days. I digress...

An inch and a half of somewhat frothy off white head. Not much head retention. A light orange very cloudy, murky wheat color. Well carbonated. Minimal lacing.

Smells like a great balance of wheat, light yeast, lemons, orange, sweet malts and citrusy hops. Very light and refreshing on the nose.

Taste is light and refreshing. Sweet malts perfectly balanced with citrus hops and the crisp finish of a wheat beer.

Medium body, extremely smooth, and a drinkability that is second to none.

Best summer session beer. Period. To be enjoyed on a hot day, and if you get this one on tap, it tastes twice as good as out of the bottle. One of my all time favorites.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2009 00:45:04 | More by ibbjamin

jsolack

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance:
This has to be one of the cloudiest beers I've ever drank. It looks like banana puree... Head is very think and lasts. Lots of lacing.

Smell:
Sweet bread and yeast are the first two things I smell... defenitly different than a typical Hefe... no banana smell.

Taste:
A very sweet and tasty brew. Very grainy in mouth with a bread like finish. Very good.

Mouthfeel:
Super thick and creamy in mouth. Coats tounge well.

Drinkability:
A great brew. Unique taste and smell along with great feel in the mouth makes this beer a winner.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2004 22:21:05 | More by jsolack

livin4jc

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12oz Bottle from Wine Country Illinois, Homer Glen, Illinois
Apparence:
A orange-amber cloudy color. You can see the wheat and hops in the beer. Unfortunately, first glance I could only think of a drug-test specimen!
Aroma:
A wheaty fruit filled-frangrance made this beer quite appealing to me.
Taste:
Medium bodied and refreshing. You could taste the Saaz hops and a distinct but not overpowering citrus flavor. A quality well-balanced beer.
Mouthfeel:
Smooth, creamy, and not very carbonated. Great for the summer evening grill-outs.
Drinkability:
Very refreshing. A good wheat beer and not overpowering. This is the best wheat beer I have had! However, I'd have to leave it in the bottle!

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2004 05:00:06 | More by livin4jc

ghostwalker

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Great summer brew, one of my favorites. I've had it on tap many times in years past, most recently last month, but this review is for a 12 oz bottle I brought from a trip to MI.

Poured into a Ommegang chalice. Nice white head, about 1/2", didn't last long or leave any lacing. Visible yeast chunks in the bottom, I love it!

Good smell, not strong, lemons, malt.

Great taste, kind of like a Samuel Adams Summer Ale, but much more so. Great citrus and malt flavor.

Very, very drinkable. After a day swimming and skiing on a lake, this stuff can go down extremely fast. Too bad I can't find it in MA. I also heard that this was supposed to be released in 5L kegs this summer, but never materialized.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2005 23:41:22 | More by ghostwalker

Metalmonk

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

The pour/swirl/pour produces a hazy yellow color similar to a pear/peach juice mixture. Head is big and billowy, taking a while to settle and leaving plenty of lace in its wake. Some floaters here, due to the intentional agitation, and that only makes me even thirstier. I'm salivating like one of Pavlov's dogs...

Aroma has light essences of peach, pear, wheat, and even fainter elements of sweet spices. Would've liked the aroma to burst out a little more, because everything here is nice, just too mellow.

Flavor is amazing, making it clear that Bell's can do lighter, less extreme beers just as well as the bigger bastards they're known for. Big, big juiciness; tropical and citrus fruits come together with a wheat touch bringing up the bottom end. Bitterness of freshly mown grass in the finish (not that I've ever tasted fresh lawn cuttings). Yeast comes through just a tad, offering an earthy, almost mineral element. Tastes better than any other U.S. pale wheat I've had yet. There's almost no comparison.

Mouthfeel offers succulent creaminess, moderate carbonation (ie. just right), and ample thickness.

This is great. A pleasure. Bell's is clearly a cut above the rest. Don't freak out because it's a Bell's brew under 8%. Highly recommended. Thanks to mnwags for this. Please send more Nick!!!

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2007 21:26:10 | More by Metalmonk

tab021

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I had this as my first beer on my 21st birthday. I saw it again on tap and thought that it is high time I actually enjoy this one...

A: Cloudy orange color with a nice head that lasts throughout. nice lacing as well

S: citrus/orange and sweet wheat.

T: Refreshing sweet and even a little fruity taste that finishes quickly. Definitely one of the best wheat beers I have had.

M: This one is very different. It is thicker, but it is so clean and refreshing even, that it feels close to perfect.

D: This is a fantastic beer. Easily one that could become my favorite. Easy to drink and enjoy, while not so dull and lame that it is a throw away beer. Highly highly recommend this brew.

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2008 17:42:25 | More by tab021

tjkurz

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful summer beer hazy orange/yellow smells of citrus and hops. Tastes of great wheat and some citrus fresh and refreshing but not weak. Mouthfeel is substantial and grainy. Drinkability - my favorite summer wheat beer - I try others only to be disappointed - I had to pick up a sixer of these this summer to finally scratch my summer beer itch.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2008 17:05:44 | More by tjkurz

johnd513

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours an orange color with a head that disappears quickly. The taste is wheat, orange and some banana. This is the perfect summer beer. Best enjoyed on the beach. I have had this beer on tap while out at the bar and it just doesn't seem as good unless its enjoyed on a nice summer day.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2008 02:34:34 | More by johnd513

aepb1

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A- Golden nearly opaque with a small white head

S- Light wheat and a little citrus. Not a whole lot of fragrance going on here

T- Nice balance between the hops and malt. This is surprisingly sweet and great for a nice summer beer, or a year round beer down here in Florida ;-)

M- Nice mouthfeel, the sweetness is present throughout so I think it's part of that mouthfeel as well. Not sickening, just certainly present

D- Love it and I drink it quite often!

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2010 00:46:54 | More by aepb1

jtucker7

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is truly a perfect summer beer, with a far deeper taste than I initially expected. On the first sip there is a light taste of citrus with a fairly well rounded finish, but every sip that follows brings a different experience, deeper citrus notes and the bitterness rounds out well the further down the bottle I got. At its price point it is truly a great beer for a summer party, or just sipping alone outside.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2010 23:54:31 | More by jtucker7

jhenderson88

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Serving Type: bottle poured into a glass.

Appearance: A beautiful golden murky color.

Smell: Citrusy and summer sweet smell

Taste: great taste of citrusy fruits, sweet with a light carbonation.

Mouthfeel: Super smooth, clinging to the back of the mouth.

Drinkability: A great beer, easy to drink.

I found a mini keg and will buy it next time I see it, it's a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2010 07:22:18 | More by jhenderson88

mtrctyjoe

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Initial Thought: Holy crap this is awesome beer...

Amazing truly american wheat ale .... spicy and fruity - great for the summer time. If you like a good wheat beer, try this one.

I truly love this beer. One of the best. I have yet to drink a bad beer from Bell's.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2010 22:27:14 | More by mtrctyjoe

mmthompson33

Kansas

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

This beer is a king among summer wheat beers. Take a while to stare down the artsy sun on the label, and it will put you in the mood for an Oberon. It's a Saturday afternoon type of beer - a great lead in to a long night. Fruity, lemonish and light. The perfect summer beer. If this beer were an artist it would be Van Gogh.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2003 21:47:14 | More by mmthompson33

proc

Michigan

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

2004: Ah, spring has arrived.
This year's version of Oberon is a bit more cloudy that last year. It pours out to a wonderful, pastel, bright yellow in the glass with a nice head. The aroma is still that of wheat and yeast. This year's version is less hoppy than previous years and more on the fruity side. This, in my opinion, makes this beer a wonderful summer treat. I'll take Oberon and its citrus/wheat taste over a traditional banana/clove hefe' any day. Yes, I am a homer on this one. It still screams summer to me. Its not complex, nor should it be. Satisfying and delicious? Yes.

2003:Oberon still rocks. This year's version is quite different from year's past. It pours out to a pastel-golden color in the glass. Cloudy, but not as "orange" in color as in year's past. The signature Bell's yeast taste has been subdued and this IMO, is a good thing. The taste is more straightforward in the style of a hefe/wheat without the ultra-agressive hop presence of year's past. This may be the most refreshing version of Oberon ever. Yum. I'm going to get one right now....

2002: Somewhat more carbonation this year. Lighter in citrus taste as well. Pours to a cloudy, golden color with white lacing on the glass. Still an excellent summer thirst quencher. This wheat beer is in a class of its own. There is no other wheat beer that tastes like it.

2001: A fantastic summer beer. Unfiltered, somewhat yeasty, with a light citrus taste. This is what a summer beer is all about. A treat during the warm months.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2004 02:09:50 | More by proc

BrewMaster

California

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

I'd heard about this beer and I was looking forward to trying it when I went out to Michigan on business. I was not disappointed and I am not a huge fan of wheat beers, but this one was great.

Poured from a 12 oz bottle. The beer was a cloudy yellow orange color. The aroma was full of pear, apple, and pale malt aromas.

The first thing I noticed in the flavor was the buttery character to it. Very unique and good. The malt is very bready and has the distinct wheaty taste. There are also some light notes of citrus, particularly orange.

The beer is very soft and comforable on the palate and is a good all-around beer. I could drink this beer all day if I could get a hold of it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2004 21:28:33 | More by BrewMaster

nota

Michigan

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

I have not had a beer that I so look forward to drinking it again in a long time. It poured maze with lots haze in color. Very cloudy with floaters, but thats ok with me. citrus/orange taste. I smell a little wheat. Goes down easy. One of the best summer drinks in my book!

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2005 22:41:20 | More by nota