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

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

smalenberg

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured to a pint.

A - Aggressive pour will foam out of the pint before the bottle is empty if you aren't careful. Big white foamy head leaves lace on the glass throughout the enjoyment of it. Poured the whole glass and got a big shot of yeast at the end. Probably could have treated it more like a home brew to limit the haze a bit, but as a wheat, it should have that character anyway. Golden yellow with tinge of amber to it and cloudy as any German hefeweizen.

S - Yeast and lemon and some floral/grassy hop character along with wheat malt character. Yeast and wheat gives a bready quality to the nose that is followed by the citrus.

T - Don't put a wedge of lemon in this American wheat because it tastes like it is already there in just the right proportion. Citrusy and refreshing.

M - Kind of grainy and fuller than you might expect. Somewhat of a medium body. Slightly drying.

O - This beer makes me think of summer and on a Michigan spring day that was preceded by a snow squall it helped me think warm thoughts. This is an easy drinker that you can enjoy in sunshine or even to let you imagine that sunshine when the sky is overcast. Great summer brew. I'd enjoy this spring through early fall with an Indian summer, but it really is a style that lends itself to nicer weather.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 20:02:11 | More by smalenberg

malloyca

District of Columbia

3.46/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy orange gold with a medium, foamy head. Faint aromas of yeast, mild citrus and some spice. Pleasant and grainy on the palate, there is a lot of carbonation in this which lends nice mouthfeel but obscures the flavors a bit. For this style, though, that's ok. Very refreshing. I would not hesitate to throw six of these in an iced bucket in the back yard on a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 22:05:31 | More by malloyca

ChrisKayler

Virginia

3.99/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Drinking this one from a mini keg!

Glass: Samuel Adams Summer Ale glass.

Appearance: Hazy sunflower yellow, a thick two finger head that lingers for quite some time. A great looking beer.

Smell: Sweet caramel, corn, warm bread, a little mustiness.

Taste: Like a really non-sweet cornbread muffin at first, transitioning to a slight hop bitterness on the back of the tongue. A deep exhale brings back that wonderful bread taste which mixes nicely with the slight bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with medium carbonation.

Overall: An easy drinking beer that almost tastes like what bud or any other adjunct lager with corn in it should taste like. More flavorful, hazy, and with a full mouthfeel. It is easy to see why this is such a popular beer. For my tastes, it is not my favorite, but I am certainly going to enjoy this keg!

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2013 00:13:53 | More by ChrisKayler

TastyAdventure

Kentucky

3.99/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - a yellow-orange dull glowing Cloudy color. big chunky head. Rushing carbonation upon pouring, slows down.

S - YEAST. i usually question my self on if i'm smelling or tasting yeast, but it's definitely here.

T - I can taste actual wheat. A touch of banana, of course. Hints of orange and lemon. None of that sticky sweet manufactured tasting bubblegum that I have tasted in my recent German Weissbiers. The hops are subtle but definitely there, providing balance (not much is required, because there is not a lot of malt sweetness either). despite this, this beer is full flavored with tasty wheat and bread and some yeast. Light but has substance. Refreshing yet interesting.

Mouthfeel - Refreshing but not over carbonated. and not thin like water either.

O - very good. One I'd buy a six pack of in the summer for sure.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 00:03:13 | More by TastyAdventure

screamking

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle poured into pint glass.

For my first outdoor beer review I can think of no better way to start the summer than Bells Oberon. It pours a very hazy golden yellow, with a thick 2 1/2 finger white foamy head. Lacing already forming when I swirl it around. The nose on this is very typical for the style, nothing special. I've never been too much of a fan of the aroma on a wheat beer and this doesn't change things.

This beer tastes so crisp and refreshing. The sweetness comes on first with lots of orange and lemon citrus. Then gets washed out by a punch of bitterness. With lower ABV this is a great summer session beer. I wasn't too impressed at first, but then again for what it is it gets it right.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 22:55:38 | More by screamking

rodlavers

Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not a huge fan of this style, but definitely like Bell's Oberon.

Poured into a snifter. Not particularly thrilled with the appearance here: a fizzy white head dissipates pretty quickly, leaving traces of swirl and minimal lacing. Color is pale and hazy, but sort of bright piss yellow, or natural dried grass/light wheat.

Wheat/light bread aromas are present, as well as slightly sweet and a little bit spicy banana.

Taste is similar, but with more intense features; for example the sweet/spice characters are more prominent, and blend well with the natural wheat/fruit.

Feel is crisp, refreshing and carbonated.

Overall I enjoy this beer in a style I do not typically go after. It's perfect for a warming weather consumption as I find it refreshing and drinkable, with a somewhat low ABV. I like it, and I am glad I grabbed a few bottles. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 01:27:28 | More by rodlavers

Dave_in_GR

Michigan

4.09/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Served from a bottle into a pint glass. Appearance is great, a light yellow-orange color with lots of carbonation and a finger-width of foamy white head. Smell is dominated by citrus flavors, but with some spices (coriander?) as well. Taste is very similar, with the sharpness of the coriander blending nicely with the citrus and wheat flavors. Mouthfeel is very light bodied and clean - quite a bit of carbonation as well. This is a great summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 21:56:26 | More by Dave_in_GR

Beerstorian

District of Columbia

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

Served in a glass, beer purchased a week or so after it came out. This is a great all-around beer. Nice citrusy taste on the front end, with good flavor on the back. A good go-to beer for people who want to have a beer but don't know what they want. Good head retention, nice color.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 13:16:05 | More by Beerstorian

MichaelNickerson

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Pours a cloudy, light orange with a dominate white head which disappears rather quickly.

Smell: Mild aroma with initial scent of wheat and yeast, followed by a strong orange fruit aroma.

Taste: Heavy wheat flavors followed by intense citrus oranges. Lacks much carbonation, but otherwise is quite smooth.

Mouthfeel: Average dryness. Reminds you of the summer months of sunshine and relaxation. Doesn't quite leave you wanting another sip, but makes you crave summer-like food.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 00:50:32 | More by MichaelNickerson

mfnmbvp

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle, with bottled on date reading 03/07/2013, so this beer was bottled exactly three weeks ago today. My first bottle this year, and probably about as fresh as I'm gonna get it! I am highly indebted to this beer for being one of the beers that opened my eyes to the world of craft brewing. Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Semi-aggressive pour yields a disappointing quarter inch of white fizz, which quickly dies out. Cloudy lemon-orange colored body with a small bit of sediment floating around.

S - Smells of yeast, wheat, bit of fruit sweetness. A fairly weak aroma, to be honest.

T - Very grainy; wheat, corn, yeast. Some light, crisp, citrus fruits. Lightly bodied, light carbonation, tastes pretty damn fresh.

M - Feel is crisp and fruity, yet leaves a dry feeling behind.

Overall, while my tastes may have changed since I had my first Bell's Oberon Ale, it remains a flavorful and highly drinkable beer, by all means. This beer is the classic epitome of a summer beer, in my opinion, and it will always hold a special little dirty drunken place in my heart. Nothing ridiculously complex, so don't go expecting a 5 star beer, yet this is a must-have, must-drink, all summer long type of beer.

Bell's Oberon Ale ---3.5/5

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 04:05:00 | More by mfnmbvp

tronester

Oklahoma

3.49/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy yellow with lots of floaties. Smells like grain and a bit of vinegar. Taste begins with a dry earthy, citrusy flavor, followed by some grain, and finishing with some tartness. Mouthfeel is good. Overall a decent beer, though not my favorite from Bells.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 23:51:54 | More by tronester

SerBennett

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Just picked up my first six pack of Obie 2013 from Kroger. One of the best things about living in Michigan? Bell's. As always, Bell's did not disappoint.

Appearance: Bright, pale and hazy gold. The bubbles are fun to watch, and the lacing is great. When it pours, it's beautiful. Nice one finger head. Perfect.

Smell & Taste: Smells of oranges, citrus, wheat. I'm not sure if it's the description on the bottle tricking my mind, but when you smell it, you can't help but think of Summer and being outside with some friends. The taste is amazing. Sweet at first, typical wheat ale, but the magic comes after that. There's a slight bitterness, as well as a fruit-like taste. It's Oberon, and there's something really great about it.

Mouthfeel: Feels great.

Overall, I couldn't wait for Oberon to come out. It's a great wheat ale made by a great Michigan brewery. It's one of the best things about Spring. I will be buying many more six packs and mini-kegs in the months to come.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 13:34:30 | More by SerBennett

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz Bottle from Total Wine Tampa FL for 2$

Appearance - Hazy gold colour with an average size fizzy white coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation showing and there is some faint acing. The head lasted for 3-4 minutes. There are also some particles floating around in it.

Smell - Breads/grains, lemons, corn

Taste & Mouth - There is a below average amount of carbonation and I can taste corn mixed with some malts and grains. There is also some light hops and some lemons. It ends with a malty/grainy aftertaste with a light fruitiness.

Overall - Quite drinkable, but also quite boring. Not a whole lot of flavour going on. A good beer to session I suppose but not something I'd pick up again.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 02:47:03 | More by spinrsx

JonesyMSU

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

Bell's Oberon Ale is one of my favorite wheat ales. I'm from West Michigan, so I have a natural affinity for this brew, but I've had lots of beer in my days (especially while attending Michigan State University) and Oberon will always be a favorite of mine.

It's smooth, dark pour finishes with a decently thick head and is accompanied by orange and wheat aromas. It has a slightly bitter and hoppy after-taste, but has a smooth and warm, yet slightly dry feel on the palate, which adds to its crispness. Accompanied by an orange slice, this 'American wheat ale with the color and scent of a summer afternoon' is perfect for accompanying warm weather and summer parties with your friends. Beware - the bottles aren't twist-offs. I would say that this beer is somewhat similar in respects to the orange-like qualities of the Blue Moon Belgian white, but surpasses it and others in its class and will be enjoyed by wheat-loving beer enthusiasts.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 03:07:33 | More by JonesyMSU

klkatz

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

given to us by a neighbor from michigan (thank Lori and Mike)... they suggested drinking with an orange... though in some bars it's a lemon... tried orange... i can see it's good for summer, but no for me.

smells tangy, citrusy - 3

appearance - dark orange, hazy, nice thick head for a wheat... - 4

good mouthfeel - hard to distinguish the nuances of taste

bubbly and refreshing...

overall 3.5

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 01:33:49 | More by klkatz