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

argock

Virginia

3.8/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in a clear pint glass

A: Inviting hazy yellow-orange with thick, frothy bright off-white head with plenty of lace

S: A bit light in the aroma department with very soft pear and apple aromas, soft biscuit and yeast, and lemon-wheat.

T: Very flavorful for a pale wheat with soft fruit flavors of pear and banana, tangy wheaty lemon, and drier apple flavors with a light touch of malt and soft herbal hops.

M: Super smooth with light but pleasing aftertaste. Light bodied as you'd expect.

D: A great summer beer and another great Bell's product. Bottle-conditioning helps this beer a little.

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2008 18:52:43 | More by argock

doubleipa

Georgia

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

Had this at KClingers in Hanover. Appearance - small creamy head. Color was yellow an dcloudy. Aroma -banana and yeasty. Taste - very smooth and the wheat lingers, creamy tending towards syrupy. Kinda of different than most wheat beers. I think th edifference is the creamy mouthfeel.

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2008 21:56:59 | More by doubleipa

GbVDave

Illinois

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

Served from a 1.32gal mini-keg into two pint glasses. Thanks to HeatherAnn for the assist!

A: Pours a bright and hazy golden color. Puffy and creamy white head leaves droopy rings and sheets of lace.

S: Aromas of toasted grain, spicy yeast, caramel, and sweet apple. At times the aroma reminded me of a west Michigan apple orchard (apple with other earthy aromas).

T: Nice toasted malt/grain flavor. Citrus-y hops become pronounced around mid glass. Biscuity/bready malt as well.

M: Smooth and sticky with a nice prickly/toasty/spicy undercurrent. Nice dryness.

D: Very easy to drink...summer is here!

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2008 13:24:47 | More by GbVDave

buffettfan

Arizona

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

Had on tap out for lunch.

I'd heard a lot about this beer and couldn't wait to try it.

Appeared average, nice color, veyr little head. Smelled of citrus, very pleasant.

Taste was very smooth, with crisp citrus notes. Easy to drink. A GREAT summer beer, wish we could get it in Arizona!

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2008 16:51:27 | More by buffettfan

KeefD

Minnesota

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

Pours a hazy golden color with no head and minimal lacing. Aroma of malted wheat, orange zest and spices. Taste is much the same. Big time wheat malts, somewhat sweet, but not overpowering, hints of orange and coriander. This thing is very smooth and creamy, amazingly easy to drink and probably the best summer beer there is. I'm not one to go on about wheat beers, since they are from my favorites, but this one is great. Definitely a good session beer for the summer months.

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2008 00:23:15 | More by KeefD

everetends

Alabama

4.2/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this on draft at HopJacks in Pensacola. Served in a pint tumbler.

A: Poured a beautiful light orange. Had some debris in it. Was served with no head other than a thin wispy ring that did what it could with the lacing. I will chalk that up to a less than stellar pour. Still a good looking brew.

S: This is where it was lacking in my opinion, but still not bad. Smelled only of wheat and citrus.

T: Great. Lots of wheat up front with some nice hoppy notes, citrus (nice heavy orange), and malt. A great balance to this beer.

M: This beer is a bit on the light side but it works for the beer. Still has good coating and leaves a nice citrus aftertaste. Very refreshing and crisp.

D: I really liked this beer. It has the refreshing nature of a wheat but still has some hop backbone. Very nice.

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2008 03:31:25 | More by everetends

jockstrappy

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a cloudy burnt orange with a small white head, not much lacing. Main aroma is orange peel, with a hint of sweet malt. Taste is very balanced...citric and sweet up front with a touch of bitterness on the backend. This brew washes away very clean, and begs for another sip. I could drink this all damn day!

Serving type: on-tap

06-05-2008 22:33:24 | More by jockstrappy

wspscott

Kentucky

3.7/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Growler in pint glass

A: lite gold color, crystal clear, poured a thick white head that disappeared quickly and left a little lace.
S: Hints of yeast fruitiness, no hop presence.
T&M: Very crisp but not in a watery sense. The growler seems to have stolen some of the carbonation that I remember from drinking straight from the tap. The hint of yeast fruitiness (maybe a hint of the classic wheat banana flavor) is the most apparent taste, with a hint of hops in the background.
D: One of the perfect summer beers and a great gateway beer. I will have no problem finishing the growler tonight.

Serving type: growler

05-24-2008 20:14:58 | More by wspscott

oneeye

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this on draft while waiting for my pizza.

A. Sparkling yellowish/orange with nice carbonation and a little fluffy head.Leaves a bit of lace behind as well.
S. Smells of citrus and orange.You can detect some wheat and hops.
T. This is a very refreshing beer.Tastes like it smells. Nice citrus taste with a nice clean,crisp finish.No aftertaste as you take your next sip.
M/D. A bit thin but easy to drink.Very tasty summer beer.I bought a six pack to go along with my pizza and for the remainder of the night.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2008 16:08:16 | More by oneeye

PhillyStyle

Georgia

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

Served on-tap in a pint glass.

Appearance was a slightly cloudy orange color. The bartender left little to no head, but what remained was white and the carbonation showed itself.

Smell was faint but of what I could tell there were hints of citrus that made it slightly sweet.

The taste was light and sweet. The fruit and sweetness came out but did not overpower the wheat and hops. The carbonation was not as pronounced as I thought when I first looked at it.

Overall, this is a solid beer and a good summer beer. One of the better wheat beers that I have had lately. Highly drinkable and one that I will definitely order again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2008 15:07:22 | More by PhillyStyle

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

HugoGrim

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Transparent golden body, no head by the time I received it, nice lace however.

Aroma is sweet orange, wheat, and hints of hops.

Flavors of orange zest, lemons, floral hops, and grainy wheat. Spice profile is way too strong in my opinion, as it overshadows the citrus and wheat.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2008 13:39:36 | More by HugoGrim

Rootdog316

Virginia

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

Presents with a cloudy orange color and a white head. Aroma of wheat malt, lemon zest, and citrus fruits. Flavor is nice and light with citrus, wheat, and a little bit of hops. Major difference between this and other pale wheats is that it was not that sweet. Still, a pretty decent beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2008 13:55:31 | More by Rootdog316

Deuane

Pennsylvania

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

A-Cloudy pale orange with a thick fluffy white head. Head reduces to thin film with good lacing.

S-Wheaty citrus, orange, lemon, tangerine. The wheat malt supports this fruit bowl nicely.

T-Nice balance between the citrus flavors and the light wheat malt. Nothing in this beer screams out...it all simply melds together nicely. Hop presence is subtle.

M-Medium-light body. Very smooth with a pleasant tart crispness.

D-A great warm-season drinker. This is one of the quintessential summertime brews for me. Nothing about it screams out but it all seems to go together so well. I always enjoy having my first Oberon of the season...and many more to follow! A sure sign of spring to me! From April to August this is my "Bud".

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2008 22:56:36 | More by Deuane

charlzm

California

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

Consumed 03/26/08 at Hopjacks in Pensacola, Florida.

Medium unfiltered yellow beer. Modest head.

Aroma of wheat. No cloves, bananas, etc... present.

Unremarkable mouthfeel up front. Flavor is typical American wheat ale: a little sweet, a little metallic and almost all wheat. Some subtle lemon notes appear and are welcome. It might be my imagination, but I thought I caught a hint of a clove flavor in there. Some parching as beer sits in the mouth a moment.

Not a favorite style of mine, but a very drinkable example.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2008 01:36:09 | More by charlzm

toolbrew

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Just had the 2008 release at Brannigan Brothers in Lansing. They tapped it at midnight. Tasted slightly different than last year.

It poured with a thick white head, good retention, and lots of lacing. It was a cloudy pale orange color. I am happy to see that it is cloudy this year. I've seen it clear and it doesn't taste as good

There was a slight citrus aroma in the smell. Not as strong as in prior years.

Great taste, although a little watery. Also less citrusy than before. There is a noticeable hop finish this year too - it's crisp. Don't quite know why that is.

Good mouthfeel. You feel the hoppy finish in the back of your mouth and in your throat.

Excellent drinkability. I would've stayed to have more but I only brought a $5 with me - got me two pints for opening night.

A great beer! Maybe it's just an early batch that needs to mature a little but the hop flavor is new and I haven't decided if I like it yet. I love my hops, but with Oberon it's different.

You can't go wrong, with an Oberon.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2008 06:57:40 | More by toolbrew

mogul37

New York

4.58/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Have had this one on tap at several bars and restaurants, always served in a pint glass and usually with an orange slice (though I usually separate it from the beer). Sweet smell and taste that goes down very smooth. My favorite beer in this style, since it has more flavor than comparable beers.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2007 04:11:13 | More by mogul37

dtreindl

Virginia

4.88/5  rDev +27.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

The best summer beer out there. Very refreshing citrusy beer without getting too sweet or sour. I've had it in bottle and on-tap and tap is certainly better, but it is still an excellent bottled beer. I have noticed, unfortunately, that it is only available in certain geographic areas of the US - not available in the Northeast, but it is available in DC and the midwest.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2007 03:01:34 | More by dtreindl

gotweid

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at the Bath City Bistro in Mt. Clemens, MI. When it was served in a pint glass the head was still alomst 3/4" high and I could see the somewhat cloudy, golden, amber orange color while on the waiters tray. Smelled a little sweet from the fruity citrus, but not too strong. Also faint aroma of wheat. Taste matched smell perfectly. Notes of wheat and sweet citrus but not overpowering. Actually a medium to light bodied beer. Decent carbonation. A little creamy. Mouth felt a little dry when done. This is a very pleasant brew and goes down rather quickly. Very enjoyable and refreshing. I'd order this in a heartbeat.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2007 01:06:15 | More by gotweid

letsgopens

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the brewery and accompanied by some of the best brewery food I've had (specifically the lobster bisque) this American pale wheat pours a golden yellow/orange amber with a pearl white head that leaves some good spotty lace.

Light and fruity with not a lot of wheat to the nose. A bit of honey sweetness is present as well. Much of what I expected from a summer wheat beer.

Mellow fruit and sweet citrus and honey greet me initially with a noticeable lack of grain. A hint of starchiness but not much in the way of wheat. Light and clean with a bit of malt. The absence of a pronounced wheat flavor makes way for the citrus to lighten up this refreshing summer ale.

The mouthfeel is light and smooth with moderate carbonation and a crisp finish. A great suggestion with my lunch from the bartender. Another great beer experience from Bell's.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2007 06:17:55 | More by letsgopens

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap a while ago at Barley's in Asheville, NC. Just getting around to reviewing it now from notes. Pours a slightly hazy golden with a great head and decent lacing. The smell is lightly grainy and extremely creamy. A little unusual for the style, but very appealing. Taste is similar. Fruity, fresh wheat up front and then a nice taste of fresh cream on the finish without the mouthcoating feel of the cream. In fact the mouthfeel is quite light but still a little grainy. Delicious summer beer. This would be a go-to summer wheat if it were available. Better than Goose Island 312, not as good as Gumballhead.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2007 16:42:26 | More by Georgiabeer

crazybrody06

Indiana

3.78/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cloudy yellowish color with a small ring of head and a little lacing. Smell is wheat, hops, citrus. Taste is not very "wheaty" but nice citrus flavor, kind of sweet. Medium mouthfeel with high drinkability. I would love to give this another try.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2007 01:38:27 | More by crazybrody06

drseamus

New York

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

Poured at the brewpub. It has a cloudy straw colored body with a think white head. The aroma is very wheaty with a fairly strong lemony character. The flavor is nice and light with a slight hop flavor. It is very light bodied and makes an excellent summer drinker.

Serving type: on-tap

09-21-2007 13:54:58 | More by drseamus

mnstorm99

Minnesota

3.6/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a very good wheat beer, nice cloudy light orage color, head goes quick, with little lacing. extremely drinkable, with nice fruity apricot? peach? flavors. I can say I will continue to drink this one throughout the summertime. Definately not the best Bell's has ever done, but one of the better wheats I have ever had.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2007 12:34:56 | More by mnstorm99

weeare138

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Capone's...
Appears a hazy, straw toned yellow with a fluffy, 3 finger cap that slowly fades out into a clumpy head. Lots of lacing beads around the glass.
Smell is of light citrus featuring lemon zest, fresh grain, and a touch of American yeast.
Taste is of the same aromas but toned down a notch in a somewhat bland flavor. Not bad but nothing jumping out either that makes me want to continue with this one.
Mouthfeel is smooth, light up front, citrusy, and easy drinking. I probably should've had this before the Expedition, which is a hard act to follow.

Serving type: on-tap

08-30-2007 20:14:15 | More by weeare138