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

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer was a slightly cloudy, light yellow or light gold color with a smallish white head foam that lasted for quite a while and laced well. The nose was quite nice and included malt, some breadiness, and a bit of a fruit sense. There was a strong sense of tartness and a bit of fruit and grain in the taste with just a hint of floral hops. The overall sense of this beer is of a relatively full body and a pleasant lingering taste that finishes a bit sweet and sour. Complex.

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2003 18:26:56 | More by AtLagerHeads

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On Tap: Thanks to FM, Color poured a super pale, hazy light yellow, and had a very tight leveled out type of lacing just above the white head. Smells of zesty lemon and some spice, very clean and crispy. Taste is much like Belgian witbeir, very spritzy, lemon is sharply toned with a spicyness mixed in that blended well. It's mostly lemony then anything, imagine a Sprite or 7up with three times the lemon and add some wheat and yeast and wham-o, you've got this Oberon. I've had it in the bottle before, but on tap is so much more yeasty fresh then from the bottle. Super drinkable and highly recommended for quenching thirst on warm to hot days in summer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2003 20:55:59 | More by tavernjef

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

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz brown glass, longneck bottle. No freshness date.

This ale poured a slightly hazy, light golden yellow color with small white foam (cloudy if the lees were poured). The smell was pleasant: malt, citrus, bread, a light fruitiness. The taste was sharp with a hint of grapes and grain with a not unpleasant tartness, and a bit of floral hops in the finish. The mouthfeel was crisp and relatively clean with medium-light body. There was a pleasant long lasting, lingering tart/sour flavor that was pleasing. This ale was very drinkable and refreshing.

Thanks to feloniousmonk for this bottle!

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2003 21:36:00 | More by UncleJimbo

Gusler

Arizona

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

On the pour, a magnificently chill hazed golden yellow color, the head is mountainous in size, creamy in consistency, and as it erodes, the lace left behind is a fine cover upon the glass. The aroma of yeast, orange peels, sweet malt, quite a treat for this old nose. Sweet with lots of malt, the top middling in feel to the palate, finish has a moderate acidity, the hops spicy in their persistent bite, dry as a desert bone aftertaste, quite a nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2003 12:00:43 | More by Gusler

brakspear

Wisconsin

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

A cloudy pale gold body, with significant yeast sediment and a very slight head. With all the yeast in the bottle, this would be a great wheat beer from which one could culture yeast.

The aroma is a citrusy wheat nose, with a slight sourness from perhaps the yeast.

The taste is very smooth with a slight crispness. The wheat malt is evident, with a tangy sweetness, orange notes, and a slight bready yeast flavor. Very refreshing.

This was a very pleasing domestic wheat beer that would be great in the summer months.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2003 10:41:13 | More by brakspear

purplehops

Maine

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

Oberon pours a cloudy deep straw yellow with a white head that leaves some lacing on the sides of the glass. The aroma is earthy with citrus and some faint floral notes. The taste starts crisp and wheaty and then moves to flavors of lemon and orange with notes of coriander and mace. The finish is stronger citric and spice flavors balanced with faint malt flavors. The aftertaste is lingering lemon/orange and coriander flavors. The mouthfeel is smooth with some chewiness to it.
Overall a good wheat ale. A nice balance of malt to citrus and floral hops with a touch of spice. A little more carbonation in the body and a little more sparkle on the tongue would help make this a much better and more refreshing ale IMHO.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2003 03:59:17 | More by purplehops

aaronh

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This opaque, orange amber beer pours with a solid two-finger head that shows excellent retention. It slowly fades to a rcoky layer of foam and produces a delicate lace. There is a yeast component to the aroma, but wheat and hops are the dominate notes. Also a hint of clove and coriander in there as well. Impressive. The taste is very crisp, with the wheat snap right up front. Coriander/cilantro notes are evident, with a slight sweetness creeping in. A bit of hop bitterness is coupled with some light alcohol notes. The yeast contributes to the flavor but is not evident as "yeast" as in many wheat beers. There is no breadiness to the flavor. The finish has a crisp, wheat tartness that is very refreshing. Decent bitterness lingers on the aftertatse. The mouthfeel is solid, but not remarkable in any way. Perfect for enjoying any time of the year. The drinkability is darn near exceptional. This beer refreshes, satisfies, quenches, and then gets out of the way. I hope to get a few of these for the summer. I remember when this beer was on the Top 50 list, and I thought to myself "I will probably never get to try that beer." Well, thanks to cretemixer for sending me a couple of these great brews that only months ago I believed to be inacessible.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2003 10:17:46 | More by aaronh

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

BeerBuilder

Minnesota

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

Golden/straw in color with a white head. Leaves a good amount of lacing. The aroma is fruity, biscuity and sweet. The flavor is biscuit malt that flows to a fruity, sweet finish. The beer is light in body and refreshing; a very good, easy drinking brew. A good beer for the summer.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2003 10:07:38 | More by BeerBuilder

BitteBier

Indiana

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

This beer has a really unique honey yellow color to it with considerable haze and an average head. Smell is somewhat weak, dominated by crisp grains and citrus notes. Smooth, sweet, citrusy taste that lightens up nicely at the end. A refreshing feel to this beer with a nice crispness at the roof of the mouth. Typically good wheat beer drinkability; not the best of its style but darned good.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2003 17:47:48 | More by BitteBier

cretemixer

Indiana

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

I love the cloudy golden color though some may get turned off by it. Not a whole lot of head to speak of. The aroma of fruity undertones hits me immediately. Very smooth taste that is extremely drinkable. A great summer quencher and excellent beer to introduce premium beer to friends. Most wheat beers are served with a lemon wedge, but this one doesn't need it.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2002 07:31:14 | More by cretemixer

putnam

Michigan

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

I remember the debut of this wine as "Solsun." We loved it then, and it's still good. Big, candied-orange-peels-preserved-in-alcohol aroma together with notes of suede, beach sand, and watermelon. Bold, sweet attack delivers nuances of mace, melon and green leaves. Sweet alcohol fuels a galloping finish of fine grain and mineral bitterness. A mouthful.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2002 16:45:51 | More by putnam

beernut7

Massachusetts

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

I have never had a beer to my memory that gave off the smell of tangy peanut butter. The very hazy straw color sits bellow a foamy cloud of a head. The clean crisp flavor has a very unique yeast character with a noticeable tanginess and a light malt with a spicy twang of hop bite. This is a very complex and tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2002 19:04:16 | More by beernut7

jackndan

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap after a unsatisfactory sample in the bottle. The taste is much more balanced, and the flavors complement each other on tap. The overwhelming apricot/orange flavor from the bottle is more muted, and adds to the taste rather than dominating it. Very nice and refreshing.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2002 19:02:37 | More by jackndan

marc77

California

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

Hazy light orange topped by a dense, rocky and well retained head that leaves lace. Wheat tartness, cracker like malt, yeast must and a spicy Saaz hop nose comprise the aroma. There's more character aromawise for the insipid style. Sweetness and lightly citrusy esters are discernible upfront, then give way to bready malt and a mild fruitiness from both wheat tartness and citrusy hops. The mild hop bitterness offsets the light residual sweetness well, lending an overall balanced profile. Fuller in body than than the typical American wheat, yet light and clean enough to lend excellent drinkability. Finishes a touch sweet and lightly grainy. Oberon is a highly drinkable brew with more overall character than the average American wheat.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2002 20:05:39 | More by marc77

garymuchow

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First, I really do like this beer. Nice wheat beer that's not a Hefe. Huge head that settled slowly, fairly lacey too. Different but adequate aroma of graininess, but not necessarily wheat in quality. No hop presence. Yellow-gold, slightly cloudy. Nice ale smoothness, medium feel, a little low on the carbonation. Mostly malty flavor, hops for balance only, hardly dectable. Little sweetness that is in the front and momentary but carries a tartness/citrus/fruitiness (pear?) to it too. Malty dry finish that is satisfying. Very good summer ale.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2002 11:50:11 | More by garymuchow

Jon

Illinois

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

I've never tasted a wheat beer as complex as Bells Oberon. Although the appearance threw me off at first (it's a very pale and cloudy), the taste certainly makes up for it. For a wheat beer, it's got its dose of finishing hops, which I love. It's fairly carbonated and has some yeasties floating throughout. As far as drinkability is concerned, there's no other beer that I can think of that I'd rather drink on a summer day than Oberon.

Serving type: on-tap

08-08-2002 16:07:43 | More by Jon

zerk

California

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

This is one of the best, and most unique wheat beers that I've had the pleasure of drinking. Apricot / yellow, with a thin white head, which dissapates quickly. Aroma of apricots and yeast. Yeasty bread flavor, with a touch of citrus. Excellent hops flavor as well, something you don't come across too often in this style of beer. Crisp, very carbonated, with a medium body. Very refershing. Excellent beer!

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2002 17:11:26 | More by zerk

Wildman

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

@Betty's Fine Foods:

This was a great summer wheat beer to have at my humid, hot walk home. I have had this in a bottle, but on tap, it faired better than some of their others. It poured a cloudy golden color. It had a white head that subsided while leaving little lace(one drawback to the bar pouring). The aroma was of hops, citrus and lightly of some spice. The flavor was of hops, malt and citrus. The finish was a bit citrusy tangy with some light bread overtones. Good beer for a hot summer day

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2002 17:07:58 | More by Wildman

budgood1

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

this is a huge hefe....my first kalamazoo brew and it seemed to have survived the trip up here overnite in hot trunk of a car (thank the beer gods). very cloudy, dark gold and thick....nice head going on here...lots of lace...tons of yeast sediment worked up...smells very citrusy...with grassy, earthy, undertones. really doesn't taste like a traditional hefe....lots of wheat malt and hops, very refreshing and lively in mouthfeel and character. in fact i have goose bumps drinking this because my beer taste buds recognize that this is something special. a superb summer brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2002 16:51:34 | More by budgood1

inebrius

Michigan

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

Crisp and clean and a hop-maven's delight. Oberon gives the German hefeweiss a nod when it comes to appearance but thumbs it nose at hefe esters. You want finishing hops in you're wheat? You got 'em. Phenols? All yours. K'zoo does the American wheat justice.

Cheers to Deuce for the sample!

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2002 07:16:04 | More by inebrius

Murph

Arizona

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

Pours a super hazy golden with a nice fluffy head that sinks just a little too quickly. Some large yeasties are suspended in this brew. Smell is of floral, slightly spicy hops and some lemony citrus. Sharp lemony/orangey citrus flavor on tongue as well as some nice spicy hoppiness. Some light, bready yeastiness is detectable as well. Crisp and refreshing, this is one of the best summer brews I have had. Very refreshing and extremely drinkable. My only regret is that this beer isn't in circulation down here in VA. Thanks to Deuce for the sample.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2002 09:20:52 | More by Murph

packetknife

Idaho

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Darker orange color, cloudy, small pourous head. I think it smells like a crushed peach. Sharp citrus, sharp on the tongue. After it rolls over the tongue it's quite smooth.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2002 16:48:36 | More by packetknife

aracauna

Georgia

4.58/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Not as much head as a lot of a head as I was expecting, but it does have a nice dark apricot color. The first aroma and flavor that you pick up is apricot. A good bit of it. That's followed by the expected wheaty and malty flavors that start to dominate towards the middle of the glass. Some citric crispness is present througout. Very little bitterness or hop characteristics are present. This is an awesome wheat beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2002 13:19:16 | More by aracauna