The Oracle
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store

The OracleThe Oracle
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From:
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
Ranked #870
ABV:
10%
Score:
93
Ranked #3,952
Avg:
4.16 | pDev: 10.58%
Reviews:
817
Ratings:
2,839
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 29, 2023
Added:
Sep 05, 2009
Wants:
  454
Gots:
  446
Our take on the West Coast-style Double India Pale Ale, The Oracle places hop intensity first and foremost, making only the slightest concession to malt and balance.

The fireworks start with the aromatic punch of dry-hop sessions with hop varieties from the Pacific Northwest. Resinous, citrusy hop flavors mixed with aggressive bitterness from a massive kettle addition deliver on that aromatic promise.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by StonedTrippin:
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.15/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
neat double ipa, but i think its less distinct and unique than some of their others, and certainly less so than the best in the game, although its hard to fault this because its awesome. i like that it has a little lighter body than many, and that despite it, the booze isnt exposed. i also like how dramatic the hops are in the aroma, no grain weighing on them at all. its a well designed beer for that reason, but the taste to me, as fresh and tasty as it is, is nothing overly unique. its like a lot of good ones, but lacks the touch that sets the best ones apart. its the most like a west coast style of the several that they do i think, but its not as resinous. the hops are clean and only middle of the spectrum bitter. i love that. carbonation is high enough to cut through too, which helps it stay lighter. even as it warms it stays relatively easy. i think the packaging is some of the coolest out there too, and the beer is lovely, but it just doesnt stand out for me all that much from the top tier of big ipa. bells has no misses though, thats a fact.
Oct 20, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.99 by einman from Minnesota

Jan 29, 2023
Photo of Jrami26
Rated by Jrami26 from New York

4.15/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This west coast IPA is hoppy for sure. I also could taste a strong malt presence.
Mar 31, 2020
 
Rated: 4.16 by BosDen07 from Delaware

Mar 24, 2020
 
Rated: 4.02 by Blogjackets from Ohio

Mar 14, 2020
 
Rated: 4.24 by Seal4676 from Michigan

Jan 01, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by GreatStoutman from Texas

Oct 23, 2019
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottled 7/20/15; drank 8/1/15 @ the Family Compound.

Murky dull orange appearance.

HUGE eggnog head (careful pouring!); a frothy curtain of lace.

Mango, orange citrus & honey notes in the nose.

Medium thick mouthfeel.

Mango & orange citrus flavors up front; a bitter bite on the finish.

Fruity & sweet but too bitter at the end for me to truly love.
Jun 26, 2019
Photo of Dr_Gonzo
Reviewed by Dr_Gonzo from Kentucky

4.24/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a tall clear pint glass. Has a mixture of a peach/amber color, quite cloudy/hazy yet deep. Steady carbonation and head retention. Good lacing.

Aroma is both sweet and hoppy. Strong citrus notes like grapefruit, oranges, and lemons. Sweet notes like honey, caramel, and overall strong malty backbone. Other notes are obvious pine, some faint pineapple, apricots, and alcohol. All around floral, minty, hoppy, and sweet.

Perfumey-like taste with dank bitter hops. Citrus and sweet notes are really upfront on the palette, whilst the bitter hops sort of surround them and makes the beer complete. Grapefruit peel and strong alcohol is heavily noticeable in the aftertaste. The other notes mentioned in the aroma take the backseat but are still present. Medium-bodied.
Jun 21, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by Wrigfen from South Carolina

Jun 12, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by Griffith from Connecticut

Jun 07, 2019
 
Rated: 3.95 by mhe1931 from Michigan

Mar 14, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by West_Chester_Ale_Tester from Ohio

Jan 16, 2019
Photo of rudiecantfail
Reviewed by rudiecantfail from Pennsylvania

4.19/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 ounce bottle poured into a tulip glass.

L---Hazy, burnt orange color. Thick, slightly off white head with very good retention and very good lacing.

S---Sweet & hoppy. Mostly citrus (orange/grapefruit/lemon), but some floral notes as well. Seems to promise a malt backbone in excess of what is advertised.

T---Definitely hop forward, as advertised. Strong citrus, as in the nose. A bit boozy, but with 10% ABV, no surprise. More malt & balance than advertised, which I find to be a good thing, not a problem. I know I'm imagining things, but I swear there's some chocolate in there at the finish.

F---A little astringent from the booziness/ABV. Very well carbonated. Very full mouthfeel. It definitely feels like something to take seriously.

O---This is a damn good beer. Full bodied and complexly flavored. I'll keep an eye out for this one in the future.
Jan 11, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by jwat from Pennsylvania

Jan 07, 2019
Photo of OompaMentor
Rated by OompaMentor from Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12/21/2018 (LF)
Jan 04, 2019
 
Rated: 4.33 by kinmundy77 from Illinois

Jan 02, 2019
Photo of Red5StandingBy
Rated by Red5StandingBy from Maryland

3.98/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I
Dec 31, 2018
 
Rated: 4.06 by MTKATL from Georgia

Dec 23, 2018
Photo of Marco188
Reviewed by Marco188 from California

4.3/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz single purchased bottle poured into a Mission Brewing IPA glass. Peach to Amber color with good head and great lace. You can smell the hops right away with hints of citrus as well. Taste is a mixture of bitter, peppery, malty, with a hit of grapefruit. Mouthfeel is smooth with medium to high carbonation for a DIPA. The high ABV gives a warm feel between an ordinary IPA and a barrel aged, yet maintains a good dryness and piney aftertaste. Overall this is a good IPA and well worth the price. Recommend trying it to whoever is on the fence.
Dec 04, 2018
The Oracle from Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 2839 ratings