Bells Oberon Ale

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Wheat Ale
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Minikeg onthe superbowl....backlog...I know. Really pretty orange pour. Citrus hops and wheat are the things I tasted most. Hope its around for the summer here in Florida.

Bottle. Pours a cloudy ruby golden orange color with a large white head. Smells is sweet and fruity with malt and hop notes. Big citrus tones in the aroma and the taste. Not really my type of beer, but it is always nice to have it in the summertime. This one belong in the summer time with friends and sunshine, ALways nice to have this back on the shelves to have at those BBQs

A very summery beer. Very cloudy and thick, with particulates throughout. At first underwhelming, but flavor builds with time. By the end of the glass, I felt it was an excellent beer. Since it is thicker holds cold well... and flavor is satisfying.

Draft. Orangish hue with a light head. Nice hoppy aroma. Taste is fruity, but doesn’t last long. A mildly hoppy finish.

Bottle from Archer Liquors. Hazy orange color with a few white bubbles for head. Slightly strange aroma of citrus/wheat. Thin bodied with mild but prickly carbonation. It is indeed fruity. The noble hop spice makes me think of a pommander in a way. I can’t think of a similar beer. Pretty tasty in a rather different way.

So it is about time I rated this beer, this one has along story behind it. Being from the east coast, and especially Larry Bell’s favorite state, I did not get a chance to come across many Bell’s products. And when I did, through trades or tasting, Oberon was not something sought after, I mean really who wants something so un-imperial or that easily attained. So I spent many years not really caring about going out of my way to try another American wheat. Then in 2007 someone had a brand new mini-keg of this at BCTC (maybe dmac, can’t be sure cause he spent most of that weekend passed out in his tent). But I tried it and was seriously impressed. But with all the festivities (and beer) I put it in the back of my head and moved on. Then time came for me to move out to the untamed and uncharted Midwest, a dangerous and wild life change on my part. So here I was, in Kansas with a world of new beers at my disposal. So what do I try first, well mix-a-six, duh! Any real beer tick, ugh, I mean geek can tell you that. But, even though I had it I needed to throw Oberon in there as well. And was I ever impressed, blown away once again. However, a few months go by before fate leads me back to the Oberon. I go to a liquor store and what do I see, an Oberon six pack on sale, all the way down to $5.50 and its the last one. Well being January I had no notions of this being fresh but at that price it was worth the gamble. So what do I have here a batch # 8546 Oberon ale packaged on June 10, 2008, meaning it is about 8 months old. . I slowly drink the sixer and I can finally rate this.

The bottle pours out into my Cuvée René wide tumbler with a very small head. The color of the beer is a very autumn-like orange amber, like a light pumpkin color. The beer is generally clear but within the body small specs of yeast remnants are left over. They float but with enough time some of them settle at the bottom of the glass, just as if a little bit of sand had settled down there. The floating specs mix with some upward shooting carbonation bubbles. It is really fun to look inside and watch the action of this beer, a story can be told. And as I tilt the glass around I can move that bit of sand at the bottom of the glass. Aroma is itself a thick, dry raisin biscuit with citrus highlights. Taste is similar with some light tea aspects and some more sweet dry fruits. At the finish there is a hint of spiciness but its is all wrapped around a fruity pie crust. The un-freshness of the beer is apparent throughout the beer. However, it is not a detracting quality. As opposed to lesser beers, time has just added a heft to the malt character, what I am calling dry and heavy is really just a slightly aged malt character. Throughout the beer there seems to be a Belgian like (or at least European) feel to it. The yeast is not as clean as most American yeasts (or at least does not come off that way). The malts are also much more apparent with the hops in the back there. The mouthfeel is full yet quenchable, the beer is not watery but felt on the cheeks yet super easy to keep putting down. I do not know what it is but this beer just does it for me. As a style, the American wheat is almost useless in my mind but this is the exception being an exceptional beer, one that I will continue to drink as long as I live here in the great untamed Midwest. 8/4/9/4/17.

A more fresh version, code 9226, bottle on June 25, 2009, consumed 2 months later. I bought these because I wanted to use the clean yeast in a brew I will be making but it also gives me a chance to re-experience this brew. Poured into a La Fin Du Monde tulip glass. Still that beautiful orange-amber color with visible carbonation (this time the sediment went to a greater endeavor). Same small strong head with a lightly sticky lacing. Aroma is light esters, a thick but strong graininess, and layers of other malt characteristics including wheat bread. Taste has a bit of a hop bite, nondescript in type though. A thick mouthfeel for the structure makes it very felt yet a stronger carbonation makes it sparkling on the palate. A bit of a different experience but I will keep the other rating, apparently I like this beer with some age. But this is still great to drink with really body and heft and strong flavor yet easy drinking at the same time.

Bottle at home. Golden body with short head. Nose of wheat, fruits and spices. Taste again of wheat, also some fruits, including citrus. Clean finish. Nice summer beer.

12oz bottle, batch 8546. Pours clear golden, with a slight orange hue, capped with a small white head. Aroma of wheat, melon, honey, euro hops and spice. Flavor is wheat, cereal grain, melon, clove, and citrus. Spice and wheat hang around for a long finish. Medium bodied and very drinkable.