Bells Oarsman Ale

Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Berliner Weisse
Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

Serve in Bowl

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UPDATED: JUL 7, 2011 New rating on7-7-11: I take back the below, this is a top notch beer. I picked up a 6er out of curiosity. After the second one, I was hooked. It’s got a really light and tart flavor. Low abv makes it drinkable all day... but the taste is really top notch... don’t know if they changed the recipe slightly but I really really like this beer. On tap at Local 44. Pours a very light blond with about an inch of bubbly head; no lacing. Smell is of grass and lemons. Mouthfeel is very, very light, like diet Sprite. Taste is of grass, lemon, light banana and Tang. Very drinkable but the taste isn’t really up to par. It’s sour but not too sour and not in a way a Sour beer would be, more like just tart. I’ve only had one other Berlinner Weisse so I’m not too experienced with this style, but I didn’t think this was anything remarkable. Worth a taste, but Meh.

Lightly hazy, dark golden color with a small, white head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of wheat, toast, some toffee, and lemongrass. Taste of citrus, lemongrass, tart wheat, and more bacteria. Thinking this would be fantastic if it had the opportunity to age until summer time!

Tap at Spinnerstown. Pours a hazy golden with a medium creamy white head. Aroma of lactic sourness, cereal grains, mixed citrus, floral notes and other grains. Flavor of cereal grains, light lactic notes, lemon, cheerios and a nice tartness. This is pretty much a mild Berliner weisse at this point, apprently it’s been reformulated.

On tap at Poor Phil’s, Oak Park, Il. Poured a straw color with a rocky, meringue-type, white head, and streaks of lacing. The aroma was somewhat subdued but noticed light grain and a little citrus. The flavor was similar, with the citrus as light lemon. Presented some tartness but was rather thin and watery. If you’re into shandy, it might make a nice substitute.

On tap at the Flying Saucer in KC. Pours a cloudy, golden, straw-yellow colored body with a finger-width, frothy, white head that dissipates slowly and leaves a moderate lacing. Aroma is grainy, sweeter wheats, lemony citrus, and some grass. Flavor is similar with maybe a bit more tart citrus noticable. Still has a good amount of sweeter wheats with a somewhat doughy taste, cereal grains, and a light grass. Finishes somewhat tart with a grainy wheat, light grassy bitterness that lingers for a short to moderate duration. Very easy drinking, fairly light bodied, clean, and crisp. Overall, very cool to have in KC. Light, crisp, and refreshing with a good amount of citrusy wheats. Not the most interesting beer, but enjoyable and easily serves it’s quaffable purpose.

Tap an Eccentric. Pale gold body with little head and aromas of grass and lemon. Flavor is pretty washed out. A bit of light honey dough and some grass.

UPDATED: AUG 27, 2010 BPW #42 Served on tap at Kalamazoo Brewing Co./Eccentric Café. Appearance is light crystal straw hue. The flavors and aromas are very light and airy wheat. This guy bored to palate on a busy drinking day. Re-sampled from the bottle. NIce bready sour notes. Light mouth. A little better then I remember.

Dan’s Bachelor Party Extended Weekend Rating #36 of 90. On tap at the Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo. Pours light pale yellow with a light malt and very low hop taste. Tasters are good for something, but this one isn’t it.

Another offering at Maduro: Pours a clear and bright golden colour with a large frothy head. Nose has a little corn, some grain and firm hops. Taste is alright, a bit grainy for my liking. A little pear and some bananna notes. The AmWheat is sort of a lifeless style in my opinion, it’s gonna take a lot for me to get excited.

pint - Mild aroma of pale malts and honey. Flavor is clean fresh malts, pale straw with just a hint of hops. Palate is clean and refreshing. Tasty but mild. A good summer brew.