Bells Oberon Ale

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

Serve in Shaker, Weizen

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When I’ve rated this beer in the past it’s been at the cutting edge of its sunbright spring appearance, when its reality had to deal with the inflated expectations of a Michigander who had grown thirsty for it through a winter of darker brews. Now I’m rating it at the tail end of its season, after a summer of enjoying it at home, on the boat, in the woods. And this seems more appropriate to me, a fairer shake for Michigan’s legendary summer staple. I do agree that this beer has had slightly different incarnations over time, but here, without further ado, is a rating drawn from many long summers’ experience of the stuff: my Ode to Oberon. There is a hazy quality to late summer as pollen in the heated air lazes across your consciousness. And this is the haze at play in Oberon’s faded gold. Hold a glass by a bonfire on the beach and it will run with the reds as well, topping all with a deliciously dense head lashed out like the crest of a Lake Michigan wave. Aroma? Lively, dancing skips of wheaty citrus with significant spicey yeast action and hints of butter as well. All this, of course, prelude to the full throated music of the brew in the mouth - riper, heavier, rounder than your average wheat with just enough oat- bready backbone to support the threading notes of orange and lemon, apricot and mint, exotic spices too. And the finish! Oberon is a celebration of what hops can bring to a well-crafted wheat, leaving a lasting legacy like the strong memory of a summer’s wind in face and sails.

This wheat beer has a fullest body of an American wheat I have had. Semi-sweet flavor is well balanced with a medium hop bitterness. Higher gravity, for wheat beers at least, is undectable in the palate. Somewhat cloudy golden body conceals a myriad of flavor and mouthfeel. The best American wheat I have found.

Full lemon flavor; cloudy, mellow gold as most great wheat beers are... prominent yeast flavor, which brings out the lemon, citrus qualities, quite malty and a touch of hoppiness... nice finish and quite refreshing, drinkable, and good. Not the biggest fan of wheats, but this one ain’t bad.

an appearance point for the label and packaging, funny and well done. Soft but very hoppy, fully aromatic and lightly bready with little to no toast or fruit. Light lemons and a touch of camphor or spearmint. Unusual, full flavored, and dangerously quaffable.

I really enjoyed this beer. It has a nice golden, mirky color, with a pleasant aroma. The taste has a fine and not overpowering hint of lemon. My only complaint was that it is not very smooth. Nice long finish. Good stuff.

Amongst Michigan beer drinkers few events are more anticipated than the spring launch of Bell’s Oberon. This American wheat beer has found its way into the tap rotation of most good bars and restaurants. Overall, it’s an excellent American wheat. It has a solid body and the head sticks around for a while. Slight citrus flavors. The malt is more perceptible than with other wheats. My only complaint is that they seem to have changed yeast strains a few years ago ... this used to have a greaer phenol character. Still, great beer to welcome the sun with.

A nice lite wheat with good wheat, citrus flavors. Need to get more and re-rate.

this is one of the best beers i have ever tasted. hard to find, and a little pricey.. but well worth the extra couple of dollars. great taste, great aroma, overall a top notch beer....

Everyone seems to worship this beer except for me. It was quite yeasty and citrusy... certainly not anything I look for in a beer. Go get a hard lemonade or something. I actually mixed it with a cream stout to mellow out the flavor, because it had way too much for me. WAIT A MINUTE... retried this on tap, and I finally see the hype. Damn good. I curse the old place I tried this at... I guess that’s why you keep trying sometimes. Has to be my favorite wheat beer.

UPDATED: MAY 4, 2003 ReRate: This time I noticed more orange citrus flavours which give it the slightly bitter taste that I like a lot, up one on the palate rating.
Orig. Rate: I really like the slight orange tint that shines out of the glass. Well balanced wheat and hop flavours, nice.