Bells Oberon Ale

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

Serve in Shaker, Weizen

Bottled at the DC gathering. I was disappointed with this one. perhaps it was always going to suffer in comparison with all the big, beefy beers I had been tasting before it. It’s quite fruity (melons in there somewhere) but I found it rather run of the mill. I know it’s the style but, without the banana esters of German wheat or the spices of a Belgian, I struggled to find much of interest. I’m sure it would be fine as a summer quaffer and may have impressed more in less exalted company.

12oz bottle acquired in trade with atpayne (thanks!). Poured a medium to deep and cloudy golden color with an averaged sized white head. Some floaters. Aromas of wheat, light clove and a little fruity. Tastes of stronger wheat, citrus, and light spices.

Complex aroma of wheat and malt. Golden yellow color with small particles, medium white head. Refreshing light flavor with good combination of bitter and sweet. Good summer beer.

Tap. Hazy golden beer, thin white head. Very faint wheaty aroma with some light citrus and a bit of breadiness. Flavour is very wheaty with lemony citrus and some earthy/spicy yeastiness. Very soft phenolics and some peachy/fruity notes. Lingering spicy hop finish.

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.

A golden ale with a thin white head, A rather sweet caramel malt aroma, a bit buttery. In mouth, crisp and caramelly malt with light saaz hops, a bit buttery. Medium bodied. On tap at Tutu Tango, April 10 2009.

Colour changes from clear gold to fully hazy orange, depending on the level of the bottle; whitish irregular head, fast gone. American hops, good ones, even when not at I²PA levels, some dry cookie sweetness, but in perfect balance. Lytchee aroma, but not only sweet, with a whisky touch. Taste : dry hops sacks, filled with Christmas-dried oranges, green sultanas and some steamed and cloved onions. Medium bodied, yeast-filled MF. Even once KNOWING it, I just can’t get ANY wheat out of this, unless it would be the looks. Blind it would be a pure guess. How much wheat is malted in Belgium, BTW?

Slightly murky yellow. Wheat, lemon, and light citrus on the nose. Flavor is bright and sweet lemon with ginger. Balanced sweetness with slight sour from the lemon presence. Quite enjoyable.