Beer After Three Days - Bell's Oberon Review

I came out of institutionalization today to a drizzly mid day. I have to be honest, it was exactly how I felt. Things have been depressing and quite frankly, crappy all around. But I was struck with a realization that pierced my brain and instantly cheered me up. I had been on a three day hiatus from drinking because of the medical study I was about to partake in. I’m no alcoholic, I just enjoy drinking. LOL. Anyway, I knew tonight I was going to get an opportunity to have a nice tasty brew again. I decided what better way to celebrate the 20th episode, than with a well deserved, tasty brew from Bell’s. So today, I review Bell’s Oberon.

Video Review of Bell’s Oberon Ale

Packaging

You can’t miss this one! Bright blue and orange. I spotted this puppy a mile away in its brand new display at the beer store. Oberon just became available in my area and I’m very happy to see it. For those that don’t know, in the graphic design world blue and orange is a trendy combination right now and this is a prime example. I’m from the Sublime generation and this design talks right to me. Beyond that, the design insinuates this beer to be a great summer drink. Which makes sense, its the summer seasonal.

Appearance

Golden to deep straw colored. My head wasn’t all that great, but the lacing is nice. A bit cloudy if you can’t stop the pour in time before the yeast begin to come out.

Smell

I get a pinch of citrus, yeast, malt and wheat. I don’t get a lot of hops. It does seem to have a very balanced smell. A little bit of everything that makes up the beer.

Taste

Bell's OberonIt is pleasant. What I like most about this beer is it really feels like a hybrid of a pale ale, which I love and a wheat beer, such as a hefeweizen. I enjoy a good hefe but can never seem to make a night out of them. They get a little to fruity and spicy for me. The mixture here is really good, providing a nice citrus hop character and sweet malty character as it washes over my tongue, but making it a bit more complex with the hop bitterness and wheat and fruitiness from the yeast. I absolutely appreciate the up front sweetness with a bit of a dry finish.

Mouthfeel

Surprisingly crisp with a decent amount of carbonation. It hangs on the tongue a little bit as it absorbs into your tiny little taste buds.

Drinkability

For a summer ale, it’s spot on. I think the hop character of the Saaz hops that are used within this brew make it a complex combination of a wheat beer, pale ale with a touch of Pilsner character, all of which combine to make an enjoyable summer session brew. I could eat this with hot dogs or fish and it would compliment it perfectly.

Overall

You gotta try it if you have not. I don’t think its a conversion beer for macro peeps, but it could definitely surprise a macro drinker with its complexity and drinkablilty. Very good in my opinion.

How bout you?

What do you think? Good or no good? Have you made a session of it? Let me know!

so good and so great for summer it was the first ever beer i ever cloned. It's natural carbing in a keg right now. The reason I liked it was because it was an american pale what ale that didn't leave me with that standard american wheat bread after taste.

What was your clone recipe? Was it all grain?

I'm thinking about doing the same thing, but I'm an extract / specialty grains guy for now.

Thanks man!

It's an extract from AHS http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_452_43_246&products_id=2071

Interesting.

Wish they would put what's in the kit on the web page or allow me to download it so I can see what's in it

Just click the link I posted...

I did.

This doesn't tell me much.

Extract: 8 lb Liquid Malt Extract, 1 lb Base Grains.

Unless I'm missing something on their site?

Thanks!

Saaz hops and you can choose between wyeast 1272 and white labs (whatever) yeast. I went with wyeast. So far it's spot on, after conditioning I'm expecting Oberon.

This is where I am at in my recipe formulation for this.

Let me know what you think.