Oberon
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store

OberonOberon
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American Pale Wheat Beer
Ranked #40
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
86
Ranked #18,773
Avg:
3.83 | pDev: 12.27%
Reviews:
1,953
Ratings:
7,415
Status:
Active
Rated:
Tuesday at 01:06 AM
Added:
Apr 17, 2002
Wants:
  262
Gots:
  1,988
Oberon is a wheat ale fermented with Bell's signature house ale yeast, mixing a spicy hop character with mildly fruity aromas. The addition of wheat malt lends a smooth mouthfeel, making it a classic summer beer. Made with only 4 ingredients, and without the use of any spices or fruit, Oberon is the color and scent of sunny afternoon.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by weizenbob:
Photo of weizenbob
Reviewed by weizenbob from Michigan

3.73/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Oberon seems to be a lot of people's introduction to craft beer in Michigan. I too cut my teeth on Oberon many summers ago. This bottle was from batch 10278 (bottled 3/18/11). I popped the cap and poured into a weizen glass, swirling the last bit in the bottle to ensure maximum haziness in the glass. Most bars and restaurants serve this with an orange garnish but I'll pass.

The pour yields three fingers of fluffy white head. Retention is moderate. There is a nice amount of lacing touching the glass. The beer is robustly golden in color with a lot of haziness from the suspended yeast. It's a beauty.

Amid the wheat beer range, Oberon's aroma is more akin to a Belgian white than a German Hefeweizen. Citrus essence (orange and lemon in particular) comprise a large portion of the scent. Yeastiness is certainly present on the nose. Overall the aroma is fairly dry.

The flavor is pretty unique. I remember that when I first became aware of Oberon I had a difficult time distinguishing it from Blue Moon, the other non-lager that everyone around here drank in the summer. It's actually a pretty night and day difference. There is a strong wheat bite here that is way up front on the tongue. The citrus does come through in the form of orange, but not in a sweet way. The whole experience runs pretty tart. There is a much bigger hop presence than one would find in traditional wheat beer styles, and it contributes a significant bitterness to the brew. The finish is dry with a lingering hop bitterness. As a noob it just tasted like my first good beer; as a lover of wits and hefes it defies expectations.

Oberon is medium bodied. The carbonation level is medium. It's tart and dry so it feels lighter than it actually is. It goes down like palate cleansing refreshment. This beer is pretty much a Michigan institution as it appeals to craft and non-craft drinkers alike. To a Michigan beer drinker, the first availability of Oberon is an indicator of Spring's firm arrival and the eminent hope of Summer's warmth and beauty. It is a reliable brew that is available nearly everywhere that you can buy a beer. At 5.8% ABV it is hardly a true session beer, but it sure feels like it. Price-wise Oberon is mid-ranged, but it seems to find a permanent presence in the seasonal rotations of many a Michigan beer drinker.

---

The Two-Schlitz Scale: (see my profile for an explanation)
I give a Schlitz for Oberon.
Apr 11, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of nwalke16
Reviewed by nwalke16 from Michigan

3.99/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I usually like this beer on a summer day at a bbq or at the beach. It's got the citrus wheat with the slice of orange that is somewhat iconic for Bells. My only gripe is that the looks department is rather murky, but the taste makes up for it. That said, I would likely prefer the Two-Hearted.
Tuesday at 01:06 AM
 
Rated: 3.73 by QuintusHorace from California

Dec 25, 2023
Photo of Cdriver0414
Reviewed by Cdriver0414 from Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
One of my go to wheat beers. A very nice citrus orange color with a nose to match. Its classic wheat with a hint of spice on the end. It doesn't sell well in my area so I can get it for $4 a six pack right nnow.a hard deal to beat
Nov 25, 2023
 
Rated: 3.83 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Nov 07, 2023
 
Rated: 3.76 by hybridnoisebloom from Wisconsin

Oct 23, 2023
Photo of travis1108
Rated by travis1108 from Missouri

3.64/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Not bad. Pretty smooth. I enjoyed it. Solid enough entry in my opinion
Oct 19, 2023
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Rated by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

3/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Shocked I haven't rated this one yet.

12 fl oz pull-tab can:

High C / AVERAGE
Oct 18, 2023
Photo of Troy-Hawaii
Reviewed by Troy-Hawaii from Hawaii

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Part of a variety 12-pack $19.99 Whole Foods
88 days before best by date
Faint wheat smell
Hazy golden-amber tinged color
Medium mouthfeel
Medium carbonation
Taste of citrus, oranges, grapefruit, tangerine, wheat
Overall nice for hot weather like it is now.
Oct 07, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by MattDecker from Texas

Oct 04, 2023
 
Photo of DumbRunner26
Reviewed by DumbRunner26 from North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Nice refreshing summertime beer. Not going to knock your socks off but it’s a good crushable session beer. Good for the lake, cookouts, pool and tailgating.
Sep 04, 2023
 
Rated: 3.94 by ctbeerman1 from Connecticut

Sep 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by todd05 from Pennsylvania

Aug 13, 2023
 
Rated: 3.7 by BeerInspector from Delaware

Aug 07, 2023
 
Rated: 3.88 by smb71481 from Vermont

Aug 04, 2023
 
Rated: 3.77 by tbeer40 from New Jersey

Aug 03, 2023
 
Rated: 4.27 by Wilkolaczek94 from Connecticut

Jul 24, 2023
Photo of JKENNEKE
Reviewed by JKENNEKE

3.87/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
July 2023. Hartwell. Nice can. Karen said it had a good head but she is not a beer drinker so we have to weigh that with a grain of salt. A little bitter tasting overall it’s nothing that’s knocking my socks off, but I would certainly drink it over other things. This is a pretty good review don’t you think
Jul 22, 2023
Photo of thebrood1987
Reviewed by thebrood1987 from California

3.99/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Lemon zest and some yeasty alcohol esters. Mouth feel is really where its at with a nice bite but still syrupy and not too heavy. Slight wheat and lemony taste with a slight floral hop.
Jul 17, 2023
Oberon from Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 7415 ratings