Oarsman Ale | Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Brewed by:
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Michigan, United States
bellsbeer.com
Style: American Pale Wheat Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Kettle-soured wheat ale.
First brewed in 2008 at our original brewery in downtown Kalamazoo, Oarsman Ale grew out of our desire to explore the tradition of session beers and to create a unique, flavorful experience for everyone, no matter what the occasion.
Tart and refreshing, this sessionable, bright Wheat Ale exudes citrus and lemony aromas from Cascade hops and trades sour intensity for finesse. A perfect companion for any occasion, Oarsman Ale is a beer based in tradition, but with that distinctive Bell’s twist.
A perfect beer to compliment any menu.
Added by Thorpe429 on 04-12-2009
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 2,292 | Reviews: 643
3.43/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.13/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
A little on the tart side (well A lot on the tart side) but still a decent beer. It's more of a sour beer than a wheat beer, It has a very sour smell to it.
156 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
A little on the tart side (well A lot on the tart side) but still a decent beer. It's more of a sour beer than a wheat beer, It has a very sour smell to it.
156 characters
3.35/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
3.68/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a very pale and very clear yellow/gold with a small white head. Smells of lemon and with a touch of sourness. Tastes of slightly tart lemons, wheat, some very light sour funkiness, and maybe some other citrus. Light body and medium carbonation. Overall a pretty good 'sour' beer. Not really a berliner but that doesn't mean it's not good.
344 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a very pale and very clear yellow/gold with a small white head. Smells of lemon and with a touch of sourness. Tastes of slightly tart lemons, wheat, some very light sour funkiness, and maybe some other citrus. Light body and medium carbonation. Overall a pretty good 'sour' beer. Not really a berliner but that doesn't mean it's not good.
344 characters
3.75/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.32/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
March 20th, 2015 - The Oarsman Ale is an odd duck, with all kinds of curious and head-cocking eccentricity. The aroma is both buttery and wheat, but there is also a sheen of steamed artichoke that takes me off guard. And the flavor is tangy and acidic, with a lighter palate and very fine sweetness, with a touch of white grape. The acidity defines the flavor, but the artichoke aroma keeps knocking it out of focus.
416 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
March 20th, 2015 - The Oarsman Ale is an odd duck, with all kinds of curious and head-cocking eccentricity. The aroma is both buttery and wheat, but there is also a sheen of steamed artichoke that takes me off guard. And the flavor is tangy and acidic, with a lighter palate and very fine sweetness, with a touch of white grape. The acidity defines the flavor, but the artichoke aroma keeps knocking it out of focus.
416 characters
3.75/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Straw colored. Fizzy head dissipating quickly. Some tart citrus in the nose. Also citrus and wheat in the mouth, balanced by mild sweetness. Drying finish. Quite highly carbonated. A fairly simply, refreshing, light ABV brew. Not outstanding, and less tart/sour than some of the others out there, but good. —Reviewed 2018/01/04
336 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Straw colored. Fizzy head dissipating quickly. Some tart citrus in the nose. Also citrus and wheat in the mouth, balanced by mild sweetness. Drying finish. Quite highly carbonated. A fairly simply, refreshing, light ABV brew. Not outstanding, and less tart/sour than some of the others out there, but good. —Reviewed 2018/01/04
336 characters
3.52/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.25/5 rDev +20.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Not too tart, just right. Very sessionable.
43 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Not too tart, just right. Very sessionable.
43 characters
3.25/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.68/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.44/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.41/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
3.75/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.37/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12 oz can into a tulip glass.
Pours a hazy golden straw color with a finger of effervescent white head. The head is gone instantly, leaving very little in the way of lacing.
The aroma is incredibly faint, bringing notes of grains, wheat bread, and lemon.
The flavor brings a fair amount of wheat and cereal grains, followed by some subtly tart lemon and grass.
The feel is light bodied with lively carbonation. Very crisp and dry on the finish.
Overall, a pretty solid beer that's quite refreshing and sessionable. Definitely a solid introduction to the style, despite being somewhat bland.
609 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12 oz can into a tulip glass.
Pours a hazy golden straw color with a finger of effervescent white head. The head is gone instantly, leaving very little in the way of lacing.
The aroma is incredibly faint, bringing notes of grains, wheat bread, and lemon.
The flavor brings a fair amount of wheat and cereal grains, followed by some subtly tart lemon and grass.
The feel is light bodied with lively carbonation. Very crisp and dry on the finish.
Overall, a pretty solid beer that's quite refreshing and sessionable. Definitely a solid introduction to the style, despite being somewhat bland.
609 characters
Oarsman Ale from Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Beer rating:
3.53 out of
5 with
2,292 ratings
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