Bell's Oberon Ale - A Dream for A Midsummer's Night?

I'll be direct and up front with you about this. Bell'sgot heavier as the beer warmed in the glass. There
Oberon Ale (offered by Bell's Brewery, Inc. inwas a bready feel to it but again, this was not the
Kalamazoo, MI) is a microbrew I'll admit to actuallycommon breadiness found in many wheat style beers.
having tried on several occasions over the past yearI think overall, the spice that I can't quite place in the
or two. The problem has been that I just hardly everbackground really makes this microbrew very unique in
really had any time or the common sense to actuallymy book. I honestly do not typically find wheat beers
stop, take time out, and make an effort to write downto be my preference or favorite but I found myself
my own personal thoughts and impressions of this truereally starting to enjoy Bell's Oberon Ale especially as
to form "American wheat ale". Well, no time betterthe beer warmed.
than the present I always say. And now, with summerIf you like American Wheat Ales by nature, then this
weather here in Western Pennsylvania, there's nobeer is certainly not going to disappoint you if you're
reason to put it off any longer. Especially since wheattrying it for the first time. If you hate wheat ales but
beers, or "Witte" beers perhaps, are traditionally thoselove craft beers and microbrews, in the spirit of the art
beers geared for summertime enjoyment.of microbrewing, I'd still recommend you at least give
Starting right out of the gate, I'd have to admit that IOberon Ale a fair shot in broadening your microbrew
actually sort of admire the colorful goofy looking Mr.horizons. You just might like it, and maybe alot as I did.
Sun logo on the label first off. With colors of brightOf all the wheat ales I've tried, and I confess it's not
orange, yellow and blue, the bottle labeling designbeen hundreds, Bell's Oberon Ale is, without a doubt
definitely drew my attention to Bell's Oberon out of themy favorite and one I would not hesitate in picking up a
hundreds of microbrews in my local mix and match sixsix pack of.
pack shop.I'd not suggest adding an orange slice to Oberon Ale
Pouring the 12 ounce brown bottle into an unchilledas the beer can definitely hold its own in both flavor
teardrop shaped glass, I found a tawny bright burningand substance all by its lonesome. There is certainly no
of orange and light rust. A slight haze was present butneed for props or fruitsy tootsy garnishes here. One
nothing entirely out of ordinary for a wheat beer. Athing of note is that Bell's Oberon Ale does rate
mild 1 finger head coated the surface for a couple briefsomewhere in the 6% abv range which is maybe a bit
minutes and rapidly dissipated into lilly pads of splotchystronger than you'd want to be exposed to if just
froth.hanging around, sitting on the back porch in 90 degree
Smell was very faint, a slight fruity touch to it but notplus weather, drinking beer all afternoon after a hard
"banana" strong as you find in so many wheat styleSaturday of mowing the lawn. Don't get carried away
ales. It gave off a faint spiciness that was a little toughand please be responsible. If it's got to be a wheat ale
to place.for summertime consumption, for me, I'm going to go
Sipping this beer for the first ten minutes or so, Istraight to Bell's Oberon Ale if I have anything to say
experienced that slight fruitness in flavor as well. I'dabout it. This micro brew is a winner in my book by
describe it actually as a sweeter, syrupy fruit that onlyany craft beer style standards.