The Triangle

Issue date: 5/23/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Karl Kuchs Bell's Oberon Ale will make you crave for summer, as well as another beer!

While the name "Oberon Ale" might not give you a clue as to what the beer would taste like, Oberon's label certainly does. Its main focus is an image of the sun - a symbol of summer. Its bright orange hues give a clue to the beer's color while the blue reminds you of a refreshing dip in a pool on a warm day. Most important, though, is the name of the brewery - Bell's. Bell's is a fine brewer, and make no mistake: Oberon is a fine wheat ale.

The body of Oberon Ale pours a translucent orange-straw, the same shade of orange as the label. It retains a pure white that dissipates from an eighth inch to leave behind a tiny bit of soapy lacing, like the sea foam that gets left behind when a wave crashes onto the shore. The visual motif matches perfectly with the bottle.

The label isn't really scratch and sniff, but if it was, I'm sure its scent would match the beer. Oberon's aroma is surprisingly fruity for a regular wheat beer. It smells like a pinot grigio with hints of spices. This is an incredible smell that won't be found in beer or wine, and the refreshing scent is amplified by an even more refreshing taste. It is like a mix of a witbier (think Hoegaarden) and your average kristallweizen (filtered wheat beer). This is a great mix because witbiers can have flavors that are too faint, while other wheat beers might have an over powering banana or grain flavor. Oberon has a taste all its own though. It has the great flavor of coriander, the smooth crisp taste of the wheat and just a touch of hops. It is remarkable - both refreshing and full flavored. The aftertaste is medium and delectably citrusy.

Oberon is quite bubbly. This helps give structure to an otherwise light bodied beer. It goes down clean and leaves your mouth feeling cleansed. It also goes down smooth. It is very quaffable, so don't be surprised if you find yourself chugging one down by accident. It's best enjoyed gulped down though, because slight sips won't won't give you access to the full flavor of the beer.

This ale goes best with earthy, semisoft cheese, like fontina. Fontina's light flavor won't overpower the beer, and its earthy flavor complements the wheat of the beer. Its semisoft texture also balances well with the ale's carbonation content. As far as main dishes, Oberon is best served with something light, like a grilled chicken salad.

Bell's brewery produces a lot of exceptional ales. For some reason though, I always seem to become fixated on their labels. That's fine in this case though, because it feels like the label matches the beer so well. The sun reminds us of summer, and Oberon Ale is an impeccable summer drink. What can I say? Sometime you can judge a book by its cover.

Rating: 5

Inebriating: 3

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