Bell's Oberon Is America's Most Overrated Beer

by Guest 2015-05-12, 18:43

Drunkspin trolls the midwest.....

It’s not that tough to track down a very good wheat beer; hell, even Blue Moon won’t kill you, if it comes to that. This is why it’s strange that so many otherwise reasonable Midwesterners go bonkers for Oberon Ale, Bell’s thoroughly ordinary seasonal wheat.

Bell’s doesn’t distribute to my state, but it’s hard to be a credible IPA ranker without ever trying their Two-Hearted Ale, so I scammed a sample out of them last fall. I wasn’t expecting it to live up to the hype, and I was happily mistaken. That shit is outstanding. It’s very hard for an “ordinary” IPA (one that isn’t flavored or super-strength) to stand apart from the pack these days; I’m not saying they’re all the same by any means, but the style is so popular that hundreds of brewers have gotten really good at producing what we want. But Two-Hearted definitely rises above the pack. So I wrote nice things about it, and the suckers at Bell’s sent me some Oberon last month, and now here we are with the bad news.

I fully respect the way nostalgia and ritual can enhance a drinking experience, but I still think it’s bonkers for people to get so damn worked up over the annual release of Oberon. Many places in Michigan and surrounding states go so far as to declare an Oberon Day, which this year fell on March 23. A holiday for a seasonal wheat beer is a hell of a thing. It’s a shame the people who invent such things wasted the idea on Oberon.

Bell's Oberon Is America's Most Overrated Beer

by **The Pantry** 2015-05-12, 18:58

Not sure about "most" overrated but definitely agree it is overrated

by **I.B. Fine** 2015-05-12, 18:59

I can't disagree, I love 2 Hearted, wouldn't cross the street for an Oberon, just not into wheat beer, I guess.

Similar to Great Lakes Christmas Ale around Cleveland, there are many better 'seasonal ales' these days, but the world stops when the first keg is tapped.

by **Turtleneck** 2015-05-12, 19:00

Is that Ass Dan?

by Martin Spartan 2015-05-12, 19:00

I agree 100%. I've had maybe 3 Oberon's since fall of 11 (my father-in-law picked it to be on tap at my wedding that fall). Its not bad, it's just not that great.

Also, he mentioned Three Floyds Gumbalhead, I'd drink that all day over Oberon and is a great wheat beer.

by Herbie Green 2015-05-12, 19:03

Beer dorks are so f******g annoying.
I would like to slam a bottle of Oberon over this guy's head.

by **tGreenWay** 2015-05-12, 19:18

Herbie Green wrote:Beer dorks are so f******g annoying.
I would like to slam a bottle of Oberon over this guy's head.

I agreed with everything he said. Come at me, brew!

by **kingstonlake** 2015-05-12, 19:28

Paulaner Hefe-Weizen

End thread.

by **steveschneider** 2015-05-12, 19:30

click bait.

by Herbie Green 2015-05-12, 19:50

The thing I kike about Oberon is that it actually tastes a bit bigger, sweeter and more full of body than a lot of other beers in the "wheat" genre, which may be one of the factors that has made it so wildly successful. Aromas are strongly citric—like candied orange and lemon, set atop a base of clean, creamy wheat malt. It simply packs a higher volume of flavor than most American pale wheats do, which is integral in this substyle—there’s nothing less interesting than a bland American pale wheat. Oberon is anything but bland.

by **Frank Ricard** 2015-05-12, 19:55

Not only is it the most overrated, it is the only beer I've had that I can't stand.

by **Other Teams Pursuing That** 2015-05-12, 19:57

Herbie Green wrote:The thing I kike about Oberon is that it actually tastes a bit bigger, sweeter and more full of body than a lot of other beers in the "wheat" genre, which may be one of the factors that has made it so wildly successful. Aromas are strongly citric—like candied orange and lemon, set atop a base of clean, creamy wheat malt. It simply packs a higher volume of flavor than most American pale wheats do, which is integral in this substyle—there’s nothing less interesting than a bland American pale wheat. Oberon is anything but bland.

by Guest 2015-05-12, 20:01

Herbie Green wrote:The thing I kike about Oberon is that it actually tastes a bit bigger, sweeter and more full of body than a lot of other beers in the "wheat" genre, which may be one of the factors that has made it so wildly successful. Aromas are strongly citric—like candied orange and lemon, set atop a base of clean, creamy wheat malt. It simply packs a higher volume of flavor than most American pale wheats do, which is integral in this substyle—there’s nothing less interesting than a bland American pale wheat. Oberon is anything but bland.

Throw in a couple more "hints of this" and "whispers of that" and you could be tSwill beer writer!!

by **Death Roe** 2015-05-12, 20:02

I swore Ass Dan started this thread.

by **Other Teams Pursuing That** 2015-05-12, 20:04

Death Roe wrote:I swore Ass Dan started this thread.

Lol

by Rodeo Burger 2015-05-12, 20:18

People should drink what they like, even if others don't like it.

With that said, the only thing more annoying than fan boys campaigning for why you should likwe what they like is people who tell you that you shouldn't like what they don't like.

Oberon does seem less outstanding each year, but I think that's because of the volume they sell now. There's no way they can be choosy with their ingredients like they were 10 years ago. Not to mention, just like grapes for wine, some years are going to be better or worse than others.

People may prefer other wheat beers, but no reasonable person can say Oberon is not a good wheat beer.

by Herbie Green 2015-05-12, 20:22

LooseGoose wrote:
Herbie Green wrote:The thing I kike about Oberon is that it actually tastes a bit bigger, sweeter and more full of body than a lot of other beers in the "wheat" genre, which may be one of the factors that has made it so wildly successful. Aromas are strongly citric—like candied orange and lemon, set atop a base of clean, creamy wheat malt. It simply packs a higher volume of flavor than most American pale wheats do, which is integral in this substyle—there’s nothing less interesting than a bland American pale wheat. Oberon is anything but bland.

Throw in a couple more "hints of this" and "whispers of that" and you could be tSwill beer writer!!

Is Plagiarism acceptable for tSwill writers?

by Guest 2015-05-12, 20:26

Herbie Green wrote:
LooseGoose wrote:

Throw in a couple more "hints of this" and "whispers of that" and you could be tSwill beer writer!!

Is Plagiarism acceptable for tSwill writers?

Why not? 87.62% of what's written is plagiarized to a degree.

by **Cym Jim** 2015-05-12, 20:27

American wheats are a bit of waste of time when there are so many great saisons, farmhouse ales, hefes etc. out there.

by **Turtleneck** 2015-05-12, 20:28

Cym Jim wrote:American wheats are a bit of waste of time when there are so many great saisons, farmhouse ales, hefes etc. out there.

Cym, this is the only good thing from your motherland....

Bell's Oberon Is America's Most Overrated Beer Samuel-smiths-nut-brown

by **The Pantry** 2015-05-12, 20:34

Turtleneck wrote:
Cym Jim wrote:American wheats are a bit of waste of time when there are so many great saisons, farmhouse ales, hefes etc. out there.

Cym, this is the only good thing from your motherland....

This is extremely good also

Bell's Oberon Is America's Most Overrated Beer Samuel10

by Herbie Green 2015-05-12, 20:40

Rodeo Burger wrote:People should drink what they like, even if others don't like it.

With that said, the only thing more annoying than fan boys campaigning for why you should likwe what they like is people who tell you that you shouldn't like what they don't like.

Oberon does seem less outstanding each year, but I think that's because of the volume they sell now. There's no way they can be choosy with their ingredients like they were 10 years ago. Not to mention, just like grapes for wine, some years are going to be better or worse than others.

People may prefer other wheat beers, but no reasonable person can say Oberon is not a good wheat beer.

This. It is really starting to piss me off.
Personally, I don't know if Oberon has got worse or stronger, but I associate a wheat beer more with something that should be light and refreshing on a hot summer day. Oberon seems closer to an IPA than that. There now I am the person that I despise. But that is just my opinion. I still like it. My son likes swiss cheese, onions and mayonnaise on his burger. My daughter likes a plain burger with ketchup. Neither one is "better" than the other.
FWIW, the review I plagiarized had Oberon ranked #5 of all American wheat beers.http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/04/tasting-and-ranking-39-of-the-best-american-wheat.html?a=1

by **Turtleneck** 2015-05-12, 20:42

The Pantry wrote:
Turtleneck wrote:

Cym, this is the only good thing from your motherland....

This is extremely good also

That is also good. When we colonize his country, I hope we make sure the production of Samuel Smith beers continues as normal.

by **Nordic** 2015-05-12, 20:42

I like it.

by **Turtleneck** 2015-05-12, 20:44

Greenway, do you know if LWS likes Oberon with his dog food?

by Guest 2015-05-12, 20:44

My sons are beer snobs though I never caught the bug, for me there's still nothing better than sitting at the lake/river on a hot summer day pulling Black Labels out of a cooler full of ice.

by Herbie Green 2015-05-12, 20:44

Sam Smith Oatmeal Stout is one of the first beers I really fell in love with.

...Dammit you guys I picked today to quit drinking. That is why I am a bit cranky

by **Cameron** 2015-05-12, 22:06

Overrated? Probably. Still good, though. Most anything that gets a lot of hype is overrated.

That last sentence sounds super cynical, but it's also sort of the thesis for my life.

Bell's Oberon Is America's Most Overrated Beer Giphy

Bell's Oberon Is America's Most Overrated Beer Giphy

by Triple Sparty 2015-05-12, 22:26

Doesn't Samuel Smith make a porter, too? Fantastic if I'm remembering it correctly.

Also, a four pack of Oberon tallboys is perfect for a day on the water.

by **InTenSity** 2015-05-12, 22:38

I liked Oberon when you could see the sediment in bottles. I hate that it's clear now.

by **tGreenWay** 2015-05-12, 23:27

Turtleneck wrote:Greenway, do you know if LWS likes Oberon with his dog food?

I don't know. I tried calling him on his iPhone 6+, but when he answered, his mouth was full of Orijen's Six Fish and I couldn't understand him.

by **Other Teams Pursuing That** 2015-05-13, 01:01

InTenSity wrote:I liked Oberon when you could see the sediment in bottles. I hate that it's clear now.

Isn't this years batch darker?

by **pulling69** 2015-05-13, 03:48

InTenSity wrote:I liked Oberon when you could see the sediment in bottles. I hate that it's clear now.

Every bottle I have had this year has had sediment. Its pretty good this year.

PS Can even see the little bits of orange peel in the head when poured into a glass.

by Guest 2015-05-13, 06:56

pulling69 wrote:
InTenSity wrote:I liked Oberon when you could see the sediment in bottles. I hate that it's clear now.

Every bottle I have had this year has had sediment. Its pretty good this year.

PS Can even see the little bits of orange peel in the head when poured into a glass.

So floating debris in beer is now considered a plus?

by **Turtleneck** 2015-05-13, 07:35

LooseGoose wrote:My sons are beer snobs though I never caught the bug, for me there's still nothing better than sitting at the lake/river on a hot summer day pulling Black Labels out of a cooler full of ice.

Hipster.

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2015-05-13, 07:45

it was better when it was Solsun..

that said, if you need me, I'll be at HopCat drinking a Whitewater Fence Post Muskrat River Fly-Fishing Coffeehouse Porter..

by Guest 2015-05-13, 07:45

Turtleneck wrote:
LooseGoose wrote:My sons are beer snobs though I never caught the bug, for me there's still nothing better than sitting at the lake/river on a hot summer day pulling Black Labels out of a cooler full of ice.

Hipster.

Oh christ.....is Black Label a hipster beer now?

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2015-05-13, 07:47

LooseGoose wrote:
Turtleneck wrote:

Hipster.

Oh christ.....is Black Label a hipster beer now?

Bell's Oberon Is America's Most Overrated Beer 502811600

probably.. started with PBR.. then I noticed a drift towards Miller High Life.. I'm more of a Stroh's kinda guy.

by **InTenSity** 2015-05-13, 08:37

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:
InTenSity wrote:I liked Oberon when you could see the sediment in bottles. I hate that it's clear now.

Isn't this years batch darker?

I won't be in MI until August or September, and the Oberon on the shelves in Miami is still from last Nov.

by Rodeo Burger 2015-05-13, 09:18

LooseGoose wrote:
pulling69 wrote:

Every bottle I have had this year has had sediment. Its pretty good this year.

PS Can even see the little bits of orange peel in the head when poured into a glass.

So floating debris in beer is now considered a plus?

Filtering came about with macro brews so they could sit in warehouses longer. Filtering can remove some flavors and proteins in a beer, essentially making it a shell of what it was when first brewed. Filtering beer can be like freezing meat (though there are varying levels of filtration).

As Bell's says, "If God wanted us to drink unfiltered beer, he wouldn't have given us kidneys...".

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