I shall tomorrow after work. In the meantime it's still Midwestern pale ale and two hearted for the night.
Clever disguise for yet another drinking thread.
March 23rd, 2014 at 11:14 PM ^
I was going to add OT to the thread title, but what the Hell... Oberon (and drinking for that matter) is not OT.
I have gone down to Bells the last two years. Always a blast. Not sure if I will be able to make it tomorrow. Stupid job.
This beer has been around a long, long time. I remember seeing it on tap when I was a student many moons ago.
Admittedly, wheat beers are not my style, but I've always found this to be a decent, but not spectacular beer. I guess that's how I feel about Bell's beers in general with the exception of Black Note Stout which is excellent. Expedition and Two Hearted are pretty solid, too.
Two Hearted is my favorite beer period. Tried a Hopslam for the first time last night. Unreal how smooth and balanced it is for 10% ABV. Need to get my hands on a Heady Topper one of these days.
March 23rd, 2014 at 10:05 PM ^
Preach! Hopslam is where it's at.
March 23rd, 2014 at 11:29 PM ^
I'm with you on the Two Hearted, but I've been increasingly disappointed with Hopslam as the years go by. It's lost some of the really grapefruity notes of the first few years, and now has this sort of acrid citrus boozy tinge overbearing everything. I mean, I do enjoy it, but I think a lot of folks are letting the fact that it's almost turned into a freaking collector's item mask its flaws.
Hell, I remember the first couple years, you'd see just piles of Hopslam sixers everywhere. You could get it for months. Last year, the guy at Binny's laughed at me because I asked about it on day three of the release. They'd sold out of something like 72 cases in 48 hours. This year, it was like finding a unicorn. Finally found a sixer at a forlorn liquor store, and paid far too much for it.
Oberon used to be named "Solsun". I seem to remember that name on a Bells beer with a similar label, although it was a long time ago.
March 23rd, 2014 at 11:14 PM ^
It's the same beer. Larry was sued by the company that makes Sol, which is a terrible beer and had to change its name.
March 23rd, 2014 at 11:19 PM ^
I agree. Black Note is head and shoulders above their other beers, unless you go to the brewery, where they are fresh and awesome.
Sweet. I don't get why there's such a resistance developing against it. It isn't the kind of beer you would order at Ashley's or something, but definitely the kind of beer you would stock up on if you're hosting a BBQ or going to The Lake, Up North, etc. It's the craft-beer drinker's Bud Light.
Don't drink Oberon.
Because craft beer drinkers are pretentious and feel the need to spend no less than $14 per four pack?
March 23rd, 2014 at 11:13 PM ^
Actually some do. Not all craft beer drinkers are IPA obsessed beer snobs.
March 24th, 2014 at 12:50 PM ^
As a craft beer drinker in the "Napa Valley of Microbreweries," I reply to you with this:
Wrong.
don't even consider Bud Light to be beer.
are closeted hipsters.
Everything you've ever had isn't good enough and everything they've had you've totally never heard of
at how true this is. Thank you. My brother in law hates hipsters but is the biggest beer hipster on the planet. I've always made a mental note of the hilarity in those types so it reads very funny.
As Oberyn Martell is one of my favourite characters in the ASOIAF series, I am disappoint in myself despite noticing the mispelling.
GOLD. IT was the genesis of craft brewing. On a hot summer night .....there is only one thing that is better.
I would do one of these if I didn't have to be at a rollout of new systems for my employer in about 12 hours - (LINK)
The list has some of the midnight tappings that people can attend, if you're interested. Ashley's in Ann Arbor will have one, as well Sava's and Conor O'Neill's. Multiple locations of TGI Friday's throughout the state of Michigan will be hosting them as well. A few Chicago locations are listed too.
3 events in Naperville. Never thought that would happen. Maybe getting a rep as a brew town with the summer and winter ale fests along with Solemn Oath brewery doing quite well.
Do I need to make a trip out to Naperville?
I live 4 blocks away from Bell's, it pretty much is a holiday around here.
Get this stuff out to So Cal damnit!
We will have it in Western New York this year, if there are any WNYers reading. Consumers is, I believe, the only beer store around that will have it.
Back in MI can you get Oberon year round now? Living in AZ, we have Oberon year round and I have to figure MI does as well. Most bars out here have Two Hearted on tap at all times as well.
No, it's seasonal in Michigan, and in most places I think, though I know Florida also gets it year-round.
I think it's better being a seasonal, gets people excited about the release each year.
Definitely had a moment of home sick set in... then discovered 3 places set to tap Oberon right here in Richmond, VA. My wife and I have set a dinner date for Whole Foods in Short Pump next Saturday! (Trauma nights for the next 6 days means I will be instead taking care of anyone having a few too many Oberon's with keys in hand... also, please keep gasoline and diesel away from your bonfires. Actually, please just stay away from fires. End of Public Announcement.)
March 23rd, 2014 at 10:00 PM ^
People eat dinner at Whole Foods?
I'm not criticizing, I just seriously didn't know it was a thing. Come to think of it, some of that stuff on the hot bar is pretty damn tasty. Throw taps into the equation...yeah, I guess Whole Foods is basically a restaurant. Carry on.
Seriously, we don't normally make dinner dates at the grocery store, but... the hot plates are pretty dang good, especially the breakfast bar, and they'll sell me a growler at the end of the day. Can have a pint with dinner, safely drive home, and then have a couple more pints at home. Got a nice little Sunday planned, maybe hit the Bed Bath and Beyond on the way home... I don't know, don't know if there'll be enough time.
We get it year round because we don't have winter. I looked on their website, because I thought maybe it was left overs. Thank you Bells!
It accepteth my sacrifices, and looketh past my transgressions.
And I am grateful. Urination is never so pleasant, and the green grass upon my feet does examine my fate with prompt approval. And I am happy.
Yep, pretty much!
I work in Kzoo. Oberon is overrated. Get a Whitsun from Arcadia if you ever have a chance.
March 23rd, 2014 at 10:02 PM ^
I don't really love Oberon either, but I'm definitely not a Whitsun fan. It's been a while, but I remember it having the mouthfeel of like a peppered Bud light. Which probably only makes sense in my head.
March 23rd, 2014 at 10:06 PM ^
Really? Whitsun reminds me of what Oberon used to be like. Much creamier. Oberon seems thin and bitter now.
March 23rd, 2014 at 10:01 PM ^
What is all the fuss about? It's a decent wheat beer ND nothing more....
To Hell with ND
March 23rd, 2014 at 10:02 PM ^
I do always enjoyed it
March 23rd, 2014 at 10:07 PM ^
looks like you may have already "do always enjoyed" too many of something or other...
March 23rd, 2014 at 10:08 PM ^
It used to be a big deal . That is, until it was supplied year round to satisfy national markets . I will toast to the Oberon day of the past and nothing more. Frankly , I am Overon it... Zing !
March 23rd, 2014 at 10:09 PM ^
Of all the weeks to have to be travelling for work............
March 23rd, 2014 at 10:14 PM ^
Not sure what the deal is with all the Oberon hate. It's not my favorite beer, but its pretty solid and its the beer that got me interested in craft beer, so it will always have a special place in my heart. I suspect thats the case with a lot of craft beer fans from Michigan.
Also, looking forward to the comments about how this year's batch sucks and can't compare to the batches in 08 and 03 and all the Solsun batches.
March 23rd, 2014 at 11:13 PM ^
I think it has something to do with the whole, "I can't like something because it's popular." deal. Those doing the backlash will either learn to calm down and enjoy something on it's merits or....... hell, it's not like it matters.
March 23rd, 2014 at 10:34 PM ^
Bells is releasing Oberon and two hearted in cans soon as well. Should be out by the end of April. Yes oberon used to be a heavy..they definitely changed it up since the late 90's.
March 23rd, 2014 at 10:36 PM ^
Absolutely it was Solsun. They were only sold in 22s. We would save up to buy them in spring term 96. Had to change the name because of Molson an del sol. Wish I had kept a few of those bottles.
March 23rd, 2014 at 11:18 PM ^
I wish Bells would expand to to Nevada. I had to get some in Arizona after the BWW Bowl debacle. Only redeeming thing about the trip was the trunk full of Bells. I'll have to crack open one of the remaining Oberons tonight.