Why am I drinking a Christmas Ale…on New Year’s Day?

This is a good question. Perhaps it’s because I bought too much beer for the Christmas season. I don’t know exactly why – there are no rules, really, around Christmas Ale. You drink them before Christmas, during Christmas, what’s wrong with a week after Christmas? Bell’s does good work, so why not give their Christmas Ale the week after test? Bells will still be ringing for awhile, right?

Ring some Bells for… Bell’s Christmas Ale

First of all, I don’t get into the hype around these things. In fact, first time I had one of these Holiday brews, I was all like…I ordered Sierra Nevada! But their Holiday Ale – maybe it was called “Christmas Ale,” but I’m afraid of overusing the keyword here – came in a bottle with a red label. I wanted a green label. Waaah!

Then there was the time I had the Great Lakes Christmas Ale for my post-Christmas birthday – it was a milestone birthday and, well, I got knocked out.

Anyway, this here bad boy from Bell’s had to be picked up because, well, it’s from Bell’s and their Oberon earned its stripes many years ago.

Taste

Hoppy, not too much so. They tell us on the bottle that it’s made with 100% Michigan barley malt – there’s a bit of a malty aftertaste, which I like. Not overflowing with weird, goofy spices – that’s something I don’t want out of my Christmas Ales. (Like going to Starbucks and ordering a double half-caff mochachino with two shots of gingerbread. No thanks.)

Profile

5.5% ABV. Can’t find IBU info – I’m guessing it’s somewhere in the 25-30 range – but here’s a link to the site.

Value

With any of the special series brews from any of the regional craft brewers, you’re paying more – $9-$12 for a six-pack. Is it worth it? Sure, in this case. It’s a quality beer.

Metasip Grade: B+

We couldn’t go much higher, as this one didn’t have us going batty – maybe it’s because the waters were sullied by some of the other experiences we had with holiday brews. (Watch this space for another review that still has us befuddled.)

 

Bell’s Oberon Ale

There’s a reason Bell’s Oberon Ale is sometimes banned in Illinois.

That’s harsh. “Banned” is a strong word; let’s just say that a disagreement on taxes or something meant that we couldn’t get the stuff a couple summers back.

But they ironed that out – probably had our governor call their governor or something – and all was right with the world.

Because, Midwesterners, it wouldn’t be summer without Bell’s Oberon Ale.

To the review!

Bell’s Oberon Ale Review

Taste

The website – you can link to it here – talks about “mouthfeel.” Which, since this is a beer blog, we should probably start working into our posts.

Come to think of it, though, maybe that isn’t a bad idea – since I’m not typically a big fan of “wheat” beer (or, more accurately, they’re not a big fan of me and I end up with a headache after just one), I don’t actually think of this when I think of wheat beer. It’s probably the mouthfeel.

Profile

5.8% ABV. They don’t tell you the IBUs on the Bell’s website – but it’s not as bitter as your IPA or even some of the hoppier Pale Ales (like Sierra Nevada).

Value

We don’t care. $8.99, $9.99 – we’ll pay it. And it’s worth every penny.

Metasip Grade: A

You would expect anything less from us? I mean, you’re starting to figure us out, sure…but this is one of those Midwestern staples that has earned a spot in our fridge.