Oberon

The sun is starting to set on this year’s Oberon season, but those who love it and wheat beers have a brand-new option to help keep summer going. Rind Over Matter, the first official release in our new branded Wheat Series debuts this month in bottles, cans, and on draft across our distribution footprint. “The first thing you are going to notice is this beautiful light color followed by very expressive notes of lemon and orange. People are going to love this, especially those looking for an alternative while Oberon is away for the winter,” Andy Farrell, Brewing Innovation Manager, said. Rind Over Matter is a bright and refreshing American Wheat Ale, brewed with fresh lemon and orange zest, with a 5% ABV. It is easy-drinking, aromatic and has a lighter malt profile than Oberon that allows those citrus notes to really shine.  “One of the things we do really well is wheat beers,” Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell’s said. “People have always been drawn to that style, they are very popular and approachable. It made sense for us to lean into that more and give our fans and customers a wide range of choices throughout the year,” he said. Following Rind Over Matter, look for our Belgian-inspired Wheat, Bright White, in November. In mid to late December, a brand-new low-calorie option will follow in this series before Oberon returns in March 2022. Additional details on that new beer will be shared soon. Those who don’t want Oberon season to end just yet can still find it on store shelves while supplies last. No new shipments will be heading out from the brewery until next year though (except for those destined for Florida and Arizona where Oberon is available year-round). One more big wheat announcement For the first time ever, Uberon, a bourbon barrel-aged version of Oberon will ship in 12 oz bottles, packaged in 4-packs. At 11.3% ABV, it is the perfect beer for a special summer moment or for those long winter nights when you’re longing for the return of Oberon. Uberon will start hitting store shelves and coolers around the beginning of September. It will debut at the Bell’s General Store and Eccentric Café in Kalamazoo on Sept. 1. Find Bell’s beer near you For help locating any of our beers, head on over to our Beer Finder.

We're always looking for fun ways to celebrate our summer Wheat Ale, Oberon. This recipe, which debuted as part of this year's Bright Night events, is one of our current favorites. It's simple, delicious and great by the pool, on the deck or wherever you enjoy a taste of summer. Cheers! Sunstruck by Oberon INGREDIENTS Crushed Ice ½ oz. Falernum (pronounced fə-LUR-nəm) is a nonalcoholic syrup from the Caribbean, best known for its use in tropical drinks. It contains flavors of ginger, lime, almond, and most often also of cloves or allspice. 3 oz. Orange Juice 4 oz. Oberon Grenadine Garnish of Orange and Cherry aka “Butterfly” DIRECTIONS Pour 3 ounces of Orange Juice into a pitcher. Add ½ ounce of Falernum to the Orange Juice. Open 1 bottle of Oberon and pour about half into the pitcher. Take a sip of Oberon Stir and pour over ice Lace the glass with Grenadine Garnish Thirsty or hungry for more? Check these recipes out.  Cheers and enjoy!

Saturday is Bright Night, also known as the Summer Solstice. The longest day of the year means more sunshine and more ways to enjoy Oberon. Check out our Bright Night video featuring a special guest from Lowell Observatory and stick around to the end to learn more about a brand new beer debuting later this year! We mentioned three cocktail recipes in our video — here they are! Sunstruck by Oberon Ingredients Crushed Ice ½ oz. Falernum (pronounced fə-LUR-nəm) is a nonalcoholic syrup from the Caribbean, best known for its use in tropical drinks. It contains flavors of ginger, lime, almond, and most often also of cloves or allspice. 3 oz. Orange Juice 4 oz. Oberon Grenadine Garnish of Orange and Cherry aka “Butterfly” Directions Pour 3 ounces of Orange Juice into a pitcher. Add ½ ounce of Falernum to the Orange Juice. Open 1 bottle of Oberon and pour about half into the pitcher. Take a sip of Oberon Stir and pour over ice Lace the glass with Grenadine Garnish Cheers and enjoy! Oberon Beermosa Ingredients Oberon Sparkling White Wine Orange Juice Directions Mix: 25% sparkling white wine, 15% orange juice, 60% Oberon Use a mint leaf and/or an orange as garnish From our experience, we've found it works best to pour the sparkling white wine first, then the orange juice and top it off with Oberon. Make sure to pour slowly to avoid making a mess. We've also found using fresh-squeezed orange juice tastes best, but you can use whatever juice you prefer. Oberon on the Rocks This one is simple: freeze Tropical Oberon in ice cube trays. Silicon trays work well since the beer won’t freeze solid like water but be more of icy chunks. Also, because of the alcohol, it takes longer to freeze than water. Fill a glass with the Tropical Oberon cubes, top with Oberon. Enjoy! Perfect for a hot, sunny day!

This summer, you can run/jog/saunter for Oberon and Two Hearted (family) medals! Our annual Oberun 5K event will be virtual again for 2021. But after you run that 5K, be sure to sign up for the inaugural Two Hearted Family Reunion Run. Below are all the details for both virtual races. Special thanks to our partner, Running Fit! Sign-up now, space for both is limited. Oberun 5K When: July 26-30, 2021 Distance: 5K dash/jog Cost: $34 - Canadian shipping is available for an additional fee. Benefits: Karen’s Trail and the construction of a 70-mile trail system. Learn more here. Swag & goodies: Custom medal with bottle opener, t-shirt, shipping, a week of daily themes and contests (with prizes!). Registration deadline: June 14 at 9 a.m. CLOSED How to sign-up: Go here. Two Hearted Family Reunion Run 3 distances to choose from or run all 3: Light Hearted Hustle, Two Hearted Hop, Double Two Hearted Dash and/or The Whole Hoppy Family! When: August 9-13, 2021 Cost/swag: $34 each or $54 for The Whole Hoppy Family (includes US shipping, a week of daily themes and contests where you can win prizes, a soft cotton t-shirt, custom bottle opener medal (or 3) and an additional bottle opener when you sign-up for The Whole Hoppy Family. Canadian shipping is also available for $12. Distances: 3.7K,7K, 11K, 21.7K T-shirt deadline: Register by noon on July 16 to guarantee your size.  Registration deadline: Online entries close August 2, 2021, at 9 a.m. or when the event reaches capacity. How to sign-up: Go here.

We're taking you to new shores under the Oberon sun with two, new ways to enjoy the color and scent of a summer afternoon. Tropical Oberon, a variation brewed with real passionfruit, pink guava, and mango started shipping this week. It will be available in 4-packs of 12-ounce bottles. Limited edition Oberon packaging has also started shipping. Those twelve-packs (12-ounce bottles and cans) will transport fans to the beach, celebrating another of one of our favorite things about summer.   “Both are special treats for this year’s Oberon season. And not the last surprise we have in store for our Oberon fans this year,” Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell’s Brewery hinted. Check deliveries near you with our Beer Finder. No results? No worries - it's likely still on the way. Search "All Beers" and reach out to your trusty, local shops to see if they have more details about if and when then expect to carry it in the meantime. Those who prefer the traditional Oberon packaging will still have that option as well; fresh batches of Oberon will continue shipping until later this summer. All will join this year’s brand-new mini keg, part of a series of Mini kegs for Causes designed to help support organizations that are near and dear to the brewery, on store shelves. Tropical Oberon (5.8% Alc.-by-Vol.) is the second bottled Oberon variant released and will be limited. Mango Oberon was released in 2020. Like Mango Oberon, Tropical Oberon was originally released as part of the Bell’s General Store Exclusive Series; small-batch beers that continue the vision of Larry Bell and celebrate the innovation he started. All are released exclusively where it all began - at the Bell’s General Store in downtown Kalamazoo. Other variations of Oberon have included Mango Habanero Oberon, Pineapple Jalapeno, Guava, Raspberry, and Cucumber Basil. For more information about where to enjoy those last few months of summer, check out Oberon cooking recipes, learn more about the history of the beer, and more, go here. And if your phone's in the mood for a new, summer look, download our all-new Tropical Oberon phone wallpaper below! 

Oberon won't be the only mini keg from Bell’s this summer. We are releasing four, limited edition mini kegs during the month of May to help raise awareness for organizations that support causes that are important to us and our President and Founder, Larry Bell. “These organizations or what they represent, helped me get through the Pandemic and some tough times. Some were also hit hard and could use some help,” said Larry Bell, Founder and President of Bell’s. “Bell’s will donate to each and so will I. We hope that these mini kegs will inspire everyone to get out and enjoy some of the treasures nearby and hopefully, help some great organizations if they can,” he added. Oberon mini kegs have been released annually for the past 21 years. This year’s design celebrates the North Country Trail, the longest, national scenic trail in the United States. Joining our American Wheat Ale mini keg on store shelves will be mini kegs of Lager of the Lakes, Third Coast Beer, and Tessie’s Golden Ale, a beer inspired by Larry’s Labrador Retriever, Tessie (such a good girl!). Tessie’s was previously released exclusively in bottles at the brewery’s General Store in downtown Kalamazoo. That mini keg will help raise awareness for the Midwest Labrador Retriever Rescue Association. “A lot of folks adopted pets over the past year, so if our choice doesn’t work for you there are many fine organizations all over the country. The idea is to inspire people to give back to a good cause that is close to them,” Bell said. The Lager of the Lakes mini keg will benefit from a partnership with the Alliance for the Great Lakes, a non-partisan organization that advocates for the Great Lakes and clean water. Third Coast Beer, a beer that has not been released for a few years, returns in this unique package to celebrate the Seul Choix Pointe Lighthouse in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Availability All four mini kegs have begun shipping and will arrive on store shelves soon (some may already have them). They are all available at our Bell’s General Store while supplies last. Check availability here.  Oberon mini kegs will be available across our distribution footprint. The others will only be available in some states. Availability for all mini kegs will be limited.  For more on these mini kegs, go here.  Merch promos Our online store will also be running promotional deals on exclusive merchandise from May 12th until May 26th. Oberon: 15% off Oberon hammock, adventures sheet & Oberon Kong coolers using the code OBMINI15 at checkout.  Tessie's: 15% off all dog products using the code TESSMINI15 at checkout. Third Coast Beer: 15% off Short Sleeve Kalamazoo Brewing Co. Tee and all water bottles using the code TCBMINI15 at checkout.  Lager of the Lakes: 15% off Men & Women’s Lager Tees, crewneck sweatshirt, button-up, globe & sticker using the code LAGERMINI15 at checkout.

The color and scent of a summer afternoon is about to get a twist… of mango! We are set to release Mango Oberon (5.8% ABV), an American Wheat Ale brewed with real fruit, in mid-July. A limited specialty offering, it is the first Oberon variant to see wider distribution in bottles. Four-packs will start to ship right after the Fourth of July holiday weekend. They will join Oberon in its traditional packaging, this year’s limited edition packaging and mini-kegs on store shelves. “We have heard from a lot of fans asking for something like this and the response to a small release here in Kalamazoo was incredible. Oberon season will be over before you know it, this is a perfect way to celebrate those last bit of summer,” Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell’s Brewery said. Mango Oberon was first released as part of the Bell’s General Store Exclusive Series; small batch beer releases that continue the vision of Larry Bell and celebrate the innovation he started. All beers are released exclusively where it all began - at the Bell’s General Store in downtown Kalamazoo. Other variations of Oberon have included fan favorites like Mango Habanero Oberon, but also Pineapple Jalapeno, Guava, Raspberry (also a General Store exclusive) and Cucumber Basil Oberon. With the exception of Raspberry Oberon, all were draft only, limited releases.

The 2020 Oberon mini-keg design has been revealed! Look for them this month; we are packaging and shipping them as fast as we can.  You can use our Beer Finder for help locating recent deliveries of Oberon (and any other Bell's beer), but please be patient. Results do not reflect real time inventories and you will need to call ahead to verify availability of mini-kegs specifically. Please be patient as well, since availability will vary. It can and will take some time before they are delivered to their (almost) final desinations after being picked up from our brewery.  Check out the design below and get ready to spend some time in the Oberon System!

March 23 was set to be Oberon Day, but recent health events led us to release Oberon early, curtailing large, public events for safety and health reasons. Plus, who couldn’t use a little extra sunshine? But that doesn’t mean we still can’t celebrate the release of Oberon, albeit at a distance from each other. Look, you don’t need anything special to celebrate Oberon Day during these times, not even Oberon. Take a minute and enjoy the good things to come. Instead of throwing release events at bars or restaurants, join us Monday, March 23 at 6 p.m. on our Facebook page for a virtual Oberon toast. Here's a link to the stream and hit "Get Reminder" to be notified when we're live. A bunch of Bell’s employees will be on chatting and there will be a special, live, video message. Here’s a checklist of things to help celebrate Oberon Day from the comfort of your own home. You don’t need to make a special trip for any of this. Oberon Day is all about celebrating the return of summer. Oberon: or any drink that makes you happy. Favorite glass Orange, any kind of citrus, heck, any garnish. Bottle opener Food delivered from your favorite local establishment Snacks Music - we’ve got just the Playlist (Apple Music | Spotify) Check out these recipes too! Here are some Oberon snack ideas: Citrus spiced nuts Chips and queso Mango black bean salsa Pulled pork with citrus bbq sliders Orange sherbet beer floats And remember: Even though most bars and restaurants are closed, please limit social gatherings, even at a house or apartment. Group video chats are a great way to connect with loved ones while keeping safe. We’ve had some virtual shifty’s here, they’re a lot of fun. If you are in the Kalamazoo area, our General Store is offering Beer to Go with online ordering and pick up. Here are more details.

We are proud to announce an incredible beer lineup coming to coolers, store shelves and draft lines in 2020. The first few days of January saw the packaging and release of Hopslam Double IPA. Coming in at 10% ABV, Hopslam was again released in 12 oz. cans, packaged in 6-packs, on draft and in 5L mini-kegs. New for this year, is a brand new Hopslam mini-keg design. Cans and mini-kegs are limited, and have already arrived on many store shelves and coolers. Each batch is packaged and shipped as quickly as possible so this beer can be enjoyed fresh. The most anticipated release for the year is the brand new, low-calorie, Light Hearted Ale. A Lo-Cal IPA, this member of the Hearted family shares many of the characteristics of our award-winning Two Hearted Ale. At 3.7% ABV and only 110 calories (per 12. oz serving), Light Hearted is now shipping (and in many locations, arriving) in 12 oz. cans, packaged in 6-packs and on draft. Twelve-packs of 12 oz. cans will also ship in February in Michigan. “This is going to be another exciting year for us. In addition to our release calendar, I am also very proud to celebrate our 35th anniversary. Funvitational (2020) will be a huge part of that milestone and we’ll have other ways to celebrate throughout the year,” said Larry Bell, president and founder of Bell’s Brewery. Bell’s Official Hazy IPA will also be back for its second-year after an incredible reception by fans and beer writers in 2019. It is available now on draft and in 12 oz. cans packaged in 6-packs. Twelve packs are also an option. Seasonal beers, Best Brown and Bright White, will both return (Bright White is available now through March or while supplies last). Oberon, Bell’s summer flagship American Wheat, will return on March 23 with midnight release parties, special tappings and more (available until September). In May, Oberon limited mini-kegs will begin shipping featuring a brand new design as well. Returning specialty offerings include: Flamingo Fruit Fight (Tart Ale brewed with passionfruit and lime zest), Octoberfest (Märzen), Special Double Cream Stout (Sweet Stout), Expedition Stout (Russian Imperial Stout), Third Coast Old Ale (Barley Wine), Cherry Stout, Christmas Ale (Scotch Ale) and Lampshade Party Ale (a Double IPA previously only released in 2018). Double Two Hearted (11% ABV) will return in August. New to the Bell’s specialty release lineup is another Flamingo Fruit Fight variation; a Gose-style Ale brewed with lemon and lime. Cans and kegs of Lemon Lime Flamingo Fruit Fight will ship in July. Incessant, a Double New England-Style IPA, will be released in 16 oz. cans, packaged in 4-packs and on draft for a wider release in May. Incessant was previously a Bell’s General Store Exclusive. With Incessant’s release this spring, Bell’s will offer four different Double IPAs for a wide release in 2020 in addition to the year-round Hopsoulution (Great Lakes state area distribution only). Bell’s Leaves of Grass series, seven beers each inspired by a different Walt Whitman poem, will conclude in 2020 with three remaining offerings. Song of the Open Road, a Winter Warmer Ale, is available now. Salut au Monde will ship in March and Spontaneous Me will conclude the series in May. The General Store Exclusive Series will also continue in 2020 with a variety of new beers and possibly some old favorites returning from Larry Bell’s Recipe Library. That includes yet another member of the Hearted family, Black Hearted, which will debut in “celebration” of Valentine’s Day. Black Hearted will only be available on draft at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe and in 12 oz. bottles packaged in 6-packs at the Bell’s General Store. “Now, this isn’t all we have lined up for 2020. We always like to keep a few things close to the vest. We’ll have plenty more to share in due time,” Bell said. Bell’s fans should save Sept. 12, 2020 for Bell’s Funvitational Beer Festival. This will be Bell’s second Funvitational and will feature a variety of breweries from across the globe at Homer Stryker Field, home of the Kalamazoo Growlers, in downtown Kalamazoo. The original Funvitational was held in 2015 in celebration of Bell’s 30th Anniversary. Additional details will be announced at a later date. Keep an eye here on the Bell’s website and its social media channels for the latest information and release updates. [[{"fid":"10181","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Bell's 2020 release calendar is now available. ","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Bell's 2020 release calendar is now available. "},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Bell's 2020 release calendar is now available. ","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Bell's 2020 release calendar is now available. "}},"link_text":null,"attributes":{"alt":"Bell's 2020 release calendar is now available. ","title":"Bell's 2020 release calendar is now available. ","height":814,"width":1200,"style":"margin: 10px;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]] Download a PDF of Bell's 2020 release calendar.  Bell’s 2020 release calendar at a glance Year-round Two Hearted (7% ABV), Light Hearted (3.7% ABV), Official Hazy IPA (6.4% ABV), Lager of the Lakes (5% ABV), Amber Ale (5.8% ABV), Kalamazoo Stout (6% ABV), Porter (5.6% ABV) and Hopsoulution (8% ABV - MI, WI, IN, IL, OH, MN only). Seasonal Bright White (5% ABV), Oberon (5.8% ABV and Best Brown (5.8% ABV) Specialty Hopslam, Flamingo Fruit Fight (5% ABV), Oberon 5Ls, Incessant (8.5% ABV), Flamingo Fruit Fight Lemon Lime Gose (4.8% ABV), Octoberfest (5.5% ABV), Special Double Cream Stout (6.1% ABV), Expedition Stout (10.5% ABV), Third Coast Old Ale (10.2% ABV), Cherry Stout (7% ABV), Christmas Ale (7.5% ABV) and Lampshade Party Ale (9% ABV). Leaves of Grass Song of the Open Road (8.5% ABV), Salut au Monde and Spontaneous Me General Store Exclusives Black Hearted (7% ABV) and many others TBA.