Bell's - Oberon Ale

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Oberon Ale

Bell's Brewery Inc.

8938 Krum Ave.
Galesburg & Comstock MI USA
Est. 1985

www.bellsbeer.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.8 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review

Dark golden yellow color; a bit different for a wheat beer.

Wheat, orange, lemon zest and spice on the nose.

Draped lacing, tan head that simmers out to a wisp of yeast cover.

Wheat grain and lemon citrus with hops present on finish.

Pretty active carbonation. 

Light bodied. Finishes just a bit tart, but clean.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy

Tending to the grounds surrounding the crypt can work up a sweat and a thirst. Bell's Oberon was sitting there among the other Pale Wheat Ales in the back of the mortuary fridge. The Mr. Sunshine face was calling me on this hot day. Slightly mesmerized by its Mona Lisa smile, I picked up the bottle and rotated the label to the back side. Reading the blurb that said, "An American wheat ale with the color and scent of a summer afternoon", I paused to contemplate as the sweat dripped down on this hazy, hot and humid afternoon.

I slammed closed the door to the refrigerator.  Then lifting the magnetized church key from its resting place on the front door, I thought to myself, "This ought to be cool and refreshing." Into the glass went the ale and into the pool went I, with similar refreshing agitation of liquid. Climbing out, dripping from cranial skull cap to phalanges, I took a gulp. Ahhhhh.

That's how we chill at the crypt.

Bell's - Best Brown Ale

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Best Brown Ale

Bell's Brewery Inc.

8938 Krum Ave.
Galesburg & Comstock MI USA
Est. 1985

www.bellsbeer.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.8 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review

Deep brown color with some red hues.

Roasted malts, bready and caramel with scant hops on the nose.

Draped lacing, tan head that simmers out to a wisp of yeast cover.

Caramel and toasted malts giving way to a dry, nutty finish.

Moderate carbonation. 

Medium bodied. Finishes very clean.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy

Bell's has many beers, but this is one I hadn't heard of, nor seen before. It is a seasonal and was purchased right near the end of shelf life. Upon opening it, I found that it had not suffered from the shelf storage at all. It was malty, creamy smooth and most of all delicious.

I will make a point to seek this one out during the Fall/Winter months as its seasonal availability will escape me no more. The wise old owl on the label surely knows this brown ale could easily be a year round best seller for Bell's. But he looks as if he doesn't give a hoot.

Bell's - Third Coast Old Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Third Coast Old Ale
Bell's Brewery Inc.

8938 Krum Ave.
Galesburg & Comstock, MI USA
Est. 1985
www.bellsbeer.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 10.2 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Deep golden color with red hues.
Brown sugar, molasses and muddled plum fruits on the nose.
Draped lacing, off-white head that leaves a solid finger height throughout the glass.
Biting hops up front give way to rich fig and raisin tastes.
Stated alcohol presence in smell and taste.
Moderate carbonation. 
Full bodied. Powerful in flavor, taste and alcohol.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Not much to look at on the label...but explore the contents and you are in for a surprise!  Bell's spent their time brewing this ABV barleywine beast, but didn't waste a lot of energy on the label/packaging. Light pink border, maroon lettering and a bleak winter's scene are on the spartan neck and body labels of this beer. But when you open the bottle, you unleash the barleywine monster inside.

The 10.2% ABV hits you in the nose, and the back of the throat. It envelops your tongue. Do yourself a favor and pour into a small snifter or 4 ounce glass. Do not think for a minute that you'll be swigging this directly from the bottle. It's no-excuses strong.

It will warm you up with comfort on the bleakest of a winter's day. Also, it will likely kick your ass at the same time.

You have been warned! Muahaaahahahaha!

Bell's The Oracle DIPA Ale

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Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
The Oracle DIPA Ale
Bell's Brewery Inc.

8938 Krum Ave.
Galesburg & Comstock MI USA
Est. 1985
www.bellsbeer.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 10.0 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Hazy amber color.
Yeast swirls plunge into the depths of the glass.
Citrus hops aromas abound.
Draped lacing, off-white head that leaves a solid finger height throughout the glass.
Smooth hops, biting hops, awesome hops flavor.
Sticky pine and citrus hops taste.
Masked 10% ABV, making it too easy to drink.
Moderate carbonation. 
Medium bodied. Sinfully delicious.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Frickin' A! That's a damn great DIPA. Watch yourself...it is waaay too easy to pop one of these down. Yummy hops for us hopheads and a big 10% ABV to go with it.

Label says, "A double IPA that is sure to make you as all-knowing as Pythia. It's just a matter of interpretation." Pythia, a deceptive and seductive siren who had hallucinogenic laurel leaves in her crown. Um-hmm, that's right, careful with this mythical mistress. Beware her charms, else she'll reel you in and make your head spin with her powers.

Bell's Two Hearted Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Bell's Two Hearted Ale
Bell's Brewery Inc.

8938 Krum Ave.
Galesburg & Comstock MI USA
Est. 1985
www.bellsbeer.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 7.1 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Brilliant gold color.
Noticeable hops aromas that will zip to the farthest reaches of the nose.
Bubbly, foamy, two fingered near-white head that dissipates very slowly.

Super clingy lacing on glass.
Aroma and taste mesh perfectly and balance with the malts.
Citrus and piney, sticky hops throughout.
Moderate amount of carbonation.
Medium bodied.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
What a tidy little IPA!  I have had several of these, both on tap and in the bottle and have become a huge fan.  I have been enjoying them so much, I never got around to writing it all down.  Let's correct that right now.

Not too much hops and not too little. But they make their presence known.  Easy to session.  It seems all the right balance of brewing goes into making this sleeper of an IPA.  If you are an IPA fan, it won't disappoint.

Hook one now.

Bell's Hopslam

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Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Bell's Hopslam
Bell's Brewery Inc.

8938 Krum Ave.
Galesburg & Comstock MI USA
Est. 1985
www.bellsbeer.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 10.0 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Brilliant copper color.
Noticeable hops aromas and pretty much nothing else on the nose.
Bubbly, foamy, two fingered near-white head that dissipates very slowly.

Tremendous stringy lacing on glass.
Malts in the background with bright hops at the end.
Active nucleated carbonation.
Medium bodied.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
With apologies to Theodore Gissell (a.k.a Dr. Seuss)

I might not like green eggs and ham,
But I do like Bell's ale Hopslam!
Hops taste as big as the Hoover Dam.
I do like Bell's ale Hopslam!

10% ABV is in this ale,
Drink too much = EPIC FAIL.
Great hops taste that goes KA-BLAM!
I do like Bell's ale Hopslam!

I would not drink it on the rocks,
I could not drink it in dirty socks,
I might not like green eggs and ham
But I do like me some Bell's Hopslam!

It does not cost a lot of money,
They brew it with a touch of honey,
If you haven't guessed by now, I'm a fan,
Of the ale from Bell's called Hopslam!

Daaymn!  Muaahaahaahaa!

Bell's - Christmas Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Bell's Christmas Ale
Bell's Brewery Inc.

8938 Krum Ave.
Galesburg & Comstock MI USA
Est. 1985
www.bellsbeer.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.4 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Brilliant copper color.
Noticeable malt roasted sweetness and hops aromas.
Foamy, two fingered tan head that dissipates very slowly.

Minimal lacing on glass.
Malts stand out with some bright hops at the end.  Also has dry spice finish.
Light to medium bodied.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Definitely light for a Scottish style ale but suprisingly refreshing for a Christmas ale.  There was some detectable spice note, but not as present as in other winter/Christmas beers.  It is a very sessionable drink, similar more to an Oktoberfest beer, I thought.

Bell's and Christmas...it's a natural!

Bell's Octoberfest Beer

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Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Bell's Octoberfest Beer

Bell's Brewery Inc.
8938 Krum Ave.
Galesburg & Comstock MI USA
Est. 1985
www.bellsbeer.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Orange/amber color.
Some maltiness and sweetness, but seemingly void of hops.
Caramel tan head that dissipates slowly.

Minimal lacing on glass.
Malty, sweet molasses taste with slight hops finish.
Light to medium bodied.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
A close up of an autumn maple leaf turned orange graces the front label. A plain, yet distinctive harbinger of the fall season. The brew inside also helps remind you that harvest time is one of the best times to enjoy beer.

Bell's Octoberfest states on their website, two important facts that might have had an effect on my experience with this brew. The first is that they do not distribute to FL, but a local 'spirits' shop had an ample supply of their harvest liquid. The second is that the beer should be refrigerated at all times to retain its optimal taste and experience. Well...this was a one-off from the do-it-yourself six pack aisle shelves, so that wasn't happening.

Anyway, the beer survived in spite of these obstacles and I'm pleased to report it's fine in keeping with the tradition of Marzen style beers. So, my friends, ask not for whom the Bell's pours; it pours for you!