WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
A sure sign of that summer is just around the corner? When Bell’s Oberon returns to the stores, restaurants, and bars.
That official return date is Monday, March 25.
Bars, restaurants, retail locations, and fans will celebrate Oberon’s return with midnight tappings, release parties, pub crawls and other special events throughout the week.
“I think we’re all ready to put winter away and say hello to warmer weather with an annual tradition: raising that first Oberon of the season,” said Bell’s Brewery Founder and President Larry Bell.
“We’ll see if Mother Nature agrees, but we already have spring training (baseball) and between the two, that’s a good start,” he said.
One of Bell’s most popular beers, Oberon (5.8% ABV) is an American Wheat Ale fermented with Bell’s signature house ale yeast, mixing a spicy hop character with mildly fruity aromas. The addition of wheat malt lends a smooth mouthfeel. A classic summer beer, Oberon is only brewed with water, malted wheat, and barley, hops and yeast. In Michigan, it is available seasonally beginning in late March through August.
Oberon will be available on draft, in six-packs (12 oz. bottles and cans), twelve-packs (12 oz. cans and bottles) and four-packs (16 oz. cans). Six-packs of 12 oz. cans are new this year for those who live in states where Oberon is not available year around, such as Michigan. (Arizona and Florida are year-round distribution states.) Oberon mini-kegs will ship in May.
Bell’s fans on Untapped can check-in to there first Oberon of 2019 to claim a special commemorative release badge starting on March 25 through April 1. Everyone is invited to share photos of their first pints and how they are celebrating on social media by using the hashtags #OberonDay and #bellsbeer and by tagging Bell’s (@bellsbrewery on Twitter and Instragram.)
For those who need a little help getting out of work, class or other responsibilities on Oberon Day, a brand new Oberon Day Excuse Generator is now live. Fans can send pre-made “official” Oberon Day excuse notes to their bosses or others at http://bellsbeer.com/excues/. There is also a special Oberon frame you can add to your Facebook profile picture.
Bell’s pub, the Eccentric Café in downtown Kalamazoo, will open at 9 a.m. on March 25 (this celebration is 21 and up all day). There will be live entertainment, food specials, special tappings, games and prizes. Sold out, free Oberon Day tours will also be held throughout the morning and afternoon with bus trips to Bell’s main brewery in nearby Comstock and back to the Eccentric Café.
Due to popular demand, an additional 8 a.m. tour has been added. Spots on that tour are first-come, first-served, so fans are advised to arrive early at the Café in order to secure a spot on the bus.
For more information about where to enjoy that first sip of summer, check out Oberon recipes, learn about the history of the beer and more, visit bellsbeer.com or join Bell’s at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Untapped.
