It’s Friday night.  I’m winding down from one of those long, painfully busy weeks that leave you feel like someone’s been using your brain as a punching bag.  Dinner was teriyaki chicken and wild rice.  My girlfriend is off with family, busy for the weekend.  I’m all alone … and I’m ready to relax with a good beer.

Reaching into the fridge of plenty, I pull one out at random, and tonight it’s Oberon Ale from Bell’s Brewery.  A summer ale.

Well, it doesn’t feel quite summery yet here in the Quad Cities, but a summer ale sounds good.  Any ale sounds good. 

Okay, I tell myself.  Stop typing and start drinking.  Time to pop that top and take the ceremonial sniff.

Now this is odd.  It smells like summer.  Literally.  I can’t quite put my finger on why.  There’s a wheaty wisp over light malt and a hint of yeast.  All very subtle.

I take a taste…

Tangy, citrusy, with a bright carbonation that quickly fades.  There’s a rush of hops that’s like the swelling of music, first sweet then bitter — and that too fades, leaving the mouth more or less clean.  Clean and ready for more.

I have to ponder this a moment.

I like it.  No, I love it.  I really freaking love it.  This is some good brew!

7.9 on the Holy Grail scale, this is hereby officially deemed a Holy Beer contender.

Bravo Bell’s Brewery, well done.

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