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Bell’s Oberon

There are a few things that can signify that we’re finally headed into Spring: flowers blooming, pollen covering everything, and if you’re in Michigan, Bell’s Oberon Day.

Bell’s Oberon Day is officially Monday, March 25th. An official holiday in Michigan (seriously, governor Gretchen Whitmer declared Oberon Day an official holiday in the state in 2022), the day marks the unofficial start of Spring, but the official day that Bell’s wheat ale, Oberon, is available. At a time of the year when Michigan can still be quite cold and dreary, the day is an opportunity to celebrate the warm weather and sunny days ahead.

While the best place to celebrate the big day is arguably Bell’s Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo, Oberon Day events are happening around the United States from Washington State to North Carolina. You can check out a full list of the events Bell’s knows about here to find one near you.

Drinkers celebrating Oberon Day

“What I love so much about Oberon is it has such an intense and deep meaning for many people,” says Bell’s Executive Vice President Carrie Yunker. “People have tattoos of this brand. That’s how beloved it is.”

That Oberon Day distinction came in 2022 as part of the beer’s 30th anniversary, although the brew wasn’t always called Oberon.

Bell’s brewery founder Larry Bell, on a quest to create the perfect summer beer, originally named the beer Solsun. The name is a nod of sorts to the word saison, which the beer was modeled after. The beer uses Belgian male and German hops, but American yeast.

Back in 1992 when Solsun officially made its debut, the beer offered something that wasn’t really available in the American market, and it was a hit, especially locally.

Bell’s Oberon on the bottling line

The beer officially changed its name to Oberon in 1996. As legend has it, a local sorority had used the logo on a rush T-shirt, prompting Bell to trademark the name. When he filed the paperwork, another brewery with a beer called El Sol opposed its name, claiming it was too close to theirs. Rather than fight it out in court, he instead changed its name to Oberon, a nod to the character in William Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Now the beer comes in more than just its standard version. This year Bell’s plans to release Oberon Sunshine, a new shandy version that will be released in 12 packs that include three different flavors: Cherry Limeade Shandy, Lemonade Shandy, and Tropical Shandy.

On tap at the brand’s official party, where thousands are expected, will also be a number of variants of the classic beer including a Strawberry & Cream Oberon, Yuzu Oberon, Peach Jalapeño Oberon, and an Orange Vanilla Oberon. Rumor has it they’ll also be Oberon slushies available.

Oberon Day Celebrators

And they’re also bound to go through a ton of Oberon. Last year the Eccentric Cafe reportedly went through an astounding 91 kegs of the beer on Oberon day alone, equating to over 11,000 pints.

Oberon will be available from March until September except for in Florida and Arizona where it is available year round.

DENVER (KDVR) — A new survey rated the best beer cities in the nation, including one city outside of Denver that produces 70% of Colorado’s craft beer.

USA Today used an expert panel and readers’ votes to determine the nation’s top beer cities, including up-and-coming breweries, age-old establishments, beer bars and pubs, beer festivals and homebrewing communities.

Local legend: How a farmer’s mistake made Sloans Lake

Among these hoppy cities is Fort Collins, which made the top of the list at No. 4 for the best beer city in the nation.

The city is home to 20 award-winning craft breweries and one of the best-known large breweries in the world, Anheuser-Busch, according to Visit Fort Collins. Not to mention, Fort Collins produces 70% of Colorado’s craft beer and 7% of the United States’ beer.

If you couldn’t tell, the city takes its beer seriously.

The mayor of Fort Collins, Jeni Arndt, even bet the Boulder mayor for locally brewed beer on the 2023 Rocky Mountain Showdown football game between the No. 18 University of Colorado Buffaloes and the Colorado State University Rams.

Boulder, Fort Collins mayors bet beer on CU vs. CSU game

USA Today specifically praises the city’s nationally recognized heavyweight New Belgium, in addition to smaller, award-winning breweries like Odell, Funkwerks, and Equinox.

While Fort Collins is awash with pints and yeast, there are other cities in the U.S. that love brews just as much.

Here’s the complete list:

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Columbus, Ohio

Fort Collins, Colorado

Richmond, Virginia

Jacksonville, Florida

Indianapolis, Indiana

Asheville, North Carolina

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Santa Rosa, California

Only surpassed by several prominent beer cities such as Grand Rapids which boasts an official “Beer City Ale Trail” showcasing more than 80 breweries in its vicinity and a local calendar ripe with brewing events, Fort Collins secures a high rank.

While it does not secure a position in the top three, Fort Collins couldn’t stand up to Milwaukee, a city with a baseball team aptly named the Brewers.

For those in search of a place where craft beer flourishes in Colorado, Fort Collins invites you with its cityscape dotted with craft beer breweries.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.

The craft beer explosion throughout the country has led to flavor experimentation beyond many beer enthusiasts’ wildest dreams. Now, there’s one more flavor way out there beyond the norm: pizza-flavored beer.

Tombstone frozen pizza, an Ohio-based brand of Nestle, has collaborated with Colorado’s New Belgium Brewing to brew I(Pizza)A. It will be a limited-release IPA that uses the brewery’s popular Voodoo Ranger IPA to create, New Belgium says, “a 7% ABV slice of heaven.”

Pizza-flavored beer, thanks to New Belgium Brewing and Tombstone pizza, is one of the most recent flavor challenges for craft beer enthusiasts.

“The flavor of I(Pizza)A was inspired by the bold and zesty taste of a classic pepperoni Tombstone Pizza, a perfect match for Voodoo Ranger’s innovative, flavorful IPAs,” says Neil Morrissey, Nestlé’s marketing brand manager.

When the brewing of I(Pizza)A was announced on Instagram, many Voodoo Ranger fans were supportive and eager to buy the new concoction. Some others, though, were revolted by a pizza beer, including one who said the new ale is “not touching my lips.” And there was a middle-of-the-road Instagram viewer who said, “That sounds awful, I want to try it!”

Voodoo Ranger has “a history of collaborating with like-minded companies on limited-release beers that are created for a niche audience,” says Michelle Robertson, the beer’s senior brand manager. “Due to their very limited supply, LTOs (limited time offers) make up a fraction of Voodoo Ranger’s brand. However, they provide an opportunity for their brewing and sensory teams to experiment with new flavors, create unexpected combinations and offer unconventional alternatives to fearless craft drinkers.”

A limited amount of I(Pizza)A will be available for online purchase, beginning on April 7. Two 4-packs of 16-ounce cans will cost $49.99 (includes shipping cost) by consumers in the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia. At New Belgium’s taprooms in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Asheville, North Carolina, a 4-pack will cost $14.99.

Beginning next season, hockey enthusiasts at the University of Maine will have the option to purchase beer at Black Bear matches.

The establishment confirmed on Wednesday that plans are underway to construct a beer garden, likely to be positioned next to the Alfond Arena – the venue where the UMaine male and female hockey teams play.

This facility will be accessible to all ticket holders who are 21 years old or above, with more information to be shared over the summer.

However, according to UMaine’s athletic director, Jude Killy, numerous logistics need to be worked through, including precise location and the type of structure the beer garden will take.

“There will be a lot of people pulled into the conversation,” he said.

He also said it will be a pilot project that will be assessed at the end of the next season.

UMaine is one of just three schools among the 11-team Hockey East men’s league that doesn’t sell beer to the public at its hockey games. Northeastern University in Boston and the University of Vermont are the other two.

However, people who rent luxury boxes at Alfond Arena have access to all types of alcohol.

Home football games feature a beer tent, and beer is available at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor- a venue where the UMaine’s men’s basketball team had two regular season games.

The beer garden at the football matches will be improved, as will the student ticketing processes for hockey and football games. An upgraded arena lighting system is also planned.

A previous query to Bangor Daily News readers asked if they would support beer sales at hockey games. Of the 227 respondents, 152 were in favor and 75 were against, resulting in a 67 percent majority.

According to Killy, “We are excited to explore ways to enhance our fans’ game-day experience. We’re committed to further exploring opportunities that will foster a dynamic game-day atmosphere for our fans, whilst conferring our student-athletes and coaches a true home advantage.”

Last fall, Boston College athletic director and former UMaine AD Blake James, Providence College AD Steve Napolillo and University of New Hampshire AD Allison Rich stated that the selling of beer/wine has been advantageous and a source of revenue.

Napolillo expressed that the sale of beer and wine has been a “home run” and a “win-win” for the institution as well as the fans.

“College hockey is a venture and it’s insufficient to merely be a family-friendly alternative any more,” expressed Hockey East associate commissioner Brian Smith in October. “You must engage a diverse range and broad spectrum of fans who desire to attend games for various reasons.”

He also highlighted that it augments attendance so that student-athletes are receiving a superior experience as they are performing before larger audiences.

Rich expressed their constant pursuit of offering their fans the optimum game-day experience possible.

According to James, the introduction of beer and wine sales at the Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, which began in the 2017-18 season, wasn’t a revolutionary move, but it did yield some valuable revenue.

Killy voiced his belief that such an approach can yield profits.

This year, the men’s hockey team made it to the Hockey East semifinals and will also participate in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2011-12 season. The Black Bears had the opportunity to play in front of 11 full house audiences in 17 games at Alfond Arena.

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ST PAUL, Minn. — For years, the fight to sell stronger beer in Minnesota convenience stores has constantly met defeat. However, a new bill at the Capitol aims to revolutionize the existing law.

As it stands, majority of alcoholic beverages are only sold in liquor stores — only a type of beer known as “three-two beer,” orbeer containing just 3.2% alcohol by weight or 4% by volume, is permitted in other outlets such as grocery and convenience stores.

Minnesota remains as the final state with a three-two law, a law supporters deem as outdated. They believe the bill would afford consumers more choices. On the other hand, critics maintain that people do not have trouble acquiring alcohol and this change will ultimately harm small businesses.

“The amendment, in certain ways, is quite basic,” delineated Bruce Nustad, president of the Minnesota Retailers Association. “We just want to see a touch more clarity, convenience and options for consumers and beer producers.”

Nustad’s group, which represents around 1,200 stores, advocates that it’s high time to update a law, deemed as a relic of prohibition, which confines the sale of alcoholic beverages solely to liquor stores.

The bill underwent its initial scrutiny on Tuesday within the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection committee, which governs liquor laws. Senate Commerce Committee Chairperson, Matt Klein, contended that the public craves high-quality, local beers that are already available for sale at community baseball matches and, from 2017 onwards, seven days a week.

Opinion contradicts, however, as Jennifer Schoenzeit, the proprietor of Zipps Liquor in Minneapolis, argued, “In essence, this bill hinders the small-scale operators, creating an unequal competitive scenario.” She maintains that permitting the sale of alcohol everywhere is an unnecessary move and that approximately 220 grocery and convenience stores already stock and sell strong beers.

Brandt Erwin, representing Minnesota Beer Wholesalers, added that “There’s no research indicating that access to alcohol poses a problem for Minnesota consumers.”

The issue has been presented to the legislature for numerous years — and every time it has gotten stuck. Nustad is optimistic that this year will bring about a change, particularly as the preferences of consumers are continually changing.

“There will inevitably be this shift in Minnesota at some point; we are hoping it comes sooner rather than later,” expressed Nustad.

The grocery and convenience stores that are given permission to sell stronger beer can do so due to a variety of factors, including selling the products in separate areas with individual entrances, and the rule that each store chain can only obtain one license per city.

The proposed bill would also delegate to each city the decision to even offer a license to those stores wanting to diversify their inventory.

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Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist:

It’s hard not to love the combination of pizza and beer, but what about pizza in beer?

That’s exactly the inspiration behind I(Pizza)A, a new collaboration between the frozen-pizza brand Tombstone and New Belgium Brewing Co.’s Voodoo Ranger IPA.

Voodoo Ranger’s I(Pizza)A certainly isn’t the first food-flavored beer, but it might just be the most savory. Available just in time for National Beer Day on April 7, the beer incorporates all the flavors of a freshly-baked Tombstone pizza. There’s the crispy crust, tangy tomato sauce, and savory herbs and spices. And what would a pizza-inspired beer be without a pepperoni kick?

Although Voodoo Ranger’s I(Pizza)A won’t be available until National Beer Day, from now through April 7 you can sign up to win a free four-pack and a Tombstone pizza. You can enter the contest by visiting VoodooRanger.com.

For those who’d rather try their luck at purchasing a pack, keep in mind that the beer will only be available in select markets for a limited time. Oh, and that four-pack will cost you about $50.

A post shared by Voodoo Ranger (@voodooranger)

To no surprise, people have a lot to say about the pizza-flavored beer. An Instagram post from Voodoo Ranger announcing the boozy collaboration is up to nearly 2,000 comments from fans who are confused, excited, and intrigued.

“I don’t know how to feel about this one,” one person admitted.

Some people aren’t convinced that the beer isn’t an elaborate April Fools’ Day trick.

“Y’all early for the April fools,” read one comment.

Are you brave enough to try a pizza-flavored beer?

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Eclipse-themed beer. Jewelry and ornaments. And doughnuts that capture the sun’s disappearing act with the help of buttercream frosting.

With April 8’s total solar eclipse right around the corner, businesses are ready for the celestial event that will dim skies along a generous path across North America.

There are oodles of special eclipse safety glasses for sale, along with T-shirts emblazoned with clever slogans and other souvenirs — just like the last time the U.S. got a big piece of the total solar eclipse action in 2017.

Hotels and resorts along the prime path are luring in visitors with special packages and Southwest and Delta are selling seats on eclipse-viewing flights. Cities, museums and parks are staging watch parties to draw in tourists as well as residents.

“This is a special event and … the travel industry certainly is in a very good spot,” stated Jie Zhang, a marketing professor at the University of Maryland’s business school. She mentioned that this eclipse mania comes at a moment where consumers are steadily increasing their expenditure on fresh experiences.

As the eclipse day approaches, it is expected that more unique products and deals will emerge from nationwide brands. An example is Moon Pie’s “eclipse survival kit,” a package consisting of four mini versions of the chocolate treat and a pair of eclipse sunglasses.

So far, small-scale enterprises located along the 185-kilometer-wide path of the total solar eclipse have taken the initiative. E-commerce platforms and local traders have presented a range of inventive, limited-edition merchandise like earrings, infant outfits, decorations, pastimes, banners, and more.

Certain towns and entrepreneurs have been expecting this astronomical phenomenon and the massive audience for years.

Following the 2017 eclipse, Sam McNulty, co-founder of Market Garden Brewery in Cleveland, marked his calendar. The city, being in the path of this year’s eclipse, is poised to experience almost four minutes of darkened sky.

In the previous year, McNulty and his team came up with a unique idea – brewing a hazy IPA they named “The Totality” to pique interest in the eclipse. Their effort paid off when the brew debuted on tap, garnering immense interest. Soon after, a local grocery store, Heinen’s, proposed a collaboration to can the brew.

A post shared by Market Garden Brewery (@marketgardenbrewery)

Within the following weeks, McNulty said that “thousands and thousands” of cans are slated to flood the market. The ambitious endeavor was prompted by the rarity of the eclipse event. In fact, Cleveland won’t find itself in the path of a total eclipse again before 2444.

“I don’t want to have to wait 420 years to brew the next batch of cans,” he joked. “So we made a very large one this time.”

The eclipse-themed beverages don’t stop at beer. Big Cuppa, a coffee shop in Morrilton, Arkansas, also has a full eclipse menu with a handful of specialty drinks. Its “Moon Pie Frappa” is a blended Moon Pie drink flavored with dark chocolate and toasted marshmallow.

Big Cuppa co-owner Joseph Adam Krutz said that he’s excited to greet customers and the many new faces set to travel through town next month. Krutz said his shop has been gearing up for a while along with other businesses in downtown Morrilton. He drives by a countdown clock each day.

“We’re prepared. Bring it on,” Krutz said.

And don’t forget the snacks. In Ohio’s Butler County, a shop named The Donut Dude will feature an “Eclipse Donut Special” that displays the eclipse’s phases as the sun hides behind the moon.

The special will be available later this month and includes seven filled-doughnuts with rolled buttercream, two galaxy-themed cake doughnuts and safety glasses for customers to enjoy the event while munching.

“We’re expecting a lot of excitement,” says co-owner Glen Huey.

Given that the doughnut shop is not open on Mondays, Huey is excited about watching the spectacle as it moves over his town between Cincinnati and Dayton.

In the U.S., Texas anticipates a surge of tourists due to its optimal viewing opportunities for clear skies. Eateries in the quaint town of Grapevine are preparing exciting offerings for this occasion, including a “Blackout Dinner” at Hotel Vin and an enticing “Solar Eclipse Shake” at Son of a Butcher.

Businesses situated along the path of totality are eagerly planning special events leading up to this celestial phenomenon.

The esteemed Cayuga Lake Wine Trail of New York has a plan to celebrate the eclipse weekend commencing April 8. They are organizing “Sips to the Eclipse” wherein guests would have the privilege to visit 10 distinctive wineries for a delightful tasting experience. An allure of varied additional attractions such as special eclipse eve tarot card reading, delightful slushies, and appetizing half-moon cookies are on the anvil.

Katherine Chase, the executive director of the wine trail, reported advance planning of the promotion to optimally leverage the influx of people expected to visit the Finger Lakes region for the eclipse.

“The wineries can go as big or as little as they’d like to entice folks to come,” she said.

A cheer erupted from the onlookers gathered around the Tasting Room of Louisiana’s bar on Saturday when Father Steve Brandow sipped the beer he had just blessed. This action officially inaugurated pouring for the patrons who were eagerly awaiting with tickets.

This was one of two beer blessings performed by Brandow in the vicinity on Saturday, one day prior to St. Patrick’s Day.

This tradition of blessing has been a long-standing one at the Tasting Room situated downtown Alexandria pub, even before it came under the ownership of whiskey sommelier and current proprietor, Melissa Scarborough. Back in the day, it was known as Finnegan’s Wake and the blessings started around the mid-2000s.

According to Brandow, beer is blessed as it is considered a food item that forms an essential food group for beer enthusiasts. In the same way that some individuals express their gratitude to God for everything in their lives, they also thank Him for the beer.

“It’s a social event,” he said. “Catholics have always been social people.”

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Over at a table, Jerry Liberty and Betty Chavez, both sporting green shirts and green and white beads that had been left on tables, snapped cellphone photos of Jody Skeltoe, who was wearing a green hat and multi-color glasses. The women hail from New Mexico, visiting friends who live here.

They mentioned their enjoyment and anticipation for a “crawdad” boil scheduled for later on Saturday.

The one responsible for the crawfish boil is Bob Pulaski, who made his presence known with a leprechaun hat, green shirt and red kilt, stationed by the bar.

Pulaski acknowledged his wife as the originator of the boil – a tradition dating back many years, he claimed.

His role? “To sip on beer, leading up to my cooking responsibilities.”

Hours later, Brandow made his way to Pineville’s Fighting Hand Brewing Company for the second blessing of the day. Although the brewery has been operating for three years, this is their second time hosting a blessing of the beers.

Standing behind the bar and flanked by owners Chris and Tiffany Lindsey, Brandow invited the gathering to join him as he shared about the first people to craft beer.

However, it was not what people today recognize as beer. It was purely wild grain mixed with water.

“They hadn’t tamed grain yet. That development would happen soon thereafter, but after they relished the first beer, they decided they needed to recreate it, whatever it was,” he narrated, prompting laughter from the crowd.

And he provided them a succinct recounting of St. Patrick’s story and accordingly named them honorary Irish.

“Welcome to the family. If you’re not already Irish, it’s high time.”

Tiffany Lindsey expressed the sentiment that the blessing was an enjoyable event for the community, and since Brandow was a regular participant, he was the probable choice to perform the blessing.

“Upon hearing about other locations engaging in similar celebrations, it occurred to me that we already produce beer,” she pointed out. “Let’s participate.”

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: St. Patrick’s comes to Rapides with blessings of beers at pub, brewery

There are a few important points to be understood from the outset. For one, green beer has always been a poor choice and lacks any redeeming qualities. Furthermore, I am cynical about whether even St. Patrick in his heyday could banish all the political snakes from present-day Washington. The history of St. Patrick’s Day itself has its significant blemishes, specifically concerning inclusivity.

However, despite these issues, I propose that there is something inherent in America’s observance of the holiday that reflects our nation’s strengths – qualities we can and should emphasise, especially as we enter an intense, merciless election year.

Please don’t mistake this for the enamoured ramblings of a die-hard St. Patrick’s Day enthusiast. I grew up with a recognisably Irish name and had a decidedly lukewarm attitude towards a celebration that perpetuated so many stereotypes and misconceptions. As a young teenager well-versed in sarcasm, I would jokingly claim it was my duty to be Irish every day of the year, barring March 17th. I also witnessed many attempts to categorise Americans based on ethnic, religious or racial differences, which often perpetuated divisions rather than fostering a healthy sense of pride.

Yet, my perspective has softened with time. What sparked this change? Partly, a deeper understanding of history. St. Patrick’s Day parades have been a part of American tradition for an incredibly long time – the first of them took place well before the Declaration of Independence was signed. Initially a display of Irish pride (sometimes bordering on rebellion), these parades have grown increasingly inclusive over the centuries. Like the greatest parts of the American story, they have opened their ranks to more and more people, whether as parade participants or spectators.

This didn’t come easily, and even involved a significant Supreme Court case regarding access for LGBTQ groups. It may seem like the Supreme Court makes all the decisions nowadays, but while that specific decision cemented the right to limit parade participation, it wasn’t the final say. What tipped the scales were shifting perspectives and the courage of political and business leaders to advocate for inclusion.

Witnessing multiple St. Patrick’s Day “miracles” also played a key role in changing my attitude. One of these is a longstanding breakfast tradition in Boston where Republicans and Democrats put their political differences aside and choose humor instead of stinging political remarks. Humor plays a vital role in the magic of St. Patrick’s Day. Jokes that spite others contribute to our shared angst and resentment. Meanwhile, laughing at ourselves and each other is what mends fences and builds bridges.

I’ve been to several parades, including a large one in my conservative town in Florida, where I’ve seen a diverse group of Americans happily marching and cheering for each other. Community celebrations are quite powerful and beautiful – and regrettably rare in present-day America.

Unfortunately, holidays have become increasingly complicated and politicized recently. We must tread cautiously when extending heartfelt greetings, like the “Merry Christmas” vs. “Happy Holidays” dilemma. Fortunately, St. Patrick’s Day has remained immune to this, and it’s crucial we maintain this. It has no sides to pick, no scores to keep, and isn’t about political colors — it’s just about varying, often flamboyant, shades of green. Just be yourself, whether you’re celebrating Irish culture or the arrival of spring. St. Patrick’s Day is a representation of America at its most authentically superior and down-to-earth.

We urgently require more special occasions like these when we set aside our ‘us against them’ mindset and unite as one. These are moments when we can dress up in goofy costumes, avoid discussing politics, and honor the diverse contributions that make up the American family. This perspective and the principles it represents should be emphasized every day.

Election day, for instance, could be seen as a celebration of these elements of the American spirit. Yes, we will end up voting for varied candidates, but we could also perceive it as a chance to collectively express our gratitude for the liberties we have and acknowledge those who made substantial sacrifices to ensure these liberties for us. The takeaway is that occasions like St. Patrick’s Day highlight our capacity to celebrate collectively without focusing on our disagreements, grievances, or anger. If we can achieve this (though imperfectly) even for a single day, it implies we can replicate this more regularly. I firmly believe that for America’s continuing evolution to succeed, we must muster the wisdom and bravery to accomplish just that.

Just a heads up, if our volatile political environment is tempting you to have green beer or even something stronger to dull the senses, you should first check out Citizen Connect. I am a co-founder of this non-partisan online platform, which lists 600 organizations intent on finding common ground.