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Oberon Day 2013: The Iconic Wheat Ale From Bell's Brewery Returns To Delight Michigan Beer Fans

Fans Celebrate The Return Of An Iconic Michigan Beer
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Fans of the Michigan craft brewery, Bell's, are celebrating the return of the much-loved seasonal beer Oberon this week.

The iconic wheat ale is released each year to much fanfare in spring. The return roughly coincides with baseball's opening day and -- though it might be hard to fathom now with the snow still falling -- its considered to be a summer brew.

This year's batch was released on Monday, Mar. 25, a date known, by those who know these things, as Oberon Day.

The return of the iconic ale is being celebrated with release parties across Michigan
and the internet is also buzzing with excitement.

Oberon aficianado Roger A. Baylor tweeted:

Although many agree with his sentiments, Oberon's opening day also brings out the skeptics:

What's the secret behind the intense Oberon fandom? Nicole Rupersburg of Eat it Detroit believes the accessible ale is the first craft beer tasting experience for many introductory college-age drinkers.

"Oberon is the ultimate gateway beer," she wrote in a 2012 post.

"Light, refreshing, summery, happy not hoppy. … From Oberon, it is only a matter of time before a person discovers Blue Moon. And once there, it is a slippery slope to other wheat beers."

Though it's still unknown how many new craft beer recruits Oberon will bring in this year, Bell's will no doubt make a lot of beer drinkers happy this season.

They expect to ship out 250,000 barrels of the iconic brew this year, according to WXYZ.

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Before You Go

Best-Selling Craft Beer
#20 - Great Lakes Brewing Company(01 of20)
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Location: Cleveland, OhioBarrels Sold in 2011: 120,000 -- 31.9 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Dortmunder Gold (credit:Uptown Beer Guild)
#19 - Long Trail Brewing Company(02 of20)
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Location: Bridgewater Corners, Vt.Barrels Sold in 2011: 120,000 -- 10.1 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Double Bag Ale (credit:tasty-takes.com)
#18 - Abita Brewing Company(03 of20)
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Location: Abita Springs, La.Barrels Sold in 2011: 125,000 -- 14.7 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Abita Jockamo IPA (credit:thepintglass.wordpress.com)
#17 - Shipyard Brewing Company(04 of20)
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Location: Portland, MaineBarrels Sold in 2011: 129,000 -- 31.6 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Shipyard Export Ale (credit:Shipyard Brewing Company)
#16 - Alaskan Brewing Company(05 of20)
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Location: Juneau, AlaskaBarrels Sold in 2011: 130,000 -- 11.1 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Alaskan Amber (credit:Alaskan Brewing Company)
#15 - Brooklyn Brewery(06 of20)
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Location: Brooklyn, N.Y.Barrels Sold in 2011: 140,000 -- 29.6 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Brooklyn Lager (credit:happy-hour.com)
#14 - Dogfish Head Craft Brewery(07 of20)
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Location: Milton, Del.Barrels Sold in 2011: 144,000 -- 19 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: 60 Minute IPA (credit:tiltingsuds.wordpress.com)
#13 - Stone Brewing Company(08 of20)
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Location: Escondido, Calif.Barrels Sold in 2011: 149,000 -- 29.6 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Stone IPA, Arrogant Bastard Ale
#12 - Boulevard Brewing Company(09 of20)
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Location: Kansas City, Mo.Barrels Sold in 2011: 157,000 -- 5.4 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Single-Wide IPA, Chocolate Ale (credit:sudsandbubbles.wordpress.com)
#11 - Lagunitas Brewing Company(10 of20)
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Location: Petaluma, Calif.Barrels Sold in 2011: 165,000 -- 55.7 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Lagunitas IPA (credit:Lagunitas Brewing Company)
#10 - Harpoon Brewery(11 of20)
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Location: Boston, Mass.Barrels Sold in 2011: 173,000 -- 15.3 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Harpoon IPA, UFO Hefeweizen (credit:Flickr: BohemianTraveler)
#9 - Bell's Brewery(12 of20)
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Location: Galesburg, Mich.Barrels Sold in 2011: 180,000 -- 16.9 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Bell's Lager, Java Stout (credit:Bell's Brewery)
#8 - Matt Brewing Company(13 of20)
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Location: Utica, N.Y.Barrels Sold in 2011: 196,000 -- 7.7 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Saranac (credit:Matt Brewing Company)
#7 - Deschutes Brewery(14 of20)
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Location: Bend, Ore.Barrels Sold in 2011: 223,000 -- 9.9 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Red Chair NWPA, Mirror Pond Pale Ale (credit:beerandscifi.com)
#6 - Magic Hat Brewing Company(15 of20)
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Location: South Burlington, Vt.Barrels Sold in 2011: 336,000 -- 4.3 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: #9, Single Chair (credit:danthemantrivia.wordpress.com)
#5 - Spoetzl Brewery(16 of20)
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Location: Shiner, TexasBarrels Sold in 2011: 487,000 -- 13 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Shiner Bock (credit:AP)
#4 - Craft Brew Alliance(17 of20)
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Location: Portland, Ore.Barrels Sold in 2011: 635,000 -- 8.5 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Red Hook, Kona (credit:Craft Brew Alliance)
#3 - New Belgium Brewing(18 of20)
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Location: Fort Collins, Colo.Barrels Sold in 2011: 713,000 -- 7.9 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Fat Tire, Lips of Faith (credit:New Belgium Brewing)
#2 - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.(19 of20)
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Location: Chico, Calif.Barrels Sold in 2011: 858,000 -- 9.2 percent increase since 2010Popular Brands: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Ovila Abbey Ales (credit:donosborn.com)
#1 - The Boston Beer Company(20 of20)
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Location: Jamaica Plain, Mass.Barrels Sold in 2011: 2,440,000 -- 8 percent increase since 2010Popular brands: Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea (credit:Flickr: hmerinomx)
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