A New Twist on a Michigan Favorite, Strawberries and Cream Oberon is Here

On April 1, Bell's Eccentric Café took to social media to announce a new flavor of Oberon. Thankfully, it was not an April Fool's joke. Strawberries & Cream Oberon has arrived!

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New Oberon Variant: Strawberries and Cream

The new variant blends strawberries, cream, and Madagascar vanilla at 5.8 percent. It launched on April 1 and is available only at Bell's General Store in Kalamazoo.

I think it’s totally worth the drive because this feels like the perfect summer porch-sipping beer after a long Michigan winter!

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Oberon Day: Michigan’s Seasonal Celebration

This got me thinking about the history of Oberon and the other variants Bell’s has released over the years. Oberon Day, the annual release of the seasonal beer, is of course a huge deal in Michigan.

We just celebrated Oberon Day 2026 on March 23, with statewide festivities and a big party at Bell's Eccentric Café in Kalamazoo. For many Michiganders, it’s the official start of spring, a reason to finally get outside and enjoy the warmer weather with friends. But how did Oberon get so big?

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History of Oberon

Oberon started out in 1992 as a wheat beer called Solsun, meant to capture the fresh, bright flavors of spring. According to Hopculture:

Founder Larry Bell says,

I wanted to do something inspired by Belgian brews but dialed in for Americans [because] there wasn’t much in the way of anyone doing anything Belgian-wise, that was pretty exotic.

At first Bell wasn't sure if Oberon would catch on. He worried folks in Michigan would find the cloudy wheat beer odd... however, it was a big hit. Bell continues,

It just became this juggernaut that took on a life of its own…especially in Michigan where we have long arduous winters. When Oberon came out [in the spring] people saw it as a celebration of having survived winter and summer coming.

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A few years later, in 1997, the name had to change because of a trademark issue. Bell chose Oberon, inspired by the fairy king in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a role he once played in school.

The beer’s spicy citrus notes and gentle hops have made it an instant spring favorite, originally timed to hit taps around Major League Baseball’s Opening Day. People loved it right away, and Oberon Day soon became a local tradition with live music, food, and plenty of beer on tap.

Over time, it went from being on tap to cans, bottles, mini kegs, and is now sold across the U.S.!

Oberon Variants

Several variants have been introduced over the years, including Oberon Light, Cherry Oberon, Oberon Eclipse, Mango Habanero, Orange Vanilla Cream, Pomegranate Black Lime, Pineapple Jalapeno, Tropical, and the Sunshine Shandy Pack.

Do you have a favorite? I’m pretty sure the new Strawberries & Cream will be mine!