Sweaty Betty Blonde - Boulder Beer / Wilderness Pub

Patrick999

Florida

4/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've been delinquent on my reviews....I'm going LIFO now, unfortunately.

A - Nicely clouded, it's good to see an American Pale Wheat that hasn't been filtered to hell. About as much foam as you'd expect.

S - Some nice wheat bread, a little of that musty wheat aroma. No clove or banana, but no points deducted as this is not trying to be a hefeweizen.

T - Tasty. I didn't smell any banana, but I actually taste some. Lot of fresh, light wheat with just a little alcohol nip.

F - Feel is a step above most American Pale Wheats, due to it being unfiltered. Has a slightly more creamy, robust feel than most, without becoming heavy.

D - This is a very good hot weather beer, just what the doctor ordered. A little underrated, I am a fan of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2009 14:07:06 | More by Patrick999

CaptMurdock

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Nonic Pint

Look: The beer appeared a very cloudy golden and cleared up as it warmed. Even after a very hard pour there was very little head to speak of and minimal lacing throughout.

Smell: The aroma was quite simple but very welcoming. Up front I got the essence of wheat which was followed up with sharp whiffs of lemon and peppery spice.

Taste: Much like the aroma the wheat came right to the front of this flavor. It is a big wheat taste that works very well with the other flavors. Then the citrus and peppery spice creep up on you leaving the finish very dry and refreshing.

Mouthfeel: Very dry with a heavier body than I was expecting given the style and color.

Drinkability: Very drinkable! I just wish I had this on a warm summer afternoon by the grill instead of holed up in my house watching snow fall outside. I will certanly revisit this one once the spring hits.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2010 12:44:33 | More by CaptMurdock

Rio

Kansas

4.03/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle, sold in singles, no dates for brewing or best before dating found.

Pale, golden color to it, very cloudy. Bit of a head formed upon pouring, left a thin line around the outside of the glass.

Wheat smell with something strong over it, citrusy flavor, perhaps? I want to say a lemon, but I'm not sure exactly.

Thick feel to it in the mouth, little bit of the carbonation bubbles tickling the cheeks. Fuller feel than I expected from something that appeared so light.

Good taste to it, strong component of lemon, I think, but not so strong as to bash you with the taste. Reminds me of maybe a Boulevard Wheat or something of that nature.

All in all, a good brew. Didn't like it so much at first gulp, but from there, I've grown to like the taste a bit more. I'll plan to stock the fridge with a few more before it disappears.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2004 05:21:43 | More by Rio

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

One of the least appetizing beer names since Moose Drool. I wonder if Sweaty Betty is friends with Messie Bessie or Juicy Lucy? Does she know Large Marge, maybe?
Pours a pale, hazy yellow, with vanishing white foam above.
Aroma is citrus and spice, coriander, ginger....so far, I'm fairly certain that this is mis-entered as a hefe weizen, and instead should be seen as a witbier, perhaps.
Taste: gritty grain on the palate, then smooth and refreshing. Full of spice on the palate, but softens assuredly, and there are light orange and lemon flavors at play as well, with a bit of banana?
Drinks down easily. Medium bodied, dry finish, fades fast. Perhaps that is just as well, for their aim is refreshment, with a twist.
After downing the bottle, I'm sure it's more toward a witbier and nowhere near a hefe. The label calls it "a perfectly balanced blonde wheat beer with a wild side." Well, wilder than Blue Moon, anyway.
And more characterful than the last can of Wittekerke I had.
I'm starting to get warm on the name, now, too...sweaty or not, Betty's my kind of girl.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2005 09:38:37 | More by feloniousmonk

JayS2629

Alabama

4.03/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Rich cloudy straw yellow with thin white lace that leaves creamy lace. Looks like a good wheat beer should.

S- Bready notes, wheat, hints of citrus and spice. Clove and banana notes. Earthy, grassy notes. Orange, lemon zest, and coriander.

T- Follows the nose. Nice hints of citrus and grasses with spicy notes of coriander and clove. Hint of banana in the aftertaste. All on top of a solid rich wheat.

M- Smooth, creamy, medium bodied.

D- Very tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2011 19:28:19 | More by JayS2629

fdrich29

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Coolidge Corner Clubhouse.

Poured a light, somewhat cloudy yellow with minimal head and no lacing. Smells like bananas and fruit and tastes very much like the banana smell. Very light and refreshing beer, and very enjoyable. Nice change of pace at the end of your 9-5 day.

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2004 04:40:35 | More by fdrich29

UnionMade

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Grabbed a sixer of this, Boulder recently entered the state. I was looking for something easy going, and it was a toss up between this and Boulder's Hazed and Infused. I haven't had this yet, so what the hey. Sweaty Betty sounds a little naughty. Why's she so sweaty, may I ask?

Hazed flaxen gold, topped with a thick puff of white head. Decent head retention, keeping a thin collar. No lacing. Big, wheaty aroma. Lots of clove, with a bit of banana and lemony citrus. Prominent powdery, wheaty sourness, kinda sweaty smelling. Ha. The flavor is sweetish to start, pale wheat malt hints towards creamed corn, banana and brown pear fruitiness, powerful clove phenols dominating the finish, along with wheat tartness. Maintains a mellow sweetness, some brown sugar notes, with earthy, doughy yeast working with the clove and wheat sourness to create an almost sweaty flavor. Just a bit spicy. Not unenjoyable, actually quite quenching while enjoying some mid-spring sun and planting hot peppers. Medium body, no doubt assisted by the generous yeast pour, with mellow carbonation. A rich mouthfeel, full on the tongue.

Sweaty Betty, you go down easy! For all of that, I wish you gave better head. You're leaving the bottom of my glass bald. I don't mind bald, but not on my beer. Feels substantial enough to be satisfying, but not so flavorful that you'd wince at every sip while tipping back at a BBQ. Good, especially for the style. One of the more complex american wheats I've had. The wheat sourness and vague spiciness leans towards a witbier, some aspects are more bavarian hefeweiss, and others are american wheat. A nice little hybrid you are, Betty.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2006 02:03:33 | More by UnionMade

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle purchased as a single from Julio's, Marlboro, MA.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1" white head over the clear light golden brew. Head lasts nicely, with heavy lacing. Aroma is cloves and wheat character. Taste is sweet malts upfront, with the clove kicking in after a minute, and lingering in the mouth. Mouthfeel is to-style smooth, and drinkability is good, but limited slightly by the possibly over-sweet start.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2006 21:22:18 | More by ppoitras

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured a cloudy, pale lemon color with a half-finger soft, lustrious creamy white head that faded rather quickly. Beneath the cloudy turbulence you can sense vibrate nature of the carbonation.

S: Light tart lemons and a nice wheaty aroma which was very smooth and pleasant in nature graces the nose.

T: The initial flavor was much the same with tart lemons and wheat backing. The overall flavor was light, smooth with a great citrusy (lemon) nature along with light oranges and bananas sneaking through. Finishes with a great smooth subtle fade of lemon-wheat.

M: light and smooth with a great lemony tang and finish. The carbonation feels very light and soft on the tongue despite the vivid appearance.

D: A citrusy and refreshing drink that slides effortlessly off the tongue. Would be on of my top 5 choices for a summer time quencher. Case worthy by all means.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2008 22:32:13 | More by beerthulhu

rsyberg01

California

4.08/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

S - 12 oz bottle. Date rubbed off, so I cant read it.

A - A hazy pale yellow, head dissipates to a thin surface tight at the edges.

S - Belgian-like spiciness, citrusy, banana, savory in there as well. Exceeded my expectations in a big way.

T - Spice, sweetness, tart. Very palatable. Tart orange and lemon. Not your average wheat.

M - Almost perfect in balance. Refreshing and crisp. Just an all around good beer.

D - I could finish 100 of these without breaking a sweat. A very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2006 08:07:21 | More by rsyberg01

Gehrig

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I grabbed this at the sterling Sun Singer on a nice warm day. In part, I've also been on a wheat kick, and this fit the bill. The presentation was decent, standard--thin white head over a light orange body, no discernible lacing. Good color, though.

The nose represented an improvement, full of fruit and a surprising bit of hops. The same with the taste. For a pale wheat, I expected the fruit to outweigh the hop gritty texture and taste. There was a very good balance in Sweaty Betty--grapefruit, apricot, and banana with a nice hop coating. Very nice.

Hops did much for the mouthfeel, which would have been thin to the point of precarious without the ample hop complement. Had I more time, I would have knocked back two more of these in a snap. Delicious and balanced, Sweaty Betty has a harsher name than the beer will ever realize. It's smooth, semi-sweet, not bitter, and great to kick back and enjoy on a hot day. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2008 21:14:36 | More by Gehrig

Quaffer

Nevada

4.1/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: A pale, golden yellow that was heavy with sediment. A very dense and fluffy, stark white head rose up tall. It was nice and stiff, even towering about 1/2 inch above the top of the glass. It was very sticky, too, ramping high up the side of the glass and leaving lots of lace behind. I really don't think a wheat could look any better than this.

Smell: Classic wheat smell. Lots of grasses, wheat, grains and straw formed the bulk of the aroma. Over the top of this was very light banana and vanilla, combined with a stronger hit of lemon.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a very grainy, chewy feel. Almost thick feeling in the mouth.

Taste: The flavor was an exact duplication of the aroma. Tons of thick grain and wheat flavors persisted from start to finish. A light lemon component arose in the middle, but it remained fairly subdued. Some banana, vanilla, and clove appeared on the finish and lingered into the aftertaste with the wheat.

I was extremely impressed by this beer. Definitely need to snag a few more while they are still available.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2004 20:27:01 | More by Quaffer

dsa7783

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz single bottle just recently purchased from Buy Rite on Oak Tree in South Plainfield...
Great seasonal release from Boulder...
An aggressive pour yielded a hazy, cloudy, straw-colored, golden hue with a minimal head that left a copious amount of lacing around the head of the serving glass...
Citrus-aroma was very noticeable, along with a heavy fruit-factor bursting through...
Taste was laden with wheat, citrus, fresh florals, ripe pears, apples, bananas, oranges, cloves, and coriander...
Creamy, thick mouthfeel made this one a pleasure to drink... Excellent level of drinkability to match... went down easily with no alcohol detectable and no cloying factors...
Good stuff and a great summer beer...
Recommended...

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2008 19:40:09 | More by dsa7783

GDBEERMAN

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass.

A: A very hazy, lemon/straw appearance. White head that forms into a nice retention.

S: The aroma of this Blonde is a perfect balance between present and not overpowering. A nice pale aroma. Very pleasing while sipped.

T: A spicy, medium body on this beer. Good wheat presence, while again with the aroma, not overpowering. Lighter on the carbonation, a easy going down beer.

M: Light and crisp, with a nice mellow lingering taste.

D: Good, perhaps too light and tasty. . . where did the beer in my glass go?!?
Notes: great for drinking after a nice long bike ride, very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2010 22:02:40 | More by GDBEERMAN

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours cloudy golden yellow with touches of very white foam. Smells wheaty, with some banana notes. Full wheaty taste with underlying lemon citrus throughout. Smooth mouthfeel, residual tang. Very drinkable, and quite tasty. Refreshing, to boot.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2011 13:48:15 | More by KTCamm

unklesyd

Oregon

4.13/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

What a nice beer!

Pours out an extraordinarily pale yellow straw color with a thin white head and nicely conditioned carbonation that maintains.

Sweet malty wheat notes, slight hints of vanilla.

Nice vanilla notes also in the flavor, cut with a subtle acidity that prevents cloying sweetness. A little lactic tang as your palate gets used to drinking it. Nice, almost a Belgian flavor down deep here.

Light bodied, very easy just to pour down the gullet, which I did at first as it was my after-bike beer on a warm day here. Very satisfactory in the thirst-quenching mode.

Excellent hot weather brew. I'll definately grab more o' these next time around!

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2006 21:35:01 | More by unklesyd

Crosling

Colorado

4.15/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Hazy Yellow

Fresh citrusy bright aroma with several notes of fruits especially lemons, green apples, honey dew and banana.

Fresh, subtle, solid and refreshing wheat beer. An americanized hefeweizen with the usual banana, clove and nutmeg flavors but also some hints of lemon, ripe pear and apple.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2004 14:23:02 | More by Crosling

manahansf

Indiana

4.15/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Strong wheat and banana ester aromas bubble out of this well carbonated brew. White head forms on the top of a beautifully hazy blond color. Wheat and banana flavors dominate the palate and are well balanced with just the right amount of spice. Smooth fruity finish fades gracefully away.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2010 13:12:14 | More by manahansf

LimoBarbie

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I liked this beer a LOT. It was very clean and had a banana note along with a nice mouthfeel and a crisp finish. I had a couple of six packs of this over the summer and they went down easy and although it's not easy to find here, I will be hunting for it in the future. It makes a nice replacement for the Abita strawberry lager that I REALLY love but can't get very often.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2010 22:09:24 | More by LimoBarbie

NODAK

Tennessee

4.18/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nose here is a lot like a hefeweizen, really. Getting a lot of clove spiciness and lemon.

And the taste...again, lots like a hefeweizen perhaps even mixed with a wit. Lemon notes are very obvious at the get-go. This is paired with some good clove spiciness. Together, this is the body of the beer. At the finish, there is some sweet citrus (orange?), more cloves, and some wheat coming through. Certainly a sweet finish. Definitely a summer beer here.

I'm impressed by this beer's drinkability and character. I'm not exactly sure what separates this from a hefe, but it's definitely a tasty summer option.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2010 02:00:49 | More by NODAK

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sweaty Betty, which thankfully in no way resembles its name in smell or taste, begins with a spicy, peppery, banana-and-clove-laden aroma that closely resembles a Belgian, but is separated by a bit more spice and wildness, and a hint of effervescent lemon.

On the tongue, the first notes are almost Flemish sour, but quickly turn into a clove-and-banana festival, accompanied by lemons, oranges, and berries. There is a not-very-subtle smack of good banana bread in here, eaten alongside a bowl Grape Nuts cereal. Small hints of bitter, citrusy hops waver around the edges, becoming more prominent late in the mouthful. The aftertaste is where most of the wheat flavor comes in, thick fields of wet grain sprinkling the tastebuds, as well as a continuation of the hops. Mouthfeel is medium-light, and carbonation is medium.

Overall, this is quite good beer, and unique enough in flavor to set itself apart from many of its peers. The brew is balanced and flavorful, and would, I suspect, be quite thirst-quenching in mid-summer. Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 02:24:24 | More by jondeelee

cdkrenz

Wisconsin

4.18/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - She's a blonde alright. Clear and yellow with a moderate amount of rising bubbles. The head is relatively short-lived as it started out around a half inch and receded to a mere trace at the surface.

S - Bananas and a hint of clove make for an inviting aroma. This is a fine characteristic.

T - A tasty beer light in the malt area and firm in the fruity banana notes.

M - The feel is rather smooth and even bordering on silky. It goes down very easy and doesn't have a rough touch on my lips, tongue or throat.

~ This is a fine sessioning beer. The flavor is good and the rest of the beer makes it an easily consumed beverage that I would certainly recommend to friends and would like to see offered in 12 packs.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 00:48:12 | More by cdkrenz

Brent

Kentucky

4.2/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This is a beer that isn't afraid to have some fun. Gotta' love the name, and the label design and blurb are amusing. Poured a hazy golden yellow with a hefe head. Mild banana aroma, that was equally evident in the flavor. Some tangy citric qualities lend a more American spin to this wheat. Very refreshing - a bit lighter-weight than a German hefe, and meant to be so. Few hefes are good session beers, but this is one where one is not enough.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2005 03:52:11 | More by Brent

gos42

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

First had this beer at the Philly Beer Fest and was happy to buy it again in bottel when my local brewspot started carrying it.

Betty is a lovely lady. Not too harsh or pungent, she flows easily from the bottle into a waiting glass. She smells lighter than she drinks. In an open glass, I was surprised that she didn't have as much of an odor as I remembered trying her on draft. (Of course, that could have been that I was in a huge room full of sweaty guys, but that's a post for a different site.)

It's when Betty touches your lips that she excels. Classic Blonde. Smooth and textured, with elements that hit both the tip of the tongue and hte back of the throat at the same time.

Betty will be in my rotation as long as she's around.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2009 04:06:10 | More by gos42

Brad007

Vermont

4.28/5  rDev +23.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a light golden color with a one-finger head into my glass. A bit cloudy but not much.

Aroma is full of wheat, citrus and a bit of clove. Standard for the style and they show in the nose, which is critical.

Taste is light and citrusy with a good hint of wheat and clove upfront. Tasty. Clean and inoffensive.

Mouthfeel does feel a bit odd though. The wheat leaves a bit of veggie taste (not sure how to describe it) toward the middle-end of the mouth. Probably my taste buds are a bit off. Otherwise, it tastes like a standard american pale wheat ale with lingering clove and citrus as well.

Not bad. I like it and it's easy to drink and could be sessionable as well

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2009 20:31:31 | More by Brad007