Sweaty Betty Blonde - Boulder Beer / Wilderness Pub

Rayek

Colorado

3.98/5  rDev +15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Cloudy banana peel yellow. A rocky off-white head has nice retention and leaves spots of lace.

S: Cloves really stand out. Behind them are aromas of sourdough biscuits, anise and lemon.

T: Dry and spicy. A dry wheat flavor is quickly joined by a generous clove spiciness. Lemon and sourdough come on late. Finishes tart and dry, with a lingering clove flavor.

M: The grainy body has a nice level of prickly carbonation.

D: I was impressed with this one overall. One of the better beers I've had from Boulder Beer. It's a nice refresher that seems best suited to warm summer days. Definitely worth a revisit.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2009 04:17:07 | More by Rayek

Morey

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a cloudy yellowish blonde with a half inch head following a medium pour. The head is sticking around and actually has some nice retention .

Smell is typical for the style...wheat. No hop presence in the aroma.

The initial bite leads you to believe that this beer is going to be over-carbonated, but it rounds out nicely and finishes smooth.

Mouthfeel is thin with just the right amount of carbonation for the style.

I could drink this for a session, but I'd rather have a pale ale or a red.

Morey's Bottom Line: I tried to be as fair as possible while reviewing this beer, but this just isn't my favorite style. If you're a fan of wheat beers then I see no reason why you wouldn't enjoy this blonde for an evening.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2009 22:36:30 | More by Morey

1759Girl

California

3.4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Special tasting for a special sweaty betty in my life=) She was very impressed, but even she thought there was a little room for improvement.
Appearance> Hazy, warm blonde. Medium liveliness. Big head disappears promptly. Absolutely no lacing. Still, it looks tasty.

Smell>Sweet. Sugar, cereal.

Taste> Lacking complexity. A little too sweet of a hang for me, but drinkable and refreshing.

Mouf> little too tingly.

Drinkability> refreshing, easy. Good one for a pitcher in the sunshine with your mates.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2009 21:01:05 | More by 1759Girl

Arielle

Arizona

2.33/5  rDev -32.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

When I saw the label on this one, I was excited, but it turns out the age old adage is correct, you cannot judge a book by its' cover. Up front this poured a straw yellow, hazy and opaque color, and it had no head, and no lacing. It smelled a little citrusy, kind of minty, and like unbaked bread - kind of sweet, but also a little doughy.

On first sip I knew this one had missed its mark, not by much, but definately not an award winner. It is not balanced between the yeast, the hops, the concept, at all. Sweaty Betty turned out to be a very appropriate moniker, as this beer really did taste kind of sweaty. I want to try the beer this would have been without the 10k it just ran behind it. It has promise underneath it's hesitant, and unfulfilled idea, but for now I will not be purchasing it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2009 01:33:28 | More by Arielle

mwa423

Ohio

2.63/5  rDev -24%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Pours a light gold with only a minimal amount of haze (surprising) with minimal head that dies almost instantly but does have good lacing retention

S - Awful, fucking god awful. The aroma has to be what this beer is named after. Smells like stale wheat, mixed with burnt beans. This is definitely one I should have drank out of the bottle.

T - There is plenty of wheat flavor, but it almost tastes like it is a wheat extract flavor that was poured into the beer. There's a pale malt flavor that is prevalent and makes up the aftertaset.

M/D - If it wasn't for the smell, the drinkability would be higher. I dread the next sip because I will smell the beer from my glass. The mouthfeel is weak, but that's to be expected given the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2009 21:06:02 | More by mwa423

Cyberkedi

Georgia

2.78/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Fairly strong aroma is wheaty and yeasty with just a touch of lemon. It pours a slightly hazy straw yellow with a fluffy and none too persistent white head. Flavor is wheaty with a hint of citrus, slightly yeasty, not all that inspiring. Flavor is smooth and fairly tingly, sometimes just a tad watery.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2009 21:19:06 | More by Cyberkedi

mentor

Colorado

2.45/5  rDev -29.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a finger of nearly white one finger head over a cloudy yellow liquid. Smells sulfur, yeast, clove, and minimal earthy hop.

Tastes moderate malt sweet that carries medium-strong clovey phenol. Also quite yeasty. Mild hop bitter and little hop flavor. Very german in character, is this beer mis-classified here on BA as an American Pale Wheat? Judged to category listed here on BA. Wet on the tongue, but dries out in the finish accompanied by a gentle peppery sting. Some creaminess in mouthfeel and modest carbonation. Epic fail for the style, but a decent german wheat.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2009 03:30:34 | More by mentor

morebeergood

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Smoken Joe's. Served in a 16 oz mug. Probably the most yellow and cloudy looking pale wheat ale I've had. Almost looked like a witbier. Super faded yellow in color. Thin white head. Clove smell. Not overly flavorful though, which was a bit of a letdown. It was good, but it was not bursting at the seams with all the flavors I love from a wheat beer. That said, it was mighty smooth and easy to drink from a large glass. Almost too easy to drink, as it went down fast. If only I enjoyed it more before it was gone...oh well. I'd order one again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-11-2009 04:00:44 | More by morebeergood

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.15/5  rDev -9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into my weizen glass a murky pale yellow with a decent-sized off-white head on top. Very little lacing sticks to the glass. Smells of bananas, light spices, and bread. The mouth was crisp and bubbly. A little wet, but not that bad. The flavor is a little zesty to start with, but it finishes bready and grainy. Sort of a Cheerio flavor going on. This is more like a Hefe rather than a Pale Wheat. Not bad, but a little different than I expected. Refreshing, nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2009 20:55:06 | More by Onenote81

Yeastcakes

Colorado

3.9/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Serving notes - 45F, served in imperial pint glass.
A - Wheat malt, spicy esters and some light banana phenols.
A - Finger and a half of bright white head that quickly dissipates to a film with some nice lingering fluffiness around the edges. Slightly hazy yellow.
M - medium to full body with low to medium carbonation.
T - Tangerine with the faintest hint of tartness on the front on the tongue and some banana from the aroma on the back. Slight peppery spiciness intermingles nicely with the phenolic flavors. Wheat malt nicely supporting all of this.
D - Very drinkable wheat beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2009 02:42:52 | More by Yeastcakes

kflorence

California

2.85/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a very light, wheaty yellow color with a thin layer of foam. It is hazy, but looks to be more on the watery side.

S: Smells heavily of wheat, bread and some rubber aroma. No citrus or spice detected.

T: Betty is not a complex girl, in fact she is quite simple, almost bland. Lots of wheat, some bread and malty sweetness... there is a very subtle amount of citrus in there somewhere; probably a good beer to throw a lemon in (blasphemy, I know).

M: Like the appearance led me to think, this beer is a bit on the watery side, though the particulates do lend it some substance. Carbonation is low, which makes it very smooth on the way down.

D: Although this beer is dangerously drinkable and rings in at 5.9% ABV, it just doesn't have much flavor. While this could definitely be downed easily, there are much cheaper beers out there for that purpose.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2009 23:27:06 | More by kflorence

CHSLBrew

Minnesota

2.88/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle poured into a pint glass.

A-Poured a not-as-hazy-as-expected golden-straw brew. Head receded relatively quickly.

S-Wheaty and bready, minimal citrus.

T-Very similar to the aroma, strong on the wheat and bready malt flavors, with a slight semi-sweetness balanced by the wheatiness. Tastes a bit too dry feeling (this may make no sense at all...).

M-Flabby, thinnish body. Carbonation was a bit lower than expected.

D-Given the right place and time, this beer would hit the spot (though that can probably be said about just about any beer), especially on a hot summer Saturday afternoon. That said, for sitting down and enjoying a brew, this beer is of average quality and not my favorite of Boulder's lineup.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2009 20:19:39 | More by CHSLBrew

yesyouam

New York

3.25/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 1.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Sweaty Betty Blonde is a slightly hazy pale straw colored beer with a thin white head that disappears. It doesn't leave any lacing. There isn't much aroma; a hint of lemon and maybe banana and apple. It's pretty light bodied but soft and fluffy with a clean, bubbly finish. It tastes simple and light but well balanced and clean. Pear oil is present, but not strong. Even the bitterness seems fruity. It's tangy and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2009 04:18:17 | More by yesyouam

FleeVT

Florida

3.6/5  rDev +4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottle with no dates.

A: Pours an extremely pale and dull yellow. This defines straw colored. Tight carbonation of tiny bubble leaves a 1 finger white head that recedes to a thin layering.

S: Wheat comes through in droves; that coupled with the mild hop dosage gives it an American macro characteristic, maybe it's just the adjunct. Either way, it is crisp an inviting.

T/M: The palate is a lot more of the nose. A nice dose of hops gives this beer some great character and a cool crispness that lends itself well to hot summer days. The hops are grainy, perhaps a touch citrusy which nicely complements the wheat. Medium to light bodied with a nice amount of carbonation, even though the head is almost gone.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2009 23:04:31 | More by FleeVT

droomyster

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The guy who sold the bottle to me gave this beer a lot of praise. Pours a cloudy witbier blond with a disappointing soda fizz for a head. Smells good, though. Cloves, banana, yeasty sweet rolls. Altogether makes for an enticing aroma. Tastes just like it smells. For my taste it badly needs more carbonation. Rather than dancing on the tongue or delivering a refreshing feel, its body feels flat and lifeless, a bad quality in a summer beer. All in all, it tastes good and is worth trying but needs that extra carbonation to give it some snap.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2009 04:20:22 | More by droomyster

ThickestHead

Wisconsin

3.58/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a chilled pint glass.
Looks a golden yellow color, just slightly hazy, smallish head which didn't stick around long.
Smells kind of yeasty and like a slice of whole wheat bread.
Decently carbonated on the tongue.
Tastes like a hefe with a dash of spice and lemon.
This beer isn't the worst. It has a decent ABV that is well masked. It is easy to drink but not the style that I can appreciate fully so I will give the rest of them to my friends who like this style.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2009 20:57:58 | More by ThickestHead

pmccallum86

Minnesota

2.53/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This beer pours a very clear golden color with a light quickly dissipating head. The smell is decent, weak with a smell citrus and pears. The taste is very light with mild carbonation, it kind of tastes like beer mixed with the juice of a fruit cup actually. Mouthfeel is light and thin, if you want a light beer with a peach and pear taste, this beer is for you.

I will not buy this beer again, there are many other better versions of the style. On the plus side you could probably down many of these no problem, you know, if you had a rough day at work or something.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2009 04:38:48 | More by pmccallum86

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into a Weiss glass. Jun1509. A month late. What's the worst that could happen?

A - Hazy yellow straw/gold with a white, long-lasting foamy head. Great retention but very little lacing left on the glass.

S - Rich aroma of lemon, banana, and earthy clay. Wheats and clove in the background, and thankfully, no salty sweat. Pretty true to style.

T - Wheat heavy with a lemon zest that washed away quickly with light clove, super-light banana, and a funky sourness to the finish, that, with a name like Sweaty Betty, really scared me.

M - Smooth but crisp and light. That weird thing at the end is really killing it right now. The sweaty in the name sure-as-hell isn't helping me.

D - I think I may actually pour it out in favor of something without a really funky/gross finish. I can't imagine that one month late would really create something like this in the beer. I've had older beer (4 years too old) and it was still good.

[Note: I actually put half of it in the glass back in the fridge and came back to it an hour later. It's still really gross on the finish.]

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2009 02:17:30 | More by BeerFMAndy

Ragingbull

California

3/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pale yellow and a bit cloudy with a light white head. Mild prickle rising in the glass. The nose has notes that are similar to a white beer/ale as there are grape and wheat characters that I can pickup. Mild attack and clean flavor with a breaking malt finish that results in a dry and clean aftertaste. The flavor just seems to break away as it leaves the mouth. The beer causes me to think of the white ale from New South Brewing in Myrtle Beach, SC only the sweaty Betty isn't as good.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2009 15:05:15 | More by Ragingbull

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

2.68/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a hazy yellow color with a slight head to it. The smell is of wheat with hints of some floral notes. The overall taste is of wheat with hints of some citrus hop notes. The mouthfeel is pretty smooth. The drinkability of this is okay, there is nothing to make you dislike the beer, but there is nothing to make you sit up and say hey i really like that.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2009 01:21:55 | More by goblue3509

unclecrappy

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

My most recent sample of Sweaty Betty was part of a mixed case of Boulder stuff. It's a little unfortunate, because compared with Mojo, Hazed and their Flashback anniversary ale, it suffers a little bit.

Appearance is nice, but nothing special. Straw gold, with a little yeasty haze. I wanted more from the nose, as I've been drinking Troeg's Dreamweaver all summer, and that one is loaded. Betty is a little bready, maybe with a touch of banana. I'd hoped the taste would be a little bolder as well; you get some of the banana/clove trademark of the style, but it's pretty subtle. A very fine carbonation lends a creamy mouthfeel, which is one of the things I wanted from this. And drinkability? On the back porch of a friend's house on a warm summer night? Yeah -- that worked pretty well.

I'm a big fan of the style, and Sweaty Betty doesn't quite hold up against some of my favorites. But if you hand me one this summer, I'm going to be happy to see it every time.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2009 02:47:33 | More by unclecrappy

Anthony1

Colorado

3.1/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

poured into a perfect pint

poured a pale, straw color with little head, no lace. smelles a mix of citrus and spice. can note some hops. very bland taste, like watered down citrus. very light feel, not very refreshing for the citrusy smell taste. not very impressed, but then again, i got it for free

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2009 18:09:12 | More by Anthony1

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

thecarster1

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a- bottle poured into a weizen, light yellow hazy color, one finger white bubbly head, minimal carbonation, decent lacing mix of wisp and bubbles with a ring around the glass.

s- sweet floral wheat, banana, spices, little lemon.

t- nice light wheat flavor, i get some banana, minimal citrus, finish isn't too dry, nice.

m- little thin, but still goes down very easy, it's almost creamy.

d- very drinkable on a nice hot day, i'd have another one.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2009 21:38:07 | More by thecarster1

hockeyhead

Colorado

3.83/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

A: poured into lefthand pint glass orange tan haze with a small bubbled creamy white head
S: fruity malty sweetness with a hint a bannans
T: very tart up front followed by little hint of malt and banannas that leaves little drying bitterness
M: nice ok body not to thin or thick goes down easy nice carbination when served extra cold
D: great summer beer when its really hot and your not doing anything

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2009 07:52:06 | More by hockeyhead