Bumble Berry Honey Blueberry Ale - Fat Heads Brewery & Saloon

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

3.63/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Here’s hoping this is a blueberry beer that finally works; I’ve had too many bad berry brews.

A: Thin golden body with a shimmer like apple juice. A frothy white head appears quick but lasts long, lingering with a creamy retention.

S: Plump blueberry aromas stay at the top of the nose at every moment, with supporting hints of strawberry. Sweet wheat forms a soft foundation of straw and lemon tea with honey; a mild ale, it seems.

T: At first sip, it’s a blueberry palate with a crisp, trailing graininess, like blueberry cereal. The quick snap of grains is overcome by a vanilla and honey sweetness, a creamy, yogurt-like sweetness that settles lightly on the palate. A finishing touch of bright lemon and acidic berry round this off in slightly tart style.

M: Drinkable but almost overly frothy. If it’s served cold, I’m sure it would pass the hot-day-test, but the carbonation is a little too airy for me at the moment.

O: Success! A tasty blueberry ale. Unfortunately, like most blueberry beers I’ve had, this is a little thin, so I don’t think it’s any more than a light summer beer – a summer beer that’s unique enough, though, to keep me interested.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 01:29:42 | More by BarryMFBurton

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A-golden amber color with a nice white head and decent lacing

S-toasted grain, blueberry, touch of sweetness form the honey

T-toasted malt, little too much sweetness from the honey, some blueberry, mild bitter finish

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, fairly smooth

O-not bad, not as artificial tasting as I thought it would be, might be ice change of pace on a hot summer day

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 03:05:44 | More by MDDMD

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.61/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle courtesy of mgbickel pours a lightly hazed copper color with a very large cap of creamy white head. Retention and lacing both excellent...in fact, it started bubbling out of the bottle a little bit.

Nose is tasty blueberry goodness. Artificial - probably, but thats ok by me...its tough to get much out of blueberries when using the actual fruit. Not much else, maybe a little grains with a touch of honey...but I wouldnt have guessed if it didnt say honey on the label.

Taste is mostly artificial blueberry, but that is a flavor I dont mind at all. The base beer is light and neutral, though not as light as most fruit beers. Mouthfeel is fine, plenty of carbonation. Not bad...not too sweet, not too light. I could drink a few of these on a summer afternoon.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 22:17:47 | More by twiggamortis420

milliCAN

Indiana

3.49/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Capital Brewery Tulip.

The head is very abundant and tapers off to an even thin layer with a nice lacing ready for drinking. It's a good looking golden color with bits of sediment and good carbonation. It smells of the obvious blueberry but not obnoxiously. The reason I like this beer is the fact that this beer does not taste like chemical blueberry like 90% of the other attempts at it. There is a hint of white wildflower honey that makes the finish nice and drinkable. Overall a solid beer but I am a sucker for blueberry.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 00:25:05 | More by milliCAN

rlee1390

Indiana

3.85/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A-Clear orange, some carbonation, not much head.

S-Nice blueberries, tad bit of honey and wheat, not much though. The blueberry is not artificial at all.

T-Balance of blueberries, slight honey and no bitterness. The blueberry flavor is spot on.

M-Light, not much carbonation.

O-A perfect lawnmower beer. Easily one of the better blueberry beers I've had (Blue Point I'm looking at you)

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 21:25:10 | More by rlee1390

RickS95

Indiana

3.56/5  rDev -4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Looks like a fruit beer should. Nothing out of the ordinary or outstanding. A light copper color, a rating of 3 out of 10 on the hazy factor, and fairly clear. The head is a bright contrasting white, maybe a finger thick, with the slightest hint of purple on some bubbles. Decent retention and almost no lace.

The smell is fleeting, it's there for a second and then gone. While it's there, it's clearly blueberry with a carbonated soda mixed in.

Tastes much better than I expected after the sight and smell. Instead of fake blueberry syrup, it's got an authentic, real berry taste to it. It's not overpowering like articificial flavoring, instead more of a subtle flavor. The honey is there as well, playing a supporting role for balance.

Some different feelings happening. It's tart and carbonated from the beginning, but never overly so. There's a crispness that develops as the beer works it way toward the back of the tongue. All the while, the fruit and honey display a gentle sweetness to counter the tart a bit. The finish is crisp and dry. Light bodied, the alcohol and any hops never factor in.

Could be worse. It's about 35 degrees out and I'm sure this would taste better if it was 50 degrees warmer out. It's not bad, it actually has some good qualities to it. Fairly easy to drink, particularly if you like fruit beers. The low alcohol and gentle feel make it very sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 02:42:02 | More by RickS95

secondtooth

Indiana

3.83/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours a clean yellow-amber, with a massive head of fine off-white bubbles. I got no lace here!

Nose is an appealing, refreshing rush of sweet berries and a little toastiness. Not bad.

Taste is sweet and tart, but not overbearingly so. I also get more biscuity malts in the mix. Finishes with more tart blueberry goodness and a trace of hops. Very enjoyable and I will try this one again.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 02:25:24 | More by secondtooth

ThePorterSorter

New York

3.78/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

The beer pours a clear honey yellow with a white head that fades quickly. The nose wreaks of artificial pop tart blueberries followed by a touch of honey with a zing. The taste comes on strong with a pronounced honey sweetness followed by blueberry fruitiness that lingers. The mouthfeel is light, drinkable, slightly fruity (not over the top when drinking), but not nearly as dry finishing as I'd hoped/expected. This beer is definitely a summer beer...enjoyed during a Buffalo snow storm... but is not too bad, albeit smells and tastes relatively artificial.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 02:22:23 | More by ThePorterSorter

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Very lightly hazed dark gold. Head is white and drops to a thin cap and collar in short order. No lacing to speak of. Pours a bit heavier than anticipated with a moderate to light carbonation. Looks a bit like honey.

Smell: Blueberry syrup mixed with macerated blueberries. Nice fresh fruit aroma layered over the top of a sugary sweet syrup. Honey pulls through the back giving a slightly floral and earthy tone to the whole thing. Vaguely bready. Some minor citrus in the back. Seriously smells like blueberry pancakes complete with syrup.

Taste: Light pale malt sweetness. A bit of cracker. Blueberry fruity sweetness. Syrupy with a backing punch of honey. Some earthiness and a huge floral note. Very pale, slightly sweet. Blueberry flavor comes across a bit syrupy at the start, but gives way to a fresher, obliterated blueberry complete with skin and flesh. Juicy. Surprising depth. Not overly complex. Touch of citrus hopping in the back.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation runs a bit light. Body is medium but feels a bit thick at times. Nice and clean.

Overall: Willy Wonka made this when he squeezed Violet Beauregarde.

A solid drinking fruit beer. A real fruit flavor with enough of the earthy honey to temper the sweetness. Nice and refreshing. I will always think of this as blueberry pancakes in a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 21:42:16 | More by Goblinmunkey7

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.8/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a La Fin Du Monde snifter. The pour is absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful clear orange-gold color with a massive head that has rather poor retentio, but leaves nice lacing on the glass. The nose is all blueberries and crisp wheat. The blueberries smell tart and earthy, not sweet.

Light body and firm mouthfeel. The flavor is crisp and slightly tart and the blueberries are not overdone. There is a dry, cracker-like wheat flavor up front and tart flavors of wild blueberries come in at mid-palate. There is a little bit of hoppy dryness on the finish, but the finish is rather short-lived and the flavors do not linger very long. I know they use honey in this beer, but I am not sure what, if any, contribution it is making to the flavor. There isn't much sweetness in this. It is crisp, wheaty, semi-dry, semi-tart, and quite refreshing.

I really enjoyed this beer from Fat Head's. I have yet to find a blueberry beer that rocks my world, but I could see myself drinking this one often. It is crisp, tart, and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 00:32:23 | More by deadonhisfeet

siege06nd

Virginia

4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A. Pours a mostly clear goldenrod. One finger of white head fades to a quarter finger. Lacing is really good.

S. Blueberry is prominent and blends well with grainy, crackery malt. Mild resinous hops in the background.

T. Sweet honey and blueberry with some hop bitterness and slightly dry finish from the malt.

M. Moderate carbonation, perhaps a bit undercarbed as the mouthfeel is slightly cloying and sticky. Flavors are balanced nicely.

O. A very nice blueberry beer. The body carries a little bit more heft than, say, Sweetwater Blue, but still retains the fruity, light refreshing nature I seek in the style. Simple, straightforward, tasty.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 23:00:32 | More by siege06nd

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, no bottle dating. Pours lightly hazy golden amber color with a nice 2 finger fluffy off white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Spotty foamy lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of big fresh lightly tart blueberry, blueberry skin, honey, light caramel, bread, light grass, and herbal. Very nice aromas with big authentic fruit notes with some good malt balance. Taste of honey, blueberry, cracker, bread, floral, grass, light pepper, and herbal spiciness. Slight fruit tartness on the finish; Lingering notes of honey, blueberry, cracker, bread, floral, grass, and herbal spiciness on the finish for a bit. Very nice balance of breadiness with notes of fruit and honey; with zero cloying sweetness on the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a smooth, very crisp, and lightly prickly mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with zero warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very nice fruit beer. Nice amount of well balanced fruit and malty flavors; very crisp and smooth to drink. A very enjoyable and refreshing offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 07:35:50 | More by superspak

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

3.95/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I got this in a beer exchange. Thanks Chris!

12oz bottle served in a standard pint glass.

L - clear copper color with a white head that thinned out and left a few spots on the glass.

S - blueberry aroma is nice.

T - the blueberry flavor is just right with a enough of a balance of malt and hops to let you know it's still a beer.

F - medium bodied with good carbonation, it goes down easy.

O - a tasty beer that's worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 21:58:08 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

mdaschaf

Washington

3.65/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at Fat Heads. Review from notes.

A: Poured a clear golden color with a small white head on top with minimal retention that let a thin ring on top. Sporadic/thin lacing formed on the sides.

S: Plenty of blueberry, a surprising amount in fact. A little bit of honey and some grain back it up, but mostly blueberry.

T: Less blueberry and more honey giving it a heavy sweetness. The blueberries are still the dominant flavor, but more like 60/40 as opposed to the 80/20 in the aroma.

M: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Easy drinking.

O: A good fruit beer, just not one I want to drink all the time.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2012 23:57:51 | More by mdaschaf

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours a clear dark gold color with some sediment floaties noticeable. There's about an inch frothy off-white head that stays around for a while, and there's a good amount of lacing. Aroma is nice, it smells mostly like blueberries and bready/grainy malt, along with some honey. Taste is just like the aroma, it tastes like blueberries, wheat/grainy malt, and a bit of honey. It really reminds me of eating a blueberry muffin. Mouthfeel/body is light, it's easy to drink with good carbonation. I think it's worth trying, but then I like blueberries too. $1.99 a single.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 00:23:23 | More by bluejacket74

rodlavers

Pennsylvania

2.65/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured a bottle of this into my perfect pint glass. Less than a finger of what head, gone in a few minutes, literally no sign of any head at all...no lacing. Coloring is decent, burnt orange, amber, but it actually looks like it does not have much texture to it...watery looking. Not particularly fond of the smell. Too fruity, but there are some fruit beers I enjoy the smell of, not this. Smells like a lager, almost, with SOME sweetness, not what I anticipated. I guess it's blueberry that I am smelling. Taste is similar, fruit, no honey, which is why I wanted to try this beer. Blueberry, tart, minimal malt character, some hops, not great. Mouthfeel is ruined by the taste. Combination with what generally would be a legit amount of carbonation is off-putting with the taste of this particular beer. Overall, disappointed, considering how much I love Head Hunter. Anyway, glad I tried it, but was looking for more honey. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 02:23:12 | More by rodlavers

Brenden

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This one is a clear dark yellow-gold. It forms an off-white head that initially rises to a strong two fingers in height and leaves a thick foam when it recedes. The head that remains drops a good amount of sticky lacing in patches all the way down.
Blueberry is strong off the nose, pouring out of the bottle before I empty it into my glass. That said, for as strong as the blueberry is I have no problem picking out the crackery dry malts that lay down a firm backbone. The blueberry is fresh and there's just enough of a light herbal hops note to this beer to add an element without distracting.
This is one of the better fruit beers out there as far as how flavorful it is, how natural it is, and how all of the different notes integrate together. The blueberry, dry malts and light hops work very nicely. Malts are very wheat-like. I have to give an edge to the aroma only because I get just a hint of graininess coming underneath into the finish.
This is a light ale, and the body is appropriate for the style. It's also pretty smooth. There's something about how the play between the crispness and the herbal dryness, both fine in themselves, seems a little funny to me. I think it may be that they both linger into the finish and, while either by itself is good, there's an interesting sort of clash happening ever so slightly.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 13:10:20 | More by Brenden

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured out as a nice clear golden color with a thin white head on top and 2 blueberries floating on top. Not much lacing or retention here. The smell of the beer is soft and fruity, some sweet grains blending with the blueberry. The taste of the beer is sweet and fruity, it's got a nice wheat/graininess to it also in the finish. There is a very minimal bitterness to the beer. The mouthfeel is soft with a gentle amount of carbonation to it. Overall this beer is quite refreshing, would be awesome in the summer and the addition of the actual blueberries in it were really nice.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2012 19:54:00 | More by Knapp85

hosehead83

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a "stubby' 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Clear gold in color, with a big, billowy head of white foam.
Aroma-Definite blueberry, honey note
Taste-Pilsner malt, cracker, subtle blueberry and honey notes. Very refreshing and sessionable. An interesting choice to have at your next outdoor get-together.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 20:04:47 | More by hosehead83

AwYeh

California

3.25/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to my good friend Jesse13713 for splitting a bottle of this with me; served into tulip pint.

A: Pour is mostly clear; amber colored, quite closely resembling an American pale ale. One finger of head tops off the glass, but falls away quite quickly.

S: Faint blueberry flavors show up in the smell, along with wheat and crackers. Quite malt-forward, even if the malts aren't overpowering. I'm not getting much in the way of hops.

T: Big, tart blueberry flavors come through here. While not being a huge fan of fruit beers in general, I'm reviewing this one to style and it's quite solid. I imagine this would be perfect on a hot summer day (rather than the cool summer night I enjoyed it on), and I'm sure it would go over quite well among friends or family who aren't into craft beer even a little bit.

M: Quite dry, probably owing to the honey. Medium bodied, with lively carbonation. Definitely very refreshing.

O: A good beer, I certainly hope it's available if I'm ever in Ohio again on one of those 100 degree days where you can feel the humidity. If not, I have no qualms picking this up and bringing it to any kind of gathering where I can get others into craft beer. By no means do I mean to diminish this beer's quality; it is well brewed and hits the mark it is aiming for, it just so happens that that flavor seems like it would appeal to almost anyone willing to have a beer of any sort. While its bottling may limit its availability on tap, if you do see this one, it's worth checking out.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 08:03:48 | More by AwYeh

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a plummy light brown with a soppy head that laces very well. Good retention, as in, a small cake of foam remains after almost twenty minutes.

Smells of blueberry bubble gum, clover honey, maltiness, and light grape juice. Not bad, for a fruit beer. As advertised.

Did your parents ever skimp and by Royal gelatin instead of Jell-o? You know their black raspberry variety? This beer tastes a lot like it. There's a husky grain presence that confirms its beeriness. The honey is further removed, yet darker, in the taste. Has a light hop presence in the end, springing forth a floral quality to the beer. Mild notes of orange blossom and peppermint. Lightly piney, like evergreen.

Not that sweet, after all. Brushing carbonation keeps it fascinating. The body is not much to speak of, other than being almost-medium. An impressive feat in drinkability.

Good fruit beer in that it doesn't overdo it. Still has bitterness, still shows some complexity, quality brand... even the beer snob in me can enjoy this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 03:25:29 | More by thecheapies

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A thanks to Miketd for this one. I think this is the best blueberry beer I've ever had. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Poured a nice crystal clear golden hue with a nice one finger white head that faded to leave a thick halo and light wisping. Solid retention.

S - Ohhhh yah. Blueberry explosion. Fresh berries and light skin notes. There is some faint grain aroma along with some very faint honey aroma. Loving how blueberry forward this is.

T - A tad too much honey for me that overshines the natural sweetness and deliciousness of blueberries. Blueberries are nice, fresh tasting. Almost dessert like. I get some faint malts and super, super light earthy/grassy hops. Mighty tasty.

M - Mouthfeel is great, not over carbonated, not too sweet. I can definitely see gulping this back on a hot summer day.

O - Overall this was a mighty tasty beer, definitely my favourite blueberry beer to date.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 01:32:57 | More by rudzud

BB1313

Ohio

3.33/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I've had samples of this over the years at Fat Head's. This is my first time enjoying more than just a sample. This is their first time bottling Bumbleberry.

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Pours a transparent burnt golden, small fluffy white head which fades pretty quickly and leaves nice retention and lacing. The aromas are full of fresh blueberries and some fresh corn. The flavors match, but somewhat fall flat. I like how the blueberries don't dominate and let the other qualities shine as well. But don't get it twisted, this is a blueberry beer. The sweetness is there from the fruit and honey, but it's far from tart and cloying. It drinks like a real ale. There's a touch of wheat, hops, malts.. perfect balance. The mouthfeel is great. Moderate carbonation, light, smooth and easy drinking. Alcohol goes unnoticed. Very refreshing.

This is a unique beer from Fat Head's. It truly is refreshing and is perfect to beat the heat.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 23:29:00 | More by BB1313

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

tap

Pours a deep coppery gold with an off-white lacing.

Aroma of blueberries and wheaty malts.

Blueberry and wheat malt with notable clover honey sweetness.

Medium body with a tingle of carbonation on the roof of the mouth.

Nice refreshing ale with just the right amount of blueberry flavor. Adds a fruit character without disguising it as anything but beer. Very drinkable and would definitely have one again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2012 17:13:11 | More by Cylinsier

nrbw23

Ohio

2.65/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A- Pours a clear golden color with a hint of amber to it. Nice white head, that has good retention and leaves a bit of spotty lacing.

S- Picking up quite a bit of sweetness, honey and blueberry. A touch of malts here too.

T- Taste is blueberries every where. A honey is here too. A good amount of sweetness and bready.

M- Lighter side in body and a good amount of carbonation.

O- Not my type of thing. Better than I expected.

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2012 22:27:23 | More by nrbw23