Sweetwater Blue - SweetWater Brewing Company

StoutHunter

Michigan

2.88/5  rDev -15%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

My brother brought me back a bottle of this from his trip down south. I remember having this a couple years ago but I can't remember whether I liked it or not, so I am going to give it another try and see what the verdict is. It had a best by date of February 21, 2011, so it's a little past it's prime. Poured from a 12oz brown bottle into a imperial pint glass.

A- The label looks nice, I tend to like labels with nicely drawn fish themes. It poured a clear pale golden yellow color that had two and a half fingers worth of fluffy white head that died down fairly quickly to a thin ring.

S- The aroma is a nice and simple mixture of malts and blueberrys. The aroma is on the sweet side and it resembles Sunset Wheat. There was a good balance in the aroma and it smelled ok.

T- The flavor is pretty light and subdued, not nearly as bold as the aroma lead me to believe. The flavor is a little too sweet for my liking and almost acts as a third flavor in this beer. The blueberry is there and tastes natural its just a little too muted for my taste.

M- Thin, light bodied and slightly watery. It had a semi crisp finish with an average amount of fizzy carbonation.

Overall this fruit beer was average at best. The blueberrys were there but were much more muted then they were in the aroma while still keeping all the sweetness, which was just too much for how light and thin this beer was. This beer may hit the spot on a hot summer day when you want something light and easy drinking but the flavor wouldn't keep my attention. I am glad I gave it a second try but I wouldn't buy it again. There are many other better and more flavorful fruit beers out there for the price. I hope the other Sweetwater beers I have are better then this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2011 03:38:03 | More by StoutHunter

DeltaGolfSierra

Tennessee

2.38/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

I'm a huge fan of Sweetwater IPA, so I was really hoping this beer would be another good offering, if not at least half decent. Alas, it was not.

Appearance was a very light gold; the white head was respectably sized but faded quickly. The smell was blueberry (duh). Pretty pleasant scent, and quite distinct. This got my hopes up for a good taste experience. Big letdown. To me, it tasted like seltzer water with a slight blueberry flavor - thus the mouthfeel was downright watery. The blueberry taste was not a strong as the scent. Not a beer I'd pick up again.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2011 16:52:17 | More by DeltaGolfSierra

BeerDawgs

Georgia

3.63/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - A clear golden color, with nice head retention and sticky lace on the glass. Impressive for a low abv wheat beer.

S - Very nice, wheat and blueberry overload. Not quite as strong of an aroma as I suspected, but a nice mild blueberry aroma.

T - Nice sweet malts and very mild blueberry flavor. I taste the blueberry more in the aftertaste than in the mouthful.

M - Nice smooth beer. A tad crisp finish. Nice blueberry aftertaste.

D - Not a wow beer, but very drinkable, as it is a nice light beer for a warm summer day. I like it because its different. I haven't seen any other blueberry wheat ale's out there.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 00:12:31 | More by BeerDawgs

jsanford

Georgia

2/5  rDev -41%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

12oz bottle poured into a Pint Glass.

A - Pours a clear, light gold with a fizzy white head that dissipates quickly, leaving just a slight haze. Looks only marginally better then an Adjunct.
S - Fake, blue Jolly Rancher blueberry aroma with perhaps just a tiny bit of sweet malt.
T - Sweet malt and more "blueberry" flavor. I dunno,this tastes like some wacky sour Blue Raspberry candy mixed with a crappy adjunct beer. Really lame.
M - Thin and watery with sharp, fizzy carbonation.
O - A "Craft Beer" version of Wild Blue. This is an embarrassment to Sweetwaters otherwise decent lineup, they should get rid of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2011 04:06:15 | More by jsanford

gomejar

Alabama

2.75/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a standard pint glass. With a vigorous pour, I got a good one finger head, but it dissipated rather quickly.

A - A nice filtered golden yellow, with a touch of orange on the edges of the glass.

S - The blueberries hit your nose immediately, but there is very little going on besides that.

T - Very similar to the smell. Blueberries from start to finish. This beer has been described as overly sweet, and it is initially quite sweet. The aftertaste is a bit bitter, much like the tartness from blueberries when they're not quite ripe. This really is kind of a one trick pony. Take away the blueberries, and there is a very boring beer behind it.

M - Light and moderately carbonated.

D - This is a very drinkable beer. Low abv, and if you like blueberries, it's quite easy to put a few of these away.

Overall, not a bad beer. I do enjoy blueberries, and that is really the point of this beer. It's not complex by any means, but nice on a summer's day.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2011 17:44:49 | More by gomejar

JesteR14

California

3.15/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A- Golden and soapy head. About normal for other beers of this style.

S- Blueberries and malts. Nice smell.

T- It drinks like a normal beer but then you get a hit of blueberry taste. Its good but way to sweet to be a session beer for me.

M- Not my exact feel.

Good for one, but i would never drink a 6 pack.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2011 06:32:48 | More by JesteR14

blittle

South Carolina

3.55/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Having mostly positive experiences with Sweetwater brews, with their IPA among my top three IPAs, I had high expectations. Appearance is crisp and clear with an orange hue, controlled head. The aroma is the highlight of this beer. Fun and fruity with a bit of pine underneath. The taste is refreshing, but would not be first choice for my wheat beer fix on a hot day. Very drinkable and goes down easy. A novelty beer that makes for a great conversation piece, but it won't be one of my reliable standbys.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2011 22:34:51 | More by blittle

zachary80

Indiana

2.98/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Best by 6/7/11

Nice creamy white head. Pale gold body. Good lacing.
Smells of blueberry and wheat. Sweet
Flavor profile is pretty light. Blueberry present throughout. Pretty bland while being overly sweet
Light body.
Easy drinking but not that great. Not much going on here; tastes like a light beer with blueberry

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2011 22:21:50 | More by zachary80

Kromes

Georgia

4/5  rDev +18%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: A standard clear straw color with a thin line of bubbles on top

S: Sweet bready malts and a strong blueberry aroma are coming off the beer. There is also a very small trace of floral hop.

T: A nice full blueberry flavor in this beer. It is sweet and a little malty, but dominated by a smooth blueberry flavor.

M: The mouthfeel is light and bubbly. The finish is a little dry.

O: As far as fruit beers go this is really good. Nice is the summer as it is tasty, light and easy to drink. One of the best blueberry fruit beers out there.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2011 21:33:53 | More by Kromes

bamojr

Virginia

2.45/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

*Notes from 3/4/2011*

I am not a big fan of fruit beers and in particular blueberry beer. Even so, this was a very sub-par beer. tasted overwhelmingly of blueberry( surprise surprise) . This being my first beer from Sweetwater, it did not bod well and I hope that their other beers are better. I don't like to judge an entire brewery based on a bad beer, or a good one for that matter. I also got a few of their other ones and expect better things. More reviews to follow.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2011 20:25:05 | More by bamojr

ncbeermonger

North Carolina

2.6/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Fruit beers are not my favorites, but I know a great beer when I see it. This beer is not that beer.

The pour into my trusty sam adams glass is nothing impressive, but the smell takes you to where you hope to find a delightful beer. Instead the taste leaves you at the door, and the mouthfeel leaves your mouth feeling what I call fishy.

I won't be trying this beer again, but have enjoyed several of Sweetwaters beers, and would advise anyone to pick a sweetwater product up when possible!

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 20:01:49 | More by ncbeermonger

drowninginhops

South Carolina

3.65/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 5

Served in a Duvel glass. Enjoyed and reviewed on the Ides of March.

A: Golden straw in color' White head of >1 finger that quickly receded and leaves no lacng.

S: Blueberry, grass, mildly earthy

T: Blueberry, some malt and hops.

M: Thin and over carbonated

D: Gets high marks here. I think I found my new lake brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 01:53:54 | More by drowninginhops

SkeeterHawk

Texas

3.88/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This beer was part of a gift that I received from the staff at Hotel Indigo in Atlanta. A MOST thoughtful thing to do.

Appearance: Pours a very clear yellow gold with a very slight reddish hue. There was a small head of active white bubbles that was only on top for about 20 seconds.

Aroma: The aroma is quite bold for such a light beer. The blueberry is obvious in the aroma. I may be picking up a bit of floral hops in here too, but the blueberry is the main component of the aroma.

Taste: The flavor is balanced toward the sweetness with some sweet caramel and blueberry being the predominant components of the flavor. The blueberry is a big player in the flavor and the sweetness carries it all the way to the finish. The beer is quite interesting. The blueberry is adding a touch of a medicinal flavor, but overall this beer tastes quite a bit like a muffin. The body is medium with low carbonation.

Opinion: Overall this is a pretty good beer. I like how the blueberry is showcased. That said, it isn't a flavor that I could enjoy very often. For what it is, it is good...so you may want to give it a shot if you are in Atlanta.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2011 22:26:11 | More by SkeeterHawk

shand

Florida

3.63/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at Hunahpu's Day 2011.

After having four complex and delicious brews, I needed something a little less complex and more refreshing. This hit the spot. It's a nice golden colour and leaves some nice lacing on the side of the glass. The smell is very nice, there's a substantial blueberry presence with a bit of wheat and citrus to back it up. Lots of blueberry though. The taste follows through on the nose. Blueberry, blueberry, blueberry. They're fairly realistic, although could be tarter. The wheat and citrus are a solid backbone. It almost ticks all the right boxes, just is a little bit off in terms of how the blueberries taste. More tartness would really set this one off for me, but as of now it's a pretty good brew.

This brew is crisply carbonated and very light bodied. The drinkability is this beer's strong point, the blueberries just narrowly avoid being cloying. Not the best fruit beer I've had, but it was still pretty good. Would be a reliable choice if we got this on a regular basis in Tampa.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2011 02:50:52 | More by shand

Chaney

District of Columbia

3.85/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Special thanks to GatorBeerNerd for giving me this one as an extra in person at Sexual Chocolate Day. Thanks Donnie!

My wife and I drank this one around every corner when were were on vacation to the Smokies this last summer. Just to please her, I put some blueberries in the beer... just like they served it while on vacation.

A: Poured a crystal clear straw color with a nice 1.5 finger blindingly soft white head that withered away within seconds.

S: A malt blueberry bomb for sure... very bready and lager-like.

T: A bit thin in body, which was especially evident on the finish. However, I admit that I did really enjoy this for what it was. I've tried a could of "heavier" styles involving blueberry, but I've never thought it worked. It works here....

M: Bubbly, crisp, and not in the least bit sweet. The blueberry taste in the brew is subtle, and when you add a few to the liquid, it enhances the flavor two-fold.

D: Everyone I know hates this beer and maybe I have a bit of nostalgia because my wife and I have fond memories of our vacation where this brew was always around. I even looked for big flaws but couldn't find them.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2011 00:00:58 | More by Chaney

rebel1771

Florida

3.88/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a pale straw color with frothy head that dissipates quickly.

S: Slight bready malt aroma but mostly smells of blueberries.

T: Light malt body followed by the blueberries and finishing with a notable citrus twang.

D: I though this beer was going to be dominated by the blueberries and be overly sweet. I was happily wrong. This beer was much more balanced than I thought it was going to be and actually quite good.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2011 23:53:54 | More by rebel1771

beerprovedwright

Georgia

3/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Got the big 22oz mug of this brew. Not a very big head, about a finger. Some broken lace, but good cling. Looks to be about a 6 on the SRM chart, but I don't have the chart with me, so I may be wrong. Smell of blueberries, raspberries, some honey, and wheat. Taste is overwhelmingly blueberries, with a touch of raspberry, and malt. Just sort of sickening sweet, lacking any tang, and crispness. Some body and creaminess in my mouth. Just to sweet and fruity for my palate.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2011 21:32:04 | More by beerprovedwright

mattkoon

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +25.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

my neighbor turned me on to sweet water blue. I really like fruit beers and I really love blueberries. Can you say somebody spilt their chocolate on my peanutbutter? But seriously, this is a great beer. The color is a light gold with a touch of haze. The smell is of blueberries. The flavor is more fruit than beer, which isn't bad. I like the drinkability with the finish of blueberries. I think the combo is executed well. I will be drinking more of this.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2011 20:14:11 | More by mattkoon

NODAK

Tennessee

3.53/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark golden color in the glass with minimal head. Rather standard.

Aroma is of a light blueberry quality. Not too heavy, and somewhat pleasant really.

Taste is basically what you would expect if you were to make a beer from blueberry muffins. It is a fairly light and far from cloying taste, but it dominates what is a pretty monotonous flavor profile. Very easy drinking, smooth beer. Kudos for making it not very sweet and over the top, but it isn't all that interesting.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2011 18:16:34 | More by NODAK

Urbancaver

Ohio

3.33/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear yellow... a bit of white head. Not ugly but not great. Smells strongly of blueberry... a very potent scent. Tastes... weird. Too much blueberry for me. It overpowers everything and really makes it not a good beer. The mouthfeel is ok but its fairly drinkable. Overall, not something I would drink again

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2011 05:21:29 | More by Urbancaver

BeerAndBourbon

Ohio

3.08/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A. Pours clear with a small creamy white head that dissipates quickly.

S. Tastes like blueberry pancakes. Blueberries with yeast and some sweet malt.

T. Not too good. Light blueberry on top of a light malt Bud Light-esque background.

M. Medium with fairly high carb.

D. Eh. I wouldn't pick it up again.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2011 05:06:08 | More by BeerAndBourbon

brew3crew

Ohio

3.2/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A-very clear pale yellow look. Slight head.
S-smells of blueberry and a little hops
T-not bad. Tastes of blueberries, but no suprise here. Very suprising...
M-very light and crisp
D-nicely drinkable. Again, very suprising but wouldnt drink it very much...

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2011 05:02:24 | More by brew3crew

ColdPoncho

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - some floaties. Clear yellow. Small white head.

S - blueberry pancakes. ' nough said.

t - kind of tart. Not very good. That smell is brilliant but the taste doesn't even come close. Bland malts and nondescript fruit flavor.

M - light and dull. Meh.

D - if it was all the smell it'd be great. But it's just not that good.I

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2011 05:00:21 | More by ColdPoncho

lespaulrocker

Tennessee

3.25/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Light yellow, no head, no lacing.

S: A lot of blueberry.

T: Good, a little sweet for me but enjoyable nonetheless.

M: WAY too much carbonation.

D: Decently drinkable.

Overall it was okay. I wouldn't seek it out again, but I wouldn't avoid it either.

Also just noticed that the bottle I drank had a best if drank by date of December 20 2010 and it's currently January 26 2011. Looks like I'll be trying this one again later to give it a fair chance.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2011 04:34:25 | More by lespaulrocker

boudreaux

Alabama

4.6/5  rDev +35.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

A - thick white head with good head retention; light color; very good crisp clarity

S - strong blueberry aroma; smells like wild fruit as apposed to artificial flavourings which is a very good thing; gives the aroma an almost feral quality that you don't expect in such a crisp, light beer

T - the primary flavor is a strong taste of fresh blueberries; at first this fruity taste is a little too sweet, but it is soon balanced by a hoppy bitterness which cuts through the sweetness and balances the flavor profile perfectly; the surprising thing about this beer is the fact that the blueberry taste does not at all overpower the beer; it manages to balance the sweetness of the blueberries with the bitterness of the hops perfectly

M - high level of carbonation; a little rough on the tongue for a beer with such a delicate flavor profile; when the fizziness subsides the beer has a very syrupy body which is to be expected from a fruity ale; perhaps is a little too syrupy for such a crisp, light beer; overall the mouthfeel is not unpleasant, it just seems to take something away from the blueberry flavor

D - Give me more.

I absolutely bloody love this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2011 23:25:20 | More by boudreaux