Beach Bum Blonde Ale - Anheuser-Busch

jsisko01

Michigan

4.7/5  rDev +57.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance - Pours a clear, crisp looking golden color. Had about a half inch head that disappeared quickly..

Smell - I can smell a hint of caramel and citrus. Can't really point out the other smells.. It smells a lot like most common beers, such as Budweiser or Busch.

Taste - I can taste the roasted barley and some spices. I can very faintly taste the caramel. Has a somewhat bitter aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Has a very thin feel to it.. Very crisp. Quite a bit of carbonation.

I'd say this is a pretty good beer

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2011 04:39:40 | More by jsisko01

dubman003

New Hampshire

4.33/5  rDev +45.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

If you see a little "beach bum" surfer on a tap handle. It's Beach Bum Blonde Ale. And it is excellent. Taste good and it isn't overly filling so you can do a bit of chugging. The tint is a blonde heading to red, and is really something I like to have sitting in front of me. It smells good, tastes good and is easy to drink. I can't promise the same reviews for this beer not on tap, but on-tap--whew, grab a couple pints.

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2006 17:58:01 | More by dubman003

mschofield

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +38.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a brillant dark straw/gold with a puffy two finger stark white head. A beautiful looking beer. Leaves sticky Brussels lace.

Grainy, light malt and floral aroma, nice, befits the style.

The taste, mouthfeel and drinkability are about as good as the appearance. It's grainy and floral, a touch sweet but still pretty drying. Mild fruitiness almost like when you brew a lager at a higher temp. Utterly clean. It's a really nice blonde ale, and it's reviewed as a blonde ale, it fits the style and does the job I expect from a blonde when it's 90 degrees with 70%+ humidity. Light and crisp, plus I could drink it all day.

It reminds me of the other Bud+ brew I've had, Demon Hop Yard, no it's not the best beer I've had, it doesn't compare to the best craft beers, but you know what it's better than quite a few micros I've had. I've shied away from posting a ton of my reviews lately, this and the Demon are the only 2 in a couple of years because the micros get a fair review and don't need my advocacy amoung advocates, these Bud+ brews just don't seem to get a fair shake.

This plays very well off some buffalo chicken pizza .. I had a couple of these out of a 6er a few days ago, and when I started eating the pizza tonight I knew I had to have one of these blondes in between and then with a slice. I think it would match any spicy food, it tastes more malty when enjoyed with spicy food.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2007 00:05:31 | More by mschofield

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.1/5  rDev +37.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle, born on 04MAY07, served in a pilsner glass.

A - clear golden yellow with a big white head that eventually thinned out leaving a lot of lacing behind.

S - malt/yeast type of Pilsner aroma.

T - crisp clean tasting brew, nice malty start, with a citrus hop bite at the end, good balanced summer beer.

M - light bodied, mildly carbonated, lemony tartness on the aftertaste.

D - very good drinkability, this is a nice light refreshing summer beer from A/B.

Note: A/B has 4 seasonal sudo-craft brews, 3 of which I have tried, and they're pretty decent beers. This particular one is my favorite so far.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2007 20:57:52 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

kenito799

New York

4.08/5  rDev +36.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

20 oz pint at www.cowboybar at Denver International Airport.

Pours a bright golden color with foamy white head, little lacing.

Fresh crisp aroma with a hint of sweet fruity citrus. This is a super-refreshing beer, clean crisp, nice balance of medium-body malt and a mild hoppy finish with a hint of apricot in the finish. Excellent session beer, perfect for a three hour flight delay.

I didn't know this was an A-B product, and I must tip my hat to them--I really enjoyed this beer and would not mind having it again. Definitely not a macro-lager, this is a well-made blonde ale!

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2007 15:49:48 | More by kenito799

RBorsato

Virginia

4/5  rDev +34.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tasted on-tap at the Dead River Pub in The Inn at Somerset Hills in Basking Ridge, NJ on 06/13/06.

Straw in color with a low white head. Nice grainy malt and faint hop aroma and flavor. Well balanced beer here. No adjunct character at all and nothing is off. Light-medium bodied, clean, and refreshing.

A nicely crafted Blonde Ale for A-B. One I would definitely have again.

Per AB website: Pale and caramel roasted barley malts. Hopped with imported Alsace and Hallertau hops, as well as Cascade hops. 5.4% ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2006 14:58:40 | More by RBorsato

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +34.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

One of two “House Brews” served up at Fat Fish Blue in Cleveland. Utterly crisp, clean, and clear blonde brew with a fantastic hop finish. I was very impressed, largely because I expected garbage. Pared well with an exceptionally spicy steak. Body is light, drinkability is through the roof, and hops are of the herbal to spiced variety. Really, there are hops here. I am very surprised.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2006 02:18:22 | More by DaPeculierDane

industrialswill

Washington

4/5  rDev +34.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Found a bottle of this at the discount store for $1.19.
Golden, medium foam and carbonation.
Nice smell, not a stinky beer by any means.
Tastes wonderfull, there is more malt here than hops, but overall a very well balanced and drinkable beer.
Very good!
I will drink this any day in favor of some "real" craft beer that have higher overall ratings.
I try to always look beyond the label and just drink the beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2010 21:25:09 | More by industrialswill

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4/5  rDev +34.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was sampled from the tap at the Anheuser-Busch brewery in St. Louis, Missouri. Beach Bum Blonde Ale has a thick, creamy, off-white head and a bright, hazy yellow-orange color. Lots of lacing is left behind. The aroma is of citrus and hops, with lightly toasted malts as well. The taste is a delicious mix of malt breadiness and strong citrus, making one almost think it was flavored with juice, which it is not. Floral hoppiness is a pleasant note here at the end of the sip. The mouthfeel is light to medium, and Beach Bum finishes refreshing, crisp, and dry. Overall, this is a very enjoyable beer, and I would like to have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2011 01:53:37 | More by RonaldTheriot

jasrbrd

Florida

3.98/5  rDev +33.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is Anheuser-Busch's first year bottling the Beach Bum Blonde Ale, and the bottle is no where near as good as the tap. I recently enjoyed a pitcher at a local Beef O'Bradys. It has a nice but very slight citrus flavor.
Another summer offering that is lighter and seems to go well with the hot Florida months. The bottles delivers this same flavor, but doesn't carry the " punch " of the draft.
I still would say either is worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2007 22:42:16 | More by jasrbrd

dsa7783

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +32.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Another satisfying seasonal from Anheuser-Busch...
Single, twelve-ounce bottle copped from New Beer Distributors on Chrystie Street in Manhattan for $1.50...
"Born on April 2008"...
Pours a clear, lucid, golden-colored hue with a modest head that left a copious amount of lacing around the edge of the serving glass...
Spicy, pepperish, citrus aroma with hints of bread and butter malts...
Pepperish, crisp, refreshing taste... Definitely a great Summer-time beer... A nice balance of malts and hops makes for a bittersweet, honey flavor...
As a side-note, Anheuser-Busch seems to do remarkably well with their seasonal selections, and this Summer-time brew is another great variation of the style...
Recommended...

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2008 17:36:46 | More by dsa7783

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +31.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beach Bum delivers a shiny, glowing golden body with an orange cast beneath a full head of creamy white foam. The head retention is good, and it leaves some nice rings and craggy walls of lace at the outset of the glass.

The nose is spicy, lightly grassy, somewhat floral, and even a touch lemony; and beyond that there's a note of sweetish, lightly doughy malt.

The flavor delivers all that the nose suggests, and it's surprisingly crisp and hoppy given the "Beach Bum" moniker - this is anything but Corona, and the hops should please even the most die-hard fans of Czech pilsener! In comparison, it's bitterness is slightly restrained, it's a hair softer and smoother across the palate, and the maltiness is not quite as straightforward grainy with a bit of a bready side that pilsner doesn't normally have. On the other hand, this is a bit sharper in character than one might expect of a blonde ale, and there's not really any yeasty fruitiness... but there is a bit more malt to it than a pils.

It's fresh and clean and bright, very well-balanced, and remarkably drinkable with an easy going charm and enough hop character to keep you coming back for more. I'd gladly enjoy a few of these with friends at a BBQ, camping trip, or sports event. ...Worth trying, despite the label ;)

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2007 15:11:36 | More by NeroFiddled

PBRstreetgang

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +30.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear strawish hue, with a soapy-dense two finger head. Decent retention but very light or no lacing. Mild vinous nose, a pinch of wheat and hints of pilsener malt- clean overall. Crisp pilsener malt upfront, slightly sweet. Dry white wine bite- pleasently acidic with mild but balanced german hop bitterness. Hoppy aftertaste like cascade with some mild rice flavor. High carbonation and light bodied- the crispness prevents the dry wine taste from overwhelming and it finishes mildy vinous with american hop notes. A very drinkable summer beer with a mellow but interesting character.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2006 07:25:43 | More by PBRstreetgang

WesWes

New York

3.88/5  rDev +30.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a gold color with a thin white head that quickly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a light and refreshing pale malt scent along with a light hop aroma. It appears crisp and clean. The taste is good. It has a smooth pale malt flavor that goes down very easily and finishes clean with a light hop taste. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a low bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a pretty good blonde ale. It's nothing too incredible, but it's an easy drinker. I'm glad to see AB taking a stab at different styles.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2007 00:47:57 | More by WesWes

superdedooperboy

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +30.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz. brown bottle with a "Born On Date" of 16 May 08, indicating that the beer was roughly one month past the 110-day "Freshest Taste" period.

Pours a crystal clear, bright yellow hue with a full two-finger white head that slowly fizzles and leaves a fair amount of lacing on the pint glass.

Aromas of sweet, fruity, caramel malts fill the nose, with just a touch of herbal hops.

The same sweet, creamy caramel malt flavors appear on the forefront of the palate, with a middling tinge of balancing hop bitterness and a sweet breadiness on the back of the tongue, leading to a fairly sweet, long-lived finish. The sweet malts at times seemed almost cloying, but never quite reached that point.

Body was very light, and sadly a tad bit watery, but overall the brew was extremely refreshing and infinitely drinkable.

I don't know if the month of extra time did anything to the beer, but if so, it couldn't have been anything negative. This is a great, refreshing summer beer, and I must certainly commend the boys at A-B for mixing this one up.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2008 02:52:05 | More by superdedooperboy

Poppypitbull

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +29.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this at the Junction in Springdale NJ during a gig. A girl at the bar suggested it after they ran out of Flying Fish Summer Ale. It poured nicely with a little head that went away in no time. Smells great, tastes even better. A very refreshing beverage indeed in a place that was brutal hot on stage with lights beating down on you!
I'm surprised this has anything to do with A-B considering the garbage they put out these days. This was a definite highlight.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2006 00:32:20 | More by Poppypitbull

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +29.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Saw this at a beer tent and had never heard of it before. I normally shy away from AB products but figured I would give it a shot. Poured was a pale golden yellow with a huge white head. The smell was actually ok, with hints of some fruitiness in there and a slight grainey toned. The flavor was actually, quite suprisingly good. This was not bad at all. Lots of light fruit with a big carbonated feel. Really a decent session beer and I was quite suprised by how good this actually turned up. AB may actually have something worth drinking here, will have to give it another try before I commit totally, but really not bad.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2007 17:36:33 | More by mikesgroove

Backer2004

North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev +28.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I don't care if this is AB or not, I liked it and drank more than my share's worth at a 4th of July picnic. Right from the tap, this is just as good as anything I'd enjoy at a hot summer BBQ. Too much carbonation. Fresh hops and very drinkable, it's nothing I would buy a six pack of, my would always drink it if it's free, hot, and the other choices are limited.

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2006 03:07:58 | More by Backer2004

boudreaux

Alabama

3.8/5  rDev +27.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: pours a bright, lively golden color; brilliant orange highlights when held to the light; tight, rocky head of pure white crown; the head diminishes slightly, leaving solid rings of lace on the surface and sides of the glass

S: at first, spicy due to the dry-hopping; nice floral and citrus notes; also warm, bready malts underneath the hops; very clean

T: consistent with the nose; aggressive hops up front, with good floral and citrus flavors; balanced with slight sweetness of caramel malts; bready maltiness also present

M: smooth and substantive; finishes clean and dry; also warm and bready character
D: very drinkable summer ale; surprisingly balanced and well done

I'm surprised that A-B produced such a quality brew. Definitely doesn't taste like a beer from the brewery famous for the macro-brewed Bud and Bud Lite

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2011 14:30:46 | More by boudreaux

mdvatab

Indiana

3.8/5  rDev +27.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12 oz bottle into imperial pint glass.
Bottle dated 3/24/2011 (2011 083)

Aroma: Light, grainy sweetness. Fragrant orange and apricot hop aroma.

Appearance: 1.5 fingers of off-white foam, which sticks around for a while. The body of the beer is gold as a 24 carat necklace. Beautiful effervesence shows through the crystal clear class of beer.

Flavor: Honey graham cracker sweetness. Low hop flavor, and subtle bitterness peaks toward the end. Not as much here as the aroma indicated might be.

Mouthfeel: Medium to medium-high carbonation. Medium-light body. Definitely an all-around clean profile.

Overall: Extremely refreshing, if a bit more watery than the aroma lead me to anticipate. Still, this brew offers a much more interesting aroma and flavor profile than an American lager. A fantastic addition to my lawnmower beer list! If only it were available in cans for days at the pool/beach...

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2011 02:05:20 | More by mdvatab

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev +25.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12oz bottle from Shaw's in Augusta. Light amber/dark yellow translucent body with a thin film of off-white head. Biscuit malt and European hops share the aroma, though the smell is far from overwhelming. Biscuit malt dominates the flavor with a hint of hops toward the finish. Rather watery on the mouthfeel, which helps the drinkability. Nothing overpowering or overly impressive, but a decent easy-drinking summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2007 00:05:42 | More by MrHurmateeowish

karst

Missouri

3.73/5  rDev +25.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From the taps at the Anheuser-Busch tasting room after a VIP tour given to the St. Louis Brews homebrewers. The last of five brews tried and very solid American blond. A clear yellow with a lot of white head that laced and hung around. Pale and low lovibond barley keep the SRM low. A little on the sweet side but finished well and was drinkable in spite of its light body and thin mouthfeel. A little citrus in taste from some cascade flavor hops added to the imported Alsace and Hallertaus.

A definate candidate for a session.

I had a "test" blonde ale earlier served by A-B brewmaster that had a nicer mouthfeel and more substantial taste - hope it did not bring this one down.

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2006 02:22:52 | More by karst

uncggop06

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev +24.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Well I finally decided that I would try one of the A/B seasonal offerings. I've had Winter's Cask a WHILE back, but I didn't really know what it was, just thought the tap was cool (come on, I was like 22). But let's see here, I think a lot of people review beers based on comparisons to other styles, but I like to keep pure, so here we go.
Pale Straw/Gold color? Check (more towards gold)
All Malt? Check (at least according to A/B)
Hops? Check (Definitely tell the cascade hops which bring something fun)
Balanced? Check (this thing has some bite, but some sweet maltiness to back it up)
This is a mighty quenching brew! It's got hops, man those things smell good! It even has some backbone with the malt. I'd have to say it's almost the blonde ale that strove to be a pale ale (except for the brightness). This is a great beer, for the $6.99 for the 6pk I got it for it's a good deal (being that the same place has Sam Adams and it's ilk for about $8). I'm sure that at $5.99 this beer is a steal.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2007 04:10:24 | More by uncggop06

budgood1

Minnesota

3.65/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

beach bum pours out a a slightly hazed light golden colour with a big frothy head. chunky lace. citrusy, grainy aroma...mostly lemony with a touch of hoppiness, too. the taste is a biscuity citrus blast followed by a creamy malt tail...slightly spicy, a bit yeasty and definitely a pleasant bitter hop bite in the end. a bit kolsch like...and definitely brewed for those who might want something more than the usual A-B fare. it's actually a nice quaffer, especially after a day in the sun doing garden and yardwork. it has a nice body and a crisp and somewhat creamy mouthfeel, making it very drinkable and thirst quenching.

this one screams to be paired with some summer barbeque or picnic food. and it also can be used to turn your macro swilling friends onto to slightly more adventurous fare. and i'm sure it would be one that would be ok to drink out of the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2007 21:52:12 | More by budgood1

flaminghomer

Indiana

3.65/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

I like this beer. After the head settles down a bit it has a great dempled lace floating. Taste is that of a sweet pale ale. It resembles the Michelob Pale Ale but is certainly sweeter. With all this sweetness it still tastes very well balanced. Actually, the hops are the first thing I noticed. However, it got progressivly sweeter after that. It's a great beer to drink on a chilly, late summer night. Like I said, I like it. And incase you were wondering, yes, I know that it is made by AB. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2008 05:46:23 | More by flaminghomer