Written by There’s been a decent amount of buzz surrounding the newly released Bud Light Golden Wheat from Anheuser-Busch, and so we decided that The Brew Club should check it out – so you don’t have to! Make sure you get to the bottom of this review where you can take our poll. Will you buy this beer?
Now, I know that many of you are asking “WHY?” Well, I’ll tell you. People I know are asking me if I tried the ‘new Bud Light Wheat beer’, and I’ve told them no, I had not.
Also, according to The Brew Club charter, we don’t necessarily shun beers from macro-brewers unless they deserved to be shunned as a result of a sucky review. (We do like shunning in general though.) So, we try to give all beers, even Bud Light Golden Wheat, a fair shake. Besides, its been more than a year since we reviewed Bud Lite Lime!
Dig?
Where to begin? Lets start with the facts. BL Golden Wheat weighs in at 4.1%ABV, and for those counting their calories, a bottle of BL Golden Wheat has 118 calories. Now for the opinions!
As you can see in the picture, the beer created a decently sized fizzy head. The head quickly left the scene, and not long after the picture was taken it was completely gone. Gone without a trace, and leaving me with a rather flat looking beer.
The beer, as is typical for the style, is unfiltered, so there was a bit of sediment at the bottom of the bottle and the beer itself was cloudy. The color was on the orange side – I think they’re trying to get people to think ‘orange’ and perhaps stick an orange slice on the glass like a lot of Blue Moon drinkers might. The packaging is going for that orange look too if you ever see the box you’ll know what I mean.
Looking at the BL Golden Wheat, it actually reminded me of what I think is my favorite beer of 2009, the Schneider & Brooklyner Hopfen Weisse. Very orange looking.
However, that’s where the similarities between those two wheat beers end!
BL Golden Wheat has the coriander and citrus peels and yes you can smell it in the beer, although it is on the very mild side. I suppose they don’t want to freak out regular Bud Light drinkers by making it too spicy and citrusy.
Getting on to the taste is where this beer lost all hope. Sorry.
The flavor, much like in the smell, you can get some of the citrus and coriander, but not that much. The flavor actually isn’t horrible, but I think what makes this beer very hard for me to enjoy personally is the body. It is really thin – like water thin. This should not come as a shock actually, it is a lite beer! I’m just saying that for my taste, Bud Light Golden Wheat is way too thin, un-robust and watery. (It might make for tasty water though!)
Here’s my conclusion. If you are counting calories, and a 118 calorie beer appeals to you, you might want to try the BL Golden Wheat. Its been a loooooong time since I’ve had a regular Bud Lite, but I’m pretty sure this is going to have some more flavor than that does, but they are also different styles. Its hard to compare apples to apples that way.
If you are not interested in a low calorie beer, but are curious about trying some ‘fancy’ wheat beer like this BL Golden Wheat, then I’ll tell you that you can do better. If you want to check out this beer style, go with Blue Moon and if its your thing, stick an orange peel on your glass of that instead. Blue Moon is much better than BL Golden Wheat and it’s made by the Coors people.
If you’re a die-hard Anheuser Busch drinker, then give Shock Top a try. AB makes it, and while I wasn’t crazy about it, its a wheat beer with more flavor and body than the BL Golden Wheat.
If you’re feeling nutty and want to try one of those ‘craft wheat beers’, you might want to look for the above mentioned Hopfen Weisse, the Long Trail Belgian White, or the Ommegang Witte. All very nice. You can also check out all the Belgian White beers we’ve reviewed in the past to see if any of them capture your interest. I like the style, I just don’t think BL Golden Wheat is a good example of it.
The Bud Light Golden Wheat just seemed to me like someone took one of the beers mentioned above, dumped out half the beer and replaced it with water. Like I said, unless you’re counting calories, there are better choices out there.
Rating: 
Will you try Bud Light Golden Wheat?
- Hell Yes! (67%, 52 Votes)
- Hell No! (33%, 26 Votes)
Total Voters: 78
Loading ...Have you tried the Bud Light Golden Wheat? What did you think of it? Take the poll and let us know if you’re buying it or not!
I’d agree. If a lite beer drinker its a nice change, but otherwise there are better wheat beers out there. Almost any of them actually!
A friend of mine that works at a bar had me try a sample of this last week. It tastes just like Bud Light to me with a little yeast and citrus to it. I would much rather drink the other macro made wheats like Shocktop and Blue Moon over this.
.-= Mike´s last blog ..Sierra Nevada Estate Brewers Harvest Ale =-.
+100 on that Mike. Unless you’re counting calories, Blue Moon or Shock Top would def be better choices. Now I can put it behind me!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Beer of the Month Club =-.
I thought it was decent compared to other lite beers. You really can’t compare it to a regular beers, I don’t think that’s fair to do. I have a feeling that golden wheat won’t be a permanent part of the Bud Light lineup though.
Thanks for taking one for the team here, Scott. If you hadn’t reviewed it, I’d never know anything about this beer because I wouldn’t have ever tried it. Blech! Nice review though. Maybe you can do Michelob Ultra next…
.-= Jim´s last blog ..You Can Always Go Home Again =-.
Ha. Jim, its too bad you didn’t buy some, you could have done a comparison with the Bud Lite in your fridge!
If anything, I’ve confirmed that I’m not a fan of lite beers.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Ayinger Oktoberfest Marzen Beer Review =-.
i totally disagree with you. i’ve had to resort to light beer due to some medical situations, and i tried this one last night. no taste? wrong. strange, but the head on my BL wheat didn’t disappear at all, and the body of the beer was not “light” . maybe the citrus peels they brew it with did something for the texture, but it was better than the other light beers i’ve tried. my last one was the overrated Amstel light (not really that good, not nearly as much of a head). after all i guess it boils down to opinion, cause i tried blue moon and thought it sucked. apparently taste is in the mouth of the drinker.
Hey Phil, thanks for checking in. Hey, I can’t argue with you on your points, but I agree 100% that ‘taste is in the mouth of the drinker.” Besides that being a factually true statement (or does taste really happen in the brain???) everybody will have different likes and dislikes, just like with food or art. That’s what makes this all quite fun I think!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Shmaltz Brewing Company – Freaktoberfest =-.
absolutely. last winter i was drinking only yuengling black and tan and swore i’d never drink any light beer. lately i’ve tried several and haven’t enjoyed most of them very much, so perhaps the cirtus peels and coriander gave BLW a bit more body for my taste. nice website you havr. thanks for letting me participate.
Hey Phil, anytime! Its all about exchanging ideas and opinions!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Jersey Beer Blogs – Ferment Nation =-.
I get your point, but you could just have easily have said – “all light beers taste like crap compared to real beers.” For a light beer, I think it’s a nice change of pace. Sure, I’d rather drink a more full bodied beer, but my mid-section is getting a bit stout these days. Uhhh, I think I made a beer funny there.
Jeff, that’s a good one! 5 stars for the beer pun!
Yeah, I could have said that, but I tend to be long-winded. Still, I’ve not tried every lite beer, and on the other hand I’ve also had some watery and crappy-tasting regular beers. I don’t think its so black and white.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier =-.
Hi Scott,
Understood. I think that beer deserves a little more credit though tastewise given that it is clearly in the light beer category. I’m sure I won’t buy much of it, but it was pretty good “for a light beer” change of pace.
Jeff – Da Belly Club.
I go back and forth between light and full bodied beers for reasons you could care less about. I was drinking light beers for a week or two and tired the BL Golden Wheat. Nice Change from the ordinary light beers. It might be the only interesting light beer on the market.
Don’t get me wrong – comparing this to a full bodied micro brew is like comparing a moped to a Hummer. No point in that exercise.
If you find yourself (or a girlfriend etc.) drinking light beer – try this one. I’m going to pick up my 2nd 6-pack now. And it did remind me of Blue Moon at first.
This beer sucks!
Nuff said!
i like this beer
FINALLY found the stuff, on sale in a Safeway. Plus a five-dollar rebate! (So seven dollars for a twelve-pak.) Anyway, just had my first one tonight. Think I’ll let the kids drink the rest. If I wanna light beer, gimme Michelob Ultra Amber. If I wanna Belgian wheat experience, there’s always the ubiquitous Blue Moon, or two local faves, Red Sky at Night (Clipper City Brewing, Baltimore) or Raging Bitch. BLGW — well, you all know the Monty Python joke about American beer being like making love in a canoe — effing close to water.
@E Barnes – thanks for sharing. Sounds like you have some decent alternatives lined up! I thought the beer was pretty bad too, and I probably wouldn’t even give it to the kids! While the Monty Python joke is funny, I’d say nowadays it’s just not true, particularly in the craft beer arena. (Maybe Australian or Canadian beer though!)
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Samuel Smith’s Famous Taddy Porter =-.
I think it’s a refreshing change of pace from your everyday “light” beer. I sincerely doubt it was introduced to try and challenge micro brews or full bodied beers on a flavor basis. Not everybody is a “beer snob”, like some here. If you like full flavored, full bodied beers and would like to have some of that flavor and a lot less calories, I think BL Golden Wheat may have found a nich in the market, if there is such a thing anymore. I find it to be a very refreshing change of pace from your normal light beers. The owner put it on tap at my local watering hole, and it’s now his biggest tap beer seller at his bar. If your’e looking for a tasty, refreshing, affordable LIGHT beer, I would highly recommend it. Like BL advertises, it has “drinkability”. Wal Mart sell it for less than $11 per 12 pack.
@pjs82 – Thanks for the comment! I don’t agree with the ‘beer snob’ part. So if someone doesn’t like this beer, they’re a snob? I’m confused. Also, all beers have ‘drinkability’, don’t they? That’s like saying a hamburger has ‘eatability’ and the air around us has ‘breatheability’.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Stone Pale Ale =-.
MY GIRL FRIEND HASN’T DRUNK BEER IN 17 YEARS. lOVES BW GL
From a girl who loves Leinie’s Sunset Wheat and Blue Moon, but not the extra ‘love’ in her handles, this beer is GREAT! I get the flavors I like and in a lite beer to boot…can’t beat that! I hope it becomes a permanent edition!
drinking my first one right now. it’s good for a light beer. I imagine with their massive advertising campaign that they’ll keep it around for a while
@Rick – I haven’t heard anything about it being a temporary thing, and with their $$$ they can push whatever they want to for as long as they want. Thanks for stopping in!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Beer Glass Styles =-.
This is the freshest tasing light beer better than lime. i wish it was available in Canada
Love this beer, but can’t get past the sediment. How can I drink the whole beer without a mouthful of this if I don’t want to pour it in a glass? ick.
Alice, unfortunately if you drink from the bottle you’re going to get some sediment – its characteristic of the style. You should really try it (or any wheat beer) from a glass. This allows you to either leave a little beer in the bottle with the sediment – or – at least if it gets poured into a glass it will be more evenly distributed in the beer, and not a big clump at the end!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..What’s Your Favorite Summer Beer =-.
Wow! Iam impressed. I like it. I just finished my third bottle and I think its great. Beauty is in the eye of beholder.
@Ron – Absolutely! Glad you liked it and thanks for sharing!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Samuel Adams Octoberfest =-.
I agree! Its better than a regular Bud Light for sure. But not as good as a ShockTop or Blue Moon.
I tried a Pabst Blue Ribbon out of a bottle the other day and it was wonderful. I couldn’t believe it. Must be 10 years since I’ve had one. My friends thought I had lost my mind until I pulled a taste test on them. Has something there changed?
New to your site but now in my favorites. Keep up the good work!
widerglider – thanks for the comment and praise. We appreciate it! Not sure if PBR has changed, its been a loooooooooooong time since I’ve tried one either!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Poll – New Year Beer Resolution =-.
Wow, your reviews are shit. You can do more with your free time on the internet than reviewing Bud Light beers…. It’s fucking Bud Light, nobody drinks it to get body or flavor, they drink it to get drunk on the cheap without resorting to Natty Ice. You suck.
@Thanks Seb! Maybe you hadn’t noticed, but there are one or two other reviews here that aren’t about ‘Bud Lite beers’. Anyway, enjoy getting loaded on your Bud Lite.
I need to count calories! Bud Light Golden Wheat is the best bang for the calories that I have ever tasted. The beers it is being compared with here are excellent but much higher in calories. I just found out our local store will not be stocking BLGW anymore, they say it’s not selling. I am sorry to hear that.
If you’re counting calories and you like Clamato, try the home made version of Anheiser Bush’s Chelada beer. I mix about maybe 15 to 20% Clamato juice with Bud Select 55.
That beer by itself is fairly tasteless, but the Clamato gives it a very refreshing flavor. I drink it all the time…and am at this moment actually.
btw; it takes a few to get used to it, but if you like Clamato, this grows on you.
Jeff
@Les – I can understand why it wasn’t selling!
@Jeff – I don’t know – Clamato in beer. Obviously people like it, and I try to have an open mind, but I just can’t see myself enjoying that!
It might not be your cup of tea. The official bud light version tastes better than home-made, so you might pick up a 4 pack and try it. You never know.
@jeff – I think I would try it if someone offered it, but I wouldn’t buy it for myself. I just can’t do it!
Understood dude. It really cannot be classified as beer.
I like the low cal of Bud Select 55, but it has so little flavor that the Clamato
adds a nice kick. Bottom line is that I think you have to like Clamato to begin with.
If you don’t, you’re certainly not going to like Chelada.
I agree with you about Golden Wheat though. It’s pretty good for how low cal it is.
You can’t compare it to a nice full bodied Sam Adams that’s two to three times the calories. Of course the Sam is going to taste good. Calories=flavor (in most cases; and even six-packs)
I am not a beer drinking, maybe one with pizza…but my husband bought this in a pack with the lime ones…and I totally liked it. I thought it had a rich flavor, without an after taste. I have looked everywhere to buy it and cannot find it on the shelves.
@Angel – I’m not 100%, but I thought this one was discontinued.
I liked the Golden Wheat had good flavor could drink a few with no problems. Liked Shock Top but gave me a headache after a couple and Blue Moon was really bad for headache. Sorry to see it discontinued I finally thought I had a selection I could pick up anywhere.
@SJ – thanks for sharing. I always wondered what it was that gives people headaches in instances like this where the beers are ‘essentially’ the same. I guess in the Blue Moon and Shocktop it could be the spices? Dunno. Anyway, I guess it didn’t do well enough in the market to keep making it