BEACHWOOD BLONDE vs Melyssa: Which Should You Drink?

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BEACHWOOD BLONDE

Beachwood Brewing

United States · Blonde Ale

hopIQ rank #2795

82%

Overall similarity

side by side, across 56 flavour tags

Melyssa

Archea Brewery

Italy · Blonde Ale

HOPIQ TAKE

BEACHWOOD BLONDE if you want something bone-dry and mineral-forward, Melyssa if you want a touch more roundness and subtle sweetness. Both sit at the same ABV and IBU, so the real difference is how Beachwood's brewers dialed in restraint—there's almost a pilsner-like crispness hiding in a blonde ale's body. Melyssa leans into what a blonde ale traditionally does: it's softer, more approachable, with a gentler finish that lets any subtle malts breathe.

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WHEN TO CHOOSE WHICH

Pick BEACHWOOD BLONDE when…

→You want something that tastes brewed, not just well-balanced
→You're tired of blonde ales tasting like malt candy
→You appreciate breweries that show restraint as a skill

Pick Melyssa when…

→You want a blonde ale that actually tastes like blonde ale
→You're not in the mood to think too hard about what you're drinking
→You prefer warmth and approachability over precision

SIDE BY SIDE

	BEACHWOOD BLONDE	Melyssa
ABV	4.8%	5%
Bitterness	Mild	Mild
Colour	Pale gold	Golden
Style	Blonde Ale	Blonde Ale
Origin	United States	Italy

WHAT IT TASTES OF

10 shared · 4 distinct

Both beers

cleanrefreshinglighthoneysmooth-drinkingfloralcrispmaltysweethoppy

STRUCTURE — HOW IT'S BUILT

BEACHWOOD BLONDEMelyssa

Bitterness

Body

TASTING NOTES

BEACHWOOD BLONDE

CleanRefreshingHoney

Beachwood Blonde hits like a carefully edited sentence—nothing wasted. There's a pale malt backbone that feels almost grainy-clean, not sweet. The 15 IBUs are barely there, but they sharpen the edges rather than add bitterness. It's got that Beachwood house character of precision; you can taste the brewers saying no to richness. The finish is quick and dry, almost chalky in the best way.

Melyssa

RefreshingLightSweet

Melyssa opens friendlier. There's a softer malt presence—you actually taste blonde ale doing what it does, with a hint of honey or biscuit underneath. The same 15 IBUs feel more integrated here, less like a nudge and more like they're just balancing the sweetness. It's got more staying power on your palate, a little more 'beer' in the traditional sense. Less intellectual, more comfortable.

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