Going nationwide last July, Miller Chill quickly became ubiquitous at stores. This summer, Anheuser-Busch tried targeting the flourishing lime-flavored beer market as well, launching Bud Light Lime in April with $35 million in advertising. Since then, the macro-brew's been bragging about its success crediting the roll-out for an increase in 2nd quarter profits and summer market share.

Enough jabber-jargon... Do I want to drink it??

Personally, my taste buds sour at the mere thought of giving a Bud Light spin-off the full taster's treatment, but just for kicks, let's do BLL proper!

BLL's packaging alerts me it's a "premium light beer with 100% natural lime flavor." Also prominently displayed: "contains alcohol." Sold. After cleansing my palate of a Fudgsicle (hey, it's hot out!), I pour a small amount of BLL into a taster glass. The nose is very typical of Bud Light (subtle malt, ricey) and shows distinct notes of -- ta da! -- lime.

The flavor does not offend as much as I had expected.

Initially, the lime accentuates some of the Budweiser essence by masking the "watered down" taste that plagues Bud Light (not that Budweiser is a bastion of flavor). Something leads me to believe there's more going on here than just Bud Light and lime. Implication: simply putting fresh lime in a Bud Light would probably yield a different taste (tomorrow's experiment!). But it is important to note that the lime flavor is not too sweet or overpowering, as one would often expect from a fruit beer attempting to appeal to the masses. There is still beer to be found here.

So who is this beer for? It's not fit for beer snobs especially with more complex summer fruit infusions flooding the beer market. Likewise, hardcore suds drinkers probably wouldn't be caught dead with this "fruity" beverage over their regular 12 ounce. But it's taste is not meant to convert the cider crowd. And Corona drinkers bask in paying a premium for a bland Mexican import, so I don't think they are looking to save money on limes. That leaves... well...

THE FINAL SIP: Though Bud Light Lime is drinkable (by macro-beer standards) and surprisingly good for a summer cool down (especially if served ice cold), a "premium" selection it is not. I can't recommend it for anything but a whimsical change of pace. The lime beer "trend" feels more like a trendy corporate money grab and will probably pass faster than you can say Bud Dry. So if you can't get enough BLL, stock up now -- there's probably another flavor around the corner (do I hear pomegranate?!)