Rustic Ale - Capital Brewery

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

2.5/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A. Medium Amber with short lived two finger head that left a very small amount of lacing.
S. A caramel malt smell, nothing fancy or intricate at all here. No hops detected. No complexity detected. One trick pony.
T. Watered down caramel malt sweetness but some kind of oddly metallic off-taste keeps cropping up for some reason. Tastes vaguely like a few copper pennies were accidentally dropped into the wort.
M. Nicely carbonated and crisp, refreshing, light bodied.

This suffers for two very distinct reasons : A very distracting metallic off taste and lack of complexity. Not recommended but also not disgustingly bad enough to drainpour.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2011 18:54:46 | More by WastingFreetime

scaliasux

Wisconsin

2.95/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Appearance - Light-medium amber. Slight haze. Tall off white head with good retention.

Smell - Mild caramel malt. Not catching any hops.

Taste - A little nutty caramel malt. Not much in the way of hops. A little watery. Leaves a bready aftertaste. Not bad tasting, but underwhelming.

Mouthfeel - Medium and smooth.

Overall - Not a bad tasting beer, but pretty muted. Might be an adequate choice for a day in the sun. I can't imagine seeking it out.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2011 02:15:42 | More by scaliasux

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.05/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: amber red, decent 1 inch head.

S: sweet overripened bread

T: same as smell, slight odd aftertaste, can't put my finger on it.

M: light/medium body.

T: sweet, light bread taste, too watery for this style.

D: My least favorite Capital beer. There are other beers better in this style.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2010 19:41:36 | More by BeerLover99

sweemzander

Illinois

2.58/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz. bottle poured into an imperial pint. No date. Thanks to BeerFMAndy for this one.

(A)- Pours a clear orange amber color that produced a good off-white head with decent retention.

(S)- A rather nutty yet musky aroma with bits of lemon and a weird peanut butter caramel thing.

(T)- A caramel maltiness with a pseudo nutty twist. A bit metallic.

(M)- A good carbonation level. Certainly malty and a bit rich, but a bit off balance too with some weird flavors.

(D)- An alright amber. It is flirting a bit; an amber yet a brown ale at the same time. Different.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2010 21:40:08 | More by sweemzander

jsh420

Illinois

2.58/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

pours hazy amber with a 1 finger head that left no lacing

smells very watery some carmel malt

taste is pretty weak but i get some english pale malts some nutty malts very little hops

mouthfeel is thin decent carbonation nice and crisp

drinkability is not good over priced for not much flavor

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2010 03:35:16 | More by jsh420

Strix

Wisconsin

2.2/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Dark amber, frothy head and good lacing.

Smells of malt, nuts, and spices, but something smells off.

Taste is all over the place. Malt and nuts predominate, but then there's some way-off kilter spicing, a grassy flavor, and a cardboard flavor.

Mouthfeel flat and weak.

This doesn't have too much going for it. I'd much prefer a Leinie's Red. I may just stick to Capital's lagers. Retire this one ASAP and go brew us a nice bock.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2010 00:13:18 | More by Strix

KTCamm

New Jersey

3.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

Pours darker reddish copper with very little foam. Looks kind of like an iced tea.

Nice sweet caramel smell. Little nutty.

Light clean malty taste with virtually no carbonation. No punch in the finish, not even a hint of a hop. Kind of just fades away.

Easy to drink, but feels like something is missing.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2010 01:44:41 | More by KTCamm

KI9A

Illinois

2.23/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 4 | smell: 1 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Ugh.

A: Poured a very nice hazy amber, decent head

S: Rotten garbage. Like old lettuce or something..very unappealling

T: Couldn't get past the nose, as the taste was similar. Nice and malty, some slight hop backbone.

M: Medium

T: No. Can't do it.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2010 01:00:38 | More by KI9A

McCranky

Illinois

1.4/5  rDev -51.4%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

i bought this beer at binny's and tried to return it because it tastes so awful. There were absolutely no hops, it was all malt, and it was terribly unbalanced. this beer is just all wrong. a v o i d. it's a shame because capital makes some good beers...this one makes me think they're losing their edge...

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2010 15:31:16 | More by McCranky

HappyHourHero

Indiana

3.43/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured a hazy golden beer with an amber hue. Thin cream colored head quickly disappeared. Mild malt dominated aroma. Solid malt flavor is lightly sweet with a hint of toast. I wouldn't quite say the body is light. In general the flavor is clean and doesn't linger making for a refreshing drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2009 01:07:31 | More by HappyHourHero

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

2.3/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

12 oz bottle poured into a Samuel Adams perfect pint. No date or info on the bottle.

A - Clear pale amber with an orange hue and a steady stream of carbonation rising up to a big but short-lived creamy off-white head. A thin layer with a collar of lacing is left.

S - Ugh. This aroma is pretty awful. It consists of a dirty, dank garage with rotten, wet leaves and a cardboard and metallic bite to it. Who would enjoy what I'm smelling right now? It doesn't even resemble beer in the least bit. I understand the name of the beer is Rustic but come on...

T - Light amber and pale malts up front with a quickly overpowering cardboard funk and metallic finish. A bit of wheat and dry straw with a really low hop profile in the background.

M - Medium-light in body with a dry and distasteful metallic finish. Medium-high carbonation adds a bit to the end.

D - If this is a "rustic" ale, thank God we've moved in a new direction with beer. Capital should have left the past alone. The nose is rather disgusting and the flavor is lacking any real direction. Not pleasant and not a beer I'll be having again any time soon if ever.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2009 18:49:08 | More by BeerFMAndy

beerwolf77

Wisconsin

2.88/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass the beer is light orange color and fairly clear. The head was huge but dissipated in the blink of an eye. The smell is mostly malt but I got hints of almond as well. Not a huge nose on this one at all. The flavor is malty and wheat like. There is a strange metalic flavor that seems to stick with me in every sip. Medium body with enough carbonationto tickle the tongue. This beer is drinkable if only because it's not real flavorful. I will revisit this one to make sure my bottle wasn't off.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2009 22:46:32 | More by beerwolf77

AmberMan22

Minnesota

3.48/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

The beer pours a burnt orange color, toned with red. The head is immediately impressive but dissipates quickly. Lacing/stickage is above average, considering how fast that head went away.

It smells heavily of malt, no hops present. There is a deep rustic/earthy smell, matching the sweet caramelly malt aroma.

The taste agrees with the smell. Malt dominated, hops MIA. The malty flavor disappears quickly, making me sad, but the flavor remaining is still that of a tasty caramel amber.
Since I like malt dominated beers, I'll give this 3.5, but honestly I was left craving that afterbite of the hops.

Mouthfeel was a bit grainy, with ample carbonation biting the tip of the tongue. As the beer swills in the mouth, it develops a more settled, medium feel to it, just to the sheer malt domination.

Overall, an easily drinkable beer. Putting away a 6-pack over the course of a long easy conversation probably wouldn't be hard if you wanted to. The beer lacks some important defining characteristics, and I must say this is probably one of the more disappointing beers from Capital -- but I do have high expectations of them.
Try the Capital Amber if you're looking for a better beer in this class.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2009 23:11:31 | More by AmberMan22

Tone

Missouri

3.45/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, copper color. 2/3 inch head of an off-white color. Good retention and good lacing. Smells of yeast, roasted malt, sweet malt, earthy malt, and slight hops. Fits the style of an American Amber / Red Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of roasted malt up front, then sweet malt, yeast, and slight hops in the finish. Overall, the roasted malt in foremost, it's light, and slight hop presence - therefore this fits almost perfectly into the category. Not a real heavy bodied beer but smooth, well blended, and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2009 03:14:26 | More by Tone

barnzy78

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

12oz. Poured amber with a fluffy off-white head that held good retention and left a slow, sticky lace on the side of the glass. Aromas and tastes were of sweet malts, bread crust, and toasted grains with a hint of caramel - little to no hops seem to be present. Mouth-feel is thin, and I expected it to be fuller after seeing the pour. Finishes sweet with hints of brown sugar - definitely lacks complexity. I guess, not a terribly bad representation of the style, but there are many better than this out there.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2009 20:30:46 | More by barnzy78

gmfessen

Michigan

3.13/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass, beer is a pale amber color with an off-white, bubbly two-finger head. The nose is faint, light caramel notes and graininess are about it. The taste is fairly neutral throughout but has a slight caramel toasty flavor and a slight metallic tinge at the end. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and has a thin yet creamy carbonation. Drinkable beer, if it was a fresher bottle, this would probably be a much higher scoring beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2009 02:58:33 | More by gmfessen

brdc

Wisconsin

2.05/5  rDev -28.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Small capped bottle poured into a pint glass.

Copper colored, thin tan head, little retention or lacing.
Aroma is a faint combination of breadiness, grassiness, and not a lot else. Watery, with faint flavors as described for the aroma.
They brew better lagers.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2009 23:01:38 | More by brdc

pmcadamis

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Rusty bronze-orange with a small white cap. This one leaves a lot of really nice lace on the glass, and although small, the head stuck around for a good while.

S - Sweet malt notes of carrot cake and caramel remind me of an Oktoberfest in a way. Some mild hop notes are there, but the malt is the star of the nose show.

T - Again, carrot cake and spiced coffee cake. Cinnamon rolls glazed in white icing. Some balancing hops and a hint of metallic mineral water give this a very German feel. I would totally guess O-fest in a blind tasting. This is good stuff!

M - Medium bodied (maybe even on the lighter end of medium), and well carbonated, this is a very thirst quenching brew. Goes down easy and finishes relatively neutral.

D - Tasty brew! Would be a very nice accompaniment to a smoked sausage, brat, or burger.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2009 20:10:02 | More by pmcadamis

abents

Wisconsin

2.05/5  rDev -28.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pours barely red and more orange, light white head fades quickly. Smells of light caramel malts and light grains.. ugh. Taste is not much better, Light malts, no hops and that off adjuncty taste to it. Odd bitterness not deriving from hops add to the weirdness of this beer. Very light mouthfeel moderate carbonation. This is a forgettable one. Come on capital you're better than this.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2009 01:38:02 | More by abents

BeerCheese

Wisconsin

2.45/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured crystal clear beer bottle brown, maybe a little lighter. Tiny little white head and a little lacing. Very weak hop aroma. Even weaker taste, with more malt than hops. Disappointingly watery. Poor representation of an amber. Mouthfeel was medium with medium/light carbonation. Drinkable in a glass of water kind of way.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2009 04:19:19 | More by BeerCheese

hopdog

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle.

Poured a medium and clear amber color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of grains, 'musty', earthy, and toasted nuts. Tastes of caramel, lighter earthiness, and grains. I found the body to be on the thinner body.

Notes from: 7/26/08

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2009 01:34:15 | More by hopdog

orangemoustache

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a golden, orange and rusty color,with a soft looking off-white head that leaves nice lacing,this is off to a nice start. The nose is tame and combines floral aromas with caramel malts. Pretty tasty considering a style that can often be less than impressive. Caramel malt and good balance of grain and hops makes a very drinkable balanced Ale. A light body and low carbonation help my glass to empty quickly,slightly creamy even. Pleasantly surprised by this uncompromising Red Ale. This is much better than AB American Ale. Give it a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2009 17:47:45 | More by orangemoustache

scruffwhor

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Medium copper colored beer with awesome bubbling. The head starts at two fingers, ad dwindles down to a nice film o' foam. Very powdery and fake smelling toasted malt and hops. Makes me thin of smelling the cheapest homebrew malt and hops mix I can think of. The taste is not as cheapened as the smell. Very grainy palate. Heavily toasted malts, medium to soft hop bitterness. Some very cheap tasting toast straight from the toaster almost overwhelms my tastebuds. Not the caliber I've come to expect from Capital Brewery. But I'm glad I tried this "Rustic" ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2008 04:42:48 | More by scruffwhor

spointon

Illinois

3/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I had this one on tap at the Capital Brewery Bier Stube on 11/28/2008.

A= This ale poured a clear, dark, coppery color with a 1/2" white head. The head quickly dropped to a skim and left a huge amount of sheet lacing down my glass.

S= The smell of this ale was very odd. It sort of smelled like a lager (slightly sulfur-y) with just a faint notion of bready and caramel malts and even fainter hops. No esters to speak of.

T= Again, strange flavor profile for an ale. Taste was mainly a sharp lager/sulfur note all on top of faint bready malt. Finish was dry and not very appealing in the aftertaste.

MF= Thin bodied, with some grain husk and a bit of a sharp carbonation level. Crisp on the tongue, could be a decent palate cleanser with food.

D= While I didn't think this was the worst thing in the world, I also didn't find it to be up to Capital's usual standards. This is not a beer I am likely to have again...

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2008 08:08:22 | More by spointon

EGledhill

Pennsylvania

2.88/5  rDev 0%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

received as an extra on a trade . Not sure from who but regardless, thanks for the opportunity.

Poured into East End pint glass.

A. dark gold body, thinnest white head that's gone before I sit down to watch the football game. looks like a darker version of Bud.

S. Smell? there's barely a smell at all. The slight smell that's there is sweet and bready. smell says Macro.

T. Taste like you 1 and 1'd a mix of Bud and MGD. sweet bready malt, not so great aftertaste. not appealing. like a fuller flavored Bud

M. thin and grainy a good bit of carbonation. are you sure this isn't bud?

D. If you like Bud. behold the craft version of it. I'm sure this would be good at a picnic or something, but not to start out my Turkey day.

Overall: I'm pretty sure it's Bud. Gotta be. What a disappointing way to start out my Thanksgiving drinking. Fuck this I'm drinking the rest and moving on to some hype. Would not recommend to friend, except maybe patronwizard.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2008 19:44:34 | More by EGledhill