Wheat State Golden - Free State Brewing Co.

Goliath

Illinois

3.08/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a clear golden color with a one inch slightly yellowed head. Good retention and some lacing.

Aroma is decent. Sweet pale pils like malt dominats. A slgith hop is also present.

Taste is ok. A big pale malt sweetness, with a slight hop bitterness in the background.

Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied and lightly carbonated.

Drinkability is moderate. Decent flavor and low alcohol make this brew sessionalbe, but it's kind of boring and uninspiring. Pretty average.

Serving type: growler

08-05-2008 17:28:52 | More by Goliath

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.68/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured this out of the growler and into a weizen glass, not the easiest thing to do.
Much head, due to pouring, laced and then vanished. Color of body was pale, fuzzy yellow. Some sediment.
A grain based taste, but not wheat...rice maybe. Hops and carbonation are the main focus, but some lemon and sugar are present.
Easy drinking, especially during a hot day.

Serving type: growler

02-01-2006 00:22:14 | More by Mebuzzard

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

4.2/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a shaker pint.

Look: The beer is a clear golden color with a eggshell colored head that recedes to a wisp. Watery lacing is present.

Aroma: Grains and malts give way to a grassy body, some sweetness in there. Faint hops.

Taste: Somewhat metallic, but much like the aroma. Very clean, sweet, and a good display of grains and barley with just enough hops to even it out.

Mouthfeel: Light and clean.

Overall, a good, clean refreshing beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 12:07:09 | More by JuicesFlowing

UnkleFester

Kansas

3.58/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A: Pours a clear golden color, a fingers worth of a creamy white head that doesn't last leaving a decent amount of lacing behind.

S: Grainy malt and lemon on the nose.

T: Grainy malt just like on the nose with also a some earth/grassy hops towards the finish.

M: Light body with medium carbonation that finishes dry.

O: This one reminds me a lot of a blonde, nothing amazing but still decent and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 03:22:05 | More by UnkleFester

TCMike

Minnesota

3.8/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a light, translucent gold color, and produced a one finger white head.
The was of wheat, and bread.
The taste is similar to smell, but lighter tasting, than the aroma let on that it would be. Medium carbonation, light mouth-feel.
Easy drinking, good for a warm day, but not much body.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 22:59:20 | More by TCMike

FosterJM

California

3.5/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

909th Review on BA
Bottle to Pint
12 oz

Purchased from: On the Rocks, Lawrence, KS

App- Darker than most blonde ales and a bit of a thinner head. A few dots of cling and some scattered bubbles.

Smell- Much more german malts in essence on the aromatics. A bit thicker with a slight grain and sweet note.

Taste- I think I've grown too accustomed to beers bashing me with flavor. This was light, malty and a touch of citrus. A decent blonde.

Mouth- A lighter medium body with a light-medium body. A nice mix of caramel, grain and wheat.

Drink- Overall a nice little beer. Just needs to be tweeked a little to make some flavors layer a little better.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 16:23:39 | More by FosterJM

Tone

Missouri

3.58/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, golden color. One inch head of a white color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of pale malt, slight sweet malt, grain, hint of wheat, and a hint of citrus hops. Fits the style of an American Blonde Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of pale malt, slight sweet malt, hint of wheat, slight citrus hops, and a hint of grain. Overall, good blend, appearance, and feel.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2011 12:45:16 | More by Tone

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.1/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from notes, enjoyed well within BBD date(10-28-11)

Pours an effervescent honey color with a pinky of pearl colored head. Above average lacing & head retention

S: Bready & grainy notes

T: Breadyness mingles with golden delicious apples up front. Fruittyness (apples & white grapes) more earthy grainyness. Finishes crisp, grainy & refreshing

MF: Medium bodied with smooth carbonation

So pleasant to drink, a flavorful example of the style that really captured wheaty flavors

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 02:52:15 | More by russpowell

acelin

Kansas

3.88/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

When I first saw this beer, and indeed the first few times I had it, I thought it was a wheat beer. What a misleading name! Yes indeed it has wheat in it, and to the inexperienced beer drinker, might taste like that, but this beer should be in its own category. It is a golden ale made with a good deal of wheat malt.

Poured from the bottle ( which had a best by date, nice!) into a beer mug. Wonderful 1.5 finger head with excellent lacing all the way down the glass. Pale golden straw color, slightly more orange than a hefe would be. Like Duvel had kids with a Hefe is how it looks, and tastes.

It smells like that too. Biscuity pale malts with fruity wheat, and the wonderful snap of hops trailing all that malty goodness.

The taste is great. Definitely a beer best enjoyed cold, and especially on any day it gets warmer than 70. It tastes much like it smells, with those beautiful hops presenting themselves quite well throughout the beer. Quite hoppy for a wheat or golden ale, and that's not a bad thing! Good job Free State!

Mouthfeel is perfect. Not to thick or thin.

Overall this beer is good.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2011 02:10:30 | More by acelin

Monkeyknife

Missouri

3.45/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle a clear straw yellow with a big rocky white head with a generous amount of sticky lacing.

Light aroma of grainy malts, yeast and bread.

The aroma of grainy malts and bread carries over to the taste along with a touch light fruit and a metallic tinge.

Lighter bodied and dry with moderate carbonation.

A very average Blonde or Wheat ale at best. Sadly, nothing really stands out with this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2011 23:20:32 | More by Monkeyknife

BradLikesBrew

Missouri

3.28/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pale gold body with a white head.

Simple grain and fruit aromas. Almost bubblegum like. Similar to a Kolsch, but with a little twist.

Pale malt grain profile with crackery notes. The fruity character of the aroma is nowhere to be found on the palate. Mild grassy hops on the finish.

Crisp and medium bodied.

No frills, a touch more depth than the standard issue blonde ale. Refreshing, plain, typical.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2011 22:54:14 | More by BradLikesBrew

rye726

Colorado

3/5  rDev -16%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Up for review is a 12oz bottle of Wheat State Golden Ale from Free State Brewing Company. Poured into a pint glass at room temp. Light golden, beige head. Nothing spectacular. Light malts and light body. Decent session beer I guess, just came off a bit thin for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 04:03:10 | More by rye726

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into a stange glass. This is from a selection of Free State Brewing beers send to me by JeepCop. Thanks Dale!

Pours a clear copper, with a ½ finger of bright-white head. This retains with a thin frothiness that leaves back a foamy cascade of lacing that settles into a light spotty look. The aroma smells of fresh cut grass, spice, and bitter fruit. A sticky backing of caramel and bread fill out the back of the nose. This is light yet still flavorful and pleasant in the nostrils.

The taste is tight across the tongue with a snap of bready wheat and some sweeter caramel character. A pleasant bite of earthy bitterness, fruit, and spice add complexity and crispness and linger in the finish with some moderate dryness. The mouthfeel is light-medium bodied and crisp and lively in the mouth but yet, most importantly, remains very smooth and easy on the palate.

While this did come off more to me like a hoppy Blonde Ale, I still rather enjoyed this. It was well balanced, approachable, and most of all, extremely refreshing and quaffable! This would be a summer-time go-to if it was local to me. Nice stuff.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2011 18:04:16 | More by Kegatron

Soonami

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Free State Wheat State Golden is a nice little wheat beer. It is a slightly hazy amber color with surprisingly little head sustain and large, soda-like CO2 bubbles. The beer had a pleasant yeasty bready aroma and bit of toasted grain. The beer is light on the palette with good body and a thick doughy quality. Nice easy drinking beer. Not spectacular but enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2010 03:29:34 | More by Soonami

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes. On tap at the brewpub in August 2009.

Pours a moderate golden color with a bit of haze. Short white head that recedes pretty quickly. The nose brings some really light grain and a bit of very light hops. The flavor is mild grain, wheat, and hints of citrus. Creamy, light mouthfeel. Drinks okay, but nothing terribly special.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2010 02:21:18 | More by Thorpe429

Jayhawk

Missouri

4.43/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I'm a long term Free State fan...been drinking there since the brewery opened in 1989. However, living in a nearby city, I was really happy to hear they had bottled 4 of their beers: Copperhead Pale Ale, Oatmeal Stout, Ad Astra Ale, and Wheat State Golden. It's the golden I'm reviewing today.

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass - nice two finger head that dissipated quickly. A coppery color - much more colorful than most beers containing wheat, but the wheat is only 25% of this beer. Smells slightly sweet (the wheat) with a bit of citrus. Low hops, malty taste with that hint of wheat sweetness (nothing like a hefe, though...this is an Alt style ale).

This is a phenomenal session beer - very smooth, flavorful - perfect for watching a KU basketball game.

One difference between the bottled version and the on tap version is that the head lasts longer on tap - otherwise, the bottled version is remarkably true to the on tap version.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2010 02:17:34 | More by Jayhawk

zeff80

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured a hazy, golden yellow color with a small, white, fizzy, bubbly head. It left some sudsy residue on the glass.

S - It smelled of lemon, wheat and some caramel notes.

T - This beer has a nice sweet flavor with a lemony touch. There is a very subtle grassy bitterness blend with a dash of caramel.

M - It was crisp and smooth. A light bodied and easy drinking brew.

D - This is one of the more interesting blonde ales that I've had. It brings some good flavors to the table.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2009 17:11:18 | More by zeff80

jazappi

Kansas

2.73/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Presentation: On tap pour into a mug.

Appearance: Dirty yellow, lots of carbination. Small head.

Aroma: Very sweet, lemon smell.

Taste: A little too much carbination for me. If you are not into the dark beers, this would be a good one to try, has a very sweet light taste.

Mouthfeel: Very light in the mouth with lots of carbination.

Overall: A nice taste, but not enough flavor for me.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2006 06:22:04 | More by jazappi

Rio

Kansas

4.28/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed as on tap since the growler was filled from a tap. Nice brown ½ gallon growler with Free State Brewery logo on the front, and a bit of history about Free State and brewing in Kansas on the back.

Poured a nice, deep golden color, with a decent head that held on through most of the glass. A nice, clean wheaty smell to it. A bit of a bite on first drink, that fades to a nice mix of malt and hoppy flavors. Reminds me a bit of the Kölsch style beer. Good mouthfeel with a bit of crispness and carbonation.

I'm very partial to the Kölsch style beers for the summertime, and this beer reminded me a lot of that style, even though it's reported as an American Blonde Ale. I think it's definitelly worth a try, and will probably be one of my frequent choices at Free State.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2004 04:03:27 | More by Rio

alittlehazy

Kansas

3.78/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a growler to a nice golden color with a light white head that worked it's way down to a thin layer after a minute or two. Smell wasn't at all overpowering, but had a nice wheaty airy aroma to it. Mouthfeel is nice with dry bubbly feeling to it. Besides a little malty dryness and an almost sweet aftertaste this beer didn't exactly make my taste buds explode. Nevertheless, this is a great summer beer, extremely refreshing and easy to drink.

I prefer Free State's oatmeal stout or their copperhead pale ale, but for a first time, I'd grab this one again.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2003 10:33:40 | More by alittlehazy

bditty187

Nebraska

3.28/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Brilliant golden hue, filtered, luminous white head, great lacing pattern. Faint nose, herbal & flowery bouquet. Simple palate, weak hops profile, faint citrus, mildly-weak wheaty-tartness. Light body… this is a good brew, something for beginners… simple yet tasty enough. Wheat State has ‘drink on a hot summer day’ written allover it.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2003 18:08:15 | More by bditty187

marc77

California

3.03/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Beautifully clear light golden hue, perhaps from fining and / or filtration. Sticky, thin, tight head leaves intricate lace. Lightly tart, grainy aroma, w/ a hint of herbal hops. Prosaic, clean aroma. A snap of bready sweetness upfront leads into a sweet/tart combination of token malt sweetness and wheat. Meager hop bitterness, but the high attenuation leaves little residual sweetness to be balanced. Crisp, thinnish mouthfeel. Trace herbal hop flavor. Finishes clean, dry and lightly bready. Quaffable and typically bland for style. Beautiful in appearance, but lackluster otherwise. Perhaps the polar opposite of their Owd Mac's Imperial Stout in overall character.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2003 17:49:24 | More by marc77

maxpower

Missouri

3/5  rDev -16%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Light and clear golden color, decent white foamy lasting head that leaves a lace in the glass. Has a flowery and light grainy aroma. Light malt and flowery flavors, nice hoppy dry and clean, crisp finish, light body and a watery mouthfeel, not all that bad for the style, might be a little better on a hot summer day.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2003 17:29:56 | More by maxpower

beernut7

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This brew is a light golden color with the aroma of malt and a hint of spice. The white lace on the glass follows the entire brew. The flavor consists of an initial bitter bite followed by a smooth malt and otherwise fruity hop profile. Quite tasty for a style I generally do not favor.

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2002 13:11:24 | More by beernut7