Pick Axe Blonde Ale - Keweenaw Brewing Company

jsisko01

Michigan

3.7/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Unfortunately, my beer was shaken up so I don't have an accurate reading on the head. But it pours a very cloudy, pale yellow color and the foam looks very soapy. After dissipating it leaves a frothy layer on top of the beer and soapy looking lacing (possibly from the beer exploding lol).

Smell - Very strong citrus and lemon zest aromas. There is a strong funky smell as well, maybe it's the hops?

Taste - The funky bitterness is strong in the flavor as well, up front. Citrus, lemon zest, maybe a little coriander, honey, and floral hops. I honestly can't taste the wheat in here though..

Mouthfeel - Light bodied with high carbonation.

Overall - This beer tastes really great.. but it's VERY acidic. It literally seems like you're drinking citrus straight. I suggest not drinking this if you have acid reflux!

Serving type: can

06-30-2012 00:42:17 | More by jsisko01

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

2.5/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Reviewed from notes.

A. Semi hazy pale yellow straw colored with a single finger head that doesn't have much retention nor lacing.

S. Light wheat and lemon peel. That's about it. Not very strong in the aroma category.

T. Very mild honeyed wheat flavor....slight citric peel finish. At least it doesn't have any off flavors in my particular can.

M. Light bodied with a smooth texture, but not particularly well carbonated for my tastes.

Kind of a boring beer.

Serving type: can

03-03-2012 19:18:26 | More by WastingFreetime

buschbeer

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz can
Served in a pint glass

A - It pours a hazy yellow and is topped with two and half to three inches of white head.

S - I get some honey and floral hops. I also get some grain and biscuit. There's some fruit in there, too.

T - There is a pronounced sweetness (honey). I get a little biscuit and a "kiss" of hops.

M - Thin but not as watery as an adjunct lager.

O - It was better than I thought it would be. I bought it after a Michigan game and had a couple left to review. I was pleasantly surprised.

Serving type: can

09-13-2011 23:30:06 | More by buschbeer

weizenbob

Michigan

3.98/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

12 ounce can purchased at Tom's in Acme, MI ($6.99/6 pack). Canned July 7, 2011. Poured into a nonic pint glass. The pour yields a finger of white head that quickly disappears. Lacing is nowhere to be found. A little bit of carbonation is seen through the glass. The brew is colored...wait for it...blonde. Duh. It is a pretty clear glass of beer with no apparent sediment and only the faintest haze. Though blonde ale is not most people's idea of an impressive beer style, this is easily the most impressive looking beer in the Keweenaw canned lineup.

Pick Axe Blonde is surprisingly aromatic. Fruity aromas are the scents-du-jour. Apples are noted. There is also a funky smell that I normally associate with dry red wine. Take from that what you will.

The flavor shines. This is surprising given a couple of things; the style's relative meh-factor, and Keweenaw's relative meh-lineup. It is pretty much an all malt-affair with "just a kiss of the hops" as the can's label lifts from my beloved Schlitz. Fruity flavors rule the roost with a lot of apple-like flavor up front. Some melon rind manifests in the middle. If you're paying attention some (very) mild hop bitterness is detectable. It finishes a little grainy with some lingering aftertaste. Easy drinking seems to be the name of the game, but for such a tame beer the taste is surprisingly exceptional.

The mouthfeel is incredible. The can claims that this is the lightest bodied brew in the Keweenaw lineup but I would have to disagree. It is indeed light bodied, but it is also incredibly creamy. Paired with the malty flavor, this blonde is a great experience in the mouth.

Overall, this is a great example of a light, easy drinking yet flavorful brew. The price point on Keweenaw beers has recently dropped dramatically, making this a pretty good value to boot. I dig it, and I really think my light lager drinking buddies would dig it too. At this point it's the only one of Keweenaw's canned efforts that I could wholeheartedly recommend.

---

The Two-Schlitz Scale: (reference my profile for an explanation)
Even Keweenaw acknowledges the mighty Schlitz, lifting their "Kiss of the Hops" trademark for Pick Axe Blonde. It is indeed a fine comparison and I could easily interchange Pick Axe as an ale substitute for Schlitz. As such, I do give a Schlitz for Pick Axe Blonde.

Serving type: can

08-05-2011 19:39:54 | More by weizenbob

brdc

Wisconsin

2.5/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a can into a pint glass.
It is clear, light yellow, with small fast disappearing whitish head, no lacing.
The can suggests it is light, and indeed it is - aroma is hard to detect, some honey, fruity notes, grass. Very thin, it lacks flavors just as it lacks aroma.
It is not bad, but it is not good either.

Serving type: can

08-04-2011 02:08:34 | More by brdc

ribby

Michigan

3.13/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is a decent beer for what it is. The color is clear yellow. The head is good sized but fades quickly. The aroma is quite mild. Although the flavor is very mild, it tastes like beer, without the off flavors that characterize many non-craft beers. Within the mild flavor, the malt is more prominent than the hops. This is a competently brewed example of the style.

Serving type: can

07-17-2011 22:52:58 | More by ribby

rings

Michigan

2.13/5  rDev -36.6%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

It's an American Blonde with a "kiss of the hops" and intended as an introduction brew to the marvelous world of Michigan beer and a nod to the copper mining pioneers of the area. Most likely, the lighter offering was seen as a necessity for their far northern and rural market where macro beer in cans is the traditional beverage of choice.

This is a very basic light ale and, unfortunately, my pour was plagued by DMS, with a thick creamed corn nose that put me off from the initial sniff. A cloudy orange pour, there was a touch of body as it lingered in the glass, but washed down with relative tastelessness.

While it's most likely intended to be rather "blah" and clean, off flavors proved to me again why craft brewers should not try to beat the big boys at their own game--you can't out-Bud Light a Bud Light drinker--but stick to producing flavorful brews that are intentionally NOT Bud Light.

Serving type: can

02-11-2011 19:03:43 | More by rings

Lillenk

Michigan

3.58/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Grill One Eleven.

Appearance was a nice golden color with a nice white head.

Smell was pretty average. Not a whole lot going on. Typical hops smells with maybe a little bit of wheat.

Taste was pretty alright. Typical light blonde style. If you like this type then it is everything that you would ask for.

Mouthfeel was very light and it was extremely easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2011 22:08:10 | More by Lillenk

SickGnar

Pennsylvania

2.28/5  rDev -32.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A: ridiculously big bone-white head that turns out to leave good lacing. Straw golden - sort of pale and cloudy. Very active rising bubbles. Foam jumps out of the can a bit as soon as it is opened. Huge foam, cloudiness, and fizzy bubbles make me think something could be off. It actually does look nice though.
S: Grainy, faintly malty with a good hint of wheat. Odd yeasty scent - sharp, a tough metallic, and vaguely sour. A smell I am going to call "off," as I can not imagine that this was intended.

T: Same "off" taste through. Possibley slightly soured? Grassy, decently bitter, hops come through in finish and aftertaste. Some light grainy, slightly bread pale malts with the barest hint of sweetness manage to poke through, but are are mostly hid by the sour twang. I am going to say that this was somehow infected at bottling and soured in the can. It may have been sitting a while too. I bought it as a single at a small soup-to-nuts store in the U.P. that had a "do not break apart six packs" sign on the cooler door near a small selection of singles. Hmmm...??? With an eye toward variety, I thought I would clean-up after the scofflaws. Oops. I guess this is what I get for being a cheapskate and good Samaritan.

M: Still manages a medium body, but with well over medium carbonation that is well on its way to being fizzy. Between the sour twang and CO2 (carbonic...) this has a rather hefty bite.

D: A Blond (Ale) ought to be easy. And this is not as pleasant as it probably once was. It is sort of hard to judge a beer where something appears to clear have gone off the rails. The "off" / sour / funk is completely out of place for style. It all but states, "infected," and surely was not intended by the brewer. Still, it is not totally offensive. Seems sort of like a very pale sour beer - almost refreshing - a sort of accidental kellerweisse.

Serving type: can

12-09-2010 21:08:14 | More by SickGnar

LanceW

Michigan

3.43/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The local market had these in a varitiy pack and I thought I would give it a try.

I was expecting somthing a bit lighter but was impressed to find the body of the beer to be much thicker. The overall drinkability was pretty good. I would recommend this beer to another beer advocate but i would be less likely to give this to an average joe.

Overall I enjoyed it and would drink it again.

Serving type: can

12-05-2010 18:21:41 | More by LanceW

OakedCanuck

Washington

3.13/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz can poured into a standard shaker

This beer pours a nice, golden yellow with minor head development. There wasn't really any lacing to stick around and flattened out quickly. It smelled strongly of lemon with some grainy bite, like corn. The taste was tart, almost sour with strong lemon as in the nose. There is a yeasty presence, some sugars, and a weak wheat. The mouthfeel is light with decent carbonation. This beer has good drinkability that is a good summer beer.

Serving type: can

10-22-2010 14:59:22 | More by OakedCanuck

jampics2

Ohio

3.15/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz can into a snifter. Thanks to Paul for grabbing this at the brewery on a trip to the UP. 

Pickaxe Blonde is a gold straw color with a slightly hazy, bright white head.  After the head settles, a small film and ring remain.  Lace looks good.  Not a bad start.   

The beer smells of grain and slight wheat. A bit of tart lemon from torrified wheat. Not yeasty.  Very inexpressive.  No hops at all.   

As this goes down the hatch, I'm not really digging the slight wheat with sweet finish. It's pleasant enough, but really not defining itself in any aspect of the taste.  Tartness noted in the nose is minimal in the taste.  Not too grainy, more of an American wheat not hoppy at all. Weird beer without personality - I can't get behind this, it's like the least exciting beer I've had in a while.

Crisp carbonation and slightly creamy from the wheat.  It's a light body with a  clean finish, not too dry, mostly sweet.   I guess this is a decent beer, but it certainly could be more expressive in flavor and taste.   

Serving type: can

10-07-2010 00:20:03 | More by jampics2

mdwalsh

Iowa

4.1/5  rDev +22%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Ahh, beer in a can. I like that they are honest about their goal, to turn beer drinkers into craft beer drinkers. It's a noble endeavor and sets a good tone.

A: Orange-gold, and only a small white head that faded very fast. A little cloudy, but good active carbonation from the looks of it.

S: Not much, but I get a little caramel/cooked fruit. Just, as the can says, a kiss of hops. Very light, very appropriate.

T: A little bland, but there's a bready taste going on for sure. Sort of a dry, crusty taste. Still very light and really refreshing.

M: Light, but smooth, not at all biting. I wish it had a little more bite.

D: Superb. A craft drinkers lawnmower beer, or a BMC drinkers gateway beer, good either way.

Serving type: can

07-21-2010 03:24:32 | More by mdwalsh

decadance

Michigan

3.58/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Somewhat cloudy yellow hue. Head from the can was nice at about an inch+ which remained for a good while.

S - As someone else said, this style doesn't have much to offer in the nose. Its mostly sweet grains and malts.

T - This is I want in a summer beer. It is not too assertive on the palate, but has some nice wheat flavor with a tiny hint (read: want a little more) of hops.

M - The carbonation is wonderful. It does not finish too dry, and has a full texture. Not too much for a summer quaffer.

D - There beer is memorable as I think this could serve as an excellent gateway beer from macro swill. The ABV can't be high, and it is something I could see myself drinking all day fishing or grilling.

And on top of this, the can itself is kinda awesome.

Serving type: can

07-10-2010 20:23:04 | More by decadance

Lauter73

Michigan

4.13/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A great taste for the style and for sure a very drinkable beer, I'm normally not a big fan of can beer. That's just my humble opinion, but as with the other Keweenaw beers I have tried in the can it has a great taste. Has a nice mouth feel to it, not that washed/ filtered out taste. or lack of taste if yo please. IMHO I think many of the marco beer drinkers could drink this beer. A great one to have on the 4th watching a parade or the fireworks! If they only had this on tap at the International Food Fest in Marquette! I sure would have a few!

Please be advised as with all my reviews this one is IMHO. I do not have nor claim to have training in reviewing beers. I' am a simple guy who likes beer. If I do not like a style of beer I will not review it. Although I do keep the style guidelines in mind. All my reviews are simple and short. I tell you IMHO what I think of the beer and how I feel it tastes for that style.

Serving type: can

06-01-2010 22:31:59 | More by Lauter73

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.68/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

"Even the highest tree has an axe waiting at its foot."

--Turkish proverb

Juicy pear yellow with straw colored edges. The bone white crown looks good in all ways that matter. It's whipped airy, but is tacky rather than soft. Generous lace is the proof.

As with most American blondes, the aroma is nothing special. That isn't meant to slam the brewers, just to point out the shortcomings of the style. Lightly sweet golden grain and a hint of musky hops ('a kiss' according to the can) add up to something much more pleasant than not.

Pick Axe Blonde Ale gets the most out of what it has to work with. It's definitely above average for the style and is much more drinkable than most. I'd be more than happy to take this stuff on a picnic, since it probably goes with just about anything.

As in the nose, the malt is sweetish and tastes 'golden'. In addition to what tastes like a fair amount of German hops for the style, Pick Axe delivers a surprising amount of fruity ale yeast esteriness. A 4.0 for taste would not be out of the question.

The mouthfeel is big enough and has quality carbonation, which is all that I ask. Actually, by the halfway point of the can, it settles in and impresses enough to earn an impressive score.

Keweenaw Brewing Company probably doesn't get much love, but these guys know their stuff. Although Pick Axe Blonde Ale doesn't have any bells or whistles, it still manages to make some noise.

Serving type: can

10-10-2009 12:06:59 | More by BuckeyeNation

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz can into a pint glass.

Pours a hazy pale gold, with a finger of soapy brite-white head. Thin wispy layer of foam skims the surface, throwing a decent looking cascade of spotty lacing up on the sides of the glass. The aroma smells of bready malt sweetness, a bit of fruity citrus, and some grassy hops that float along the back.

The taste is sweet grainy malts, with a splash of green citrus, and a lightly spicy and drying bitterness running throughout. The mouthfeel is lighter bodied, with a bit of sharpness to it, before giving way to a somewhat flatter feel underneath. Pretty easy overall.

Light but lively sums this up perfectly. Pleasant enough flavors, with a crisp enough body, I could easily down a couple of these on a camping or boating trip.

Serving type: can

08-18-2009 17:08:55 | More by Kegatron

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

CAN you believe that my CANQuest has become so well-known that some places WANT me to review their beers? At the GTMW, I mentioned my mission and said that I had just scored two of their beers in sixes and they asked which ones and handed me one each of the other two as I left the park. Keweenaw, this review's for you!

I got a finger of bone-white, marshmallow-Fluf like head with decent retention. Color was a beautiful sunshine-yellow with NE-quality clarity. Nose had an odd malty aspect, very sweet, moreso than the CAN led me to expect. I thought of cotton candy, frankly. Mouthfeel was medium with a light sweetness, but underlain by hops. For those who may not realize/remember, Schlitz claimed to have "just a kiss of hops", also. If Schlitz had just a kiss, it was a peck on the cheek. This was a kiss, and DFH 90" is a French Kiss. They did not skimp on this beer. I am becoming a HUGE fan of this brewery! I wish that I had more of this beer. It had a light dryness on the finish that was perfect in the sweltering humidity that we are currently experiencing. More!

In other, unrelated news, from the CAN: "The Keweenaw Brewing Company, located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, was founded with the goal of turning beer drinkers into craft-beer lovers. Pick Axe Blonde is the lightest bodied in our family of ales, a slightly malty American Blonde Ale with just a kiss of hops."

Serving type: can

08-17-2009 19:30:24 | More by woodychandler

malty

Michigan

2.78/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a chill hazed golden yellow with a white head that diminishes to 1/4". Little visible canbonation but I also spy lots of teeny tiny suspended yeast particles - definitely not filtered (yeah).

Tart & sour notes quickly arise into my nostrils as I lift my nonic pint glass to my upper lip. I give it a few swirls and now detect the soft & sweet malt I was hoping for.

The taste is a bit sour for half-a-second and then the soft & sweet malt that was detected in the nose makes its way to center stage, albeit not a starring role. There's a little yeasty ester thing going on similar to an American Wheat Ale.

Mouthfeel is a little watery and just a bit to the right of light bodied. Not much of a flavor in the finish at all.

Drinkability is good. As nonintrusive of an ale as I've had in quite a while.

Overall a beer I wouldn't mind drinking straight outta its can in the summer heat around the campsite or canoe. Other than that, I'd probably pass.

Serving type: can

07-19-2009 18:18:07 | More by malty

BierFan

Michigan

3.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 ounce can into a pint glass.

Modest white bubbley head on top of a slightly hazy yellow body. If I was going purely by taste I would guess that there's some wheat malt in this beer, but the ingredients on the side of the can list barley as the only malted grain. Perhaps the yeast is throwing me off. A little bitterness rounds out the experience.

Serving type: can

06-10-2009 00:12:17 | More by BierFan

philipquarles

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Thanks to rmasen for this one.

Pours a nice, clean gold with a small white head that recedes quickly to leave minimal lacing. The scent gives away a sweet, grainy malt bill and some pleasant grassy hops. The hop presence is slightly stronger in the taste, giving it a faintly bitter character backed up with a bit of malt. Nice, clean, and refreshing. Pleasantly surprised by this one.

Serving type: can

02-20-2009 23:51:57 | More by philipquarles

cdkrenz

Wisconsin

2.73/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A - Eggshell white head standing about an inch tall on top of a hazy yellow-orange body. The head leaves an impenetrable layer with some nice stamina.

S - Banana and citrus on top of a malt base.

T - Malt start with mild citrus but it loses its luster halfway through leaving the finish empty.

M - Smooth to start but turning a bit too watery. The feel does absolutely nothing to assist the weak flavors.

~ This is not something I'll have again. I'm glad I gave it a try but this isn't for me.

Serving type: can

02-11-2009 17:58:55 | More by cdkrenz

hopdog

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz can.

Poured a lighter and hazy yellow color with an averaged sized white head. Aromas of toastiness, grains, and some grassiness. Tastes of grains, some citrus, and had a fruity sweetness. This was one of those pleasant surprises.

Notes from and tasted on: 1/19/08

Serving type: can

01-19-2009 01:15:51 | More by hopdog

association330

Michigan

3.03/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A. - Pours a light, slightly hazy golden color. Creamy, white, half-finger head lasts pretty well before settling to a film with a thick ring of foam. Above average spots of lacing. Yeast clearly in suspension.

S - Yeasty, lemon, corny adjunct odor, and coppery in the background.

T - Sweet malt up front, with lemon and yeast undertones, slightly salty, and a coppery swallow (like sucking on a penny). The 'kiss' of hops is a really chaste kiss. Adjunct sweetness lingers on the tongue.

M - Light side of medium-bodied. Moderate prickliness, but it doesn't feel forced.

D - Though not good, nor my favorite style, it's refreshing and I could drink a few of these in a sitting. Especially on a summer day.

In summary, it's the closest thing the KBC has to a macro lager, it tastes somewhat better, and around here it costs about the same. An average beer that's worth having around during the warm summer months, but definitely the weakest of their regular product line.

Re-review summary (one year later): Still an average blonde, but still better than almost anything you could buy at a similar price level.

Serving type: can

01-07-2009 21:18:32 | More by association330

drxandy

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz can to ale glass, pours a nice golden straw shade, slightly foamy head fades

smells of grains, nice yeastliness

taste is of nice malty sweetness, dry at first, slight hops are perfectly in balance with the flavor profiles,very straight forward, good carbonation, an excellent blonde, extremely drinkable

mouthfeel is of nice weight and flavors, finishes wetter than first sip would lead, very nice

Serving type: can

01-03-2009 23:51:28 | More by drxandy