Small Axe Golden Ale - Rush River Brewing Company

Wisconsin

Wisconsin

3.55/5  rDev +12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - Pours a one and half finger head with a very hazy, golden yellow body. There is a lot of carbonation present in this beer if you look real closely.

S - Smells like malts, barley and grains. There is nothing else that really stands out in this beer. Nothing too impressive but the malts are enough to give it a decent score.

T - Again, malts, grains, and some very faint sweetness is present. Nothing too outstanding but not horrible. The beer seems to have all the components of a solid brew but it has something missing that would really kick this beer up a notch.

M - The malts, grains and barley all hit your mouth early in this beer and it transitions to a nice smooth finish. This is a decent beer but nothing jumps out.

D - Pretty easy drinking beer. I could have a few in a sitting.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2009 03:48:50 | More by Wisconsin

dirtylou

Washington

3.73/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz single, rileys

appearance: pale golden orange body, foamy beige cap with decent retention

smell: pale wheat base, a touch grassy and a little earthy sweetness

taste: i dont have any major issues with this beer - its crisp and easy to drink, often resembling an APA...grassy and sweet

mouthfeel: light and crisp

drinkability: very high

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2008 02:55:39 | More by dirtylou

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Rush River's "own version of the classic hefe weizen with a Midwestern twist", brewed with white wheat from Wisconsin, but only 40% of the grain bill, "engineered to appeal to those favoring a lighter beer." I think they did the trick with this one.
Pours out a pure, golden hue, hazy, with a slim white head, at least in this sampling. Aroma is zesty, and promises some of the typical weizen aromatic delights, but falls a bit short. There's a lively, citric feel in the nose, but it doesn't flower as full as a Bavarian weizen would, nor does it intend to, I hasten to remind myself.
Taste is smooth and lemony, mixed with orange, lacking the twang and the bite one might look for in a hefe, but, again, that's not what this is, it's built for smoothness, and that's what it delivers. There's just enough taste here to make a beer fan happy, and enough lightness to make a non-beer fan satisfied. It's a niche that needs to be entertained folks, and this will do it. Not if your idea of a "light beer" is yellowy water, though, for the flavor fills the mouth, feels flush with fruit, though never too much, and then mellows, and ultimately finishes dryly. Bright orange and lemon charcter continue throughout the drink.
A very interesting alternative, I'd like to see this as a next step up from "lite beer" drinkers, those who really aren't into hefes, perhaps, but would like a little more in their glass of beer than what BMC are putting out.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2004 03:35:34 | More by feloniousmonk

KarlHungus

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +23%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Whistle Binkies Pub in Rochester. Poured into a pint class this brew was a cloudy golden-orange color and had a small white head when it arrived at my table. The aroma had some nice tang to it, but was rather faint. It would have been a great aroma if it where stronger. The taste is very nice; tangy with a hint of cloves. The mouthfeel is a tad lighter than medium bodied, and very smooth with nice carbonation. Overall, this is a very enjoyable brew. It is the second offering I have had from Rush River Brewing, and I have thoroughly enjoyed both of them. I can't wait to try their other beers.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2005 20:02:22 | More by KarlHungus

jjanega08

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev +24%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A= a nice hazy yellow color. Quite yellow but still looks white sort of. Small one finger head rises out of it and lasts a little bit of time with no lacing.
S= all I really get is a lot of wheat smell. A little sweet from the wheatyness.
T= not bad at all for a wheat. Really sort of trademark semisweet wheat taste. Buttery and bready. Really just a nice wheat flavor and not much else.
M= smooth and creamy.
D= great. A pretty tasty wheat beer with a smooth finish.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2009 01:28:25 | More by jjanega08

BeardedBoffin

Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev +25.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a little cloudy with a dark yellow color and pillowy head. The aroma is a blend of of pale malt, wheat and a little bitterness. Smooth as it traverses the palate. The brew is refreshing with a little sourness and a quick bite of bitterness at the end. This is a good refreshing wheat ale.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2011 22:24:35 | More by BeardedBoffin

arboristfish

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +26.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a slightly hazy yellow color with a thin frothy head. The aroma smells of wheat, mabye grassy or hay like. Very interesting flavor. Its sweet, a hint of malt, and wheat. Hard to pin point the hop flavor. Overall the mouthfeel is light, and is a drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2010 02:34:23 | More by arboristfish

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.28/5  rDev +35%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a weizen glass.
Dec. Wk3 notched on the label, no info.

A - Poured with the sediment, Small Axe acts the golden part of it's name and its hazed over completely while topped by a generous dollop of white foam. Great retention eventually results in thick lace.

S - Barnyard straw and soft wheat give the aroma an inviting, raw feel. Pale malt plays the background part well. Hops seem absent but the brew doesn't go unbalanced. Mild yeast finish.

T - Pale and pils malt are happy to let luscious yeast and abounding soft wheat walk all over them. Dry straw adds a raw feel and I love it!

M - Soft, supple yeast and wheat give the mouthfeel a relaxed, smooth, almost creamy texture and slightly dry but quite refreshing finish!

O - I was worried about the date going into this brew but wow am I surprised. I don't really understand where all the negativity surrounding this beer on BeerAdvocate is coming from. I find it to be a stellar example of a refreshing pale wheat beer. If the rest of their offerings are like this, I'll be one happy camper!

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2011 03:44:35 | More by BeerFMAndy