Wild Rice
Capital Brewery

Wild RiceWild Rice
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From:
Capital Brewery
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
Herb and Spice Beer
ABV:
5.4%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.71 | pDev: 11.59%
Reviews:
27
Ratings:
31
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 02, 2013
Added:
May 02, 2002
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by dirtylou:
Photo of dirtylou
Reviewed by dirtylou from Oklahoma

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
on tap at echo tap and grill on west main in madison (note to self, do not return to this place)

served entirely too cold, hurt my freaking mouth

appearance: a clear gold/orange appearance, lacing white head

smell: powerful grassy/hay aroma, faint fruit smells (apple, pear), and of course rice. I had to let this thing defrost for a second to get some better aromas

taste: rice taste comes up front, kind of a spice kick to it that I was not expecting.

mouthfeel: crisp, medium/light feel

drinkability: definately a session

something just didnt click for me with this thing...probably just not my bag
Aug 09, 2005
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by bismarksays from Iowa

Jan 02, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by rjmclaw from Minnesota

Jul 18, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by brandoman63 from Illinois

Nov 28, 2011
 
Rated: 3.5 by bpfrush from Wisconsin

Nov 14, 2011
Photo of chugalug06
Reviewed by chugalug06 from Colorado

3.08/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
A - Very light orange color. Clear, with good bubble action rising to the top. Head pours moderate with decent retention. Head color is white and foamy.

S - Very unique. Spiced and almost saison-esque... Almost skunky...

T - Almost tastes like a lager, only sightly thicker... Almost skuny, I got this brew in a trade and am beginning to question if it's past due or not... Not a drain pour, but not my favorite.

M - Very dry and reserved... Not bad carbonation, but slightly over done.

D - Eh, decent, not great. I don't find myself craving the sip by any means.

I could see this brew being outstanding on a hot summer afternoon under the sun, but not great for indoor relaxing. Thanks for the trade MattPL!
May 04, 2011
Photo of BadBadger
Reviewed by BadBadger from New York

3.06/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Wild Rice pours into the glass a nice, some what light, copper color. There is a nice foamy head that last for a reasonable amount of time, with a bit of lacing along the sides of the glass. There is an odd smell, which I can't figure out: a first there is a whif of yeast, the a metallic aroma, and then what must be spice. The taste is very similar to the smell, with a metallic-spice, sensation. A pleasant enough mouthfeel, but sadly the metallic flavor lingers on the tongue. I can't say that I would recommend this as a first choice, if other reasonable options are available.
Feb 06, 2010
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

4.27/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bright orange with amber edges... which has to be the most common craft beer color in the world. The pour produced a compact crown of bone colored foam that looks no better than decent. The same can be said for the amount and quality of the lace. Actually, it looked a little better in the end.

There's a lot going on in the nose. It's toasted and earthy and nutty and herbal and fruity. That's what happens when several different malts, wild rice and several different American hops are in the house. This should be tasty stuff.

Wild Rice is sneakily complex beer. There's no doubt in my mind that wild rice is what makes it so. The earthy nuttiness of that grain, along with the toasted breadiness of Victory malt, along with the grapefruit zestiness of Cascade hops (Cluster and Willamette are present as well), adds up three-pronged deliciousness.

By the middle of the bottle, it's obvious that WR is even better than I initially gave it credit for. The yin and yang of sweetish malt and bitter hops is pure beer drinking pleasure. And the kaleidoscopic flavor profile is amazingly vivid for the ABV. Wow. Count me among the converted.

The body/mouthfeel holds up its end with no trouble at all. It has enough heft and enough smooth creaminess to get it done. The carbonation is slightly too tongue tingly, but time should take care of that. Trouble is, there isn't much time left because the glass is almost empty.

Wild Rice is excellent. It makes sense that Capital can't brew it year-round, but it's one of their better beers for sure. I would love to see it on local shelves during every season of the year. Bottom line: it isn't wild and crazy, it's just damn good.
Dec 07, 2009
Photo of Strix
Reviewed by Strix from Wisconsin

3.28/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Clear golden, fluffy initial head.

Smell is faint, predominately of grains.

Taste differs subtly from a macro lager. Grains (rice?), honey, and something else I can't place.

Mouthfeel crisp, medium fullness.

I didn't see this as a Herbed/Spice, felt like a macro to me. Pleasant enough, but didn't really excite me.
Oct 27, 2009
Photo of Tone
Reviewed by Tone from Missouri

3.33/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a clear, golden color. One inch head of a white color. Good retention and good lacing. Smells of yeast, rice, and slight sweet malt. Does not really fit the category of a herb/spice beer. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, yeast, rice, and slight citrus.
Oct 27, 2009
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Capital's Wild Rice pours a clear deep gold body beneath a full head of creamy white froth. The head retention is excellent, and it maintains a short cap of foam throughout almost the entire glass. As might be expected, the lacing is excellent as well, and it leaves rings of lace with each sip.

The aroma offers a sweetish malt with soft notes of fruit and flowers.

In the mouth it's medium-bodied and crisp with a standard, but lively, very fine-bubbled carbonation.

The flavor delivers a really interesting, fruity, floral and nutty character. It's drizzled with light caramel, and just lightly toasty. I can't figure out where the components are coming from except that the fruitiness has got to be at least partially from the yeast, and the nuttiness has got to be from the grain - but is it from the barley, or is it from the wild rice? It's sweetish at first, but then cut through by fruitiness. That balances across the middle, and then it's followed by floral and then nutty notes as you go into the finish. A firm bitterness backs it, balancing it in the mouth, and then rises to become quite wide in the lingering finish. It's dry, and kind of woody.

Overall, it's a really interesting beer. That alone keeps you coming back. It's intriguing! And then it's complex. But it's also sweetish, refreshingly fruity, and then dry. Superb!!! Absolutely worth seeking out!
Oct 20, 2009
Photo of KarlHungus
Reviewed by KarlHungus from Minnesota

3.46/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This beer pours a clear golden color. The head is a solid inch in height, and recedes quickly into minimal lacing. The aroma is of very faint caramel. It is really airy, and there is absolutely no complexity. The taste is more prominent, and quite enjoyable. There is some light caramel, with some toasty, biscuity malt. The mouthfeel medium-light bodied with lively carbonation, and a smooth texture. Overall, this is a nice beer. It would be a lot better if the aroma had more going on, but the rest of the beer is solid.
Sep 25, 2009
Photo of mdwalsh
Reviewed by mdwalsh from Iowa

3.51/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Pale Straw, I would say, with a 3 finger white head. Very, but not perfectly clear with good active carbonation. I think it's supposed to be sort of a german lager. It looks like it. Head is very creamy.

S: Gives of a terribly strong BMC musty smell. Also the smell of cooked wild rice water, which is obviously what they're going for. It does lend a nice spiciness to it, but it would be better with more malt and hops to balance it out.

T: You know, I hate to say it, because I like Capital and the idea of a Wild Rice beer is great, but this tastes a lot like an American Adjunt Lager with the water that's left over from cooking wild rice poured in. Which I think is exactly what they're going for, but I think they could have done better.

M Light, fluffy, like an adjunct beer should be but somehow, creamier. Here I think the wild rice shines. It has the same flavor affect and color affect as white rice, but adds MORE body instead.

D: I really don't like the smell, but otherwise, very drinkable.
Sep 25, 2009
Photo of KI9A
Reviewed by KI9A from Illinois

3.33/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: Ultra clear yellow, looks just like any macro lager.

S: None. Seriously, maybe just a whiff of grain.

T: Grainy, sweet malts, some honey. Slight taste of a hop or two at the back.

M: Light, very crisp. Refreshing as heck.

D: Decent on the "D". This thing REALLY tastes like a Kolsch to me, not like the "herbed/spiced beer" as titled on BA. I need to visit their website and research this beer. If it's there, I'd buy it.
Sep 13, 2009
Photo of tatoodkelt
Reviewed by tatoodkelt from Maryland

3.08/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Part of a haul a buddy brought when he visited from Chicago.

Consumed 8/28/09- from notes.

Brown 12oz bottle poured into a shaker glass.

A- Clear gold with a half finger spongy white head that settled to a super thin skim for the remainder of the glass. Pretty active carbination.

S- Light fruit almost like cherries, and maybe it was my imagination leading me because of the label but I swear I got a wiff of steamed white rice.

T- Again with the light fruit, sweet malt, pretty crisp.

M- Light body. Creamier than I expected, you hardly notice the carbination.

D- Pretty easy to drink, perfect for something refreshing since I was working on the truck in the heat.
Aug 28, 2009
Photo of Florida9
Reviewed by Florida9 from Illinois

3/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A: Clear yellow-amber in color with virtually no head, not even a surface coating.

S: Bread. Light yeast, some grains and a little alcohol.

T: Grains and brown rice. A faint nuttiness and maybe even some cream. Some minimal hops on the ass end. Very short finish.

M: Light with medium carbonation.

D: Not much more going on here than an adjunct lager. Simplistic and while it does offer some benefits over your typical macro, there simply isn't much flavor or aroma. Really, about an average a beer as you can get.
Aug 28, 2009
Photo of RblWthACoz
Reviewed by RblWthACoz from Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours nicely with a clear amber. Almost comes off as a rye to me as there is a pronounced bite on the mouth from flavor. Still though, it doesnt completely detract from the experience. Just puts it in a realm of not a session ale, but not overly obnoxious that it isn't slightly easy to drink. A cask conditioning of this might be very interesting I think.
Aug 10, 2009
Photo of BeerFMAndy
Reviewed by BeerFMAndy from Wisconsin

3.45/5  rDev -7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle poured into a Pilsner glass. No date.

A - Brilliant clear gold! Fantastic color topped by a thin white head with little lacing and not much retention. Sadly, it was great til the head disappeared.

S - I was hoping that this wasn't the case, but it smells like the name. Lots of rice, wet straw, grains, and a light noble hop finish that gives it a good crisp, clean aroma.

T - I can't say I've ever had a beer that tastes like this. Wet straw and rice with a sweet light malt body and interesting blueberries. A tiny touch of hops dries out the finish slightly balancing it pretty well.

M - Smooth and light, Wild Rice is a crisp and refreshing summer lager.

D - Replace your BMC's with this. Enough flavor for a beer geek to suck on for a session brew and not "extreme" enough for a BMC-only drinker to think it's too potent.
Jul 14, 2009
Photo of blackearth
Reviewed by blackearth from Minnesota

3.55/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Poured a clear, bright golden body with a thin white head. Aroma of white pepper, cooked wild rice and hops. Light bodied with light malt and wild rice flavors lead to a faint hop finish. This is a great picnic beer if you need something lighter. It was very good drank from the bottle as well.
Jul 13, 2009
Photo of botham
Reviewed by botham from New York

3.88/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle poured into a pub glass. Pours a rich golden yellow color with a half finger of white head that has poor retention and leaves no lacings.

Aroma is of pale and Munich malts, along with a floral hop base and a touch of bready malt/yeast. Reminiscent of a pale lager in the nose.

Taste follows the nose with a touch of honey and a solid crispness. Very fresh on the palate. In a nutshell, this is the beer that all the macro lagers should aspire to be! All the characteristics of a light lager, just dialed up in freshness and intensity to create a very drinkable brew.

Mouthfeel is light bodied and mildly effervescent on the palate, with a crisp and satisfying finish.

Drinkablility is good. Mild and crisp in the palate with just enough character and presence. A solid lager.
Jul 03, 2009
Wild Rice from Capital Brewery
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 31 ratings