Big Axe Brewing Company — Restaurant in Nisswa

Note: This isn't a review about the ambiance, about the alcohol, or about the service. This is strictly for the root beer purist, so please don't judge their brews by this rating or review.

It may sound crazy, but I only came here for the root beer and cream soda. Sure, I sipped upon the fermented nectar that filled my cohort's glasses, which was surprisingly good, but I was on a mission and sugar-crazed children were depending on their courier to deliver. Let's get to the nitty-gritty!

Big Axe Root Beer: Upon first sip, I had one thought. Is this 1919 with less sugar? No. It's not that creamy. Still, not a bad root beer. Very fresh, not overly/under carbonated. No hint of cloves, anise or wintergreen. Pretty basic, but nice for the kids. Deeply brown, it seems there was a fair amount of caramel coloring added for that and flavor. Possibly filtered molasses and or maple? Enjoyable in small quantities, not exactly a chugging root beer. Puts Killebrew to shame, not quite up there with A&W, well behind champions like Dang! and Bulldog. This desperately requires a frosty mug and a dash of bite.

Big Axe Cream Soda: I'd really like to see what's going on in the back because I'm having trouble believing it's anything but complex. What I'm detecting is Mexican vanilla, sugar, and carbonated soda. That's it. Without a shadow of a doubt, I can reproduce this exact beverage using those three ingredients. The vanilla is tasty, not at all like your standard store-bought, alcohol-laden imitation, so the first sip is pleasant. As it settles, you realize exactly how basic the concoction has become. Getting through a full glass is not difficult, but no longer satisfying. This completely fails as a cream soda. It's lazy and should be labeled Vanilla Soda.

Suffice it to say, stick with root beer. Both are fairly suitable for the kiddos or anybody not paying attention to what they're drinking. I did end up taking home a growler of cream soda, but the kids didn't like it that much. That's unusual. It held up it's carbonation well over the two days of repeated emptying, but it was not worth the expenditure. At least I have a growler to go back with when I try the beers! Still, kudos to Bix Axe for putting something else out there to...

Burger $14.00 add fries $3.00 add beer +$7

Food is good. Vegetarian option-wonderful! Ask for vegi burger to be cooked all the way- or it will come out undercooked mush.

It is pay when you order service. They will bring the food to your table but that is the extent of any services they provide. We tipped our country girl over $13 and when she brought the meals to the table I asked for a glass of water and she told me I could get it myself at their self-serve area. LMAO

There is also a surcharge they are unable to explain when asked.

Be prepared their smallest tip is 18% gratuity to choose from unless you know how to navigate their checkout system to choose a different tip.

Also, be aware that you will be questioned after you make your original tip if you want to tip the cooks because the cashier does not share her tips with the cook. Why? I'm sure you will have to ask management if you can find them.

The short of it, the food is good! Service is left to be desired. WE enjoy service as a part of going out.

Fries are hot and fresh! Beer good!

Dogs welcome 🤗 🐕

Self serve mostly, they still ask for a tip...twice First for the service ( remember it self serve) And again for the cook....(I guess they need tips too!) Their prices suggest the staff gets paid plenty. If they don't it's not because they aren't charging customers enough.

Overall, worth the stop! Location is great and they aften have music! Step up your customer service and stop asking for tips and I think you got a good thing going! People will tip when they are impressed with what you got! Stop...

Let me start with the fact that normally I give small family businesses a great review, but not today. So disappointed, I have lived here most of my life waited on most of the people who work there at my own place of business. I WILL never eat there again. Service started out snotty from the manager inside. I understand that we were close to kitchen closing time, but we still had 10 minutes and we ordered simple items a cheeseburger and a pulled pork sandwich. Meals a 10 year old can make. Took close to 20 minutes and our food was thrown on the table. No silverware, no water, we found our own ketchup and napkins from another table. The food was awful, cold fries, underdone, grey lifeless burger I wouldn't feed a dog . When I brought the burger in to let them know it was inedible, they just shrugged their shoulders, took the burger from me and walked away. No concern for customers at all, as a local person who literally sees thousands of people go through my door I will actively discourage anyone going through there I have better service from the local Wendy's. Though I will give their beer and root beer top quality was hard to enjoy with how bad rest of meal was. Not worth the 60 dollars spent. Further update. Normally most businesses reach out after receiving a negative review. I have not heard anything from the owners of the business at all and have heard from many other locals that my experience is not unusual as many of them have had similar experiences. My advice support other local business as we have many and I am sure you can get a better...