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Beer Reviews

Spotted Cow

Other reviews for this beer:
Eddie Glick		read it ›

New Glarus Brewing Company
New Glarus, WI
USA
http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/

Style: Ale
ABV: 4.8%

Rings’s Rating:
   (Recommended)


Comments:
New Glarus is one of those breweries with a “mystique” about them, as they’ve limited their distribution to their home state of Wisconsin. A similar strategy has been pursued by Shorts Brewery here in Michigan. I first discovered them about a half-dozen years ago on a trip across the state to Minnesota, when my travel comrades and I scooped up a few six backs while stopping for a foamer on the road.

Spotted Cow is their farmhouse ale—or cream ale—and probable flagship brand, as they brew it year-round and seems to be their most available brew, and the one that people talk about when referring to the brewery.

The beer pours like a somewhat cloudy version of a macro pale lager. The head is thin and wavy, to compliment the dirty yellow color. There is a mild fruity nose followed by a thinner body and light, prickly hoppiness, that is just a touch more prevalent than a typical light lager. This is very drinkable and would make a lovely session beer. The aforementioned mild citrus notes are pleasing and balanced by an earthy body and lingering malt finish. I would suspect there is a touch of corn in the mash.

While this is definitely closer to a macro beer than many of the brews typically sought out by beer dorks, it’s easy to see why this is a good seller as it makes a perfect “training wheels” brew, akin to a Leinie’s Summer Wheat or even an Oberon, which I would have no problem keeping in the fridge on a regular basis.

Reviewed by Rings on January 9, 2013.

Drinkin’ And Thinkin’

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