New Glarus Native Ale

Formerly brewed at New Glarus Brewing Company
Style: Amber Ale
New Glarus, Wisconsin USA

clear red brown, off white head. aroma of earth, apple, dark bread and earthy hop. flavour has juicy malt and caramel with a hitn of strawberry and apple. dry toasty finish. nice

Brown color that appeared a little hazy and a weak head and lacing. Mild toasty malt aroma. Light bodied, mouthfeel seemed thin with some caramel and chocolate in the flavor and a faint sourness in the finish. Possible freshness problems but no bottling date that I could see.

Poured a deep brown with a creamy off-white head that receded rather quickly. Picked up caramel, and other sweet roasted malts. Light mouthfeel, and the flavor consisted of some sweet malts and a little woodiness. Medium smooth finish. I am partial to bigger and heavier brews, but this went down remarkably smoothly, and would make a solid session beer.

Bottled, rated "live." Big ol’ dark beer, buckwheat and molasses smell when I open and pour. Dark brown in color, with just a little lacing. Just a touch of smokiness against some unmalted graininess. No bubbles in the glass, but nice and fizzy. Guess it is closest to an alt, though it’s more how we’d imagine a frontier beer might be, made with whatever’s at hand.

This is one of the better beers I’ve had from New Glarus. Malt certainly dominates, as it should in a robust brown beer (I think it’s a lager) such as this one, but it isn’t overpowering. Very smooth. Easy on the eyes, and to drink, this is a nice session beer with oomph to spare. Right on!

I’m not sure how to classify this beer, but it was a good smooth drinking lager. Not my favorite by this brewery, but still a pretty good beer. Malt seems to be the focus, but I wouldn’t call it a bock.

Aroma hits sweet and funky, the prelude to an odd taste. Taste is similar to the New Glarus Uff-da Bock, with flavors of stewed apples, red meat, salt, and soft caramel, but unlike the bock, the Native Ale is lighter and more drinkable. The aftertaste is kind of like wet dog. I can’t decide if I kind of like this, or kind of hate it.

No aroma or flavor at fridge temp. After warming to room temperature there is a big malt aroma, sweet, almost like it is going to be a bock. Flavor is simple, nutty with sweet malt. Lightly hopped, somewhat chakly. Goes down easily enough. Reminds me of their brown ale, but with a bit more body.