New Glarus Spotted Cow

Brewed by New Glarus Brewing Company
Style: Cream Ale
New Glarus, Wisconsin USA

Slightly murky yellow color. Light lemon and wheat flavor, very light and unimposing. Like a like wheat beer, crisp and fresh. Not bad but could be better.

Hmmm... I found this enjoyable but nothing special. On tap at the local tavern. Cloudy blonde with minimal head. A bit spicy in the aroma, nothing special going on flavorwise, a bit too sweet for my liking. Cloying mouthfeel, but an aftertaste that actually makes corn in a beer seem alright. It’s a local favorite but this one only comes above the Naked as far as New Glarus brews go.

Draught. Hazy golden color with thin white head. Smells of hay and spicy hops. Yeasty flavor with a bit of hop flavor and bitterness. Aftertaste is reminiscent of breakfast cereal.

12z bottle. Hazy golden head. Straw and bananas, citrus, bubblegum and fruity. Smooth.

Hoppy and citrus aroma with a slight hint of corn. Smooth beer with a decent flavor. I agree with the other posts in that it’s very suitable for everyday drinking and it does taste the best on tap.

12 oz bottle

This is a revisit after almost a year of rating. Now that I have some perspective, it is easier to tell that I was being a little generous with my earlier rating (3.4). Despite being an above average cream ale, this is at best an average beer overall. It is a nice gateway beer to other New Glarus products and the world of craft beer as a whole so if you can, have some on hand for people who think beer equals Budweiser.

Aroma / Appearance - A huge billowing feathery head settled after a few minutes to leave behind no trace. The liquid was a murky bronze when held up to the light. I could see some carbonation but it was not very lively. The nose was very simple - wheat, a light grain aroma and butterscotch. That was all despite trying to pick up more.

Flavor / Palate - When you take the first sip, you will pick up everything there is. For a cream ale, that is predictable - in my experience none of them have had that much complexity. It has an initial impression of wheat, toasted malts, buttered scones and peanuts which soon transforms on the back of the tongue to just a trace of hops. After that, it all fades away leaving nothing in the throat. This is a short lived taste that does not linger for more than 30 seconds before it has moved on. Overall it turned out to be close to what I remembered - a decent but not outstanding session beer for those times when you just want something simple.

A staple up here in WI now! One of the finest craft brews i have enjoyed. Tastes great off tap especially, and have had some super cloudy ones that are extra tasty!

An easy drinking everyday beer. One of the things I make sure I "import" on my way back to Chicago every time! Smooth flavor that doesn’t linger with a cloudy appearance. A good thirst quencher.