New Glarus - Strawberry Rhubarb

"The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."

Even if it means I no longer get to dress like I'm 
from 1979.  Yes, that's my real hair and mustache.

Beer geeks!  Hello!  I've missed you all!  Between taking on some new responsibilities at work and being involved in some local community theater, I've barely had 30 minutes at home on any given day that wasn't spend shoveling food down my throat or preparing to enter/exit my bed.  Unfortunately, this is not nearly enough time to write the craft beer reviews that I like.  Fortunately, my obligation to the theater is ended and I now have my life back!  Actually, it was a great time, but I'm very glad to have some time again to write about and review amazing craft beer.

As good fortune would have it, my father MOTHER, who lives close to the Wisconsin state line, was gracious enough to pick up some of New Glarus' Strawberry Rhubarb for me.  You may consider me excited.  Rhubarb in the spring and early summer is a childhood treat that I recall quite fondly.  Whether it was in a rhubarb crisp, rhubarb pie a la mode, or just raw dipped in sugar from the bottom of a Dixie cup, rhubarb is a tart, sweet treat that absolutely sings summer.  Mixing it with strawberries, as if often done in pies, is also awesome, though since I can find strawberries much more easily than rhubarb, I tend to be a bit of a "rhubarb purist" and try to find it featured by itself.  I'm also excited because, duh, it's New Glarus and they make some of the best fruit beers that you will find.  Even when their normal fruit crops were low in supply thanks to an drought-inducing and uncooperative Mother Nature, NG produced their Serendipity and made splendid results with what they had available.  One of my favorite "fruits" AND one of my favorite brewers?  I'm ready to get this party started.  Let's pour!

I love how even the red ink and the green top emulate both
of the fruits that comprise this excellent beer.

Aroma 11/12

When this was first opened I could smell candy in the air.  Sweet, sugary goodness enveloped me.  I was wondering if it would smell any different when the nose was close, but it would end up not varying too greatly from what was first detected.  This beer smells very sugared.  Like the best Jelly Belly ever.  Do you want that in a beer?  Your call.  I'm a little wary of it right now.  I like fruit, but I'm not here to drink the equivilant of Kool-Aid that I used to make as a kid with an extra two cups of sugar.  I'm not too worried because this is new Glarus, but usually their aromas are the strongest part of their beer and while this is far from bad, all the sweetness makes me nervous.  The aromas of each fruit are detectable and with the rhubarb the sugar goodness ends up working pretty well.  It's easy to remember those sugar-carrying Dixie cups we had as kids.  There is an attempt at a balancing agent, though I won't go as far as to use the term "bittering agent."  The sensation is more akin to that of a black tea.  As this warms, it shows a hints of mustiness and reminds me of real, fresh strawberry juice from my juicing days.  I suppose that gives some additional credence to it being more "authentic," but it smells so unbelievably sweet!  However when it comes to New Glarus, it is easy to give them the benefit of the doubt regarding authenticity.

Appearance 2/3
This looks pretty much like cider straight from the apple orchard after you've stirred up all the sediment in it.  For the most part, it's simply brown and cloudy, but New Glarus is full of tricks.  Hold it up to the light and you'll quickly see a glinting ruby with all but trace amounts of the brown leaving the glass completely.  Didn't see that coming!  The head is moderate in size, cream in color, dissipates rather quickly, but stays as a creamy covering on the surface.

Flavor 20/20
When you have a beer that contains such sweet ingredients as this, it's expected that when it first hits the tip of your tongue, you'll be hit with a very forward sweet flavor.  Expectation met.  Though in a brief rearranging of the expected order, the tart of the rhubarb comes forward first followed by the sugary wash of strawberry juice.  I suppose I would've expected the sweet sensation first given the placement of those particular taste buds on the tip of the tongue.  The tart makes room for the nectar-like strawberries with getting out entirely out of the way.  This two combine in the way they do in a well-made pie before turning to New Glarus' staple fruit beer finisher.  By that, I don't mean how the beer finishes, it just seems that if you hold a New Glarus fruit beer in your mouth they will all (Belgium Red, Raspberry Tart, Serendipity) resort to this darker, slightly more bitter flavor.  I wish I could describe it better.  I suppose it's like biting a bit too close to the core of an apple.  Still lots of the apple flavor that you expect, but just a hint of something bitter as well.  Only the sensation in the Strawberry Rhubarb isn't bitter, it's just... I don't know.  I just don't know what to accurately compare it to.  Perhaps the faint "tea" note from the aroma?  Do they age this in oak the way they do their Wisconsin Belgian Red?  Is it just the same malt base?  Are they again using aged Hallertau hops?  What is it?!?  I have a feeling that only Dan or Deb Carey can scratch this itch of curiosity, but if any of you awesome craft beer people out there know, PLEASE comment below!  The actual finish is a lingering tartness (no surprise there), that much like the beer when in the mouth, gives way to the "mystery flavor" in the aftertaste while the mouth is left with an unexpected dryness considering how sweet and tart the beer is.

Mouthfeel 5/5
As always, when it comes to New Glarus fruit beers, the mouthfeel is more than you expect.  They never miss a chance to dive out of the way of "average."  This brew successfully avoids the over bubbly and thin qualities that a lot of lesser lambics tend to find.  The beer, while ample in carbonation, provides it with microscopic bubbles.  This keeps the beer feeling lively in the mouth, but without the prickle of over-carbonation (or the burps).  It also lets the beer feel more substantial by allowing the drinker to feel more of the actual liquid than the bubbles, contributing to a heavier and silkier mouthfeel.

Overall Impression 10/10
It's a New Glarus fruit beer, what did you expect, a sub-par effort?  Other than an aroma that I basically couldn't convince my brain wasn't some crazy, new, amazing, Skittle flavor and a somewhat murky appearance, this beer earns top marks all around.  Strong aroma, well-blended and captured flavors, and a great mouthfeel all make this yet another fruit beer to find from New Glarus.  If you haven't had a New Glarus fruit beer, there's no excuse.  Make a friend in Wisconsin, trade them something amazing from your area, and get it.  If you want to drink world class beers, you can't miss them.

Total 48/50
I try hard to reserve high scores for beers that really "wow" me.  But how can you be wowed when you expect greatness?  It's like the honor roll student that brings home another report card full of straight A's.  "Great job honey.  Throw it on the pile with the rest of 'em."  But you know what?  It's still an A.  It's still another testament to continued excellence.  Some might say that this beer doesn't differ much from the other New Glarus fruit beers; that they just did it with a different fruit.  I say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."  Dummies.  More for me.

Keep making the good stuff NG, and I'll keep puttin 'em away.  Cheers!

New Glarus - Serendipity

It's not often that I come across a New Glarus beer that I have not yet sampled.  However, when drought beleaguered the Wisconsin cherry crop, interrupting the brewing process for a world-class fruit beer, Diploma Master Brewer Dan Carey stepped in with his usual dose of inspiration and creativity.  Enter Serendipity.  Snatching up what cherries could be found, New Glarus blended them with some other grand Wisconsin flavors courtesy of a bumper cranberry crop and a harvest of apples that somehow pulled through the dry months.  The brew is then aged in oak barrels and left to ferment wildly, thus giving the brew's name its double entendre for both its fermentation as well as its makeshift ingredients.  Would we expect anything less clever from New Glarus?  I hope not.  Let's pour!

Aroma 12/12

This sprayed a bit when I was opening it, implying a feisty level of carbonation inside.  I then proceeded to smell the beer and my notes look something like "HOLYMOTHEROFCHERRY+APPLEAMAZINGIWANNARUBITONMYFACE!!!1!1!"  You know, more or less.  This smells like fresh-pressed cider from your local apple orchard blended superbly with cherry's tart bite and a hint of cranberry's patient bitter.  At this point I do not smell much of the sour ale within, but I'm getting plenty of the same dark cherry tannin smell that makes New Glarus' Wisconsin Belgian Red such a smash hit.  This is a beautiful bouquet with plenty of wow factor!

Appearance 3/3

I was surprised at the generous level of head for this style.  It was microscopic bubbles forming a soapy texture that lived longer than I thought it would.  Sitting on the table the beer is a crystal clear, gem-like magenta.  When held aloft, the top takes the color of real apple cider, while the bottom becomes a vibrant sports car red.  I'm just looking at this glass and am so impressed that I'm shaking my head, my brow furrowed.  Good grief.

Flavor 20/20

Wow!  This is an amazing sour/fruit ale!  It definitely borrows heavily from their Wisconsin Belgian Red, but that's not a bad thing, especially if this beer is to be a substitute until better cherry crops can be grown and harvested.   Apples, sweet cherries, and tart cranberries abound, but soon the tannins take a stronger foothold and impose a bit of their "browned apple" flavor.  It may have been a bad year for cherries, but apparently the folks at New Glarus found the best in the batch because there is no shortage of cherry flavor here.  Well, there might be, but they have supplemented it so well with the other fruits that one can hardly notice and if they did they certainly wouldn't have anything about which to gripe.  The finish is more of the tannins, plus a subtle cranberry bitter that becomes a bit more bold once the other flavors have found their way down the throat.  Two things surprised me about the finish: First was that the cranberry bitter was so light.  For me, this is a good thing since I generally don't care for cranberries.  Second was the saliva gland-pounding pucker that this beer put on me.  After swallowing, my spit factories were cursing a blue streak and ordering all hands on deck!  This lasted well after the swallow and my jaw was tingling like mad.  Very neat!

Mouthfeel 4/5

Very light in the mouth, undoubtedly aided by the teeny, tiny carbonation that we saw comprise the head.  A beer this sweet could very easily become syrupy, especially after warming, but Serendipity avoids this trap with the liberal use of cherry tannins which help provide a bitter backdrop against which they splash their tart, sweet fruits.  The back of the mouth is left slick, but the beer itself never comes close to that sensation.

Overall Impression 10/10

Another excellent, world-class effort from the Careys.  They have gracefully traversed what will hopefully be a short gap between bountiful Wisconsin cherry harvests.  The aroma is second to none, the appearance is very appetizing, and the flavor is not to be considered a consolation at all.  In fact, I feel that it's so similar to their Wisconsin Belgian Red, that were I not told, I might not be able to tell the difference.  Of course, it's been a very long time since I've sampled that particular brew, but I feel that Serendipity doesn't fall very far from the tree (the cherry tree?).  If I am permitted one other nit pick it is that the beer makes the back of the mouth quite slick and sticky.

Total 49/50

I feel bad for noting those minor grievances with a beer that is so damn tasty, but that's why there is only one point deducted.  Sure there are things to improve on, but they are so minuscule that they hardly affect what is otherwise a completely pleasurable drinking experience.  For me this is a near dead-ringer for Wisconsin Belgian Red (thus its fourth reference in this review), but if I had them side-by-side I'm sure I would be able to discern their differences.  In case you couldn't tell, if you like other New Glarus fruit beers, you're bound to like this one as well.  Chalk this up in the category that can also be used to sway non-craft beer drinkers over to our team.  I suppose I was hoping I'd get something new and different from New Glarus, but I'm almost as happy that I did not.

New Glarus - Coffee Stout

Well, gang it was the first blustery, cold day of the season and that put me in the mood for a stout.  Also, today the Chicago Bears play the Green Bay Packers and I'm going to need a good, sturdy beer to fuel me through that 60 minutes of intense rivalry.  Not that I'm a fan of either team (go 49ers!), but I always enjoy watching a hard fought game.  Football aside, I have no idea how long this beer has been in my fridge.  I assume somewhere around the 18 month mark.  It's not one that New Glarus currently brews and they currently have it listed in their "Beers We Have Known and Loved" section on their webpage.  I don't know if they'll brew it again, but I sure hope so because it's a solid go-to offering when it's available.  Let's pour!

Aroma 11/12

This is an absolute truck load of delicious malts.  Chocolate comes first, is followed by some smoke, and a lovely dark roast.  The coffee is very muted until the beers warms to an appropriate level and then... Look. Out.  The aroma almost doubles in intensity and richness as a rich, dark coffee jumps out of the glass and all but covers the chocolate.  

Appearance 3/3

A gravity-defying tan head floats atop an all but completely black beer.  True to its name, only some coffee-toned browns are visible at the top most edge when the beer is held to light.  The head offers excellent size and retention.

Flavor 17/20

A surprising sweetness starts this beer.  It's a much brighter sweetness from the malts than one would expect in a coffee stout and feels like a combination of chocolate and black malts, but also gives a hint of lactose as in a milk stout.  The beer then flashes the palate some rich coffee goodness before fading gradually back to a smoother blend between the coffee and the darkly roasted chocolate/mocha malts.  A nice light char has been overseeing this whole process and making its presence known throughout - another nice layer of flavor complexity.  The finish again provides that lighter, brighter malt sweetness and mixes it with the coffee, which seems to rob the brew of some of its richness.  There's plenty of coffee flavor, it just doesn't seem as bold and dark as it could be.

Mouthfeel 3/5

This category is clearly the weakest part of the beer.  One generally expects a thicker, chewier experience in their stouts.  The label claims this beer to be "full-bodied," but it's medium-bodied at best.  If it is truly a full-bodied, then it is done a gross disservice by both its boisterous carbonation and the coffee.  As in the aroma, the coffee pushes the malts around in every aspect of this beer and mouthfeel is no exception.  The big chocolate malts are made to feel thinner by the coffee, just as a glass of chocolate milk would suffer a lighter body if you poured an iced coffee into it.

Overall Impression 8/10

The lightening of key elements by the coffee is truly the beers Achilles' Heel.  When the beer is cold the malts are quite impressive and shine on their own, AND there is a point in the temperature transition that is ideal where both of these elements embrace each other and absolutely sing in harmony.  However, past that point, the coffee sandbags what could be a remarkable beer.  Not that it's short on flavor by any means!  It has loads of flavor, unfortunately it's all too easy to see what this beer could be.

Total 42/50

For a beer sold in a six-pack, it's definitely one to purchase.  Heck, the aroma alone is almost worth the price of admission.  As indicated in the previous paragraph, my main problem resides where the coffee meets the malt.  A coffee stout needs to have that big body to carry the big flavors.  That in mind, a coffee stout should always be malt-based with coffee added and not appear to be coffee-based with malts added.  That in mind, this is a super tasty stout that I have enjoyed, and will continue to enjoy, if and when it becomes available, on a number of occasions.  The lighter mouthfeel and carbonation keep it ridiculously drinkable for a stout with this much flavor, but the char and coffee give it enough bitter so that it falls far short of being a lackluster brew.  I don't know when New Glarus is planning on brewing this again, but it would be a welcome addition to any fridge for the fall season.

New Glarus - Hop Hearty

New Glarus seems to be locally known more for their general line-up of beer, but the national acclaim tends to come from their fruit beers and rightly so.  Their fruit beers (Raspberry Tart & Wisconsin Belgian Red) are two of the most authentic fruit beers you will find.  Their authenticity does not allow them to become "candied" or an excessive sugary sweet.  In any case, when New Glarus temporarily shifted gears to put out a seasonal that emphasized hops instead of fruits (Apple Ale, Cherry Stout, Cran-bic, etc), I definitely took notice.  Today's review is for said hoppy beer, New Glarus' Hop Hearty IPA.  I have possessed it for a while, but I don't believe long enough for the hops notes to wither away entirely, even if it is certainly not as it was when fresh.  Let's pour!

Aroma 11/12

This begins with some stronger straw notes with a little bit of must behind it.  As the beer warms, the hops emerge more and more in an acidic citrus that is both cleansing and fresh, an odd (but not unwelcome) departure already from the previous aroma.  Things continue to impress as an authentic "freshly ground grain" aroma grows strong and joins with the hops.  When I say grain, I mean "exactly like those little dishes they pass around on brewery tours so that everyone can smell the grains."  It's obviously not as intense, but the scent is as unmistakable as it is delicious.  The clean hops and the fresh grain both give this beer an amazingly balanced and natural smell.

Appearance 3/3

A nice, light tan head arises to an acceptable level, retains well, and slowly settles to cover the surface.  The beer itself is quiet striking.  It pours a bright copper with pumpkin shades within, but with a red tinge to the whole works.  Very neat.  For an IPA, however, the lacing is disappointing.

Flavor 18/20

Things begin with a distant hop bitter, but quickly move into a brighter hop citrus melding with a caramel's sweetness.  The hops make the caramel appear more sugary than it perhaps truly is, but the combination is truly balanced, even if it's not at all what one normally expects in an IPA.  This is not remarkably complex, but it is ridiculously well done.  The finish brings a bit more of the authentic grain into play and also leaves a light bitter that coats the mouth.  The aftertaste is almost entirely clean and with only a hint of the grain left in the mouth, you'd swear the light bitter was from it and not hops.  For an IPA, there is very little hop presence here, but they really make it work.

Mouthfeel 5/5

Nothing wrong here.  In fact, this brew's body and carbonation only further contribute to this beer's incredibly refreshing nature.  Its body is not so thick like other IPAs, nor its carbonation far and few between to help add to that illusion.  On the contrary, its body (medium/medium-full) seems lighter than the flavors would have you believe and the carbonation is anything but sparse, yet diminuative so as not to disrupt the beer as a whole.  Combine those two characteristics with the fresh citrus and natural grain and you've got yourself a most refreshing, natural feeling beer.

Overall Impression 10/10

This is a departure from a lot of IPAs on the market and, oddly, a seeming return to the roots of the style.  It truly seems like a beefed up pale ale!  There is a light, refreshing, nature to it from the citrus, carbonation, and strong grainy malts, but the hop presence is more than is required of a pale ale.  If you're a regular reader, you know my descriptions can be pretty lengthy.  Not for this beer.  Each paragraph is short and succinct thanks to this beer's simple, well-brewed nature.  What a great, refreshing beer!

Total 46/50

Fresh, non-syrupy, and with great balance this IPA is one that is not going to feel like a chore to drink on a hot, summer day.  The hops aren't even heavy-handed.  They're presented wondrously in a balanced beer that is sure to please those looking for more than to be beaten over the head with a sack of hops (though that does sound like the best punishment ever).  If this is still around (Note: I haven't been to Wisconsin in a while), go buy it.  It's a great IPA that doesn't skimp on flavor to deliver a balanced, tasty, refreshing, true to style, bottle of goodness.  While it's not quite the aroma powerhouse that some other New Glarus beers are, this just became one of my favorites from them regardless.  I'll be looking for this again!  Cheers!

New Glarus - Laughing Fox

End of the line!  Last stop on my New Glarus journey!  Well, at least for a little while until I start breaking out all the Thanksgiving-esque beers (*ahemCran-bic*cough*).  I think the bottle does a fantastic job at explaining this beer's namesake, and so I'll reprint it here.

"In playful pursuit of butterflies a Red Fox danced across the brewery hill.  His joy so pure it bubbled through our hearts and into this beer.  Laughing Fox is a sparkling Kristal Weizen brewed in the Bavarian tradition with 50% Wisconsin wheat in our open top fermenters.  Tickle your nose (sic) notes of spicy close and cinnamon abound.  Dan's inspired Weizen interpretation reflects the deep bittersweet color of our Fox's red coat."


Frankly, that sort of imagery and simple appreciation of wildlife is why I moved back to the midwest.  It's the kind of scene that makes you take a deep breath and smile.  The description is almost straight out of "Dances with Wolves," but it's better because there's a distinct lack of Kevin Costner and noticeably more references to beer.  Agreed?  Good.  Let's pour!

Botte art image user without permission for educational purposes only.

Aroma 12/12
Aroma is always one of Dan Carey's strong suits and this beer is no exception by a long shot!  Straight into the tulip glass, this beer is an absolute powerhouse of banana-y Belgian yeast and cloves.  It is so strong at times that it almost smells candied.  The cinnamon is definitely riding in the back seat on this one, but does round things out a bit more as the beer warms.

Appearance 3/3
True to its "Kristal Weizen" form, this beer has as high a clarity as is possible in a beer this color.  It is a bright copper color, with tones of dark honey and amber.  The head is lasting, tall, and proud with soapy sides and a whipped, fluffy top.  Top marks!

Again, sorry for the pink hue.  Even after setting the white balance,
my phone insists on tinting everything.

Flavor 19/20
Initial sips are also true to the Kristal origins with a light malt that almost tastes like cream.  Roasted malt is present, but not the showcased flavor.  That honor belongs to a bright, slightly tart/sour citrus flavor that floats high above the earthier malts, balanced spices, and a subtle vanilla sweetness.  The finish leaves little of the citrus backbone and focuses more on a woody, earthy note.  It is fairly drying and has a light bitter.  This beer tastes almost nothing like it smells.  In this case, it is a good thing because as it stands it is very style appropriate and the the bolder, sweet flavors of the aroma would have no place in the style.  They certainly have their place (a very delicious place), but it is not here.  Lots of restraint used and it is not misplaced.

Mouthfeel 3/5
This beer feels a little heavier than it should, but it can be largely attributed to the large quantities of Kristal (and Pils?) malts present.  Carbonation is crisp, but not prickly.  It fills the mouth nicely (thank you wheat), but eventually finishes with a wetter more "fizzy" feel.  The carbonation is lasting to the end.

Overall Impression 8/10
This is a superbly crafted beer.  The smell is outrageous, the look is desirable, and the flavor is spot-on stylistically.  Even though this beer is exactly what it is supposed to be, I do confess a small bit of disappointment that the flavor didn't borrow more from the aroma.  I know!  I know!  It's not supposed to!  But with a smell like that, and a flavor that's appropriately sour/tart it can be a bit of a let down.  Frankly, that's not much of a criticism at all.  Did I mention that this beer smells good?  It does.


Total 46/50
It can be hard to get excited about a beer that does not wallop us with some new or bold exciting flavor.  Is that the beer's fault?  No.  Does that make this a bad beer?  I believe the score states otherwise.  Is this beer solid?  Absolutely.  Does this beer show craft beer drinkers a variety on a popular style?  A style that they might not have seen outside a bottle of Weihenstephaner or Tucher?  You better believe it.  It's also a quality version of the style that remains remarkably drinkable.  Some people might be disappointed that they're not getting their "witbier" experience after experiencing the aroma, but this beer needs no apologies for not pretending to be something it's not.

I'm pretty sure this makes my Indian name "Drinks with Foxes."
Wait, the wife might not like that one...

New Glarus - Staghorn

Normally, I'd ask if you're sick of New Glarus beers yet, but since I know such a thing is as probable as the Colts winning the Super Bowl this year I'm continuing my ironman streak of reviewing New Glarus beers until my beer fridge has made room for more newcomers.  It's a dirty job, but somebody has got to do it.  Today's review is for their Octoberfest called "Staghorn."  Let's pour!

Sorry for the pink-ish tint.  8MP Cell phone camera is the best I have at the moment.

Aroma 10/12
The first hints to the nose were almost-musty straw aromas.  They were followed by a clean lager smell and a developing hint of sweet malt with a biscuit toasting.  There is also a light citrus aroma that when combined with the straw-like malts, smells very much like earthy, ground coriander.


Appearance 3/3
The label of this beers asks the drinker to "Be sure to hold this one up to the light of any harvest moon and enjoy 'Wisconsin's Real Red.'"  While I certainly consider the malt base to be adequate for a red, I think that definition would sell this beer short.  This beer is a desireable burnt gold color, the way autumn leaves sometime hang in their transition from yellow to brown.  Lots of ascending carbonation is a nice touch and the head sticks around so long that if it were company, you'd have to start brushing your teeth to get it to leave.  The abundance of lacing is only the icing on the cake.

Picture doesn't do this beer justice.

Flavor 18/20
Stylistically accurate and well made.  The beer starts clean and creamy and its backbone stealthily, gradually takes over the palate.  It is malt sweetness and the bit of toastiness from the aroma.  There is no hop bitter to speak of, though the malt sweetness is not allowed to completely take over so apparently the hops are playing their part from just offstage.  While their bitterness is not felt, a bit of their citrus tartness is.  This is not entirely customary in Oktoberfest beers, but the crispness is welcome and is wonderful metaphor for the crispness in the fall air.  The finish is somewhat drying and slightly bitter, more good indicators of hop presence, with less sweet malts than in the aroma or backbone.  The aftertaste is a lingering, light, lonely bitter note.

Mouthfeel 5/5
The non-prickly, smooth, and ample carbonation in this really helps keep the beer lighter and refreshing.  It is slightly heavier than medium-bodied and never comes close to being cloying with its malts.

Overall Impression 8/10
This is certainly a well-made, excellent Oktoberfest and it adheres well to the traditional guidelines.  It is difficult for many to fully appreciate lagers with all their subtleties and discreet flavors.  However, this beer with its technical prowess and unique Oktoberfest sweetness can be appreciated by experienced and developing palates alike.

Total 44/50
I love Oktoberfests.  I really do.  I look forward to them and pumpkin beers more than almost any other types of seasonal beer.  Drinking an Oktoberfest or Marzen is like a welcoming to the upcoming season.  However, I am seldom blown away by an Oktoberfest.  Are they tasty?  Hell yes.  Are they well-crafted?  They can be.  Do they have a great beer heritage?  Absolutely.  Is it going to knock of the socks off of a lot of craft beer drinkers?  No.  However, in the case of Staghorn that is not the beer's fault.  This is a lager and in a world of "triple this" and "barrel aged that" if can become difficult to appreciate a simple, balanced, beer that doesn't have its volume turned up to 11 (for those that don't get the "11" reference, please see the video at the end of this post).  This beer is tasty, sessionable, refreshing, and suited in more than one way for the fall season.  What?  Did you expect anything less from New Glarus?

"But our beer goes to 11..."

New Glarus - Raspberry Tart

I'm glad my New Glarus kick continues because this brew has been sitting in my fridge for waaay too long. Now, New Glarus is recognized for having some world-class fruit beers. The first I had was their Wisconsin Belgian Red, but this review will be dedicated to their Raspberry Tart. Full disclosure: with all the New Glarus beers I’ve tried this one has eluded me until this day. My wife has even had this one, but not me! That all changes now. Let’s pour!

Aroma 12/12

The distinct, slightly sour fruit of raspberries is abundant and is presented in a way that says “refined.”  A champagne-like dryness sits just behind all the fruit, giving the aroma of some high-end sparkling ciders but with raspberry tones instead of grape or apple.  Thus making it a bit more acidic and, as the name would imply, tart.  The thick fruit aroma will not be ignored and at times gives wafts of a fermented  “boozy” character.  It is almost like smelling a jar of homemade raspberry preserves and if you’ve not been fortunate enough to have a grandmother into jarring fruit, go to the grocery store and crack open a jar of those most expensive-looking raspberry preserves you can find, stir it vigorously with your first two fingers, and take a deep whiff.  They won’t mind.

Appearance 2/3

The appearance leaves nothing to be desired with the exception of the head, which aggressively fizzles and dies like champagne.  The color is phenomenal!  Ruby reds, sparkling magentas, vivid vermillions, and edges that brown ever so slightly like real cherry juice.  This all seems remarkably appropriate given the trees during this time of year, but shouldn't have any trouble being appreciated year round.

Nothing says "Drink me!" like a wax dipped, 750 mL bottle.

Flavor 20/20

Wow!  This is not your alco-pop variety lambic!  “Wow” even seems inadequate.  Perhaps the only thing with more authentic raspberry flavor would be a glass of recently-muddled raspberries.   Initial flavors are mellow, sweet, full, and round.  I swear it’s nearly buttery.  The backbone is an amazing progression of fruit flavors, from fermented raspberry sweet, to tongue tantalizingly tart, to a bitter flavor.  I strongly recommend just holding it in your mouth to experience this.  I think I found a “raspberry black hole.”  The flavor of raspberries that is so dense and folded on itself so many times that it gets darker and darker.  Eventually, the flavor is so dark that at points it appears as a light bitter note.  OK, no more psuedoscience jokes.  The bitter is not as aggressive (and, in my opinion unpleasant) as a cranberry is, but it is certainly another layer of taste in this world-class fruit beer.  The finish is a bit earthy, as if when eating a cherry, you happened upon a bit of the stem.  It continues the bitter and earthy notes and combines them with a sense of carbonation all over your tongue.  A nice effect considering the carbonation in this beer is actually much lower than what one would expect.

Mouthfeel 5/5

This beer takes huge steps away from lambics that err by being too light-bodied and overly carbonated.  Raspberry tart is the most full-bodied fruit beer that I have ever had.  It sits heavy and the mouth and is never offensive with its carbonation.  The bubbles are so tiny that despite their few numbers (a bit of an oddity in a fruit beer), in the finish they still leave the tongue feeling like it has been bathed in effervescence.  It leaves the mouth a bit slick from the sweetness, but it is a small trade for a beer this wonderful.

Overall Impression 10/10

An excellent, world-class fruit beer, hands down.  This only goes to show that fruit beers can be so much more than candied, overly-carbonated, fruit juices!  The color is simply ridiculous, the aroma intoxicating, the flavor complex and authentic, and the mouthfeel substantial without inducing lethargy.  It is amazing in every category and an example for fruit beer makers everywhere.

Total 49/50

There are simply not enough superlatives for this beer.  To avoid glowing about every single facet of this beer, I’m going to simply reiterate my favorite characteristic.  THE FLAVOR!  How this beer transitions from a sweet raspberry straight from the vine, to a tart biting thing, to a bitterer, aged, rounded flavor is absolutely beyond me.  One of those excellent flavors would be great.  All three separates the men from the boys.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to finish the rest of this bottle before my wife knows I have it open.

New Glarus - Chocolate Abbey

Not to be made into a liar, my journey through Wisconsin continues with an extended stay in New Glarus.  This review for their Chocolate Abbey may have been inspired as much by my wife as myself.  I am always excited to get my hands on a few flavor of New Glarus, but when my wife saw the word "chocolate" on the label I knew that this review would be written sooner than later.  Besides, let's be honest, how amazing does a Chocolate Abbey beer sound?  I know.  I thought so too.  Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Label art used without permission for educational purposes.

Aroma 12/12
There is not a lot here to balance out all the sweetness, but with an aroma this good you might not want it.  It starts out with an amazing cocoa powder and banana blend, almost like a bananas Foster without the alcohol.  Amazing!  As the beer settles, a bubble gun aroma overtakes the nose and does not let go until a cream and chocolate pair dance into the scene and steal your attention.  As the beer warms a cherry aroma develops and its origins are a mystery.

Appearance 3/3
What initially appears as a matte brown ale, actually turns out to be a wonderful dark copper when it catches the light.  Ruby highlights abound and are capped by a pale tan head.  The head's retention is excellent but slides down the glass easily and leaves no lacing.

Picture is my own.

Flavor 18/20
This is a much more subtle beer than the aroma would imply.  First in the mouth is a brief cherry like tartness before mellowing into a backbone more true to the Dubbel style.  It is uncertain how cherries came out in the flavor (and aroma) as no cherries are mentioned anywhere on the bottle, but their presence is unmistakable.  The backbone is a muffled, dark cocoa, a balancing amount of earthiness, those mysterious dark cherries, a hop bitter on the back on the tongue, a taste of alcohol (but not the true "warmth"), and Belgian yeasts struggling to be heard in the background.  The finish returns us a bit more to the aroma with a moderately dark chocolate, a slightly sour bite perhaps from our hop friends, and a bitter that combines with the chocolate note to make a lovely coffee bitter several seconds after the beer has left your mouth.  Just let that flavor develop and pay attention to it!  It's very tasty.  You may also catch the revival of the Belgian "bubble gum" aroma on the occasional exhale.  Not much to speak of in the finish, just more of the cocoa and a light hop bitter which leaves the mouth neither dry nor watering.  A slurp reveals the warmth that has remained all but hidden.

Mouthfeel 4/5
The carbonation in this beer is perfect right down to the very end.  It is never out of character and its smooth nature only enhances the drinking experience.  Full bodied and thick, it is never syrupy, but fairly filling for just on 12 oz bottle.  It does remain a bit slick in the mouth.

Overall Impression 9/10
So much of this beer is excellent without being over the top - most notably the chocolate.  It provides an amazing aroma, but truly allows other ingredients to shine throughout the rest of the beer.  In fact, the chocolate was quite modest; it could have stood to stand out a little more.  However, this mature use of ingredients that are often heavily leaned upon by lesser beers is another fine example of the brewers' skills at New Glarus.   Excellently crafted while reigning in some traditional large flavors, this beer is an exercise in discipline.

Total 46/50

This score just goes to show that not just big beers can earn high marks.  Sure, this beer could be bigger!  They could blast us with chocolate and mocha flavors while making the Belgian aroma strong enough to think our noses are septum-deep in a freshly picked bunch of bananas.  The alcohol could be more apparent and strong in presence.  But you know what?  Not all music is a rock concert.  Not everything needs to be played at ear drum shattering levels.  Sometimes some Frank Sinatra is required.  This is a beer that has tamed all of these ingredients and whose nuance has apparently even added mysterious "overtones" in the form of cherries.  I still have no idea how those got there other than a possible combination of sweet yeast flavors, a slight hop sour, and dark chocolate notes.  I swear there are chocolate-covered cherries in this.  This is a technically superior beer that happens to be pretty darn tasty too.  I'd probably choose some of their other Thumbprint series over this one (Hello, Imperial Weizen!), but this is definitely worth trying.

New Glarus - Cabin Fever

Here is another of the many promised New Glarus reviews!  This particular one is dedicated to their wins at the GABF, particularly the Black Top, which was reviewed at Sud Savant just last week.  This review is for one of their beers that is not new to their lineup, the Cabin Fever Honey Bock.  Granted, it's the beginning of fall and no one has Cabin Fever quite yet (depending on how dank your cubicle is), but with all the fall produce available (homemade honey included) and the trees starting to turn color, the color of a bock appealed to me and so did the honey aspect.  Not just darker beers get enjoyed this time of year, you know!  Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Label art used without permission for educational purposes.

 Aroma 10/12
First to the nose are strong straw/grain notes with a little musty hint trailing them.  The honey and crisp (not sharp) citrus follow behind them, but soon take over as the primary scent.  The sour of the citrus and the malts combine at time to make an almost peat-like aroma, but it is far and few between.  The pale malts involved were roasted little if at all.


Appearance 2/3
It's like looking into a piece of yellow topaz.  Not a great variety of shades, but a brilliant singular color with a tornado-like column of carbonation ascending the center of my tulip glass.  The head is ivory, ample, and full of medium-sized soapy bubbles.  These die down to leave a cream-like layer covering the top.

Picture is my own.

Flavor 17/20
The beginning is very neat.  The sweetness of pale malts and the tone of the honey combine to make the illusion of an apple flavor.  The malts are first, then comes the citrus and honey and for a moment an apple has suddenly snuck its way into the bottle!  After this neat blend, it flows seamlessly into the backbone of the beer which starts out with the tang of citrus and sweetness of honey, but eventually the pale sweet malts steal the show and do not let go.  The finish is a distinct farewell from the cream-like malts, almost bordering on vanilla flavors, with the faintest of hop bitter for balance.  There are times that when the combination of flavors in this beer are almost floral without being perfume-like or too faint and dainty.

Mouthfeel 5/5
The nuanced, light flavors are matched well with a well-carbonated beer that has more body than one would expect in a beer this light thanks to the abundance of pale malts.  The dying of the carbonation in the mouthfeel, despite the ever-ascending column in the center of my glass, adds a creamy mouthfeel to the already creamy-flavor.

Overall Impression 8/10
Clearly a Helles bock, and not the traditional variety, this beer is bright and vibrant at every turn.  The color shines, the flavor braids the three primary flavors (citrus, honey, malt) into a spring-like medley, and the carbonation is just right.

Total 42/50
If one were suffering from Cabin Fever this beer would do one of two things:
1.  Bring a little bit of sunshine into your life, thus "curing what ails ya."
2.  Make the lack of sunshine in your "cabin" glaringly obvious and further exacerbate the suffering.

Thankfully, it is only the early fall and I did not have to undergo such experimentation.  What I do know is that the honey sings in this beer without feeling like you took a spoonful of it in your glass.  I also know that if I were suffering from cabin fever, I could easily put down 6-7 of these and give myself something to do while trapped indoors.  As it stands, this bright sunny beer was perfect for this beautiful fall day.  I went on a "scenic drive" today and with all the yellowing leaves, bright skies, ripe fall fruits, and fresh honey at local farmers' stands I cannot imagine a more perfect pairing for the day than this bright, vibrant, delicate offering from New Glarus.  I think I'd gladly suffer from this Cabin Fever anytime.  Cheers!

Picture is my own.

New Glarus - Blacktop

Confession time.  I have a lot of New Glarus beer in my beer fridge.  In fact, a lot of them are just a single bottle that I have been holding off drinking just so I can review it.  Some of them are varieties that I have had before and could drink without worrying, "Have I review this yet?"  Today, I begin to remedy this delightful problem by reviewing New Glarus beers ad nauseum until I can finally figure out what I can drink out of my beer fridge with a clear conscience.

The bad news:  Not much brewer variety in the coming reviews.
The good news:  I have some awesome varieties that I have been dying to try!

So buckle up, dear reader.  We're about to take a journey through the state of Wisconsin!  Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art is used without permission for educational purposed only.

Aroma 10/12
Fresh, piney hops are very forward in the nose and even seem a bit herbal at times.  The dark roast is wonderful and speaks of molasses.  A muted citrus is present in the background, and is distant and sharp when it is allowed to faintly speak.


Appearance 3/3
A very nice dark mahogany color with scarlet trimmings.  The tan head is comprised of small, soapy bubbles that crackle as they descent the glass and leave a sticky lace anywhere they touch.  While far from the "jet black" that is claimed on the bottle, it still has nothing of which to be ashamed.  Even while not being dark enough to be called truly black, it is quite handsome in its failing.

Picture is my own.

Flavor 17/20
If this beer were a musical dynamic, it would sforzando crescendo.  It starts off with quite a shock of coffee-ish malt (despite no hint of it in the aroma) and resin.  This is some wonderfully roasted, dark chocolate malt.  It calms down unusually quickly in the backbone and features a musty hop, resin, a brief pine cameo, the faintest of burnt sugars, and a background barely-bright citrus note.  A quick slurp brings the hops to the forefront with bold pine and resin flavors on top of a nearly blackened roast malt.  Unfortunately, this is where our crescendo ends, but the finish of the beer is far from disappointing.  This beer's finish is not the tongue puncher that seems to be the norm for BIPAs and instead shows dark toffee, resin, pine, citrus, and a dull, muted citrus waaay in the background.  The aftertaste is cleaner than most BIPAs, but leaves the after taste of a robust, hopped brown ale on the tongue while leaving the mouth fairly dry.  As the beer warms the dark chocolate really steps forward in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel 5/5
This beer fills the mouth pleasantly and has some unusual characteristics to boot.  For a beer of this style, let alone for a beer this dark, the carbonation is pretty high.  It pricks the tongue a bit even past the half-way mark.  This beer is also ridiculously sticky.  They don't call it Black Top without cause!  It is evident everywhere from the lacing to the sensation in the mouth.  Perhaps they kept a high carbonation to counter the sticky and keep the beer from becoming to syrupy (some might say viscous!).  It did allow the beer to be fairly large, but without becoming burdensome to drink.

Overall Impression 9/10
While not the biggest, baddest, BIPA on the block this is definitely one you can pick up six of to drink on your own, even if it isn't all six in one sitting.  The flavor mimics the aroma almost to a 'T', and is more interested in complexity and range of flavor than a large wallop to your tastebuds.  The mouthfeel also breaks with the BIPA mold and happily forges its own, less heavy way.

Total 44/50
Is another superb offering from New Glarus really a surprise?  This score places it at the top of the "Excellent" category and it has earned every bit.  It has great flavor without weighing down the beer, a unique mouthfeel, and traditional BIPA flavors while adding complexity.  It's not the huge beer that some BIPA fans will be looking for, but that is far from saying it is even a moderate offering.  On a note not related to characteristics of the beer, it is nice to see a BIPA that is not in a bomber bottle.  This is a BIPA that I can enjoy all week long, not only because it doesn't insist on being a gargantuan beer, but because there are six of them!  The bitter notes and strong hop presence  show why this style won't be going anywhere soon.  Kudos again to Dan & Deb on a great beer that I will be buying again.