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.

Mikkeller - Ris a la M'ale

Let me begin by stating that I know absolutely nothing about this beer other than the following:

          1.  It is brewed with almonds and cherries.

          2.  It required me to undress it before consuming.

This beer came with an unusual paper wrapping that covered the beer.  

Fully clothed.

The wrapping laid out.

Sure it kind of looks fancy (as does the cork & cage) and I like opening presents as much as the next guy, but I appreciate it more knowing that it inevitably helped keep sunlight from reaching the beer.  Much like the wrapping, the bottle size is also unusual, ringing in at 12.7 oz.  Go figure.  Mikkeller has never had a reputation for doing this according to convention, after all.  This is something I really like about them, so it only adds to my excitement to try this beer.  Let's pour!

Aroma 10/12

It begins rather vinously, but soon lets in floral notes which are quickly usurped by a sharper citrus aroma.  The sour cherries come behind that citrus, but blend very well with it.  A warmth becomes apparent from time to time but is well hidden.

Appearance 3/3

Generally fruit beers have little head, but this proved to be the exception in its size but not its duration.  It provided about a finger of fizzy head that didn't linger long, yet still managed to leave some lacing - definitely not something I expected in a fruit beer.  It pours the color of a blush wine, but once in the glass it becomes a cloudy sunset red at the bottom with some cider-like brown hues toward the top.  Very interesting color palette.

Flavor 15/20

What a unique brew.  This is not overly sweet or tart like most cherry beers, but instead appears to be using the almonds as a balancing agent instead of combining them both into some sort of "amaretto beer."  It begins with a very light, barely tart, cherry flavor and when held in the mouth the sweetness dulls a bit more.  Holding in the mouth also brings that citrus sharpness on the sides of the tongue and a slight bitter not unlike the rind of a fruit.  As the beer warms the cherry's and almond's sweetness come forward nicely, but make sure not to create an overly sweet beer.  Balance was definitely considered when making this beer and it was not in vain.  This is especially evident in the finish.  Immediately after swallowing a sweet gulp of cherry/almond/tart goodness, the finish provides a perfect amount of light bitter to balance the sweetness as well as aid to a cleaner finish.  This is not a beer that will leave your mouth slimy with sugars!  In fact, even though it's a cherry beer the bitter wins out in the finish and carries on into the aftertaste.  Not a particularly strong beer, but if the fruit flavors were more intense, I don't see how it could maintain this balance.

Mouthfeel 4/5

It started out very much like one would expect a fruit beer to start: high levels of champagne-like carbonation that prick the tongue.  Even though this is only a 12.7 fl oz bottle, those levels died down pretty quickly and the bottom half of the bottle was much easier to drink.  The body isn't heavy, but it's larger than one expects a fruit beer to be, and the 8.0% ABV must have been contributed by ninjas because it is completely invisible.

Overall Impression 5/10

I think that the more I drank of this beer the less I was impressed.  Yes, there was a good, less than authentic, cherry sweetness and it wasn't overdone.  It also managed to provide a great balance and a nice finish for we would all assume to be a sweeter style of beer.  However, while the flavor was balanced, it wasn't all that present to begin with.  As mentioned earlier, a more intense fruit beer will be harder to balance (any and all brewmasters, please read that as a challenge).  However, dulling down the fruit (a.k.a. flavor) for the sake of balance is... well... cheating.  Don't rob me of flavor, just try to balance it out some other way.  Some could call this beer nuanced, but I feel like it's just a weaker version of a cherry ale.

Total 37/50

Had only this beer turned out like its promising aroma!  Heck, I might've even been pleased with a sweeter brew, whether that be like a lambic or like an amaretto.  The aroma was quite nice, but the flavor seemed thin and bland in comparison.  For those that dig a more mellow, less sweet, fruit beer, this could be right up your alley.  However, for those of us who have easy access to New Glarus' Wisconsin Belgian Red (and enjoy a fruit beer from time to time), this brew simply does not cut the mustard.  I appreciate their attempt at balance, I really do.  Balance is seldom a bad thing, but in this case it comes at the expense of flavor.  Bummer for Mikkeller since I really admire the brewery and what they do.  However, this beer does not live up to their high standard.

B. Nektar Meadery - Zombie Killer Cherry Cyser

Today's choice of review is appropriate for two reasons:  1.  Last night was the mid-season premier of "The Walking Dead" on AMC which the wife and I enjoy quite a bit.  2.  An article last week in the NY Times about the Renaissance of Meade.  (Click here for article)

For those not yet acquainted with mead, it is a wine made with honey in lieu of grapes.  Just as grapes can be early or late season (especially in Gewurztraminer varieties), so can flowers and thus even something as incalculable as the seasons can result in some major differences in mead.  Not to mention the different types of flowers (orange blossoms, wildflowers, etc).  Talk about the potential for nuance!  Also this is labeled as a "Cherry Cyser" which I found out is a mead (honey) with apple juice added.  Cysers are also a likely precursor to ciders/hard ciders.

The first time I tasted mead from B. Nektar was at 2011's Midwest Brew Fest in Plainfield.  They made a great showing and were one of the celebrities brewers of the day.  I bought a Zombie Killer t-shirt that day because of the great label art, even though B. Nektar did not have any Zombie Killer with them.  Today is my first taste of this mead and I've been more than patient.  Let's pour!

Big hand to Kelly for picking up this bottle in one of her not-so-recent forays into Michigan!!

Aroma 10/12
This is difficult for me to judge as it's mead and not my usual "comfort zone" of beer.  I have a feeling that will be a recurring theme here.  The bottle smelled of cherries upon opening, but with a 2-3 oz pour in my tulip the smell is mostly wine-like tannins.  They are slightly acidic and smell similar to a sweet white wine.  I am serving this chilled as I saw them doing at the Fest so I hope it is appropriate to do so for this particular style.  It has a lovely floral character that becomes more exposed as the bottle warms a bit.  The added cherry juice begins to show as well, but still lies well behind the "tannins" and the floral esters.  The more this glass warms, the better it smells.  I clearly didn't let this bottle sit out enough.  Make sure this is served LIGHTLY chilled if you have it.  Anything more will do this mead a disservice. (Even if the bottle does say to "Serve cold... zombies hate the cold...")

Upon finally achieving what I felt was an optimum temperature, the mead is an excellent combination of the sweet white wine, apples, and cherry juice with the floral note hanging way back.  Each sniff seems to allow the primary aromas to alternate in the spotlight!  The cherry note does smell like a juice and not that of cherries off the tree or cherry pie, etc, but it is fairly rich.  I'm not smelling any honey directly, but I assume that fermenting greatly alters honey's characteristics.

Here's a question for mead drinkers:  Is the aroma growing stronger because the mead it warming, because like wine it also needs to "breathe" and oxygenate, or a combination of the two?

Appearance 3/3
Since mead is not carbonated, there is no head to judge.  It is crystal clear and has a color a bit lighter than that of a blush wine.  The cherry juice and natural pigments of the honey create a light coral or salmon shade.  Not a lot of hue changes throughout the glass either, just one big cup of cyser-looking goodness.  I really wish I knew if this were good or not.  I can say that it also has some fair legs when given even a small swirl.

Flavor 18/20
This is phenomenal.  Immediately the tongue is bathed in a sugary honey sweetness and a tart cherry wave.  It's not sour the same way that Brett is, but in a sour we're more accustomed to in fruits.  Holding the mead in the mouth reveals a backbone that showcases all this mead's flavors in a wonderfully complex harmony.  The cherries are sweet, but ring sour on the sides of the tongue.  Its tart cherries are the star of the show and we find out now that they are quite understated in the aroma.  Honey lends its smooth, coating nature and blends its sweetness flawlessly with the cherry.  It's a delicious pairing that I'm surprised doesn't exist more in other flavored goods.  The finish shows the darker, more authentic, almost bitter cherry flavor that throws the salivary glands into overdrive.  The aftertaste isn't much, but is a faint haunting of the sour recently swallowed.

Mouthfeel 5/5
Smooth!  Smooth!  Smooth!  I can only assume that honey's naturally viscous quality help make this mead so wonderfully silky.  The body is light as expected, but I don't believe it to be any different than a wine.  Oddly, lightly swishing the mead in the mouth allows what feels like an extremely light carbonation to appear.  I know that most will think that its just from the swishing, but I'm not swishing this like mouthwash!  I don't believe what I'm doing is enough to cause bubbles in the mead.  Is carbonation possible?

Overall Impression 9/10
This is good stuff.  It's not in my wheelhouse of expertise, but I really enjoy this flavor.  It is, of course, very sweet like a cider, and has many characteristics of a wine with out all the acidity.  I would say it's more akin to drinking a juice, but I would not degrade this mead like that.  Juice is too simple and easy.  The blending of flavors in this mead took a lot of work and brewing prowess.  The body is one of the best attributes and if all meads exhibit a similar characteristic due to the honey in the brewing process, then you can expect me to incorporate many more meads into my regular imbibing.

Total 45/50
Why aren't more things flavored Cherry + Honey?  With what a great combination it is, I'm rather surprised that we don't see it in bubble gums, lollipops, sodas, and various other sweets.  Besides utilizing a great flavor combo, B. Nektar has really blended them superbly to allow the best of each ingredient to be recognized.  Can I again comment on the smooth mouthfeel!  Wow!  Even in oak barrels, I don't believe I've ever drank something so smooth.  They have a pretty good distribution in the eastern U.S., so if you find them, buy them. It's a great experiment into the world of mead.  I end with the quote from their bottle.

"Dedicated to the freaks and the geeks!  what started as a top-secret experiment with Michigan honey, cherries, and apple cider became a viral epidemic.  It won't be easy to survive, so grab your weapons and don't forget this bottle for backup!  Serve cold... zombies hate the cold...

B. Ware

GRrrHaarrhUrrgh"

Brouwerij Verhaeghe - Duchess De Bourgogne

First of all, can we call just agree on calling this beer "The Dutchess"?  There is no way that I am going to be able to work out both the brewery name AND whatever the heck she is the Dutchess of (if you know and feel like you can spell it phonetically or using the IPA phonetic alphabet, please be my guest and leave it in the comments).

The Mona Lisa of the beer world.

Second order of business, since Pinty's untimely demise (see last post for details), I have upgraded in the world of glassware.  Please see pictures later on in this article.

Finally, this bottle of beer was actually given to me.  I was talking to a manager named Steve at my local Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits and never gave him the faintest idea that I was a blogger nor ever would have imagined asking for a free bottle.  Ever.  As we discussed craft beer rather in depth, he ended up wrapping up a bottle and telling me that I had to try it.  This is that bottle.  Hy-Vee should be proud (as should any local business) to have employees truly embracing, endorsing, and passionate about their products.  This is actually the first bottle of beer given to me by any source and I am really looking forward to giving this a thorough review.  Let's pour!

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

Aroma 10/12
The overall aroma is sour.  While not discouraging its components are a bit difficult to place.  It does not rely on the common citrus and berries for its tartness, but instead seems to draw it from fermented green apples, plums, and fresh, sour cherries.  The scent also seems to have a dry tartness to it not completely unlike champagne.  Behind these sour notes are a molasses scent (more sugary than would allow me to call it caramel) and a moderately toasted malt.

Appearance 3/3
The appearance would have one believe that the tart aroma is yielded solely from cherries.  The beer is a beautiful shimmering copper, nearly the color of stained cherry wood.  I recommend holding this beer to the light.  It yields a palette full of red shades and it quite striking.  The head is beige, generous in size, and clings well to my glass.  Quite a feat if this beer is as tart (therefore acidic) as its aroma suggests.

Picture is my own.

Flavor 19/20
The sour flavor is the star of this show and wastes no time taking center stage.  It is a delicious blend primarily consisting of sour cherries, but also featuring the plums and sour apples from the aroma.  Delicious!  This powerhouse backbone, when held in the mouth even yields some bitter notes, as if one bit just into the core of one of the sour apples.  The finish is what truly ascended this beer into a higher category of respect.  For just a moment, a mere flash across the palate, there is a warm, sweet sensation of toffee/butterscotch/vanilla on the sides of the tongue.  Not only is the taste delicious in itself, but it is a perfect compliment to this bouquet of fruits.  At first it was so brief, I thought I might be mistake, but even halfway through the first pour this "flash" is still detectable (and fantastic).  Its origins are presumably from the malt, but it is not the norm for this reviewer to find a lot of malt flavors present in the finish, as it is usually the place to showcase more bitter notes in the beer.  The aftertaste is less impressive, but it has a tough act to follow.  It gently fades away the tart with a noticeable level of bitter from the backbone, without completely erasing the tart.  As a sweeter beer, it is no surprise that the aftertaste is rather clean.

Mouthfeel 5/5
The effervesence of this beer is light and crisp, which works extremely well with the brew since I would describe it in the same way.  Light in body, ample in carbonation, with no warmth, but incredibly smooth.

Overall Impression 10/10
One of the best fruit based beers available.  The flavor is fantastic and were it more rounded, could be considered wine-like without many thoughts to the contrary.  Not to say that this beer possesses a great deal of warmth or suggests tannins, but the fruit bouquet is excellent.  Its color, head, and mouthfeel are also great strengths.  The buttery, sugary flavor in the finish is a masterstroke.

Total 47/50
This bottle is easily one of the top fruit-based beers in the market.  It easily competes with New Glarus' "Wisconsin Belgian Red," and that is much easier said than done.  I give the comparison so that you will instantly know that it is a world-class example of the style.  It seldom comes this refined and this drinkable (most are too sweet for my taste, but I digress).  Find this.  Buy it.  If you're feeling nice, you can let your wife/significant other try some, just don't be surprised when she tries to steal the bottle.  This is a fantastic Belgian brew and with recommendations like this, you can bet I'll be back to see Steve at Hy-Vee in no time.

Side note: This bottle has an "expiration date" imprinted on its cork.  How awesome is that?  I hope other breweries pick up on that!

Great idea!

Founders - Cerise

I do not believe that my experience for this bottle is a typical one.  This does not make especially good or bad, but it there is no doubt that it is different.  I believe this difference stems from the "Bottled on" date on this particular bottle of Cerise: 06/02/2010.  This date puts the beer in this bottle at almost 11 months old.  I did not buy this beer on sale, nor was it part of a pick six.  It came in its own 4-pack from my trusty wine & liquor store.    A brewery like Founders has a lot of respect in the craft brew world, hence an experience like mine I will chalk up to an aged beer and not Founders' lackluster efforts at brewing a particular style.  I shall leave you in mystery no longer.  Let's pour!

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

Aroma 5/12

The only smell is that of IPA-esque hops.  Definitely not what one expects when taking a sniff of a "cherry fermented ale" (as claimed on the bottle).  The label on the neck claims 15 IBU's, but this scent would have one guess a much, much higher rating.  The hops' aroma overwhelms everything else.  Once the head dies, one can faintly detect a tart cherry aroma hiding amongst the hops.

Appearance 3/3

Color is a orange-gold that is made a bit darker by the haze also inside the glass.  The haze is not caused by any sediment.  A large fluffy head tops the glass, remains there for an extended period and leaves some lovely lacing on the glass.  Top marks all around.

Flavor 17/20

This is not what one looks for when expecting to sip a nice glass of cherries, but that does not make it a bad thing.  The initial flavor is the tart sweetness of authentic cherries, but is followed very quickly with the IPA-esque hops from the aroma.  The sweet and bitter never end up complimenting each other perfectly, but do eventually find a balance.  The balance (not the flavor!) is reminiscient of, say, a cherry whiskey.  Cherry is present, but so is a strong other flavor as well.  Not perfectly complimentary, but definitely a unique sensation.   

Mouthfeel 4/5

A pleasantly heavier body than one usually finds in a fruit-based brew.  The body can be classified as medium, with a high level of small, dense carbonation.  Because the carbonation bubbles are so small, it avoids becoming prickly and does the beer a great service.  A lightly slick feeling and a bit of warmth can be felt in its finish.

Overall Impression 5/10

This bottle has clearly sat too long and altered the brewer's hard work.  The label claims 15 IBUs and at that level should be nearly undetectable.  However, the hops are not only present, but nearly dominating in this bottle.  The beer is still top notch in some categories, but its "new" flavor has taken its toll on the rest.  A unique taste that may not be found by this taster again, but that is not exactly a terrible tragedy.

Total 29/50 (Good)

This rank still puts this brew at the top of the "Good" category, oddly enough.  While the flavors that were present may not have been entirely appropriate, they were still good flavors (not acidic, metallic, skunky, rotten, etc).  The strong technical nature of the beer (good carbonation, solid body, perfect appearance, etc) keeps this beer's score high, despite its style-blending flavor and aroma.  I have never had a hopped-up fruit beer and I doubt I ever shall again.  While I know I should not say that given the experimental nature of craft brewing and the adamant demand from some circles for progressively hoppier beers, but it is not a beer I would see going "main stream" (e.g. being sold in four packs at my local wine & liquor store).  At best it would be a lone vat made at a brew pub or a "special blend" released on a small scale to a brewery's local following.  I don't know if this result could be repeated by "cellaring" a Founders Cerise for 11 months, but it may be worth a try for those who are seeking to blend two very different styles of beer.

Final word?  Hopped-up fruit beer.  Interesting, but not something I'd seek.

New Glarus - Wisconsin Belgian Red

Well, friends,  I have been waiting to sample this beer for some time.  It has been sitting in my fridge for a bit, waiting for just the right moment.  Apparently, that moment was today.  This beer has a bit of a reputation (as does the brewery) and I was trying not to build it up too much in my mind - I have to give a fair review after all.  The bottle claims loudly that it is a "Belgian red style," and (a little less loudly) that it is a "Wisconsin ale brewed with cherries."  In fact, the bottle description claims that "a pound of Door County Cherries" goes into every bottle.  For those of you unfamiliar with Wisconsin, Door County is the tip of Wisconsin that extends out as a peninsula into Lake Michigan.  It is known for its wine, natural beauty, fruits, culinary delights, and other such delicacies which easily fit into the "finer things."  I'm more than anxious to try this beer.  Let's pour!

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

Aroma 11/12

Its a bouquet of cherries.  Period.  Please do not read this as cherry cough syrup or maraschino cherry or cherry flavor slurpy.  This smells like proper cherries right from the tree.  There are sour notes and light hints of spice.  It is difficult to get much else through those cherries.  Wow!

Appearance 3/3

Besides the smell, it even looks like authentic cherries.  No candy apple reds here, just a very dark, wonderful hue of amber.  It is slightly translucent when held to light, otherwise the picture tells all.  The head size was nice from the pour, but did not stick around long.  The head originally appeared peach in color, but settled down to a nice cream color instead.  Its texture was like the lightest whipped cream you have ever had, but still maintained decent carbonation.  Just like whipped cream compliments a dessert, the head was a perfect compliment to the beer beneath.  I would like to deduct a point for its lackluster head retention, but am hard-pressed to do so when it was so very pleasant when it was around.  I think I just wanted more of it!  EBC ranking is 38.

Picture is my own.

On a side note, this beer is capped with red wax.  The was does not look as glamorous as that on Maker's Mark, but it still makes you take a step back when you see it.  Beer with wax must mean business, right?  I felt that deserved another picture.

Picture is my own

Flavor 18/20

Not to be let down, this beer delivers on its taste of cherries.  It is not the fake taste of sweeteners (New Glarus has a reputation to defend after all), nor ciders, but real, honest juice.  The taste seems too complex to allow otherwise.  The sour hints in the aroma were false, it was simply the tart of the cherries.  This is delicious and the cherries are not overwhelming.  After holding this in the mouth for a moment, a bitter taste begins to evolve.  Almost as if it were dark cherries?  I am not sure what causes this, but the bitter finish is certainly present and rounded out by a cherry aftertaste.  I would rather that bitter finish be replaced by a warmth or a vinous finish. This beer is not a lambic, nor a "wine-beer" (like Dogfish Head's 'Red & White'), but its own version of those two tastes.

Mouthfeel 4/5

The body is certainly more "beer-like" than one would expect with its juice-based roots.  However, it is still extremely light (think American lager).  I do perhaps it were not so light, but with more body this beer might fall into the  "syrupy" trap that so many other beers find too easy to do.  I also imagine a bit more warmth might make this an even more successful venture for New Glarus, but may tread the line of becoming a port (without the smokiness).

Overall Impression 9/10

A fantastic beer from top to bottom.  Despite its extreme flavor, it remains very drinkable and light.  This is definitely an experience that I recommend.  It is another excellent alternative to the lambics out there and another fun thing against which to compare them.  The only factor keeping this beer from a perfect 10 was the bitter sensations.  I found it a bit distracting.  I worry that it was supposed to be a more "mature" flavor to round out all the sweetness, but I did not find it complimentary.  There must be a better way if that is their intent.

Total 45/50

A ranking of 45 earns the Wisconsin Belgian Red the description, "World-class example of style."  The only problem is, I am not sure what that style would be.  It has more body and richer flavor than lambics that I have tasted.  It lacks the vinous nature of some beer-wines (the aforementioned Red & White, etc).  It is just plain better than hard ciders with its fuller body, delicate head, and complexities.  It is wonderfully sweet, without overwhelming the drinker.  I had no problems finishing this bottle (1 pint, 9 fl oz), nor do I believe I would have such problems in the future.  Kudos, New Glarus!  This was quite a treat.