Spotted Cow
New Glarus Brewing Company

Spotted CowSpotted Cow
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
New Glarus Brewing Company
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
Saison
Ranked #631
ABV:
4.8%
Score:
85
Ranked #21,582
Avg:
3.76 | pDev: 13.3%
Reviews:
943
Ratings:
4,039
Status:
Active
Rated:
Friday at 05:32 AM
Added:
Feb 02, 2002
Wants:
  341
Gots:
  1,214
Naturally Cloudy Farmhouse Ale

** Although many call this beer a cream ale, according to Dan Carey they refer to it as a farmhouse ale at the brewery. **

As for what makes up Spotted Cow, it’s a blend of Pilsner malt, white wheat, and caramel malt. The water comes from a well on the brewery property and has a hard character to it. Hops are the finest Saaz he can get during selection each year in Europe, and it’s fermented with a German ale yeast.

Cask conditioned ale has been the popular choice among brews since long before prohibition. We continue this pioneer spirit with our Wisconsin farmhouse ale. Brewed with flaked barley and the finest Wisconsin malts. We even give a nod to our farmers.

Naturally cloudy we allow the yeast to remain in the bottle to enhance fullness of flavors, which cannot be duplicated otherwise. Expect this ale to be fun, fruity and satisfying. You know you're in Wisconsin when you see the Spotted Cow.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Brent_B:
Photo of Brent_B
Rated by Brent_B from Iowa

3.67/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Mar 23, 2016
More User Ratings:
Photo of JokersAce
Reviewed by JokersAce

3.99/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Yum. Not sure why this beer is rated so relatively low, as it's really pleasant. Light hells type color with a very slight tinge of opaqueness and a solid white head that slowly dissipates. Plenty of floral nutty malty graininess. Additionally because of the yeast characteristic, there's some green apple skin, slight citrus, and white pepper. Maybe I'm letting the name get to my head, but there's almost something of a sort of lactose flavor here, like a chocolate milk stout but without the chocolate. It's probably because of the yeast character overall which lends me to lean on the side of this truly being a saison or farmhouse ale. Either way, if it's a saison or farmhouse ale then it is an extremely light and drinkable one. And if it's a cream ale, it is definitely a very hearty and flavorful one.
Friday at 05:32 AM
 
Rated: 3.91 by flgimp from Pennsylvania

Jan 23, 2024
Photo of puck1225
Reviewed by puck1225 from Texas

4.09/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I was given a bottle of this beer by a dance friend who recently returned from Wisconsin.

Poured into a tulip glass. Slightly hazy bright yellow color with with a creamy white head and nice curtain lacing. Very subtle sweet fruit smell and taste. Vanilla and a bit of pepper spice. Orange and a bit apple. Nice smooth feel. This is a beer you drink a lot of!
Jan 19, 2024
Photo of Thomas_Wikman
Reviewed by Thomas_Wikman from Texas

4.18/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Look: hazy golden with an inch thick white head

Aroma: toasted wheat bread, pear, orange

Flavor: I can taste toasted wheat bread, pear, orange, yeast

Body/Overall: it has a creamy mouthfeel, and it is complex and unique
Jan 16, 2024
 
Rated: 3.5 by JKENNEKE

Dec 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.88 by Mulechops from Kentucky

Dec 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4.02 by pveilleux from Massachusetts

Nov 21, 2023
 
Rated: 3.74 by BeerForMuscle from New Jersey

Nov 20, 2023
 
Rated: 3.79 by loch8534 from Illinois

Oct 22, 2023
Photo of KellyLangan
Rated by KellyLangan from Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Great straightforward beer.
Oct 15, 2023
Photo of Profundobaso
Reviewed by Profundobaso from New York

3.77/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Look - 12 oz can poured int o a standard pint glass. Light golden in color, cloudy, and large head that mostly dissipates, leaving behind moderate lacing.

Smell - grain mix, cloves, and some citrus. a subtle but unique yeast scent comes through as well.

Taste - a ton of complex malt flavor, ranging from lightly toasted to caramel notes. honey-like sweetness. low on hoppiness. finish is smooth and slightly creamy.

Feel - medium bodied but feels quite light. moderate carbonation. sessionable at 4.8% ABV.

Overall - a very tasty farmhouse ale with cream ale characteristics and moderate complexity.
Oct 14, 2023
Photo of James_w
Reviewed by James_w from Illinois

4.16/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
Poured out of a bottle into a tulip glass.

Look - (4) Poured cloudy-gold with a 1/2 inch head that dissipated to a small ring around a filmy top. A little lacing.

Smell - (3.5) Not overly strong. Tart, juicy grapefruit and straw with some honey coming in underneath.

Taste - (4.5) Taste followed smell. Really nice evolution. Started off tart and straw-y with a honey sweetness that gradually transitioned to juicy grapefruit juice. A bit of bitter allspice in the middle and a slightly bitter cherry-pit astringency at the end. Tannic aftertaste on the tongue.

I let it warm a bit and sipped some more. A bit sweeter and waterier. The honey notes were more prominent.

Feel - (3.75) Effervescent and juicy. A slightly syrup-y mouthfeel. As it warmed, it thinned out a bit.

Overall - (4.5) A wonderful treat! Picked up a 6-pack when I was across the Wisconsin border and am not disappointed! A very pleasant, tart beer. An excellent farmhouse ale.
Oct 13, 2023
Photo of mpruden
Reviewed by mpruden from Ohio

3.64/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from an undated 12-oz bottle into a Samuel Adams Perfect Pint glass.

Look: Pale and slightly cloudy yellow-gold, with a huge white fluffy head that lingered a little while and left nice lacing.

Nose: Fresh sweet grain — very pleasant and inviting.

Mouthfeel: Medium thin, sufficient carbonation.

Attack: Follows the nose but not quite as sweetly or fully.

Finish: Hop bitterness is just about right.

Overall: Not bad, but the balance would be better if the attack was as sweet and full as the nose.
Oct 03, 2023
 
Rated: 3.89 by _Adam_ from Maryland

Sep 09, 2023
Photo of CTHomer
Reviewed by CTHomer from Connecticut

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: slight haze; medium gold in color; 1 finger finely pored ivory head that receded to a wispy cap; nice lacing;

S: funky lemon, orange, and clove;

T: yeast driven flavor that follows the nose; mild to moderate bitterness at the end;

M: light to medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;

o: very enjoyable; easy drinking; refreshing; would pair well with a wide variety of foods;
Sep 04, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Hellpop65 from Kansas

Sep 03, 2023
 
Rated: 3.48 by ausyj75 from Connecticut

Aug 23, 2023
 
Spotted Cow from New Glarus Brewing Company
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 4039 ratings