Thumbprint Wild Sour Ale
New Glarus Brewing Company

Thumbprint Wild Sour AleThumbprint Wild Sour Ale
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From:
New Glarus Brewing Company
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
ABV:
5%
Score:
97
Avg:
4.36 | pDev: 8.72%
Reviews:
148
Ratings:
1,085
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 21, 2021
Added:
Jul 09, 2013
Wants:
  291
Gots:
  148
Naturally soured by farm valley winds blowing wild yeast into our oak casks. Finally, after a year and a half of patient coaxing Wisconsin dark malts whirl in a kaleidoscope of cedar, caramel and tart green plum exuberance. Available to the exclusive few who travel off the beaten paths, this is authentic Wisconsin sour brown ale. Truly unique this Sour Ale is brewed for those who live on the wild side and is suitable for laying down or consuming immediately, serve at 40 – 45 °F.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.75 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Aug 21, 2021
Photo of Victory_Sabre1973
Reviewed by Victory_Sabre1973 from Minnesota

4.09/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
2018 version - Reviewed on 3-16-2021
Pours a nice brown/amber color. 1 finger off white head. No lacing on the glass.
The aroma is so wild, earthy, floral, sweet, and sour all at the same time.
Taste - Floral, malty, earthy, wild, sweet yet sour on the flavor. So much going on here, that I can't fully describe.
Crisp, clean feeling. Decent bodied.
So damn good. I really like a wild ale.
Mar 16, 2021
 
Rated: 4.5 by Yungcoolship from Wisconsin

Feb 05, 2021
 
Rated: 4.4 by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin

Dec 12, 2020
Photo of 5toutman75
Reviewed by 5toutman75 from Illinois

4.39/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2018 vintage
Consumed 10/24/20

I always look forward to having a NG fruited sour. They make some of the best in my opinion and I wish they were better known nationally. They have a distinct flavor that I get instantly on the nose and tongue the way a 3 Fonteinen or Tilquin beer does where I know who brewed it instantly. It has a nice brown color With a bit of lacing that stays after the pour. Carbonation is pleasant and what I’d expect on the tongue. The smell is phenomenal and inviting. Plenty of tart green apple and funk. I get the same flavors upon drinking. There’s load of complexity. I can sit and sip this slowly and thoroughly enjoy it. Overall a great beer for me and I’ll continue to seek it out if it comes out again someday.
Oct 25, 2020
Photo of bret27
Reviewed by bret27 from California

3.63/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
2018 vintage “new glarus wild ale” courtesy of NolaHopHead.
L: brown, burgundy with minimal light tan head.
S: berries, funk, tart.
T: sour, berries, funky. More sweet neutral flavor malt than funk. Not aging well.
F: medium, astringent dry.
Overall; in my opinion, too malty too age well. Kind of unpleasant taste. Tastes like a lot older beer, oxidation present.
Aug 13, 2020
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Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
In review is a 2014 Vintage.

A -Dark cherry brown color with cream/pink color and light carbonation.

S - Tart cherry aroma with some juicy sourness.

T - Tart black cherry that's borderline puckering and has some very light acidity on the back side. Nice lingering cherry on the back end.

M - Big medium body with a very wet finish.

O - For a six year old bottle this held up impressively well.
Aug 03, 2020
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Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati

4.44/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
Thanks to The_Game for this one, from the recent Rookies BIF. 2018 vintage,12oz bottle poured into 14oz teku. poured a dark, solid brown color, with 1/4 inch of tan head that had moderate retention and light lacing.

A nice funk popped out as soon as I popped the cap. Upon further sniffing, there was a solid fruit scent, sorta cherry-ish, but coulda been berry-like as well, either way, very pleasant. There was a good underlying grain aroma as well.

Very similar on the tongue; funky, fruity tartness all around.

The body was on the lighter side of medium, smooth, clean, and had tartly dry finish.

Drinkability was excellent, I would have it in rotation if possible.

Overall, another great brew from NG. An absolute must-try if you can.
May 08, 2020
 
Rated: 4.35 by EMH73 from New York

Apr 01, 2020
 
Rated: 4.68 by PatrickCT from Connecticut

Mar 29, 2020
Photo of Tilley4
Reviewed by Tilley4 from Tennessee

4.69/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Easily one of the top 10 beers I've ever had...

This is the perfect combination of sour and fruit... I can't quite put my finger on what the fruity aspect is. Berries and green apple maybe? Whatever it is, it is fantastic...

I received this beer in a secret santa box and it makes me wish I could find and purchase every bottle left. It is a wheelhouse beer for me. I love New Glarus and this absolutely hits a homerun...

I would highly highly recommend trying this if you see a bottle or get the chance.
Dec 30, 2019
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Reviewed by buschbeer from Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 FL. OZ. bottle
Served in a sour glass
2013

This beer pours a deep ruddy brown with blood orange highlights. It is topped with an inch of tan head that leaves no lacing.

I get a little brown sugar and cherry. It has a pleasant sour aroma similar to a Flanders brown ale.

It has an initial sweet taste that is quickly replaced with tart cherry. It kind of reminds me of a tart cherry dessert. It has a good amount of sourness but not over the top.

Medium bodied with a semi dry mouthfeel

This is a pretty good sour. It reminds of the Flanders variety. I prefer lambic styles.
Nov 28, 2019
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottled 6/27/13; drank 9/22/19 @ the Yarchives.

Nearly opaque brown/orange rust appearance.

An even pour yielded a nice khaki head; frothy lace.

Lemon, raspberry & mild candied wheat notes in the nose.

Medium thin mouthfeel.

Raspberry, lemon & wheat flavors up front; a faint note of vinegar on the finish.

Perhaps this one was aged a bit too long, but it was still enjoyable. I'd have another.
Sep 23, 2019
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Reviewed by Dope from Massachusetts

4.19/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2018 batch

A: Dark brown with reddish highlights. Smallish light brown head, no lacing or head retention.

S: Hmph. Kinda sweet smelling. Sweet berries I guess? Little bit of stone fruit.

T: Interesting flavor. Sweet-ish berries, cherries and apples I'd say? Caramel sweetness almost gives the impression of caramelized apple skin in the aftertaste. Some acidic tartness and funk in there but nothing overpowering. In fact I'd say that it mainly serves to balance out the sweetness and fruitiness - and it does so well.

M: Medium bodied, tart and drying.

O: Excellent sour from New Glarus. It tastes like a cross between a "normal" sour and one of New Glarus' typical fruit beers. To be clear, this is a good thing. Yum.
Sep 02, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by Eziel from Ohio

Jul 10, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by BeerBeast from Florida

Jun 12, 2019
 
Rated: 4.75 by Bum4ever from California

Jun 08, 2019
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Reviewed by CanConPhilly from Pennsylvania

4.41/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L - 1/2 finger yellow/brown head atop a translucent brown body.

S - vinegar, grapes, mixed berries, brown sugar.

T - follows the nose. Lots of acid. No bitterness. Moderate sweetness. No booziness.

F - medium-light body with average carb.

O - so much flavor at a low abv.
Jun 01, 2019
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

4.29/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Ah here's a treat. Down to only 1-2 bottles left, as usual in this situation, this review encompasses the beer drank fresh and its subsequent intervals of drinking since then. Happy to say it hasn't lost anything.

Pours a reddish brown color. Forms a small 1/5" off white head. Aroma is red wine sour with earthy notes.

Taste is considerably more sour than other Belgian examples people are comparing it to. Not overly acidic, the earthiness and caramel malt do a great job here providing a tempering material. Real good oak participation resulting in a nice back end drying quality. Beer really runs from point A to point B with a lot of distance and change in between them. The brown malt is flavorful yet light.

This is an excellent AWA meets Oud Bruin kind of beer. Its funny when I see breweries charging $30-40 for their wild ales. Then you have this super affordable super delicious stuff. Another great example of the amazing beers you don't have to chase around or drop a paycheck for to acquire.
Mar 12, 2019
 
Rated: 3.54 by Chilmer from Iowa

Mar 12, 2019
Thumbprint Wild Sour Ale from New Glarus Brewing Company
Beer rating: 97 out of 100 with 1085 ratings