-
Stop lurking! Stay logged in to search, review beers, post in our forums, see less ads, and more. Thanks! — Todd
Fat Squirrel
New Glarus Brewing Company


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- New Glarus Brewing Company
- Wisconsin, United States
- Style:
- English Brown Ale
Ranked #30 - ABV:
- 5.8%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #21,045 - Avg:
- 3.8 | pDev: 11.05%
- Reviews:
- 552
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Yesterday at 03:19 PM
- Added:
- May 17, 2003
- Wants:
- 106
- Gots:
- 268
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good


Notes:
One deceptively spring like winter day, Brewmaster Dan walked home from the brewery, sat down to dinner and said, "Boy, there are some fat squirrels out there. They're running all over the place. I think I should brew a Fat Squirrel Nut Brown Ale." Deb agreed and so another beer legend was born.
100% Wisconsin malt of six different varieties impart the natural toasted color to this bottle conditioned unfiltered ale. Clean hazelnut notes result from these carefully chosen barley malts. Hops from Slovenia, Bavaria and the Pacific Northwest give Fat Squirrel its backbone. When the going gets tough, remember to relax a moment and enjoy the "Fat Squirrel" in your neighborhood.
100% Wisconsin malt of six different varieties impart the natural toasted color to this bottle conditioned unfiltered ale. Clean hazelnut notes result from these carefully chosen barley malts. Hops from Slovenia, Bavaria and the Pacific Northwest give Fat Squirrel its backbone. When the going gets tough, remember to relax a moment and enjoy the "Fat Squirrel" in your neighborhood.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Iowa3stew
4.36/5 rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.36/5 rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Not as heavy as some Browns, but with all the classic brown characteristics. Hazelnut, slight caramel...but not sweet. Refined and clean, just approaching richness. Sometimes Browns get a bit of sweetness that Id rather not have. Color &smell classic. This is very easy drinking Brown that will absolutely still satisfy.
Yesterday at 03:19 PMRated by JamesPatty
3.87/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.87/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
It’s nice! It’s nutty and bready and not too sweet. It’s nothing crazy in flavor but great
Dec 31, 2022Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado
3.92/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Clear, dark brown body; sparse carbonation; thick, spongy head, bone white and lasting. Very mild and soft grain note; light toastiness with a soft touch of sweetness on the nose. Very pleasant malt flavor; light dark roasted grain and cocoa notes; very mild sweetness; light hop bitterness sensation. Light to medium-light body; very soft and delicate; gentle warmth overall.
I love the subtlety of this beer. Everything seems subdued, yet give the beer a bit of time and nuanced character comes through. This is a beautiful and refined beer, quite pleasant when enjoyed at a slightly warm temperature.
Pouring temperature: 57 °F; bottling info: n/a
Dec 12, 2022I love the subtlety of this beer. Everything seems subdued, yet give the beer a bit of time and nuanced character comes through. This is a beautiful and refined beer, quite pleasant when enjoyed at a slightly warm temperature.
Pouring temperature: 57 °F; bottling info: n/a
Reviewed by BeerBobber from Nevada
4.09/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.09/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours out a nice brown color with some amber hues when held up to the light. Lots of visible carbonation. Two fingers of soapy tan head.
Smell is real faint. Some nuts. Dark bread crust. A hint of sweetness on the nose.
Taste is nice. Toasted malts with that hint of sweetness. A slight nut flavor coming through. The nut flavor tends to sneak around in the back haunting the palate like a playful ghost.
Mouth feel is pretty light and finishes fairly crisp. Overall real nice. No lingering sweetness.
i really like this brown ale. That touch of sweetness is so nice. What a great addition. The hazelnut thing is very faint on the nose. A bit more comes through on the taste, yet is still light. I must say this one is really nice fort the style. Cheers to the brewers and cheers to my BA brothers and sisters!
Dec 04, 2022Smell is real faint. Some nuts. Dark bread crust. A hint of sweetness on the nose.
Taste is nice. Toasted malts with that hint of sweetness. A slight nut flavor coming through. The nut flavor tends to sneak around in the back haunting the palate like a playful ghost.
Mouth feel is pretty light and finishes fairly crisp. Overall real nice. No lingering sweetness.
i really like this brown ale. That touch of sweetness is so nice. What a great addition. The hazelnut thing is very faint on the nose. A bit more comes through on the taste, yet is still light. I must say this one is really nice fort the style. Cheers to the brewers and cheers to my BA brothers and sisters!
Rated by Gtarrbeer
5/5 rDev +31.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +31.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
So glad I discovered it. My absolute favorite
Jul 26, 2022Reviewed by Martin194 from Iowa
4/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: Dark clear amber with an off-white head that dissipated quickly.
Smell: Hazelnut, spices, some hops, crackers, roasty notes.
Taste: Follows smell. Sort of sweet up front giving way to a bitter, earthy aftertaste; spicy all throughout.
Feel: Normal carbonation, medium body.
Overall: Very nice tasty brew!
May 22, 2022Smell: Hazelnut, spices, some hops, crackers, roasty notes.
Taste: Follows smell. Sort of sweet up front giving way to a bitter, earthy aftertaste; spicy all throughout.
Feel: Normal carbonation, medium body.
Overall: Very nice tasty brew!
Reviewed by MrGraybeard from Wisconsin
4.11/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.11/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured at cellar temp into a tulip glass. Clear coffee-colored brew with persistent, slightly rocky head. Lots of lace. Smell is crackers with a bit of fruit. Nutty malt flavor plays over a hop backdrop. Finish is fruity and lingering, with a bit of pepper. Mouthfeel is richer than a lot of macro brown ales I've had such as Newcastle.
For a brown ale, this seasonal offering is somewhat of a winter warmer with 5.8% alcohol. A great brew to accompany all those Christmas ales.
Dec 20, 2021For a brown ale, this seasonal offering is somewhat of a winter warmer with 5.8% alcohol. A great brew to accompany all those Christmas ales.
Reviewed by defunksta from North Dakota
3.77/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.77/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a clear, deep and rich ruby and amber color with a moderate white head that fades quickly. SRM of 18-19. (3.75)
Aroma: Moderate aromas of caramel, dark malt, syrup. There's vanilla and some dark phenolic aromas. Brown malts.
Flavor: Strong flavors of rich caramel, brown bread, nuts, chocolate, slightly toasted. Some syrup and brown malt on the finish. Malty, but not too sweet. (4.00)
Feel: Medium bodied. Low carbonation. Finish is smooth. (4.00)
Compared to Bells Best Brown Ale 12/19/21: Pours a slightly lighter and clearer color. A milder head. Milder aromas. More caramel, chocolate, and rich brown malt. Less red fruit and roasted hoppy pine. Slightly smoother and less bitter.
Overall: A pretty delicious English Brown ale and I would say standard and well-done for the style. It nails the caramel, nuts, and chocolate notes. Smooth malts. Low carbonation, but in this style is about the only time that I think low carbonation works well. Gives the caramel and nuttiness a smooth mouthfeel and finish. (Final Rating: 3.77)
Dec 19, 2021Aroma: Moderate aromas of caramel, dark malt, syrup. There's vanilla and some dark phenolic aromas. Brown malts.
Flavor: Strong flavors of rich caramel, brown bread, nuts, chocolate, slightly toasted. Some syrup and brown malt on the finish. Malty, but not too sweet. (4.00)
Feel: Medium bodied. Low carbonation. Finish is smooth. (4.00)
Compared to Bells Best Brown Ale 12/19/21: Pours a slightly lighter and clearer color. A milder head. Milder aromas. More caramel, chocolate, and rich brown malt. Less red fruit and roasted hoppy pine. Slightly smoother and less bitter.
Overall: A pretty delicious English Brown ale and I would say standard and well-done for the style. It nails the caramel, nuts, and chocolate notes. Smooth malts. Low carbonation, but in this style is about the only time that I think low carbonation works well. Gives the caramel and nuttiness a smooth mouthfeel and finish. (Final Rating: 3.77)
Reviewed by Bshaw22 from Wisconsin
3.93/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Kind of reddish brown color.
Nice white cream colored. Sticks around a bit.
Smell is toasty and roast. A little sweetness.
Flavor follows. A little dry at the back.
Pretty crushable.
Good brown. Not too dense.
Dec 12, 2021Nice white cream colored. Sticks around a bit.
Smell is toasty and roast. A little sweetness.
Flavor follows. A little dry at the back.
Pretty crushable.
Good brown. Not too dense.
Reviewed by MNJR from Illinois
4.04/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Sweet, medium dark ale with molasses, nut, cocoa, and honey flavors with a hint of bitterness. Smooth and warming. Does not seem to be 5.8 ABV and if it is the alcohol in the flavor is very subdued. So smooth it could almost use a touch more carbonation. A very enjoyable beer for a fall or winter day. Do not hesitate to try this if you like bocks, brown ales, and richer medium dark beers.
Dec 05, 2021Reviewed by Dinglehacker from Wisconsin
4.28/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured into shaker pint. Thin off white head, two big lace patches. Lovely reddish brown.
Very syrupy caramel nose w/ a little nut.
Taste follows with more nutty bitterness.
Very smooth.
Standard brown, competently done.
Nov 04, 2021Very syrupy caramel nose w/ a little nut.
Taste follows with more nutty bitterness.
Very smooth.
Standard brown, competently done.
Reviewed by jrc1093 from Connecticut
4.4/5 rDev +15.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +15.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottle reads 'B251'; consumed on 3/8/21
Pours a clear, deep mahogany with burnt maroon accents and topped with a finger and a half of fluffy, dense, pale beige foam; decent head retention leaves a paper-thin curtain of cap, a thin, frothy collar, and a haphazard spatter of webby/spotty lacing strewn around the walls of the glass.
Aroma offers a blossoming flow of sweet milk chocolate intertwined with hazelnut, nutty malts and brighter notes of plum and prune ternsting prominence from the start if the bouquet, over time welcoming more subtle nuances of coffee grounds and slight roast with a silky caramel tinged with a soft minerality closing.
Taste opens with toasted milk chocolate detailed with a touch of smoked hazelnut as light prune, dried toffee, and a tinge of nutty malts ground the profile over the mid-palate; wispy pipe tobacco and mild coffee roast bring a grittier, earthier element into the back end and through the finish.
Mouthfeel brings a body straddling the line between light and medium, with a soft, mild-moderate carbonation dispersing a flaky crispness over the mid-palate; a delicately malty grit transitions into a distant bitterness on the back end before finally fading into a clean, quenching finish leaning toward the drier side.
Sweeter English leanings cohabitate alongside an effortless and direct malt presentation, a steady punch of refined nuttiness brought to a peak in detail while simultaneously drinking with an most breezy lack of pretension; simply put, this beer exemplifies the simple brilliance found in the best of the style.
Mar 09, 2021Pours a clear, deep mahogany with burnt maroon accents and topped with a finger and a half of fluffy, dense, pale beige foam; decent head retention leaves a paper-thin curtain of cap, a thin, frothy collar, and a haphazard spatter of webby/spotty lacing strewn around the walls of the glass.
Aroma offers a blossoming flow of sweet milk chocolate intertwined with hazelnut, nutty malts and brighter notes of plum and prune ternsting prominence from the start if the bouquet, over time welcoming more subtle nuances of coffee grounds and slight roast with a silky caramel tinged with a soft minerality closing.
Taste opens with toasted milk chocolate detailed with a touch of smoked hazelnut as light prune, dried toffee, and a tinge of nutty malts ground the profile over the mid-palate; wispy pipe tobacco and mild coffee roast bring a grittier, earthier element into the back end and through the finish.
Mouthfeel brings a body straddling the line between light and medium, with a soft, mild-moderate carbonation dispersing a flaky crispness over the mid-palate; a delicately malty grit transitions into a distant bitterness on the back end before finally fading into a clean, quenching finish leaning toward the drier side.
Sweeter English leanings cohabitate alongside an effortless and direct malt presentation, a steady punch of refined nuttiness brought to a peak in detail while simultaneously drinking with an most breezy lack of pretension; simply put, this beer exemplifies the simple brilliance found in the best of the style.
Rated by BullBearHawk from Illinois
4.2/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.2/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
nutty and delicious
Feb 01, 2021Reviewed by colinz226 from Illinois
4.25/5 rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
New Glarus'es seasonal fat squirrel beer quite is pleasant. It has some very tasty dark notes somewhat reminiscent of brown bread that round out its flavor profile . Very tasty and another excellent offering from New Glarus.
Jan 17, 2021Reviewed by German-Helles from Wisconsin
4.04/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This 12oz Fat Squirrel was poured into a 20oz. weizen glass. For starters there is a very nice tan creamy head of two fingers that slowly receded to a half finger with some lacing left behind. The Ale is a clear cola color with medium light carbonation..
The aroma is sweet nutty malts. Very noticeable!
The taste follows the nose, sweet roasted malts, hazel nuts, with a slightly dry finish. Excellent!
The feel is is silky smooth, creamy in that true New Glarus fashion.
This is another top notch brew from New Glarus. Very easy to drink, a nice nutty flavor. I like the English Brown Ales. Someday I will need to sample one side by side with a Samuel Smith Tadcaster. A couple of these "squirreled away" will help get through the long Wisconsin winter!
Jan 01, 2021The aroma is sweet nutty malts. Very noticeable!
The taste follows the nose, sweet roasted malts, hazel nuts, with a slightly dry finish. Excellent!
The feel is is silky smooth, creamy in that true New Glarus fashion.
This is another top notch brew from New Glarus. Very easy to drink, a nice nutty flavor. I like the English Brown Ales. Someday I will need to sample one side by side with a Samuel Smith Tadcaster. A couple of these "squirreled away" will help get through the long Wisconsin winter!
Reviewed by TedHead from Illinois
3.82/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.82/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a very beautiful translucent brown with a rocky tan head that takes a few minutes to fully dissipate. It smells like darker bread crust with slight hints of toffee, chocolate, and a slight nuttiness to it. The nuttiness along with the chocolate toffee flavor come forward on the taste, with a satisfying thicker bready taste to finish it. It goes down incredibly smoothly and has a nice full feeling to it. Overall pretty good.
Nov 22, 2020
Fat Squirrel from New Glarus Brewing Company
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
1670 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!