New Glarus Belgian Red - 1996 Vintage

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by Lansman, Jul 23, 2012.

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  1. Lansman

    Lansman Savant (1,116) Mar 19, 2011 Missouri
    Trader

    This weekend in a small town in Wisconsin I came across a great bar that recently renovated their beer cellar with the hiring of a new bar manager a few weeks ago. Amidst a lot of old Bud products, etc., the manager came across a case of two kinds of New Glarus Belgian Red from 1996. One bottle says 'Vintage 1996' on the front, and the other has 1996 on the side, with a 'best by' date of July 1996. (I will post pictures later this evening). The sizes of the bottles are slightly different, with the Vintage 1996 bottle looking like an old wine bottle, and the other 1996 bottle looking most similar to the type of bottle sold today.

    Does anyone have any idea what these are? Is one bottle from 1995 and the other 1996? The bottlecaps and wax were still in great shape, the bottles appear to have been stored upright for the last 15+ years, and though they appear to have been cellared properly, I can't imagine the stuff inside to still be good, right?
     
    #1 Lansman, Jul 23, 2012
  2. biglobo8971

    biglobo8971 Initiate (0) May 6, 2010 Minnesota

    open one up, best way to tell.
     
    #2 biglobo8971, Jul 23, 2012
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  3. pschul4

    pschul4 Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2011 Illinois

    After you try it let us know how it was. I'm curious to age this one but never do because they don't last that long in my cellar :stuck_out_tongue:
     
    #3 pschul4, Jul 23, 2012
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  4. UnderJoath

    UnderJoath Initiate (0) Jul 29, 2010 Illinois

    I have 2 left and I eye them quite frequently, hahah.
     
    #4 UnderJoath, Jul 23, 2012
  5. pschul4

    pschul4 Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2011 Illinois

    Exactly haha I feel like I'd have to put one in a safety deposit box in a vault somewhere to let it sit for more than 6 months
     
    #5 pschul4, Jul 23, 2012
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  6. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    If this beer is the forerunner to the New Glarus Wisconsin Red then it may have the same ABV (4%) which is not a high enough alcohol to be a good candidate for cellering. However, it still may be drinkable, and as stated above, the only way to find out is to pop a cap.

    I suggest contacting the brewery to ask what their opinion might be. Your personal data indicates that you are in Chicago, so is that where this case of beer was discovered? I'd be curious whether NG distributed to IL back then.
     
    #6 PapaGoose03, Jul 23, 2012
  7. genuinedisciple

    genuinedisciple Initiate (0) Jan 10, 2010 Michigan

    I can't imagine this beer getting any better, and no way would this last in my cellar.
     
    #7 genuinedisciple, Jul 23, 2012
  8. Lansman

    Lansman Savant (1,116) Mar 19, 2011 Missouri
    Trader

    I spoke with the New Glarus Brewmaster this afternoon and was told that the recipe in Belgian Red has not changed since the early 1990's, and that around the 1995-96 timeframe, there was a change in the glass supplier, which would explain the different size bottles. As for the label, he didn't remember any change in particular, just that the label has changed over time from year to year, but the stuff inside has always remained the same.

    I'll post pictures later, and a review of the stuff after popping open a bottle at the New Glarus brewery on the way from Chicago to the Great Taste this year.
     
    #8 Lansman, Jul 23, 2012
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  9. Jparkanzky

    Jparkanzky Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2011 Ohio

    If you can find out how much they want for them, I'd be interested in trading for them to try them myself.....

    Old-spoiled beer can't cost that much right?!?!
     
    #9 Jparkanzky, Jul 23, 2012
  10. Lansman

    Lansman Savant (1,116) Mar 19, 2011 Missouri
    Trader

    I bought the last two bottles, priced at $12 each. I'm not interested in trading them, just sharing a bottle at New Glarus on the way up to the Great Taste, and a bottle the weekend of the Great Taste in Madison. I'll post where a bottle will be once I figure out what tastings I'll be attending as the date gets closer.
     
    #10 Lansman, Jul 23, 2012
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  11. jegross2

    jegross2 Initiate (0) Jan 3, 2010 Illinois

    You guys realize if you ever want more NG, you just gotta BM me. Just make sure I don't hate you :wink:. I can't even begin to tell you how much NG I send BAs
     
    #11 jegross2, Jul 24, 2012
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  12. claaark13

    claaark13 Maven (1,412) Nov 29, 2007 Indiana
    Trader

    It is past 9pm EST. I demand semi-instant internet gratification via at least one photo of these bottles.
     
    #12 claaark13, Jul 24, 2012
  13. Lansman

    Lansman Savant (1,116) Mar 19, 2011 Missouri
    Trader

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    #13 Lansman, Jul 24, 2012
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  14. ravot

    ravot Initiate (0) Mar 20, 2012 Illinois

    that's wicked cool man.
     
    #14 ravot, Jul 24, 2012
  15. Wisconsin

    Wisconsin Initiate (0) Jul 24, 2008 Wisconsin

    Wow. I have no idea how those will turn out, but it's cool as hell seeing those old labels. Enjoy it.
     
    #15 Wisconsin, Jul 24, 2012
  16. allouez86

    allouez86 Pundit (999) Jan 24, 2009 Wisconsin

    Drink it already and tell us how it tastes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     
    #16 allouez86, Jul 24, 2012
  17. Jose2412

    Jose2412 Initiate (0) Feb 25, 2012 Michigan

    A bit off topic but...

    Does anyone else HATE the wax on these bottles?! The ones I have had such a thin layer of wax Im sure it wasn't doing a damn thing so I just scraped it off and hit it with a little bit of warm water. Clean bottle now.
     
    #17 Jose2412, Jul 24, 2012
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  18. Schmittymack

    Schmittymack Pooh-Bah (1,864) Sep 3, 2008 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    You'd be surprised how well the Belgian Red cellars. I've had the brew several times with a couple years on it and it was still quite delicious and a friend had it with four years on it (if memory serves me correctly) and said it was still amazing.
     
    #18 Schmittymack, Jul 24, 2012
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  19. stephenieman

    stephenieman Zealot (552) Oct 14, 2011 Illinois

    Though I dont hate it necessarily I do think its pointless.
    Must be an easier / cheaper alternative to thicker wax since they produce so much of this beer.
     
    #19 stephenieman, Jul 24, 2012
  20. yeahnatenelson

    yeahnatenelson Pooh-Bah (1,952) Feb 8, 2010 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I agree - it is, at worst, a minor annoyance when the wax smears onto something but is generally benign and pointless. The efficacy of waxed caps in protecting beer against oxidation is debatable, but the thin coat of beeswax on these bottles is definitely for looks alone.
     
    #20 yeahnatenelson, Jul 24, 2012
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