New Glarus Brewing (2018)

R&D release schedule is usually pretty consistent

1st is usually during Polkafest (June 8, 9)
2nd is during Great Taste (Aug 10, 11)
3rd is during Oktoberfest (Sep 28, 29)

Sometimes they throw out a 4th beer which changes up but I'd bank on those 3 being the weekends

 

There are only going to be two R&D releases this year. First during the Brat and Beer Fest, likely the 25th Anniversary Beer, style TBD. Second during GTMW, likely Vintage 2017. No Oktoberfest release this year.

That's what I was told on Friday when I was at the brewery.

Also, Mistral was no limit on Friday.

 

Well damn way to just completely invalidate what I said. Hah

 

Thanks for the intel. It would be a bummer if there were only 2. I'm just gonna pencil in a Vintage for one of the releases every year until proven wrong.

 

My information could be wrong, but that’s what I was told.

 

25th anniversary beer is aged in brandy barrels (per Dan at a release last year)

 

Maybe multiple then?

http://allaboutbeer.com/new-glarus-25-years-on/

"New Glarus’ first release, a pilsner called Edel Pils (which it will re-release as part of its 25th-anniversary celebration next year), debuted in September 1993; and the brewery moved about 300 barrels in its first year. The number crept upward from there."

 

With Totally Naked getting canned I hope that's a sign for Dancing Man in the very near future!

 

I have a feeling the Brandy-barrel aged beer is the 'actual' 25th Anniversary beer, while Edel Pils will be a seasonal, but brewed/released because it was their first beer.

 

That makes sense...I'm picturing the actual 25th Anniversary (possibly brandy barrel beer?) in the 500 ml bottle, similar to the 20th Anniversary Ale bottle

 

Guys, I think we're ignoring the fact that it's OBVIOUSLY Edel Pils IN Brandy Barrels.

 

I would love to see Edel Pils distributed again. Alas, I would guess that will be a brewery only beer, similar to Hometown Blonde and 2016 Zwickel.

Edel Pils in Brandy Barrels would be gross.

 

Why do they insist on keeping these beers that were originally distributed as brewery-only? Mistral hasn't been done before, but Hometown Blonde and Zwickel/Yokel were distributed. If Edel Pils follows suit, it'll be really unfortunate. I'm sure a high-end lager like those beers would have no problem moving out in the wild, no more problem than they have moving any other Thumbprint/seasonal.

 

Exactly! I feel like lagers are what New Glarus does best. Pretty much the only time I buy New Glarus, it's usually a lager style.

 

I agree that lagers are one of the categories of styles (since "lager" is not a style but a group of many styles) they do best, but I would say they are fairly consistent across the board. Their wild ales, fruit beers, and wheat beers are all among the best in the country, and Moon Man and Scream are high in their categories, too, especially Moon Man.

 

True. TBH, I just avoid Scream all together. Throw out a rotating cold fermented beer in thumbprints instead.

 

I don't want it thrown out, but I do not know what the solution is beyond reducing the amount made so there is less to go around, and therefore it would not stagnate.
Maybe they should switch it to 16oz. cans to get that market (sort of kidding).

 

16 oz printed labels lol. Nothing says NG quite like an DIPA. It doesn’t really fit with their portfolio either.

 

I think it is a really good beer, and it fits fine in my opinion, but it just does not appear to be moving fast enough.