Spotted Cow

Nah I won't pay the price for what tastes a lot like Coors Banquet to me but it's good for what it is. . Craft beer for BMC drinkers.

 

Used to drink a lot of it (and other NG brews, favorite is Dancing Man and Coffee Stout) in the first 3 years I've been living in Wisconsin (4 total to date), now in the past year I've graduated onto bigger and better things in the craft beer world.

Its a solid beer that I'll be content drinking in any dive bar in podunk Wisconsin where there are no other better options. Like has been said, it's good for what it is.

 

Love that it's in every bar and restaurant in WI. Never have to drink BMC. Sometimes it makes an appearance in my fridge at home. If I need beer for a big party, 1/4 BBL of Spotted Cow it is.

 

It took years of only drinking big, gnarly brews to come full circle and truly enjoy something that's both subtle and totally awesome. Spotted Cow is one of those beers that fits the mold of subtle and totally awesome. Wisconsinites are lucky to have it available in every nook and cranny of the state.

 

Awesome beer on a warm day! I make sure to grab a twelve pack every-time I go camping in Wisconsin.

 

It's good for what it is, an inoffensive, relatively flavorless beer. Literally every bar in Wisconsin carries it, so it is a great option when presented with nothing but BMC. That said, if I want an easy drinker, I will take Edil-Pils over Spotted Cow any day, now that it's available again. In fact, that will pretty much be my go-to "lawnmower beer" this summer. Love it!

 

Concur. I fail to see how this is a gateway beer. Maybe to Fat Tire.

 

When i travel to WISC its nice to see even in the smallest bar that may only have 3 or 4taps i can find spotted cow.
everyonce in a while i'll make a trip sacross the border to pick up some spotted cow and other NG offerings. a good change up beer.

 

I have come to the conclusion that every New Glarus beer taste light or watered down to me. I guess I just like bolder tastes

 

Here is my story. Quit drinking beer in late 90's, couldn't stand BMC anymore. Started drinking whisky/bourbon. Went to Wisconsin on vacation about 4 years ago. Hotel bar only had cheap whisky, BMC, and Spotted Cow. After proclaiming that I wasn't real happy with the selections, He poured me a Spotted Cow and said it was on him if I didn't like it. Needless to say I had a couple more and soon after found this site.

 

spotted cow is good, im not usually at the store picking up 6 packs of it but when im at a bar and thats all they have or a party/family gathering spotted cow is usually my go to

 

You Wisconsin people are so jaded! Maybe because it takes some effort on my part to get Spotted Cow, I enjoy it more? I think it's a great session beer and just perfect for a warm summer day.

 

Not enough flavor for me, but I'm happy that many enjoy it.

 

Try this years IIPA. Nothing watered down about that one. And for the price, I'm hard pressed to find a better pale than fresh Moon Man thats so widely available. (in Wisconsin anyway)

 

Its not bad for what it is. I've noticed that it especially gets touted by the BMC crowd. I get a little bothered when I hear of people going up there just for Spotted Cow and completely ignoring the other NG offerings.

 

Spotted Cow pays the bills.

 

Some of you make me laugh with the watered down claims of New Glarus beers. If it doesn't scorch your palate or have the word double or imperial, it's watered down. Not every style needs to put you on your ass to be a good, well crafted beer. I'd challenge you to find a beer brewed locally that is as good as Edel Pils or Dancing Man Wheat.

As far as Spotted Cow goes, I would say it is taken for granted across the state by craft beer drinkers, and highly regarded by most BMC drinkers. Every bar, even your hole in the wall bar in the middle of nowhere, will have it. Because of the wide audience it reaches, the beer has become the top selling tap beer in the state. Admittedly, I don't seek it out if there are other options, but I am certainly grateful it is there when the other choices are from BMC.

 

Spotted Cow might not be that impressive a beer, but damn if every once in a while it doesn't just taste right. As someone else pointed out, it sort of fails as a gateway beer. Unfortunately, it seems to me like people here just treat it as a local alternative to BMC. I can't tell you how often I'm in the store, and people just come in, grab a 12 of Spotted Cow, and leave without even glancing at any of the other options on offer, even from New Glarus. However, if that's what bankrolls NG, I'm fine with it, because Spotted Cow's popularity never seems like it stifles their other brewing goals.