New Glarus Popularity in Wisconsin

Oso's and Central Waters are both Super Easy to get in Chicago.

 

They don't make any imperial or 2x beers, and they don't age anything in bourbon barrels. And I'm not really a fan of sours or fruit beers (their strong suit). Spotted Cow was awesome when I was a freshman, but I don't care for it now. Moon Man is pretty good, but everything else from them just seems average to me.

 

They have, they just don't now.

 

You know, aside from DIPA and Imperial Weizen this year, or the various Unplugged imperial offerings...

 

The Double IPA is fantastic.

 

oh sorry, I forgot about those. not my favorite styles, so I probably overlooked them.

 

Their IIPA is probably my favorite hoppy offering from the state.

 

IMO their strong suit is Dan's ability to put out world-class German style beers. TBH I wish he'd just give up on the Belgian ales (non-sour), none of them have been world-class like his German lagers. The fruit beers and wild sours, I'll concur are very delicious.

But yes, if your criteria of a great brewery is that they put out a butt-ton of barrel-aged and imperial beer, than NG won't be your cup of tea. Dan's brewing style has always been about drinkability. Not throwing 50 ingredients into a 1.120 beer and tossing it in a barrel.

 

Right, the things they do well, they do very well. Just not my thing. Although I have to admit that when I am looking for a keg of beer that is agreeable with almost everybody, I've gone with NG 2 out of the last 3 times (summer parties - Stone Soup & Moon Man). If they made a scotch ale or an imperial stout (barrel aged or not), I'd love to try it.

 

I'm going to echo lots of your guys sentiments in this statement that I love making with my nose in the air while discussing new glarus. New Glarus simply doesn't make a bad beer (minus winter warmer), the make amazingly balanced & perferct representations of everything from czech pils to nut browns. 75% of their beers aren't loved by the average barrell-aged imperial hopped truck chasin beer advocate member, but that just means more for the folks that enjoy the spectrum of finely crafted beers & lagers. They simply make amazing beers that some either don't understand or don't YET like. BA will eventually get tired of overly bourboned and overly hopped beers, when that happens you can pile the kids inside the suburu (because you'll be about in your mid-30's then), and make a journey to New Glarus. Dan will be there waiting for you with a nice pint of a hometown blonde or edel-pils. He'll then give you a gentle pat on the back and whisper in your ear "we've been waitin for ya." (basically the ending of lost re-imagined as Dan Carey ushering you into adulthood)

 

I've always loved NG. Fat Squirrel was one of my gateway beers in college and I deeply missed it when I moved out east in 2005. I was never too into Spotted Cow because everyone LOVED it. I'm always turned off by things I think are overrated and I didn't have the palate to appreciate how great it was.
A couple years ago when I was visiting I realized what I really love about NG, aside from all their beers being solid as a rock. They are as true blue hometown beer as you can get. My crazy Wisco pride pumps deeply in my veins and the fact that they are really committed to the state is a big deal. You can't get it outside WI, but within, you can at least get SC in just about ANY bar. I can feel comfortable walking into any craphole dive anywhere in WI and know there is probably at least one great beer available. The 17th largest craft brewery in the US is sold entirely within the borders of ONE state.
Ahh, at this time tomorrow I'll be in the frigid grasp of the motherland with a New Glarus in one hand and a fist full of cheese curds in the other. See you soon!

 

They have a pretty solid year-around offering, that's whats awesome. When someone from out of state comes in to buy just spotted cow, I always try to make them buy at least a sixer of Moon Man, or one of the fruit beers. I haven't drank a Spotted Cow in ages, but if that's the only beer at a party Vs Miller/Bud, I'd obviously take a spotted cow without complaining.

 

The only credit I give Spotted Cow is that it's better than most Wisconsin woman.

P.S.
Drinking my last Wild Sour as I type and it's fantastic!!

 

Why, because Spotted Cow won't turn you down?

 

I'm almost as big a fan of Summit and Schells offerings' as New Glarus, it's a wonderful time that we live in and I'm quite happy to have the choices. Maybe Surly would qualify as the MN equivalent to WI's NG.

 

Gotta say, sure as hell love knocking back a few Spotted Cows with fish fry.

 

That's an "All you care to eat" friday night fish fry I'll bet!