New Glarus Brewing Company- Spotted Cow Ale: Maybe Wisconsin should stick to cheese!

Chris went to college in Wisconsin so he has been sneaking some Cheese-head beers into the review box lately. As a novice to the Wisconsin brew scene I was excited to give Spotted Cow Ale from New Glarus Brewery a swirl. Let’s hope that this brew is a lot more satisfying than my last farmhouse ale.

Spotted Cow pours a hazy light orange with a minimal head and little to no carbonation. The scent is faint malt with zero trace of hops or bitterness. The label claims that this beer has hints of barely and even corn but I found neither in the very thin and light aroma. Spotted Cow Ale is bottled conditioned which explains the yeasty haziness in my glass.

Unfortunately the flavor is as thin as the bouquet. Other than a slight wheat graininess and some mild maltiness, this beer has no flavor. This is the same problem that I ran into with the last farmhouse ale I tried. The website claims that this ale is “fun and fruity,” it’s more like her sister, “flat and boring.” Spotted Cow is the homely girl who asks you to prom and then your mom makes you go with her because she feels bad for her and wants to teach you a lesson about being shallow. Sorry but I’m looking for my beer trophy wife, not to settle and raise a couple of boring little heifers. There are a lot of beers to drink in this world and I have to say, this is one you could easily go without trying.  

ABV: 4.8%

Consumed: Pint Glass

Verdict: Skip it!

New Glarus Brewing Company- Spotted Cow Farmhouse Ale: Cruisin’ WI with Spotted Cow

I think an interesting comparison can be made between beers and cars. In each case we all have our brand loyalties, we search for beers and vehicles for certain occasions, and many of us long to try out more exotic varieties in either category. For example, I am a Chevy man, and I drive an Impala as a daily driver. However, I feel the intense desire to drive a Camaro or Corvettte, or even a Lamborghini. I think beers are the same way. I have to admit that I do not only drink quality beers, and my daily driver is Miller Lite. While that is true, I always love taking new, more exciting beers for a test-drive. When in college, I was introduced to New Glarus Brewing Company’s Spotted Cow, and I immediately recognized it as a classic early 1950s Chevy sedan.

Spotted Cow is a Wisconsin standard, and a beer that is built to suit almost any situation. Spotted Cow is a Cream Ale, and upon pouring this delightful serum into a glass (from a bottle), I was hit with thick, grainy, fruity aromas, as I admired its cloudy straw color. The head did vary depending on my pouring technique, but in any case, it was not quite as carbonated as would have been suggested by its aroma. The flavor is full of wheat with hints of gassy hops flavor, but the high fruity notes and the malty flavors of this brew round out this assemblage of components and give it a quality balance of flavors. It is a lighter beer, which gives it a light body, but the yeast that remains in this bottle-conditioned ale gives it a thickness not characteristic of many lighter ales. It has almost a creamy fullness to it to compliment the grainy flavors of wheat. The aftertaste was not lingering or unpleasant; it was slightly fruity and sweet with a hint of hops.

Now, some readers may have lost the metaphor between beer and car, but a brief explanation can clear up any doubt. For me, a 1951 Chevy represents a class of car that was well-balanced in design and function, but not overly flashy. In our present decade on the other hand this car is a recognizable one, as are any of a number of other cars from those days. Spotted Cow has that character and appeal about it. It is as functional as the Chevy was originally intended, and as much of a standout as it can be on today’s streets. It is a light ale, but it is something that you would love to drink for years to come. It isn’t overly flashy, but its balanced flavors delight the taste-buds. Spotted Cow can be your daily driver while still giving a hint of glamour from past ages.

ABV 4.80%

Consumed: Pint Glass

Verdict: Buy A Case