Wisconsin Belgian Red - New Glarus Brewing Company

brakspear

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

For my 100th review I had to select the best specialty beer brewed in Wisconsin -- it was certainly tough to let the bottle sit in my beer cave awaiting my entry into the mugclub!

The presentation alerts you that this beer is something different: a 25 oz champange bottle sealed with crimson bottling wax....the beer is best served in a brandy snifter or champange flute according to Master Brewer Dan Carey.

The beer pours a deep ruby red with a frothy pink head, that does not linger long, but does not need to with the lingering carbonation hidden in the depths of this ale.

The aroma is an explosive blend of sour Montmorency cherry and spicy oak earthy notes. Tremendous balance in the aroma that prevents the cherry from becoming overwhelming.

The taste is also an amazing blend of cherry tartness and slight malty sweetness, balanced with an earthy oak dryness. This is not an ale to be gulped, but savored throughout the night.

This is a nearly perfect example of what craft brewing can produce, given the skills of an expert brewer, the use of exceptional local ingredients, and a daring to try something unique. New Glarus deserves all the awards they have received for this tremendous ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2003 12:30:11 | More by brakspear

ethosx19

Wisconsin

4.88/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is by far the best fruit beer I have tried. Pours red...cherry aroma...high carbonation. The sweetness and carbonation give a great mouthfeel and I love the sour tart finish of the Door County cherries. I can't image getting any more cherry taste in this beer. Good with chocolate too.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2003 21:27:54 | More by ethosx19

MJR

Missouri

4.83/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a cool raspberry color with an interesting light pink head. The head disipates somewhat quickly.

Smell: Scent of sharp cherries, with a touch of a musty, earthy smell. A kind of sweet/sour balance which is very well done. A hint of oak too. Very addictive aroma...

Taste: First impression is that of a sharp, cherry tart. This flavor stays the whole time, but doesn't smother the others. I pick up on cinnamon, which grows stronger as it warms. Slight spiciness too. I can tell this has been aged/stored in oak barrels, as there's a nice earthy, oak character on the tail end. I pick up on a slight sweet, bread/biscuit flavor as well. The balance of sweet and sour is absolutely incredible. Amazing well-done brew...

Mouthfeel: Sharp and acidic...this easily replaces Champange. Finishes very dry with an overall light to medium-light mouthfeel. Makes me hungry!

Drinkability: Really, really high...in the right place and mood. This isn't an everyday beer, but it truly is spectacular in the right setting.

For a while, I had heard how great and unique this beer was...the many awards...the constant critical praise, etc. Now that I've tried it, all of it is fully deserved. In true Belgian style, it stretches the bounderies of what beer is and can be. Objectively speaking, this is one of the best brews I've ever encountered.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2002 19:32:17 | More by MJR

cokes

Wisconsin

4.65/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a bottle for the first time since a couple years ago. I had not been a fan back then (and I was just getting into beer), and I don't really dig fruit beers in general. Things done changed.

Pours a murky ruby-amber with a big, puffy, pink-tan head. It recedes fairly quickly, but never goes away.
Screaming tart cherry aroma. Underlying this is some oaky/woody notes and subtle cinnamon spicing.
Taste, as one would expect, is heavy on the cherries. Initally very sweet, then moves more toward the sour direction. Stays both sweet and tart throughout. Carmelized malt provide a backbone but not much else. Yeast adds a little more sourness and some doughy notes. Touches of cinnamon appear as it warms with some spicy wood accents.
At times, when the tartness and spicy notes hit the back of the throat just right, this can be eye-wateringly intense. A lot of flavor here.
Easily the best fruit beer I've had (along with it sister, Raspberry tart). This will now take the place of champagne. I am glad I revisited it.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2002 15:51:02 | More by cokes

marc77

California

3.48/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Hazy ruby in hue, covered by a lightly pinkish, thin white head. Cherries expectedly dominate the aroma and are very fresh in nature. As the brew warms, a caramel malt aroma and nuttiness surface slowly, lending a subtle marzipan note when combined with the fruitiness. Assertively sweet in flavor, with sugary fresh cherry sweetness dominating the flavor profile. A mild tartness partially offsets the sweetness, but fruity sweetness remains dominant. Strong cherry persists from start to finish and perhaps overshadows malt character, leaving this brew a bit one dimensional. Well carbonated with a spritzy mouthfeel. Appropriately light body. Finishes with a combination of sugary sweetness and subdued tartness lingering on the palate. Although the fruitness was very fresh and clean overall, Wisconsin Belgian Red seemed to lack the malt character that their Raspberry tart had. It's a unique and enjoyable brew nonetheless!

Big, huge thanks to Bighuge for the bottle!

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2002 19:13:20 | More by marc77

ZAP

Minnesota

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Mahogony/cherrywood color...bubbly lace...smells of cherries(surprise)..great aroma...heavy cherry taste with a hint of brown sugar..tart finish...if you want a fruit flavored beer this is it..a CLASSIC....nice carbonation keeps from tasting syrupy.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2002 22:01:27 | More by ZAP

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.95/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Luscious cranberry-like red hue. Unbelievable aroma. Great cranberry/vanilla sweet smell with quite a bit of cherry too. It's a sweet aroma, but not a malty sweet aroma. Fruity sweet. The taste is exceptional. Woody, vinous, dry and of course, loads of cherry. This is one of my all-time favorites and it never fails. Every time I have had this, it has been exceptional. A true classic.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2002 19:57:22 | More by Bighuge

QXSTER1

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Beautiful dark tan with a hint of red color, bursting with cherry aroma. Taste of tart cherries, balanced by the sweet malt. Better than a cherry wine.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2001 12:46:49 | More by QXSTER1

LeRose

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Draft at several bars in Madison, WI. Not a big fruit beer fan, but really loved this stuff. Lots of cherry flavor, a nice tartness to balance the sweet, some malty character in the background. DIdn't get the artificial cherry flavor I've had in some other kriek-type brews. Definitely a good job by New Glarus on that aspect. Way in the background I thought I found some malty (ie real beer) backbone underlying the whole thing vs. the more soda pop varieties. Very nice, balanced taste and certainly drinkable. Sort of explosive flavor - very strong, competent flavor profile overall. The only knock for me is the "fizzy bubbly" - not a huge deterrent as the bar tabs would reveal...

Review from notes

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2012 16:36:51 | More by LeRose

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from straight from the source in New Glarus Wisconsin at the Brewery.

Appearance: Dark and murky; yet still a brilliant red. White colored head that has a really nice lace on the side of the glass.

Smell: heres a surprise... CHERRYS. Big fruity cherries and some added sweetness from the malt profile. Its almost like cherry pie smell.

Taste: Both sweet and tart cherries, with a decent balance of the cherry profile. Its also got a mild oak and earthy note to it. Great fruit beer.

Mouthfeel: drinks like a medium bodied beer even though its only 4%. moderate carbonation levels. The carbonation is almost seltzer like and lively. Just enough carbonation to keep the beer from becoming syrupy. Easy drinker here.

Overall: Drank this beer many time, just finally reviewed it. I really love this fruit beer and the raspberry tart is just as tasty. New Glarus is known for the fruit beers for a reason! They are World Class!

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2012 10:49:06 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

Trifecta1

Illinois

4.6/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the New Glarus Brewery in New Glarus, WI.

A - Rust red, small pearl-red head. Good amounts of carbonation present.

S - Cherry pie like momma used to make, but holding back on the heavily-sweetened scent.

T - Sweet and tart cherries, with a classic malty taste squeaking in near the end. Nectar of the gods, a must try for cherry lovers.

M - Heavily carbonated, kind of champagne-like qualities. Light, lack of that syrupy feeling.

O - Must try for sweet beer lovers, cherry lovers, and highly recommended for anyone wanting to try something a little different. New Glarus works wonders with fruit beer, as displayed by this fantastic beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2012 07:08:10 | More by Trifecta1

amphion1065

Massachusetts

4.97/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

64 oz. Half Acre Growler shared with friends - I enjoyed the lion's share from a Duvel tulip. This particular growler was a replacement for one that fell prey to a delivery exception, and the box in which it came provided me with enough packing material for untold future trades.

The carbonation of this five-day-old growler is absolutely phenomenal. An audible burst of air upon unscrewing the cap! This pours a gorgeous, deep dark ruby shade, with stunning clarity. A 1.5-finger cherry-tinted white head has very tight bubbles and fantastic retention. Moderate lacing as well.

I will never tire of smelling this beer. Pure, unadulterated cherries. The fruit is so crisp and pure. This seems sweeter than the bottled version, as if some subtle vanilla crept in.

That wonderful cherry tartness really comes through in the taste. One of the truly unique things about this beer is the "natural" taste of the fruit addition: in this case, the cherries impart a wonderful sourness in perfect balance with the sweetness present. This is such a light and wonderful beer, but the taste is really huge - cherries coat the palate with every sip.

The mouthfeel of this growler is actually unreal. The carbonation is flawless, the mouthfeel lush but just so spot on. I was so sad to see this growler go, but it was so worth it.

Better than the bottle? Very possible, though absence does make the heart grow fonder. I’m totally enamored of this beer, and actually can't fathom that there's a better representation of the style. Forever ISO this work of art.

Serving type: growler

10-29-2011 12:48:05 | More by amphion1065

Duff27

Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A- Pours a clear, ruby red with a small white head. Good lacing and head retention.

S- Cherries, hints of vanilla?

T- More cherries...fresh and above all else, real. Tart. Dare I say orgasmic?

M- Dances on the tongue like its sister Raspberry Tart.

D/O- I've had many a beers in my day but this remains one of the best beers I've ever had. Light and fruity, its an easy drinker although I find myself taking small sips just to savor. The epitome of "world class".

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2011 19:39:06 | More by Duff27

landhoney

Florida

4.93/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I love this beer, despite it being almost more of a cherry cider than a beer. This beer is all about the cherry, although the base beer must be solid to build the cherry goliath on top of. The cherry aroma, taste, sourness, and sweetness are all there, so intense it borders on medicinal but it is NOT, it's a natural/real cherry taste that is so enjoyable and refreshing. I could guzzle this stuff by the gallon and never tire of it, can't think of a negative except maybe there are more complex beers out there. I wish they made a sour variant of this, but they should never change this beer, it is exceptional on its own and for what it is; a cherry beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-31-2011 21:06:00 | More by landhoney

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Saw this bad-boy on tap and HAD to have it as the bottle I had before was quite excellent. Served from tap into a Trappe Door tulip. poured red with a three finger very light pink head that subsided to one and a half very slowly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, cherry, and slight sour. The flavor was of sweet malt, cherry, sugar, slight tart, and slight sour. It had a light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this brew is nothing short of excellent. Really can't believe I got the opportunity to try this one on tap. It was really just as good as out of the bottle. Everything in this one just WORKS! Nothing at all missing for the style and is likely my favorite brew of the style only compeating with Raspberry Tart. If you haven't had this brew before regardless of the serving type, you need to do so as soon as you possibly can.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2011 13:28:11 | More by thagr81us

BasementBer

Manitoba (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Drank this one while walking the swanky small craft - large scale brewery.

A: Pinkish head with good retention and lacing. Reddish brown hue. Sparkling wine-esque hue but darker in glass.

S: Tart. Maltiness notes but overwhelmingly cherry mash.

T: Pure raw cherries, no extract sweetness. Meaty cherry taste with light malts and little to no hops detectable.

M: Bites a bit on the tongue with the tartness and in the throat. But the lasting coating of the massive 1lb of cherries per bottle makes it linger for days.

D: Really enjoyed this as a special and unique brew. Desert anyone?

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2011 15:54:02 | More by BasementBer

bwiechmann

Minnesota

4.45/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

(From Notes)
Picked up a growler from Casanova's in Hudson, Wisconsin to share with relatives while opening Christmas presents last December.

Poured from the growler into a flute glass. Pours a deep, murky red with billowing pinkish head that leaves attractive lacing. Beautiful.

Smell is all cherries- wonderful tart cherries with a dusting of sweetness.

Taste is a melding of beer and wine as the bottle claims. Light and fruity while still complex. Loads of fruit but you can still tell it's a beer.

Mouthfeel is enticing. Massaging the tongue with tiny dancing bubbles.

Drinkability is insane. I'm so glad I picked up a growler as a bomber may have not been enough.

The best non-sour fruit beer I have had to date- absolutely phenomenal- seek this stuff out.

Serving type: growler

02-10-2011 22:17:00 | More by bwiechmann

oreo

Illinois

4/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Served into my New Glarus tasting glass during the tour.

Pours a light red with minimal head.

Smells like a ton of cherries. Lots and lots of cherries.

Taste is very good. Nothing but cherries in my mind. Hard to believe this is actually beer. Almost like kool-aid.

Thicker beer than I had imagined this would be. Carbonation was perfect.

Wouldn't drink more than a few oz's at a time. Too sweet to be considered a session-able beer to me.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2011 21:36:30 | More by oreo

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.78/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

The ulltimate cherry pie beer. Poured with a huge, foamy, frothy, thick, light tan head and a little lace. Color is red amber. Aroma is malt, sour cherries, and spice. Flavor's exactly like nose. Body is perfect and carbonation is the ultimate and cuts through the flavors exactly right. Finish is fairly long and exquisite. Not a session for me, but a great beer for desert or on a picnic.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2010 22:04:04 | More by drpimento

porterwoobie

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

from tap, poured into a tulip glass.

A: red and slightly hazy. one finger red/pink head that dissipated quickly.

S: cherries, but in a way resembled cough syrup (not in a bad way).

T: cherries. kind of tart at first but ended up sweet in the finish.

MF: full bodied, high carbonation.

Drinkability: i think this is a well crafted beer, but not my style. i would like to try it with ice cream or other dessert. i think people who appreciate fruit beers would definitely enjoy this one.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2009 00:09:30 | More by porterwoobie

jdoherty

New York

3.13/5  rDev -28.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I suppose fruit beers and lambics just aren't my thing, but I could not help but try this belgian red at the New Glarus Brewery.

Appearance: About as close to red as beer can get, you can see the carbonation bubbles flying towards the top

Smell: Cherries, a whole pound of cherries! You can smell it from a mile away

Taste: Incredibly sour, obviously I know this is a matter of palate, but I just could not handle it.

Mouthfeel: Champagne dry, almost needed a glass of water afterward.

Drinkability: You're not exactly going to drink this down fast, to be served in small doses. Definetely a beer for non-beer people, and the big fruit beer fan's holy grail, just not for me

Serving type: on-tap

10-15-2006 20:24:04 | More by jdoherty

warriorsoul

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to stonecrusher for this one...huge thanks.
Pours a cloudy red color with half a finger of pinkish, off-white head...some sporadic lacing as it fades.
Beautiful in the nose...huge cherry aroma with a gentle sweetness to complement things.
The taste is, as fruit beers go...simply phenomenal.
Tremendous cherry profile with a tart finish that makes you crave this brew more and more. Perfect summer beer...has the belgian feel, but with the local cherries added, brings it closer to home.
Medium bodied mouthfeel...quite carbonated, but perfect for the style.
Goes down so easy...especially on a day like today.
If you are into fruit beers at all, this one is a must...even if you are not, you should find enough in this brew to at least be impressed with its creators.

Serving type: growler

08-03-2006 01:17:55 | More by warriorsoul

battlekow

Wisconsin

4.4/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Landmark 1850.

Belgian Red pours a dark, thick reddish color, as befits a cherry beer, with almost no head and no lacing. If only it had a nice, fluffy, pink head, this would be a beautiful beer.

It smells and tastes distinctly of...cherry! Not sickeningly sweet cherry syrup like in a kiddie cocktail, but like real cherries, still sweet, but also tart. As a result, the mouthfeel has a cool puckering effect to it. This beer isn't very "beery," but tastes extremely good--if you like cherries, of course.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2005 00:21:32 | More by battlekow