Wisconsin Belgian Red - New Glarus Brewing Company

adrock7309

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

poured a 2011 vintage into a cigar city snifter.

With an aggressive pour, almost no head. What little head there was faded quickly to a small ring around the edge of the glass with some minimal bands of foam stuck to the glass - no lacing.

Smell is huge on cherries, pie crust, some bready yeast, and some floral/leafy notes. There is also a bit of tartness there too.

Flavor is big on cherry flesh, cherry syrup, and some tangy cherry candy. There is zero hops and the malt is very subdued here. Almost non-existent.

This is such a great beer. Just wish it had a bit more complexity to the flavor as it is dominated by cherries only.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 02:54:26 | More by adrock7309

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

Kbogac

Illinois

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

Poured into a champagne glass. Thick cream colored foam on top of a light burgundy red beer. Slowly dissipates to a ring with nice lacing. Smell is sweet cherry reminiscent of candy. Taste is more of a sweet darker cherry. Not very complex.  Light mouthfeel with medium carbonation. Overall a very nice cherry ale. Not overly sweet and easy to drink. I've not found anyone that doesn't like it. 

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 23:29:42 | More by Kbogac

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

iabeerbaron

Iowa

4.2/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bought this while in Madison. Poured a dark red color with a off white head. Aroma heavy of cherries. This beer is always on hand at my house; perfect for dessert and great for people looking to try something different. First drink was very sweet. Very delicious fruit beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 19:32:39 | More by iabeerbaron

Lolli1315

Illinois

4.47/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Burgundy with a little haze as it is able to be seen through. Off white head dissipates until it becomes small and patchy with a ring around the glass.

S- Sweet and slightly tart cherries push through this beer. Malt accompanies with a little bit of a musty character.

T- The cherries hit you right away coming at you first a little sweet but quickly becoming tart. Thick malty taste is beneath as the cherries continue throughout. The finish seems to have a cherry skin flavor to it with a lingering tart flavor in the back of the mouth.

M- Medium-body, sweet throughout.

O- More than just any fruit beer. Very rich in character and full in taste. Would be great after dinner or for the holidays.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 03:57:14 | More by Lolli1315

stealth

Minnesota

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

Pours a slightly cloudy amber/red with a rapidly vanishing foamy pinkish/white head. Not much lacing - steady carbonation rising up the glass while drinking. Smells pretty much just like a cherry Jolly Rancher. My mouth immediately starts to salivate. The flavor of this 'beer' is perfect. Liquified cherry Jolly Rancher. New Glarius really hits a home run with the balance between the cherry sweetness and sour cherry tartness. No aftertaste, and finishes real dry. Leaves you puckering for the next drink. I can't imagine this being improved at all. This is a very refreshing and crisp drink. A nice body that was much thicker than I expected.

This is the perfect fruit beer. Ranked #1 in the world for a reason.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 08:08:57 | More by stealth

facundoCNB

New Jersey

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

A - a clear crisp looking red, nice carbonation, no head at all

S - my face was in awe after smelling what must be 1-1/2 tons of cherries.. it smelled like a jolly rancher candy

T - just like the smell, it was delicious like candy, and just like jolly ranchers it leaves a tarty taste behind

M - nice and fizzy like a champagne, the tartness makes your cheeks quench making this a little harder to drink which is good because i got to savor every last drop of it

O - i wish i had a constant supply of this. it's honestly my favorite fruit beer i have ever tasted. the only thing close to this was smuttynose's hanami ale which was discontinued so i am very glad i got a chance to feel that taste in my mouth again (but better)

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 11:34:53 | More by facundoCNB

Dope

Massachusetts

4.6/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Slightly cloudy blood red pour. Large soda-like red-tinged head. Retention is decent. Small amount of lacing.

S: Tart, overripe cherries. Then sweet cherries. Then cherry soda. Interesting.

T: Whoa. Up front it's like carbonated super sweet cherry syrup. Then it turns tart and very drying. Crisp. Very little aftertaste. The combination of sweet and tart flavors is I dare say, perfect for the style. I've never had a cherry fruit beer that even comes close. How can I not give it a 5?

M: Smooth, clean, crisp. Just right. Not watery or thin at all which I was worried about given the low ABV.

O: This is a hard one to rank. It's barely beer, BUT it's SO GOOD. For the style it is one of the very best - perhaps even THE best.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 04:45:31 | More by Dope

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

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

Huge thanks to angrybabboon for splitting his bottle:

Appearance: Deep ruby red. Slight haze. Opaque as can be despite the haze. Head is bubbly and a light pink/rose. Thin vestiges of head at edges of glass. Loads of carbonation. Very pretty.

Smell: So much cherry. Fresh dark cherry mixed with some sweet maraschino cherries to compliment. Cherry juice. Faint edge of tartness, but it's really just a cherry explosion.

Taste: Slightly tart. Loads of cherry flavor. Flesh, skin and juice. Sweetness is off the charts, but it works. So much cherry in every way. Almost like a melted cherry Jolly Rancher. Edge of tartness helps cut some of the sweetness, but just barely.

Mouthfeel: Medium body. Carbonation is high and it's a good thing. Drinks like a big, slightly syrupy fruit booze juice.

Overall: Holy hell. This is the most ridiculous fruit beer ever. It's barely beer, and yet it's everything a fruit beer should be.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 04:41:14 | More by Goblinmunkey7

sommersb

Tennessee

4.75/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tasted On: 01-08-2012
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 750 ml green bottle
Glassware: Wine glass
Purchased: Received in a trade

Appearance: Clear, with a ruby red color. The cream-colored head is about a finger's worth and fades fairly quickly, leaving a good amount of lace.

Smell: Wow! Extreme cherry fruit aromas are bursting from the glass. I don't smell anything beyond the cherries, but they are delightfully clean, sweet and fruity.

Taste: Just like the aroma, this beer is all about the cherries in flavor. Rich fruity taste, with intense and flavorful cherries, with some tartness but primarily sweet notes. As the beer warms, it tastes more tangy.

Mouthfeel: The fruits combined with high carbonation make for a zesty mouthfeel. The aftertaste is of cherry fruit, with a balance between sweet and tart.

Overall: An excellent and elegant beer; a real treat!

Thanks to Crass3000 for this one!

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 01:32:18 | More by sommersb

rundocrun

Iowa

4.75/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750 mL bottle into a snifter.

A - Body is a beautiful deep garnet color. Mildly hazy. Steady stream of bubbles from the bottom of the glass. Approximately one finger of off-white head that lasts about 3 minutes. Medium amount of lacing.

S - Wow. Rich, tart cherries take center stage here. A candy-like sweetness from the cherries and the malty backbone make for a mouthwatering and enticing nose.

T - Homemade cherry pie filling! This is damn tasty stuff. Despite the overwhelming cherry essence up front, the belgian character does have its moment in the spotlight. Toward the finish and most definitely in the aftertaste, there is a distinct crisp, dry and somewhat spicy flavor indicative of belgian yeast, delicately toasted malts, and a healthy dose of candi sugar.

M - Incredibly drinkable. I only wish I had gotten a bottle of this stuff during the summer instead of early January. Tart, sweet, clean and refreshing. Thinner body, but just enough thickness to hammer down the fact that this is an excellent craft beer and not some watery mass-produced "flavored malt beverage."

Overall - It's not hard to see why this is one of the top-rated brews from New Glarus. They've most definitely hit the mark for providing the drinker with a true taste of cherries at their finest.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 05:30:32 | More by rundocrun

shand

Florida

4.88/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a Sam Adams perfect pint. Thanks to redbird!

Well, this is just a little embarrassing. I held on to this for a long time. Probably longer than I should have, since I got this bad boy about 8 months ago, and who knows how long it was around before then. Hoping for the best! Pours a very hazy red color with a tiny head that drop fast. The smell? Dear GOD that smells good! Cherries! There are cherries in this beer. Lots of cherries. I love cherries. This smells very good. It also tastes like there's cherries in this beer. It does a great job of balancing the sweet and the tart. The mouthfeel is crisp and light, and the drinkability is amazing. Why did I wait so long to pop this one? This is seriously a world-class beer. If you like cherries, you will like this beer. No way around that.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 01:08:27 | More by shand

Pencible

Virginia

3.58/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: This poured a hazy ruby with a little off-white head.
S: It smelled like sugary sweet cherry. Surprising lack of complexity here.
T: It tasted like super sweet cherry, with a tart finish. Nice clean aftertaste. That's about all.
M: It was watery with lots of natural carbonation. Nice light body.
D: This was basically one-dimensional, which was somewhat disappointing to me. It had a terrific natural cherry taste, but nothing else. It must be sipped, since it's so sweet. This could go well with vanilla ice cream, but it's challenging to drink a full glass by itself. Nice to try once, but I probably won't have this one again.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 16:37:01 | More by Pencible

merc7186

New York

4.18/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this beer poured from a bottle into a sampler glass.

A: Reddish/Orange Hue, Passes Minimal Light, Minimal Head Ring, Minimal Head

S: Cherry Syrup

T: Sour Cherries

M: Decent Carbonation, Light to Medium Bodied, Sour

Overall, an interesting cherry ale with a sour yet sweet. Definitely worth the experience.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 01:33:53 | More by merc7186

jmarsh123

Indiana

3.78/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a murky reddish brown with a finger of pink tinged white head with good retention and lacing.

Wow definitely cherries. Smell almost like one of those Luden's cough drops that's really candy. A little bit of tartness and some spice.

Starts off with some sweeter cherry notes and is quickly overpowered by tart cherry, finishing dry and somewhat oaky. Just a touch of band-aid flavor in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is on the lighter side with good carbonation levels.

This one is unique. I very much enjoy a few sips, but the drinkability isn't terribly high as the tartness/sweet cherry flavors get overpowering by the end of the glass. Still a solid beer, just not great.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 22:22:12 | More by jmarsh123

Kadonny

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 750 waxed top bottle into a tulip glass. Shared with my wife on Christmas evening.

A: A deep reddish mahogany color with a one finger reddish fizzy head. No glass lacing and the head does disappear.

S: Cherries galore! Wow, smells just like a cherry soda with some tartness. I'm not getting much else on the smell.

T: Cherries, cherries, cherries. A huge cherry flavor that starts, stays and finishes. Some slight oak and yeast that keep the beer somewhat tart and doesn't allow the sweetness to totally take over, but the sweetness still wins in the end. After a few sips, this starts to get very "cherry cough syrupy" with the flavor.

M: Fizzy, tart, sweet with no alcohol.

O: Ok, I struggle to see how people are rating this beer so high. Where is the complexity? There is none in my eyes, it's all cherry all the time with flavors that start to wear on you after awhile. Am I missing something here?

I normally like fruit beers, but this one to me is just one dimensional and starts to taste like cough syrup to me. Not totally digging that. I enjoyed the experience, but I won't seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 16:05:12 | More by Kadonny

BeardedBoffin

New Mexico

4.72/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I have been wanting to try this for a while. The beer pours an interesting dark red to mahogany color with a nice cap of foam. The aroma of the beer is dominated by cherries with an air of dryness to it. Some earthy tones linger around as well. Carbonated and light on the palate. Clean cherry sings through. The sweetness is beautifully balanced by the tartness of the cherries. For such a cherry-laden brew, complexity abounds. It has wonderful depth and makes me want to keep drinking.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 03:15:25 | More by BeardedBoffin

tvv375ia

Iowa

4.28/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

poured from 25oz bottle into flute glass

A-nice light red color with about a 2 finger head that recedes quickly

S-lots of cherry smell and a little oak coming through

T-cherry is about all I get for the flavors in this one not really any oak

M-lots of carbonation maybe a little too much

O-with the carbonation in this it tastes pretty much like cherry soda, not bad but a little too sweet and fizzy for me

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 18:57:16 | More by tvv375ia

cosmicevan

New York

4.68/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

thanks to Shango42, i've been holding this one for a while. had some friends over and poped it.

a - poured a chestnut red with a think off white frothy head. lacing was chunky.

s - cherry bomb. sour cherries. smells great.

t - sour cherry deliciousness. this is shocking that a beer can be like this. what a flavor! some brown sugar mixed in with the cherry.

m - not overly fizzy...decent body.

o - overall, this is a really impressive brew. it is unique and a great representation on what a beer can be and still be great. short's should take note...these guys know how to make a vegetable beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 05:51:45 | More by cosmicevan

Alieniloquium

Florida

4.03/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle poured into a goblet. Thanks to MarcatGSB for this bottle!

Appearance - Dark, dull, red with a pinkish, but only slightly pinkish, head. Less brilliant looking than the Raspberry Tart. Great retention, great lacing. Aside from a dismal color, it looks quite nice.

Smell - Fresh cherry aroma. Nothing artificial about it. It smells like a box of cherries.

Taste - Slightly tart cherries, but nothing more than the cherries themselves. A hint of sweetness at the end, but it doesn't build the way the Raspberry Tart did.

Mouthfeel - Crisp and light. The sweetness is really under control with this one. I put this bottle away way too quickly.

Overall - A glass of cherries. If that's what you're looking for, great. It's still tough to rate these bizarre beers.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 20:25:00 | More by Alieniloquium

CBlack85

South Carolina

4.9/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

thanks to crossovert for the hookup

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a snifter.

The beer pours a hazy reddish color with an off white head that has just a hint of pink. The head recedes quickly leaving behind no hint of lacing whatsoever.

The nose is all cherries all day long. Really just a breathtaking sour cherry aroma. What an amazing aroma; I could almost forget about drinking this beer and just sit a enjoy the aroma all evening. Outstanding. No malts, no hops, just cherries...

The flavor is big, just as big as the aroma. A big full flavored glass of cherries. Slightly tart, while still remaining sweet and enjoyable. Well carbonated, making the beer almost prickly on the tongue. Medium bodied, and easy to drink.

The website boasts "Over a pound of Door County cherries in every bottle", and I believe it. Just a terrific beer. Really teh best example of a fruit beer that I have ever tasted.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 05:17:25 | More by CBlack85

nataku00

California

4.43/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into a tulip. Beer pours a reddish brown, hazy, with a finger of reddish white foamy head consisting of tight bubbles. Plenty of lacing as the head dissipated to a pale red film and a thin collar of small bubbles. Some fine champagne like carbonation visible at the edge of the glass, but can't really see through the beer.

Nose is intense sweet red cherries, with just a hint of tartness and mild tannins like aroma. Nuttiness similar to almonds as well, maybe from the cherry pits, floral honey, biscuit malts, and some light fruity esters round out a nice aroma.

Flavor follows the nose, intense cherry fruit flavor, not fake cherry syrup at all. Some light tartness as well, and the nutty almond like flavor. Sweet floral honey and biscuit malts joins the cherry flavor mid tongue. Finish is just more light fruity sweet cherries and a bit of tartness. Not cloyingly sweet at all, very enjoyable flavor.

Medium body, slightly syrupy with some light tingly carbonation. Would have like more carbonation, to be honest, as the beer gets a little sticky on the tongue. Bits of cherry flesh in the beer as well, which is fine by me. Very easy to drink as it is a low abv beer, but packed full of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 04:06:29 | More by nataku00

agroeber

Ohio

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

Perhaps the best dessert beer I've come across. Massive amounts of sweet cherry up front turn to slightly sour notes on the back end. A sublimely pleasant experience - enough to please even the most hardened IPA drinker. It can be tough to work through a full bottle on your own, but don't share with more than 2-3 people, or you'll feel shorted on your share.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2011 18:56:14 | More by agroeber

mdvatab

Indiana

4.47/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Received as a generous gift from Crass3000. (Thank You!)
Poured from 750ml bottle into red wine glass.

Aroma: Pow! Sweet fragrant, cherry explodes from the glass. Also picking up a nice, soft vanilla note.

Appearance: Deep ruby-amber, hazy body with a pinkish-tan two-finger head, which leaves behind decent Belgian lace.

Flavor: Deliciously sweet cherry, again softened by a vanilla-like flavor (don't think vanilla was actually added). A fantastic mix of sweet and tart components. Never cloying, but also, not over-the-top sour like a kriek would be.

Mouthfeel: Medium-high, fine carbonation both tickles the palate, and also lends to a somewhat creamy mouthfeel. Appropriate level of tartness still makes the mouth water!

Overall: VERY DRINKABLE!!! Shared with my wife, who not only loved this one, but agreed that it was hard not to pound it like a soda! We also received a bottle of Raspberry Tart from the generous trader mentioned above, but Belgian Red edged Tart out by a hair. Highly recommended--especially for anyone who "doesn't like beer". To adapt a cheesy line from a commercial, "my wife doesn't usually drink beer, but when she does, she drinks Belgian Red"! (sorry, couldn't resist...)

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 17:32:14 | More by mdvatab