Spotted Cow - New Glarus Brewing Company

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a Bruery tulip.
4.8% ABV, 0162 printed on the neck.

A - Spotted Cow pours a shimmering golden yellow color that's got minor floating particles through it; hazy due to it's unfiltered nature. A tall, dense white head is always found on this beer, sticking lace to the glass as you sip away.

S - Spotted Cow exudes an up-front lemony-citrus aroma turned mellow with a cream and honey-sweet follow-up that moves into dry straw and a pale malt graininess. There's a touch of creamed corn in the aroma, but it's fitting considering it's use, a nod to the farming community.

T - Flaked biscuits are drizzled with honey and a drop of heavy cream before the ever-present straw and husk dryness follows through. Lemon citrus peeks out with a quick spurt of white grape flavor on the finish.

M - Spotted Cow miraculously blends smooth creaminess with heavy carbonated for a crisp finish with an overall medium-light body and low, dry citrus dryness to balance the sweetness out. Keeping everything in check and harmonious here is a perfect feat for the style, I must admit.

O - I'll be honest; New Glarus' money-maker, what I consider two steps away from a light beer, is not for me. I appreciate the beer for how well-crafted it is, which reflects in the review, but I appreciate the business behind it much more so; if it allows them to do all the other terrific beers I'm in love with, then so be it! With that said, Spotted Cow appeals to the masses wonderfully with it's fuller-than-light-beer but not-intrusive flavor and creamy, easy drinking body. They call it a Wisconsin Farmhouse Ale which fits with their "drink indigenous" theme (which I'm all for!) but I certainly wouldn't liken Spotted Cow to what people typically understand as a Farmhouse Ale or, Belgian Saison. But hell, it sells outrageously and people come from out-of-state to buy it by the case-load, so what do I know?

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 22:41:23 | More by BeerFMAndy

ONUMello

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass
A: Pale yellow color with a one-finger head that quickly settles.
S: Tons of malt/grain, just a bit creamy.
T: Cereal/grain and florals. Light and smooth.
M: Light but refreshing.
O: Simple & straightforward but well-made, this would be a good transition beer for those accustomed to macro-lagers.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 22:34:02 | More by ONUMello

buschbeer

Ohio

3.1/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle
Served in a perfect pint glass

A - It is straw colored, just like my lawn. A large white head was on top, but it settled to a thin skim.

S - I get some grain and grass. It reminds me of an American adjunct.

T - It has a lot of those adjunct qualities in the taste as well.

M - It has a certain creaminess to it.

O - I was excited to try a New Glarus beer; however, this is not one to be excited about.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 16:16:02 | More by buschbeer

Humulus85

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Got me a New Glarus twelve-pack sampler when I went to WI for fireworks. Been looking forward to trying some of these. From a 12oz bottle into a standard pint glass.

Pours a slightly hazed straw yellow with some floaties. Produced a modest one-finger off white head that dissipated rather quickly but displayed some decent lacing.

Light in the nose. Some fruity esters from the yeast, some cereal grains and a hint of sweet corn. Subdued, but nice.

Fruity and floral notes upfront, nice clean pale malt backbone. Almost tastes like a standard adjunct lager that was fermented with farmhouse yeast.

Here is where this beer shines. Light in body, but with a creamy texture, perfect carbonation, and a clean finish. Super drinkable. A great choice for a sunny afternoon.

Overall this is a really tasty brew that is purposefully understated, but still with some intricacies. This would be a perfect beer to introduce somebody to the craft beer world. I can't say I'd ever go back to WI for a whole case, but I will definitely enjoy the other two I have. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 21:47:12 | More by Humulus85

rfgetz

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a lightly hazed golden yellow, long lasting cap of bubbles, some sheets of lacing. Scent brings shortbread like sweetness with faint watery fruit and creamed corn. Taste follows suit, not overly complex but full flavored for the style. Lighter side of medium, slightly slick and bubbly. One of the top beers in style due to its solid flavor profile. Good BMC alternative.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 13:58:10 | More by rfgetz

THANAT0PSIS

Wisconsin

3.53/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: New Glarus’ flagship beer pours a cloudy hay-gold with just under two fingers of pure white head that eventually settles to a nice looking white crust on the surface of the beer. The carbonation is minimal, as is lacing. There really isn’t much to say about the beer; it is quite plain and unremarkable.

Smell: The smell is unique, if also plain. Most of the nose is dominated by a creamy and sweet corn-tinged scent mixed with a healthy dose of wheat and moderate suggestions of malt and barley. Yeast is also present here, though not very strongly.

Taste: Initially the corn and sweet malts are very strong, but as they fade into the background, the deeper malt character and yeast force their way to the front. The aftertaste is a bit fruity (bananas and pineapples?), but not so sweet as to ruin the spicy bite that the yeast gives it. Again, the beer is unique, and taste is definitely where it excels, but it is not overly impressive in the grand beer scheme.

Mouthfeel: This one is best served cold to make it as refreshing as possible. It exceeds in the drinkability category and is thus a great session beer, especially considering its relatively low ABV. As mentioned in taste, the yeastiness gives it a great bite and makes up for the lacking carbonation. Not a lot else going on here.

Overall: Drinking the beer that New Glarus is known for turned out to be somewhat disappointing, but that shouldn’t discourage prospective drinkers from trying it, and those who have also been disappointed or felt indifferent should give the other great New Glarus brews a shot. Also worth noting is that the Cow really varies, sometimes from bottle to bottle, batch to batch, and certainly from tap to tap; some glasses are really delicious and deserving of a 4-4.5, but most are somewhere between 2-3.5, sadly. If drunk on the porch on a hot summer day, this otherwise mediocre beverage gains roughly .5-it is that refreshing. 13/20

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 22:26:02 | More by THANAT0PSIS

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

2.53/5  rDev -31.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 1

12oz bottle into a pint glass

A: Pours a slightly hazy golden color with two fingers of fluffy white head. Retention is great. I haven't had too many cream ales, but this looks nice enough.

S: Pale and sweet malts up front, though light, with slight citrus and spiciness that reminds me of AALs.

T: Very mild sweet malt up front with a spiciness and citrus flavor very similar to the smell. I also get a good amount of corn flavor that does not go well with the beer. The corn flavor along with a bit of a metallic flavor in the aftertaste is unpleasant.

M: On the thick side of what I expected from a Cream Ale with nice mild carbonation.

O: Reminds me very much of a AAL. Mild flavor with corn and a vague spiciness and citrus flavor and a terrible aftertaste. Not very good. I think I just really don't like Cream Ales.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 00:06:17 | More by coreyfmcdonald

Arno

4.78/5  rDev +28.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

I was on holiday in the US and visited Wisconsin. In the first bar they already tipped me this beer. So ofcourse i had a taste.

And my first tasting impression was wow!

Appearance:
Light yellow, gold like. Bright and refreshing looking.

Smell:
Sweet malts, fruits, wheat, corn, citrus.

Taste:
A subtle, almost creamy, balance of fruit, malt, citrus and corn. Very light and easy going, nearly no bitter and yet very refreshing without getting boring at all.

Mouthfeel:
Light, thin and refreshing. Medium carbonation.

Overall:
Usually beers like these get a bit annoying after a while because they lack depth and are too easy going. But this one, i can drink any day, and all day :) It somehow manages to give all sorts of easy flavors and yet manages to keep it interesting. It's refreshing, easy going and has a nice balance of sweetness and acidity. It's the perfect summer drink.
One of my favorites in the "easy going and fresh" category beers.

Too bad it's pretty much impossible to get this beer over here (Netherlands). Maybe it need to import and distribute it :)

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 22:17:25 | More by Arno

Forb

Nebraska

3.78/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks Holmgren!!

Poured from a 12oz bottle; no freshness date...

Appearance: Pours a deep but bright yellow with a moderate white head that dissipates fairly quick.

Smell: Saison-like fruit esters come forward, malts, and citrus.

Taste: Grains, corn, minor malt, and serious fruity farmhouse traits.

Mouthfeel: Real light body here with almost no carbonation from this cask condition brew.

Overall: Delicious and highly drinkable!

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 20:26:36 | More by Forb

TubaManJack

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Finally a New Glarus

The bottle yielded a full glass of a hazy deep yellow body. The head of the beer looks more like an adjunct cap of wispy white foam. The nose is full of yeasty bread and a bit of corn. There isn't a lot of malt in the nose or the taste. Perhaps the best part of this beer is its mouthfeel. The body is really smooth and lightly carbonated. A really enjoyable brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 01:21:10 | More by TubaManJack

ErinSpace

4.18/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Purchased at Riley's Wines of the World in Madison, Wisconsin (dozens of times). This beer is a great session beer. It has great taste and great balance. Lighter than many New Glarus alternatives, but brewed with the same care and attention to detail. The beer very flavorful, without overpowering. The beer also has a subtle, yet warming creamy mouthfeel - especially noticeable if served slightly warmer the typical serving temperature.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 22:02:53 | More by ErinSpace

suspect

New York

3.83/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Dogfish Head Signature glass. Thanks to jefeld for the hookup!

A: Hazy, straw to light yellow color. Aggressive pour leads to a one finger head that dissipates pretty quickly. Little lacing to speak of.

S: Nice smelling cream ale. Lots of sweet malts with a slight but present hop profile sneaking in later. Big biscuit notes and slight grain make up a pretty good smelling beer.

T: Follows the nose almost to a tee. Brings the malts but it's not as sweet probably as the nose as the bitterness of the hops probably stands out more here.

M: Mmmm...cream ale. Definite cream ale mouthfeel. Coats the mouth with creamy goodness. Perfectly carbonated.

O: A really nice cream ale. Doesn't quite stand up to my Genny Cream Ale but it's mostly due to nostalgia :). Regardless, this is a good beer. Easy drinker.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 01:59:36 | More by suspect

pschul4

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12oz into fancy NG pint

A- Pours a straw yellow with a big fluffy white head that leaves some nice lacing

S- Nice fruit esters with banana and orange dominating

T- MMM just like the smell it comes through strong with banana and citrus. This is the perfect summer day beer

M- Light but what did you expect?

O- I wish I lived in WI just to drink spotted cow while doing lawn work. Excellent job NG

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 03:47:18 | More by pschul4

44ouncer

California

4.2/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A perfect example that a beer doesn't have to be dark brown, brewed with pumpkin seeds (or some other gimmick) or hopped to the point of being undrinkable to be good.

Pours like a lager -- although with a slighty cloudy appearance. Golden yellow with a bright white head. Nice clean smell with a nice hint of hops. Wonderful taste. Light, bright and clean -- not overly hopped -- with a nice citrus edge to it. Terrific creamy mouth feel. A wonderful product.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2012 04:38:42 | More by 44ouncer

Auracom

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

When in Madison, do as Madisonians do. On-tap at Monty's Blue Plate Diner. 16 oz. poured in a pint glass on May 3rd, 2012.

A - Hazy-golden pilsner coloring. One-finger of a soapy, white head reduces down pretty quickly. Very little retention but stirs up pretty good lacing throughout.

S - Touches of light, summer fruit and cracked pepper. Herbaceous with a clean malt bill.

T - Straightforward, no-frills farmhouse here. Less spice and more malt than the aroma. Bready rear-palate and short finish.

M - Light body, good carbonation, and a faintly-dry finish.

D - Why make things complicated? This is close to an ideal session Saison-esque brew. It's really what I wish adjunct brews could be.

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2012 02:55:37 | More by Auracom

williamjbauer

West Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap in a pint glass at the brewery on 4/29/12

A - Slightly hazy straw yellow with 1.5 finger foamy white head with moderate retention and moderate lacing.

S - Low pungency of pale malts, a touch of citrus.

T - Pale malts, grain, oats, corn with a bit of floral hops.

M - Light body, moderate carbonation, wet finish.

O - Drinkable, crisp, but lacks complexity.

Serving type: on-tap

05-03-2012 01:37:32 | More by williamjbauer

Viciousknishs

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- pours a a pale straw color with a finger and a half of soapy bone white head. Ok head retention.

S- aromas of some sweet malt, slightly fruity with notes of fresh berry and a touch of grain.

T- cracked grain with a streak of corn sweetness. Some balancing herbal like hops in the middle with a hint of very light fruitiness on the finish.

MF- thin watery mouthfeel with a light body. Good carbonation.

D- very drinkable just not a very flavorful brew.

Overall a solid beer that would be great for hot summer days but so is water.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 02:25:11 | More by Viciousknishs

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This poured out as a really nice clear yellow color with a bone white head on top. The lacing on this beer was quite impressive. The smell of the beer had some very light hop aromas but were mostly covered by the sweet malt character this brew has. The taste of the beer screamed cream ale right off the first sip to me. It's slightly sweet with a grainy malt flavor with just the lightest amount of bitterness in the finish. The mouthfeel was light bodied, easy going, drinkable and nicely carbonated. Overall this beer is one that you could drink a lot of if you choose too. It's a refreshing brew and can be enjoyed just about anytime of the year.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 03:31:52 | More by Knapp85

litheum94

California

3.73/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear, bright, pale straw yellow body. Frothy and sticky, bone white head. Settles slowly, leaving creamy lacing on the side of the glass.

Aromas of cut grass, lemon and pepper. Fruity esters dance around, but the aromas are mostly earthy.

Tons of fruit flavors at first with pears and blueberries. Cream of wheat flavors and mouthfeel mid palate. Dry and earthy, with flavors of cut grass and rustic yeast. Slight, creamed corn sweetness on the finish, with an off-dry ending.

Very easy drinking and tasty. Not a whole lot of complexity, but very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2012 20:59:46 | More by litheum94

jimmah120

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle with no date

Pours a semi-cloudy piss-yellow with a slight filmy head and a tiny bit of lacing. Good color. Smell is your typical grain and corn, but with added touches of fruit; apple, pear, orange, lemon. Taste is light corn and grain, hints of pepper and clove, bready malts, and a hint of bitter hops. Feels nice and creamy on the tongue.

This flagship beer from New Glarus is a fine one. If I lived in WI, this would be one of my go-to brews.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 04:30:25 | More by jimmah120

sleuthdog

Illinois

2.85/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap poured into pint glass

A: When this was brought to my table there was almost no evidence of a head but I did see a very slight white ring. The color is of a nice light golden hue. The lacing is minimal to none.

S: I have nothing to say here. I smelled absolutely nothing! I couldn't believe it so I jammed my nose way down in the glass numerous times but came up empty each and every time! It was served ice cold so maybe this is the reason?

T: Bready, and somewhat sweet and malty. There is a definite corn taste to this one and slight hop presence on the back end. Very smooth and mellow taste.

M: Carbonation is present but not much and this adds to the creamy mouthfeel. This is very smooth and creamy.

O: A good interpretation of the style and very easy to drink. I could easily drink a few of these or more in a sitting. Not one that will have you thinking about it too much in terms of trying to pick out taste and aromas, but nothing wrong with it either. Just a nice easy drinking cream ale.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2012 01:51:10 | More by sleuthdog

irrgalaxy

Minnesota

3.2/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into pint glass.

A: Clear, very light golden color. Lots of head, rather thin.

S: Lots of grains

T: Carrots, hops, bit of a sharp finish.

M: Light, but finishes well.

O: Very good for a cream ale, but I don't think it's my favorite style. Not many strong flavors to distinguish this from similar kinds, although the balance (as usual from NG) is excellent.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 02:40:26 | More by irrgalaxy

CuBuffsaNut88

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

It is really hard for me to admit this, being a Bears fan but you cheese eating weirdos pulled it off with this one. New Glarus has a number of good beers and the spotted cow is as good as just about any of them. It is a very well balanced and medium bodied brew with a mildly lingering citrus taste and aroma. It pours a nice yellow and sits well in a pint glass. All-in-all, it is a well crafted 'back to the basics' beer, simply, it is what beer is supposed to taste, look, and feel like.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 08:47:17 | More by CuBuffsaNut88

BeerMeFitz

Illinois

5/5  rDev +34.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I have this whenever I can grab some from WI. There is nothing like it !
A: Honey colored with a real creamy head.

S: You notice faint sweetness, no overpowering hops or malt smells.

T: Not complex - but a Very clean,crisp, sweet and simple beer done perfectly!

M: thin

Overall: This is a Fantastic beer and I wish they sold outside of WI. This is the perfect Summer beer, Fall Beer, Spring Beer and Winter Beer...ok it's the Perfect session beer!

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 18:40:14 | More by BeerMeFitz

cagocubs

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Finally got my hands on a bunch of New Glarus on a recent trip to Wisconsin. NG's first test passed with flying colors.

A: Bright yellow/straw yellow with a fluffy 1 finger white head. Unfiltered with good carbonation streaming to the top.

S: Sweeter malts, grain, maybe some sticky fruit.

T: Really balanced. Has a nice malt and earthy corn taste, but it also carries a decent juicy hop with it. The aftertaste is far from adjunct as you get a nice sweet aftertaste.

M: Real smooth and creamy. Good mouth coating and carbonation.

O: I would have never picked this up if I knew it was of the cream ale variety, but man I would've been missing out. A real easy beer to drink with a nice balanced taste.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 03:11:24 | More by cagocubs