Spotted Cow - New Glarus Brewing Company

hardy008

Minnesota

2.58/5  rDev -30.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Light yellow color with a foamy white head with average retention and spotty lacing. The aroma has grain, some sweet malt, a whiff of corn. Nothing too special here.

The flavor of this beer is pretty plain. Sweet malt, grain, some corn, and a bit of yeast.

Light to medium bodied, average carbonation, and underwhelming in almost every way. This is a pretty disappointing beer, from an otherwise good brewery.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 00:38:48 | More by hardy008

marcpal

New Jersey

2.6/5  rDev -29.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to maximum12 for sending this in a trade. Liking New Glarus so far.
12oz bottle poured into imperial pint glass
Bottle Graphics: 8/10. Like it.

A: Hazy dehydrated pee yellow. Very cloudy with a filmy head that left thin veil of lacing. Nothing too impressive.

S: Quiet in the aroma with something cornlike and grainy. I have to say, I expected much more to start this one out. I had some stronger things earlier in the night but this just fell to the wayside. I find it odd that the fruit is really the dominating aroma.

T: Still not anything that rocks your world but sugary flavors give this some character. It has a corn flavor that hits at first but as it finishes off, the cream finally comes on. It is unique but buttery flavors pop out.

The bottle claims it to be full of flavor. I have to beg to differ.

M: Carbonated but moderate through and through. Like the aroma, quite bland. The dryness of the fruity flavor is unpleasant.

D: This isn't the best New Glarus, nor the tops in terms of cream ales. Don't hate it, don't particularly like it. Bottom rung cream ale. Glad I had the chance, this is a terrific brewery- noone can bat a thousand.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2008 02:32:07 | More by marcpal

Koolbreeze2

Connecticut

2.63/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Cloudy-like an unfiltered beer should be.

Smell: Nice smell. I liked the smell better than anything.

Taste: Not my cup of beer. Right up there with Bud. Just did not work for me. Had my 38 yr. old stepson try half a bottle. He is on my side per taste.

Mouthfeel: Nothing special.

Drinkability: Not for me but on a hot day outside I could drink a few and probably feel refreshed (somewhat).

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2006 20:57:07 | More by Koolbreeze2

Joeynocturnum

New Jersey

2.63/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Received as an extra in a trade for some Belgian Red and some Raspberry Tart.

A- Golden yellow and cloudy one finger head.

S- Nothing really stood out, smelled similiar to an American pilsner.

T- Bland I was expecting more from this beer, nothing stood out. Maybe a little bit of hops but mostly a taste of wheat.

M- Nothing great here, not overly carbonated.

D- This was not palatable, it ended up as a drain pour. This was not drinkable for me, at least not tonight.

During the week I usually only drink one beer per night. This was the beer I cracked... took two sips maybe three and realize it was not worthy of being the one. Cracked open a Sinebrechoff Porter which was excellent and all is right in the world.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2010 02:52:46 | More by Joeynocturnum

zeledonia

Minnesota

2.68/5  rDev -27.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Pours a slightly golden pale straw yellow, the color of a wheat field in late summer, with a fluffy one-finger white head. Translucent and so light enough to be almost see-through. Head retention is okay, not much lacing. Streams of bubbles running up through the glass.

Smells slightly sweet and slightly grainy. Also corn, pale malt, and light hops. Some faint apple juice fruit notes. In many ways, it smells like an adjunct lager.

Flavor is mostly pale malt and a touch of vegetable hops (kinda like plant stems). I also get a touch of apple juice here. A hint of bitter in the finish, which is gone almost before I can say "hops."

Light and delicate in the mouth, with high carbonation. Highlight of the beer. Finishes quick, crisp, and dry. Like that, it's gone.

Meh. I can see why this beer sells so well - it drinks like an adjunct lager. It's inoffensive, refreshing enough, and just doesn't have much flavor. Not much malt, not much hops, not much of anything else. I found myself chasing the flavor, taking more sips cause I wanted more out of it, but still disappointed by each one. Works all right for cooling off on a hot summer day, but there are so many other beers that would do the same job with more pleasure.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2011 00:59:23 | More by zeledonia

Misanthropy_Sipping

Nebraska

2.68/5  rDev -27.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

My respectful parents were nice enough to bring back a menagerie of New Glarus beer when they crossed through Wisconsin. Always nice to know people who travel and know you like good beer. Had three bottles of Spotted Cow in a sampler pack.

Well, the pour was a pale gold. Nothing unusual or multispectral in colour. All I expect from a cream ale. Somewhat of a murk to it. Very gentle murk.

Smells very light of fresh straw, a tad citrusy, sweet corn... all pretty light.

Taste: Light sweet corn kind of a taste which is nice, not unpleasant, a tad muted lemon... tastes like... well... beer, for lack of better terms. Has a bit of a cream of wheat thing going on. All the flavors are pretty well evened out all the way through.

The mouthfeel certainly saves the day and makes it a very clean but not entirely crisp beer which is cool. It lives up to it's cream ale style. Mouthfeel is probably the best cream ale mouthfeel I have had in a beer to date.

Overall nothing out of this world but I can definitely see why this is one of Wisconsin's most popular craft beers. It appeals to many crowds and is utterly non offensive. A winner for those who enjoy good beer and those who may have no idea what good beer is.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 02:42:46 | More by Misanthropy_Sipping

tut2528

Illinois

2.68/5  rDev -27.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A: pours a light golden color with a bright snow-white colored 1 fingers worth of head formation. thousands of tiny bubbles are seen rushing to the top to support head retention and a thin film remains.

S: cream of corn and grain dominate this brew. very watery smelling. quite unappealing

T: glad that there a bit more to this than in the nose. grain, corn, mild malt and a possible biscuit-like character with a light cream finish.

M: light bodied, quite watery. doesnt leave much on the palate.

O: this is a perfect brew for someone just starting out in the micro/craft beer world. its highly drinkable and is a step up from the mega domestics (al la Miller, Coors, Bud, etc)

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 20:01:00 | More by tut2528

brdc

Wisconsin

2.7/5  rDev -27.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Small capped bottle, poured into a pint.

Good looking dark yellow brew with an average white head but not a lot of retention. Aroma is faint, and not really that easy to describe, since there is not much there; grains and light alcohol.
Light bodied, easy to drink, but corn and other grains is as much as I can get.
A little better than BMC. Certainly a lot worse than most NGs out there.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2008 14:55:16 | More by brdc

CaptainIPA

Wisconsin

2.7/5  rDev -27.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours a hazy, pale gold color with active carbonation and a frothy, one-finger head that fades quickly.

S: Sweet grain and yeast. Traces of malt. A faint hint of citrus.

T: Harsh and grainy taste profile that's somewhat reminiscent of Rolling Rock. Must be the "hint of corn." Notes of vegetal matter, biscuit and lemon citrus. Finish is bitter and astringently dry.

M: Medium-bodied and well-carbonated.

D: Honestly, I've never understood why this beer is so popular in Wisconsin. Never been a fan. After mulitple sessions, it's time to put this cow out to pasture.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2008 22:20:47 | More by CaptainIPA

OakedCanuck

Washington

2.7/5  rDev -27.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle into tulip

A - Straw yellow, 1 finger fluffy white head, chill haze, slippery lacing

S - Grainy malts, wheat, some lemon and caramel

T - Confusing, tastes like a musty adjunct lager. Mostly just a grainy wheaty body with no supporting cast. Some sweet malts are barely distinguished in the background. There is a funkiness to it.

M - Decently crisp and light, but a little too effervescent.

O - This is classified as a cream ale and I really don't see how this even comes close to resembling one. Confusing. If anything, this seems to be closer to a farmhouse or even some variation of lager.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2011 16:48:06 | More by OakedCanuck

brew3crew

Ohio

2.7/5  rDev -27.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

On tap at uncle mikes for my first venture into wisconsin.

A-hazy yellow with a little bit of head that sticks around

s-pale malt and grain is all I get

t- follows the nose. Not really a whole lot here. Kind of upset I ordered it

m- light bodied and smooth. Only thing that's nice

o-decent lawnmower beer. That's about it

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2011 00:02:22 | More by brew3crew

bboven

Texas

2.73/5  rDev -26.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Butterscotch yellow cloudy body with absolutely no head or lacing. This beer should be very clear and have at least a minimal head, but it looks very flat and unattractive in the glass.

Base malt and green apple, a defect from yeast fermenting at too high of a temperature, is very apparent. It can be there to some degree, but not this much.

Again, very fruity with the green apple dominating. The hops are lost and the malt is barely there because of the off-flavors.

Moderately carbonated, but a little more CO2 would help lift some of the sweetness up.

It's not bad tasting, but it's got a big defect in it. You usually only see this in lagers, but cream ale is so light to begin with that every little thing will be accentuated. I can't really recommend it unless you like fruit beers. In that case, you might like this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2008 22:48:23 | More by bboven

Oxymoron

Colorado

2.73/5  rDev -26.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Are you saying you spotted a cow or hey there is a spotted cow? Pours a light sunny yellow color with ok clarity. A good head but limited retention which is ok per style. Limited lacing throughout.

The nose is off. There is a more sweet corn nose, which is ok, but no malt presence at all. Some noticeable sour smells which makes me think infection. Some hoppy notes that balance well. Clean as far as yeast notes but some minor vegi/cabbage notes on the back end.

The taste is a bit off as well. The malts come out more with a more 2 row flavor but plays second to more of a corn essence. Would have like more malt but ok. Some grainy and husky notes helps the accent the malt flavors. There is a light bitterness that comes out but a more noticeable floral finishing hop. On the backend there is a metallic almost copper taste that is more perceivable as it warms. Fairly clean yeast finish but some minor fruity notes that is boardline acetaldehyde.

The body is light which is spot on (pun intended). Decent carbonation helps accents the corny and hop notes. Overall this is limited with some noticeable off flavors with a beer that is hard to high them.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2008 22:42:20 | More by Oxymoron

HugePlume

Washington

2.73/5  rDev -26.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle.

A- Pours a bright bubbly corn-yellow color. This was first cause for alarm of this hyped-up beer that I grew more and more dissappointed and leery of.

S- Smells like sweet mash, bread and musty hops.

T- This isn't good beer. More musty sweet mash. Finish is dry, which imparts a crude bitterness.

M- Mouthfeel is decent, carbonation good for a lighter brew, body is spot on but cant overcome the flavor shortfalls.

O- Don't believe the hype, this is not good. Go for the other new glarus brews, this is intended to appeal to Budweiser and Miller light drinkers. Overrated!

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2011 04:16:41 | More by HugePlume

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.75/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Bottle courtesy of Monger: Poured a bright golden color ale with a big pure white head with good retention. Aroma of corn with light diacetyl is not extremely pleasant. Taste is dominated by too much corn with a light buttery note which is again unpleasant. Body is pretty full for the style with some great carbonation. This is probably the worst beer that I had from this otherwise fine brewery.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2007 13:22:10 | More by Phyl21ca

MaximalC

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours pale straw in color, slightly hazy, with bountiful carbonation bubbles. The aroma is mild, mostly grainy, with a hint of fruitiness and some hops. The flavor pretty much matches the smell, with no specific element really carrying the load. I fail to see how this manages to be the flagship brew of a very respectable brewery with many superior offerings in the stable. Maybe because it most resembles light beer? Regardless of the reason, this just doesn't resonate with me.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 01:01:19 | More by MaximalC

alcstradamus

Illinois

2.78/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A--Pale golden yellow with a finger of quickly receding head

S--Fresh, light malty scent with a splash of hops in the background

T--A little too tasteless to be enjoyable on its own, but I suppose this is meant more for refreshment. Nothing foul about it, which is good. But nothing noteworthy either.

M--Light bodied but not too watery

D--Very sessionable but I'm not sure why you would want to since this there really isn't much here.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2009 23:29:48 | More by alcstradamus

BasementBer

Manitoba (Canada)

2.78/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I heard so much about this beer and it possibly got my hopes up for it.

A: light straw yellow. Plenty of carbonation, bone white head with medium to heavy lacing.

S: Corn. Grainy but very much a note of corn in the aroma - as it expresses on the bottle. The rare instance the brewer is in favor and admits to it.

T: To tart for my licking. Less cream than tart and dry nose to finish.

M: The tartness stuck around a bit too much for me. For a hop fan this countertaste is a bit off putting.

D: I dont think ill go back to it, but if others are enjoying then by all means.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2011 17:04:06 | More by BasementBer

Jredner

Florida

2.8/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Mild grain and light alcohol in the aroma. Hazy yellow color. No head. Cool and refreshing with very little taste. Mild malty sweetness in the aftertaste. It is actually pretty dang thirst quenching though extremely un-flavorful. Not bad tasting just not much of anything tasting. It makes you take big gulping sips.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2006 08:01:58 | More by Jredner

OldFrothingSlosh

Pennsylvania

2.83/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Cloudy, yeast-induced hazy apple juice in color. Precisely zero head at all. F-L-A-T. Aromas of fruits mixed with some sweet corn. Flavor is rather bland. There's some citric sweetness up front, followed by a soft caramel note, and ends with a sour note. Thin mouthfeel and the strangest thing at the very end: it was as if someone just flipped off the taste switch. Just like that...everything disappears on the palate. Odd. Not very drinkable as it really did nothing for me.

Thanks to AKSmokedPorter for this bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2004 01:57:16 | More by OldFrothingSlosh

beermanbrian

Pennsylvania

2.83/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

This beer is average in every sense. Pale cloudy gold color, thin almost non-existant white head. Smell is very mild malt, touch of spice. Taste is rather bland, grainy tasting. Cream ale style says highly carbonated, which this one isn't. It just sits on the palate, no moutfeel at all. Maybe it's the styles i've been drinking lately but this beer holds no draw for me. I'll pass on this one in the future.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2006 01:08:15 | More by beermanbrian

ballewblake

New Jersey

2.83/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Poured from bottle into my Duvel tulip.

Almost no head after a few seconds. Even the ring around the glass is weak. Hazy golden body, nose is mild to boring, not much of anything coming through. First taste was mint. Weird. Heavily carbonated, full body, not a whole lot of flavors coming out, not much to really pin down here. Maybe some wheat malts?

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2009 02:45:37 | More by ballewblake

dpnelson1978

Minnesota

2.83/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle into glass pint.
40°F

$1.49 / ea.

A: Hazy straw body topped with one finger of loose white head that quickly dissipates leaving light foamy lace and a thin bubbly cover.

S: Fruit aromas with a hint of sweet corn and light flowery hops. Pretty straight forward and not unlike many batches I've made at home. Really not that impressive.

T: Sweet corn with hints of fruit and a light hop bitterness. Pretty much exactly how it smells. Light bitter aftertaste. Nothing special.

M: Light to medium body and moderate carbonation. Light carbonic bite and a underlying smoothness. Solid.

D: Easily approachable and very simple overall. The flavor is ok, the mouthfeel is satisfactory, and the alcohol content is low. Easy sessioning beer, but for the style it is a bit disappointing.

O: I really expected more from this offering considering the execution of Wisconsin Belgian Red, and Raspberry Tart. The market share this beer holds in Wisconsin is surprising.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2010 19:45:50 | More by dpnelson1978

clvand0

Kentucky

2.85/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to kmpitz2 for sharing this one. I like the name. This one poured a clean yellow color then took on a lot of cloudiness because my dumb ass didn't realize it was bottle conditioned. Oh well, I don't mind some yeasties. Small head that dies off quickly and leaves no lacing on the glass. The aroma was very subtle, but had a slight grassy and grainy character. Not what I was hoping for. The flavor wasn't what I was hoping for either. There is very little, if any, of the cream character I'm used to from other brands of cream ales. It has a slightly tart citrus thing going on (lemon?) and that same grainy feel from the aroma. Not so much my thing here.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2005 16:11:58 | More by clvand0

Arbitrator

California

2.85/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Chilled bottle into a glass. Thanks mattafett!

A: Pours a hazy honey-gold body with 2 fingers of off-white head. Retention is great, leaving sudsy lace down the sides as the head recedes. No lace during sips, though.

S: Toasted malt, light floral hops, some yeast, and maize (corn).

T: As the nose suggests: mostly a light-flavored beer dominated by toasted pale malt, a hint of hops. Some yeast, with a white corn aftertaste in the exhalation.

M: Light-bodied, crisp. Watery flavor.

D: A good macro lager substitute, and that's it. I'd have it again but I wouldn't trade for it.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2010 08:35:03 | More by Arbitrator