Spotted Cow - New Glarus Brewing Company

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.18/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Brightly foggy lemon-gold with ethereal swirls of liquid smoke. The soft, yet dense, head of bone white foam displays a rumpled, hummocked surface interspersed with divots as the larger bubbles burst. A small amount of wispy white lace finds its way to the glass.

Spotted Cow smells distressingly like a macro lager with sweetish grain as the focal point. It must be that 'little hint of corn' as noted proudly on the label. The nose isn't offensive, not even a little, but neither does it thrill me or make me excited about tipping the glass up. Let's hope the flavor picks up the ball and takes off running.

The flavor has indeed picked up the ball... and sets off at a slow limp. This is interesting beer to say the least. It tastes like a much more flavorful, sweeter version of a BMC lager in ale form. I've had a few other cream ales and none of them tasted like this; not that I can recall at least. It is nicely malted in a untoasted pale malt kind of way.

Again, sweet grain is dominant and is coupled with a mild fruitiness, although I may be reaching on the fruit. There's very little hop presence, either in terms of flavor or bitterness, just as the style demands. The finish is short and sweet and the mouthfeel is characterized by under-the-radar carbonation. Might this be a malt liquor in low-ABV disguise?

Spotted Cow is a rather unique brew. I imagine that New Glarus sells a lot of it, but as we all know, there's no correlation between popularity and quality (except, in many instances, an inverse correlation). I don't hate The Cow, but I don't really like it either. Thanks all the same to Skidz for the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2004 22:15:39 | More by BuckeyeNation

Redrover

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz brown longneck with no freshness dating.

The beer pours a hazy darkish yellow. Nice initial head the completely disappears and does not even leave a skimming. No lacing either.

The smell reminds me of a souped-up lager more than an ale. Lots of grainy aroma (corn) and not much else. Still it smells fresh and clean.

The taste is slightly sweet and a bit fruity. Nothing bad, just nothing that leaps out either. The fruit reminds me of plum and bit of mango. Stays sweet as you work through the glass.

Low levels of carbonation, I think they could elevate this a bit and improve the beer. Still a very easy drinking beer that is easy to pair with anything except spicy food.

If I’m going to have a Cream Ale from Southern Wisconsin, I would seek out the offering from City Brewery before this one. However, I will not pass this one up if offered.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2004 22:57:40 | More by Redrover

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

Magery

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is a very good beer out of Wisconson. It is a great beer for a Saturday or Sunday full of buddies and football. I actually had this when my dad had tried it at a restaraunt when he was teaching a seminar at the University of Wisconson and thought I would like it and brought it back for me. Unfortunately I only get it once a year, but it is definately something I look forward to.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2004 22:52:20 | More by Magery

Brian700

Michigan

3.95/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a straw yellow. The nose on this beer is respectable in that it is original and somehow seems to tie it right in to Wisconsin with its corn-like and grainy aroma. Imagine a good "drinking all night" beer that was just a little creamier than usual. It is lightly carbonated but that doesn't seem to take anything away from its mouthfeel. Overall I think its a good beer but it's nothing to be disappointed about if they don't sell at your local grocier.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2004 05:52:34 | More by Brian700

nomad

Kansas

4.05/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Like the previous review of this beer says, within the style of Cream Ale the Spotted Cow is very good. Drinking Gennessee Cream in college back east, its hard for me to think of a Cream Ale that could be made with care and artistry. Proof that any style is tasty if done well...

Pours a lightly hazy but glowing soft gold, quite alluring in fact, with a billowing head. Soft, fluffy, bilious - truly cloud-like. Looks like a summer thirst quencher.

Smells fairly moderate in general, but compared to most cream ales it does shine with artisanal touches. Scents of mashed corn, wheat, and pale malts swirl together to form a cornucopia of farm smells. This beer does come from Wisconsin, so...

Tastes of all the grainy aspects of corn and wheat with a great pale malt base. Barely sweet, and incredibly soft and easy on the palate without being bland. Little to no hop bite and possesses a small dash of creaminess toward the finish.

This beer goes down like a report on the various grains possible to a Midwestern brewer. A tasty drinker and a good choice for a flagship brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2004 13:40:13 | More by nomad

brewQ

Missouri

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

Within its style, this is a wonderful beer.
NOTE- I had it on tap, which I think is much better than the bottle.

Color is bright and clear gold.
Poured with a 1.5 inch fluffly white head.
A sweetness and roundness of flavor that well exceeds the macro versions such as Little Kings and Genny screamers.

Really a nicely balanced brew- and I am not one to wax about basic pilsners. Clean finish and excellent drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2004 21:30:02 | More by brewQ

jahred

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to incongruity for volunteering thos beer, which pours a cloudy, yellow-brown color with lots of floating yeast bits and a yeasty sludge remaining on the bottom of the glass. A frothy white head disappears rather quickly.

The scent is light - sweet wheat and veggies. The tasty is slightly more fruity, with corn notes and a creamy, fruity aftertaste. Not a bad beer - it went down easy, but still not something I want to drink often.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2004 03:32:50 | More by jahred

ALESwhatCURESya

Wisconsin

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

Cloudy straw colored brew which is fitting since it is basically a total "farm" ingrediant beer. This one is made with corn and without trying it, that may seem a little odd. This is by far one of the most refreshing beer that tastes good anytime of day or year. There are not too many beers that top this as far as an introductory beer to those who are BA deprived. Wonderful ale that is a staple in my neck of the country.
I have however noticed this beer starting to slip in quality. Maybe my BA senses are just coming through, but this is no doubt a good session beer, but its individuallity cannot hold itself in the light of greatness.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2004 00:38:46 | More by ALESwhatCURESya

Boto

Connecticut

2.95/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz. bottle: The pour was a bit of a suprise: it is a bit of a hazy, light golden color, with a large white head. The head dies down quickly, but it does look like a Belgian Wit. There is a bit of a wheat nose to the beer. Also, I get some spiciness and citrus, albeit faint. It has most of the taste characteristics of a Wit, but it is a thin and watery version of one. OK, but it should be more potent. Just average.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2004 03:29:37 | More by Boto

GreenWBush

Oregon

2.55/5  rDev -31.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Graciously brought from Wisconsin by a non-BA friend.

12 oz. bottle.

This beer pours out a frightengly canary-neon yellow, with a tiny bit of yeast haze. The head is quite creamy, but only leaves a light notch of lacing. My friend took a whiff and proclaimed it smelled like "Grandma's bedsheets", then noted that if presented to him without identification, he wouldn't know if it was piss or pop. Hmm.

The only discernable odor on the nose is corn. I choose to use odor because if I wasn't rating every beer I got my hands on, I wouldn't have even tried it. I can't get over how bad this smells; I look for some malts, some sweetness, even a touch of hops - to no avail.

Actually, this one doesn't taste too bad at all. It sort of seems like a strange love-child between macro-swill and Guinness. It is quite nice on the mouthfeel, almost enough to disguise the heavy-handed corn influence. If you put this on Nitro, Macro lovers could do some serious damage. Still, just not enough going on here to interest me in another.

I've had worse. Maybe this beer is just an attempt at ramping-up swill drinkers. I'll try others by the brewery. I could also understand having a place in your heart for this - if I grew up on it, it might be a good fall back.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2004 17:50:24 | More by GreenWBush

RBorsato

Virginia

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

Hazy orange color with a low white ring for a head and low carbonation. Tart yeasty Belgiany aroma ... a bit horse-ish. Flavor is similar to the smell. Light-medium bodied (leans light) and refreshing with a crisp Saaz-ish hoppy finish.

A beer I'd put more into the Saison/French Ale category ... nice and refreshing.

Per label: Farmhouse Ale. Flaked Barley, WI malts, and a hint of Corn.

Tasted: 12/31/03
(M. Shusterman)

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2004 20:43:02 | More by RBorsato

ngandhi

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

When first introduced to good beer, I thought this was a bad hefe or a typical American wheat. Months later, I feel unsatisfied when I drink Spotted Cow. I once thought it was as good as beer could be. Today, dozens of bottles later, as I finally sit with one to write a review, I learn that it's a "cream ale," a style I was unfamiliar with.

On first impression, this has all the components of a very weak traditional amber ale. The malt focus is well beyond the hops with a light breadiness from the yeast. On the nose, I smell some light/medium caramel malts and a touch of adjunct -- a bunch of honey in the background. The finish, however, is inordinately crisp (mellower as it warms). A very mild hop bittering reminds me of pilsener beer as does the prickly carbonation.

Lo and behold, the BJCP specs for a "cream ale": "Low hop bittering. Low maltiness; however, grainy sweetness from corn may be present. . . . Adaptation of American light lager. Fermented like an ale, followed by cold condition or a blending of ale and lager beers" (BJCP Style Guide, http://bjcp.org/styleguide03.html).

Besides its miserable head retention, Spotted Cow is precisely what a cream ale ought to be.

The malty nose marries very well with a lightly adjuncted honey sweetness -- like a microbrewed PBR. The faintest of bubblegum and banana finish. Autumnal golden body. Easy drinking and, perhaps, the best introduction for macro drinkers to the wonderful world of beer.

Relax, relax.
ng

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2003 21:12:23 | More by ngandhi

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

Someonce once urged me to try one, and declared it "the best". So now I have, but that claim speaks more about them then it does aobut this.
Appearance: a clear pale yella hue, with a slight, soon vanishing white head.
Nose is mee, softly citric, a tiny bit sour.
Smooth on the palate, though not entirely without flavor. Practically no hops no speak of, just adequate enough malt, vestigal fruit notes whisper briefly.
Finish is brief, non-descript. Body is light to the point of invisibility. A very fragile, meek little beer.
Would be a decent choice for a "lawnmower" brew, maybe, when complexity and challenge are not in the order.
Not a bad beer, but not much, either.
Thanks to cokes for helping me try it out!

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2003 22:06:36 | More by feloniousmonk

DrunkMcDermott

Illinois

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

This is described on the label as a "farmhouse ale," and indeed it seems more like a French than a cream ale. Nice looking head dissipates quickly, leaving a hazy, strawlike body. I get nice effervescence and a grapefruitty, almost sour taste. They get some props for not only admitting to using corn, but giving a reason: "We even give a nod to our farmers with a little hint of corn." Corn seems to be the source of the sweetness more than the malt. Hop finish is there, but not distracting. A very pleasant experience.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2003 14:14:07 | More by DrunkMcDermott

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.63/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

My first impression was that this beer is a wheat - the nose hints of wheat, it has a light, cloudy amber color and it tastes like a wheat. Not as intense as a true wheat, carbonation is light, starts as a mix of malt and hops and finishes fairly smooth and sweet. Moderate head that leaves little lace. The brewer has barley and corn in it so I don't know where the wheat overtones come from.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2003 22:32:41 | More by jdhilt

granger10

Wisconsin

3.03/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this one at a pub last weekend while I was in Milwaukee. It came to me with a hazy orangish-yellow color and had no head to speak of. That kind of scared me. As I drank it I noticed that this one seemed rather light in body. I gave a sip to one of my buddies who hardly ever drinks beer, and it's Michelob Light when he does, and he said it was light. My other buddy had a Sam Adams. I tried his and realized that the Sam Adams was much thicker and tastier than the Spotted Cow. The Spotted Cow had an estery aroma to it. Taste was predominately wheat malts but I did notice corn adjuncts in the flavor. No hops to speak of which might have been nice. The finish is quite good with a bready yeasty kick in it. For what it's worth this beer did go down really easy and I could easily drink another one and more after that. It wasn't bad, but not really my style.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2003 11:22:19 | More by granger10

ADR

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Slighly hazy but not really cloudy medium yellow illuminated appearance. A couple of small chunks. Nice sheet laces. Yeasty and estery aromas, just suggestive, fresh, and not overwhelming. Malting is straightforward, a creamy sweetness with an underlying stuffy fruitiness, tending toward apricot. Hops are minimal at best, the mouthfeel carries on and finishes the flavor profile with more of the same, into the aftertaste. I'd classify as light to medium bodied, overall. Pleasant, popular -- but pretty sweet and unremarkable. I'd give session status to this widely consumed product.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2003 08:45:26 | More by ADR

tavernjef

Minnesota

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

Color is a brighter yellow of partial cloudyness, thin, loose, white crown that faded fast and leaves minimal whispy spots of lace.
Smell is light, clean, and soft malts of sweetness, with a dulling floralness of hops dotted through each wiff. Taste is clean and creamy sweetness of softly done malts, kinda frothy grainyness, like intensely whipped cream malts or something, quite a appetizing feel, but it doesn't last I'm afraid, but the creamyness stays til the end where it cleans up with a touch of floral hops and goes dry; nice and easy, clean and creamy little drinker.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2003 10:47:28 | More by tavernjef

brakspear

Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A simple ale that is both an original craft beer and easy-drinking beerfor the masses. This is a great cross-over beer.

The beer pours a hazy orange-gold with decent head formation. The aroma is sweet and malty with a slight fruitness in the background, pleasant and unassuming. The taste is likewise sweet and malty, with a floral hop balance. Overall a very enjoyable ale that is also a very good session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2003 16:44:52 | More by brakspear

LarryKemp

Texas

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

This unfiltered beer looked much more cloudy in the 12 ounce brown twistoff bottle than it did once I poured it into my glass. The beer poured a slightly cloudy bright yellow. The head was fluffy white and not long lasting but it left a little lace on the side of the glass. The aroma of malt jumps out of the glass and fills your nose. What a joy. It makes the anticipation much greater. The taste lives up to the aroma. A sweet maltiness grabs your tongue and lingers in your mouth. The mouthfeel is medium light and has a slight creaminess. This is a great beer for pleasure and for a session. Too bad my friend only brought me one. DAMN!!!!

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2003 16:05:11 | More by LarryKemp

proc

Michigan

3.43/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours out to a cloudy, golden color in the glass with a slight head, with some suspended particles floating in there. It does look appetizing in the glass, almost sunshine-like. Aroma is somewhat yeasty and musty. The taste is quite good. There is alot of malt here which lends itself to a slight sweetness. I detected some lemon in here as well. This is an easy to drink refreshing thirst quencher.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2003 18:00:59 | More by proc

Gusler

Arizona

3/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A slightly hazy light lemon yellow color as it sets in the glass; head is modest in size, frothy in texture and as it evanesces, leaves behind a silky sheet of lace. Sweet malt dominates the nose, fresh and clean to the senses with the start sweet and loaded with malt. Top is medium in mouth feel, finish has a light carbonation and the hops apropos to the style, nicely dry and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2003 13:50:19 | More by Gusler

cretemixer

Indiana

3.98/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a slightly cloudy golden hue with a quick fading white head. Leaves no lace, just a "cling-ring" and a small island of foam in the center of my glass. Noticeable corn aroma with an underlying fruitiness. Taste is somewhat malty; corn is noticeable too. No hop bitterness to speak of. Finishes somewhat dry and clean. Very refreshing and an easy drinker. It's too bad I won't be able to get this in Illinois or Indiana anymore. I will miss it.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2003 15:59:40 | More by cretemixer

Winter

Wisconsin

3.78/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

One of my favorite offerings from New Glarus. Spotted Cow is a bottle conditioned farmhouse ale. Pours an unfiltered bright golden color with a white head that disappeared in a matter of seconds. Carbontation seen in the body. Fruity aroma with hints of corn and malt. Thin, yet crisp mouthfeel. Flavors primarily coincide with the aroma-- that being of corn and malt. Finish is sweet with practically no hop bitterness present at all. This is a wonderful all-around, easy drinking beer to be enjoyed anytime.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2003 19:44:47 | More by Winter