Apple Ale - New Glarus Brewing Company

russwbeck

Virginia

3.93/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer pours out of the bottle clear yellow and very bubbly. Despite, or perhaps because of, the bubbles, the head really is nothing but fiz. After a few minutes, there is no activity in the beer.

S: You don't really have to be close to the beer to realize it smells exactly like green apple Jolly Ranchers...which luckily I love. It smells like apple juice, or apple soda if such a thing exists. Extremely sweet, hard to tell this is beer. Weirdly, I like it.

T: The taste continues the Jolly Rancher theme, but is MUCH more smooth and less soda-like. Realistically the only thing I can taste is apples, maybe there's a slight malt presence on the backend. Very sweet, but not fake by any stretch of the imagination. As close to apple soda as you can get without me hating it.

MF: Light, carbonated well, and absurdly drinkable.

O: I love this beer. I need to get more of it. Extremely sessionable and something I could drink with dinner. New Glarus, how are you this good with putting fruit in beer?

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 00:10:30 | More by russwbeck

MordorMongo

Indiana

4.15/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I deemed this day New Glarus Sunday, so starting with Apple Ale, why the hell not?

A - Looks like apple cider, the real kind and not that more clear bullshit. Small white head, gives way to some decent lacing given the style/profile. Bubbles throughout.

S - Again, apple cider. Apples apparent in nose, good tart apples. Cinnamon, touch of clove even, nutmeg. It is all there, pretty close to perfect smell given what it is supposed to be. Love it.

T - Apple cider, malts, some faint spicy hops. Really solid. Nothing earth-shattering or life altering good but goddamn I wish I lived in Wisconsin sometimes. Then I remember it is Wisconsin...

M - A tad thin, airy, bubbles, and I get a tad of acidity that I could live without. Really appropriate though and didn't expect much more.

O - Quite glorious. The Dude definitely abides here, just so yummy and worthy. I could easily see buying cases of this if I had access, would be a great cross-over beer to get some people more into craft (isn't a lot of NG though?). Will drink again with a smile on my face.

This was 2012 bottle, I plan to do a 10, 11, 12 mini-vert here at some point just for the hell of it....don't expect huge differences but think it may be interesting anyway.

I give this one 7 green bananas.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 22:23:06 | More by MordorMongo

Ri0

Wisconsin

4.46/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle into wine glass.

A - Hazy Amber/Gold with fluffy white 2 finger head. Leaves some lacing. Stream of bubbles rise from the bottom of the glass.

S - Apple Pie/Cider, Cinnamon. Sweet and tart,

T - Like grandma's apple pie with just the right amount of sweet and tart. Such a fun beer to quaff.

M - Good Carbonation, light bodied.

O - A delicious apple fruit beer that isn't the garbage that is out there from the Macros. Get some!

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 23:26:48 | More by Ri0

ElderPuma

Wisconsin

4.23/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours crisp yet a bit hazy, pretty much looks just like apple juice would with a slight off white/tan head on top.

Smells like apple juice with a touch of sweet malt and some spicey hop notes as well.

Tastes like apple juice with a bit more tangy goodness. A touch of hop spice shows through but overall it reminds me of a cran-apple type juice with some slight malt and hop notes to back it up.

Mouthfeel is crisp and clean with a lot of tart and carbonation. It has a nice pop.

Overall this is a pretty solid beer that I would certainly have again. Nothing special but nothing off either, just a quality beer all around.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 23:54:48 | More by ElderPuma

Andrew61923

Connecticut

4.83/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12 oz bottle to Duvel tulip. I really need to start incorporating some other glassware.

A: Clear dark orange appearance with a pleasantly small white head. Great look to the beer, both with an aggressive pour to start and then slowing it down.

S: Cliche, but yes...green Jolly Rancher. Apple through and through, but definitely not in an overly sweet way. Smells genuine and tart, bordering cider, but not crossing the boundary. Awesome.

T: Just along the same lines of the smell. This is amazing. Like biting into a less tart green apple. There's no prick on the teeth like a Granny Smith, but there's something bordering that taste.

M: Extremely smooth. The low ABV helps this, but I really have no complaints. Even after a few IPAs before, this is extremely palatable and I'm able to get as much flavor from the beer as I'd hope.

O: A great beer. I had no idea what I'd think of it, but holy crap...I need to get more.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 03:07:51 | More by Andrew61923

Treebs

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle served in a Duvel Green tulip.

A: Pours a solid amber color with a one finger height of white head forming on the pour. It recedes to a thin collar.

S: Green sour apple jolly ranchers are big on the nose. There is a sold malt undertone to it with some red apple sweetness.

T: A touch of jolly rancher up front, but it quickly gives way to a nice, bright red apple flesh with just a smidgen of raw apple skin. The finish is slightly mealy like an apple core that's been set out exposed to the air too long, but not in a bad way. The malt base gives it a touch of sweetness and a little heft to the body.

M: Medium to light bodied with a nice medium high carbonation level. The finish is malty and sweet.

O: I'm glad the base brown ale malts still have some say in the taste and it doesn't come off as a cider. A nicely put together beer with the main focus being the apples. Definitely a nice fall treat.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 00:47:34 | More by Treebs

Holland

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: very clear, light yellow, big head that stays for the whole session.

S: apple all over the place, some tartness

T: delicate apple flavor, kind of tart, a bit of sweetness

M: not a lot of body, but it has good carbonation and it's crisp.

O: good beer even though I'm not the biggest fan of apple-related products all the time. Thanks a lot too Treebs for giving me this as an extra!

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 18:10:51 | More by Holland

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle from the fall of 2010, poured into a Duvel tulip. Thanks to whoever traded me this in person at DLD '11.

A: Brilliant, translucent rust body under an inch of frothy white head. Pretty good retention and light, sticky lace. Very attractive.

S: Interesting. Apple, unsurprisingly, dominates - but it's a decidedly raw apple aroma, not really cider-like at all. It's much more like apple pie filling: a little spicy, a little caramelized, and very enticing. Really good.

T: Opens with sweet apple flesh, followed by cinnamon, caramel, and a clean, tart finish. Apple skin and light bitterness are also present toward the end. Light spiciness on the aftertaste. A bit more tartness would have been welcome, but it's delicious in its own way.

M: Lively, creamy carbonation in a fairly light body. Refreshing.

O: Excellent fruit beer - extremely apple-forward without losing its beer-ness. Terrific.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 21:51:39 | More by woosterbill

MadScientist

New York

4.23/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This the last bottle of a pack I purchased when I was in Madison eight months ago.
A: This is a bright and clear pale golden beer with a white head that settles to a thin cap and leave some lacing on the glass.
S: You can smell the apple even before you pour it even if your quick about it. The sweet and tart apple aroma is a lot like the apple Jolly Rancher but not artificial. There is a little bit of fruity esters as well.
T: It's balance of juicy, sweet and tart where apples flavor dominate but there is some ale character in there with a slight maltiness. There is a bittersweet medium apple flavor with a very slight hops bitterness no hops flavor.
M: Medium bodied with a moderately light carbonation.
O: There are many ciders that lack the depth and intensity of apple aroma and flavor as found in this beer. The age may have slight softened the beer but it still an outstanding ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 00:56:18 | More by MadScientist

jsanford

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear amber-gold with a slight white head that fades to a thin ring and a small island of haze. Absolutely lovely apple aromas emanate from the glass, not quite real, but not quite fake. Reminds me a bit of an apple schnapps by Dad drinks. Taste is obviously apple-forward, but a much more identifiable "Red Apple" flavor as opposed to the generic "Apple" aromas. There's a touch of light grain, some honey, and an almost cinnamon-like quality in here too. Mouthfeel is light and spritzy, with a fairly thin body and good, carbonation. Overall an entirely enjoyable brew that 100% lives up to my expectation. I feel that a six-pack of this would disappear quite fast. Cheers to The CPJ for sending it my way!

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 03:16:05 | More by jsanford

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Recieved this bottle as an extra in a trade. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Pours a nice crystal clear honey golden hue with a nice almost two finger head that fades to leave a thin white halo and nice cloud.

S - Smell is excellent, like candied green apples. Its not really cloy or fake, but its defiantely not 100% fresh, like good candied apple smell though. Nice.

T - Follows the nose but perhaps a bit too sweet. Nice tart green candied apple flavours. Wouldnt mind seeing some fresh apple but this is definately cider like in taste.

M - Mouthfeel is average for a fruit beer, especially one of this ABV. Slightly thin and soft carbonated.

O - Overall this was a delicious beer, love the sour apple/green apple/candied apple flavours and aromas going on.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 03:41:27 | More by rudzud

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.03/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle opened on 6.9.12.

A - Pours a clear, light orange with a fizzy cream-colored head that fades fast.

S - Candy apple jolly rancher.

T - Candy green apples.

D - Good carboantion and a light body. Pretty sweet.

O - Sweet candy apple. Wierd, but good.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 21:52:15 | More by HuskyinPDX

PeteRock

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Not my typical pick ... I don't usually go for brews labeled here as 'FRUIT/VEGETABLE' beers.

Let me say that I had this once at the Mars Cheese Castle in Wisconsin and was very impressed.
This beer pours a nice light amber and has a small but dense head. the mouthfeel is amazing. this may be the result of expecting a cider but at first sip this is a light bodied pilsner/lager with tons of fresh green apple flavor.

there is not much to say other than it is a tasty fruit beer with a great feel and light body that won't fill you up.

Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2012 01:35:49 | More by PeteRock

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.65/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Acquired via trade from MilwaukeeCrusher so a big “Thank You” goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light gold color, with a thin white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains a lot of sweet apples, some light caramelized malts and a touch of hops.

T: The taste likewise starts out with a very strong sweet apple flavor that dominates. I had expected it to be more sour than sweet but I’m not disappointed either. The malt character is hearty but not too heavy and there’s a very mild hops presence that brings a decent balance. The after-taste is sweet.

M: Smooth and crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean.

O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, very mild kick, good representation of style, this is a decent beer to drink for a while if you’re in the mood for the sweet apple flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 04:23:27 | More by TheManiacalOne

jegross2

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Reviewing the Apple Ale from New Glarus Brewing Company. New Glarus is famous for its fruit beers. This is my first fruit beer by New Glarus.
Score: 86

Summer 2011 vintage bottle served in a New Glarus flute and enjoyed on 04/24/12.

Appearance: Pours a clean and transparent golden straw yellow, apple juice-like color. Has a pretty effervescent appearance. A finger of bubbly head at pour settles into a bubbly ring around the glass. Below average lacing and poor retention. 4/5

Smell: Sweet-and-sour apple candy mixed with juicy and sweet honeycrisp apple and mactinosh apple aroma. There's a little candied watermelon and spice in the aroma too. Smells like it could be a Smirnoff Ice variant. Quite pleasant. 4/5

Taste: There's a nice sweet and juicy apple flavor throughout with candied, but not sweet-and-sour (surprisingly, given the aroma), apple flavor on the midpalate. Some have described this beer as a green jolly rancher, and I'd agree. The flavor is very pleasant and crisp, but then there is a really strange aftertaste to the beer. The aftertaste is slightly grainy with a malty corn sugar flavor -- almost like a malty American adjunct lager-like flavor that reminds you "hey, this is a beer" (but in a negative way, given the beer's primary flavors). The aftertaste really ruins what would have otherwise been a really refreshing fruit beer. 3.25/5

Mouthfeel: Light bodied with lively carbonation. Nice and prickly sweetness on the tongue. Juicy mouthfeel. Sweet, fruity and crisp. 3.75/5

Overall: No one else I talked to who has had this beer before could recall the aftertaste, but they had the beer awhile ago. Maybe this beer has fallen off or I just got a bad bottle. If not for the aftertaste, I would have probably scored this one much closer to a 90.

Recommendation: If you like fruit beers or the flavor of the green jolly rancher, then seek this one out.

Pairings: Horchata.

Cost: $2.99 for a 12 oz bottle or $10.99 for a four pack.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 06:56:30 | More by jegross2

yourefragile

District of Columbia

3.93/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle.

Pours a clear, light amber golden color, well carbonated with a wispy white head. Nose is heavy on green apple, slightly tart, bready, mild honey, and leafy earth. Flavor is surprisingly well balanced between a golden ale, bready malt and dough, with a slightly less artificial than Jolly Rancher green apple sweet/tart flavor. Medium full body, strong carbonation and a sticky, doughy finish. Wasn't pleasantly surprised to enjoy the entire bottle alone, despite some initial hesitation that this would turn too cloying.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 23:38:36 | More by yourefragile

DovaliHops

California

4.18/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear golden color...almost pilsner or BMC like...medium white head. Scent is WOW...a fresh orchard of red apples...red and fuji apple aromas. Not the typical green apple aroma I get from most Belgian beers. Very unique. Hints of cinnamon. This smells better than any apple cider or sparkling cider I have ever had...and the fact that it's a beer absolutely blows my mind. Taste is initially sweet red apple...which somehow changes to a VERY mildly tart green apple. I know I read reviews of this beer tasting like a green jolly rancher...and they are absolutely right. That is my favorite jolly rancher, and now, it's in beer form. This is weird, because this is not a beer that I would drink on the regular, but for the style being a "fruit beer"....this is the best I've ever had. Mouthfeel is highly carbonated and sparkling cider-like. Drinkability is extremely high. Overall, this beer is tasty...I don't care who you are, if you are a fan of apples, you will love this beer. The fresh-apple flavor is like nothing I have ever experienced... other than fresh-squeezed apple juice of course.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 07:28:22 | More by DovaliHops

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle
Served into a tulip glass

A: Clear golden orange with a fluffy white head that dissipated rather quickly, but left a nice amount of lace. Retention ring is thin but present. Really a nice looking beer, could have sworn it was carbonated apple juice.

S: Unreal. Huge freshly picked sweet apples, cinnamon and banana. This literally smells like you just cut up a fresh apple and are smelling it. One of the best smelling fruit beers I've ever come across in my life.

T: Wow again. This is nothing but mashed fresh red and tart Granny Smith apples sprinkled with cinnamon. There's a slight pale malt backbone coming in towards the end, but this is nothing but an apple-centric beer.

M: Bubbly, well carbonated, sweet but finishing with a nice cut. There isn't a lingering sweetness or dryness, it's very sharp which I like.

This beer blew me away. It tastes nothing like a traditional apple cider would, instead this is literally an apple ale/beer. There are so many wonderful apple qualities and flavors here to keep me coming back again and again. I'd love to drink this year-round.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 18:14:57 | More by ShanePB

neorunner

Virginia

1.88/5  rDev -54.7%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Thanks to DougoftheFuture for sending me this in Round 6 of the Blind Beer BIF.

12oz bottle shared w/ Pitasoup (he's living w/ me now). Golden yellow in color when poured into a New Belgium tulip with two inches of light fluffy cloud-like head. This beer is nuclear green jolly rancher in the nose to the point of chemical esque aromas. Green apple and cloyingly sweet for flavor. I can't say that I'm a fan of this beer, the chemical aroma comes through in the taste as well. Could be from growing up in an ice cream store and being very attuned to artificial flavors.

The reveal: New Glarus Apple Ale. Well this is a great beer to send in this BIF, if only because it is so polar in all accounts. Reading the label it says they used green apple juice, I'm wondering if it was concentrate.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 23:50:27 | More by neorunner

DCon

Missouri

3.9/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Received a 12 FL.OZ. bottle of this in a trade w/ rjacobs6. Poured from the Red Foiled top, White label w/ the WI state as a Thumbprint into my Surly Darkness Tulip Glass. Has no freshness date on the bottle.

Aroma- Can mistake this one for a Smirnoff Ice Apple aroma! Going to still give it an above average rating. Hits the nose hard this this apple aroma and huge malt overload.

Appearance- Pours a 1 finger head that bubbles up with an aggressive pour but dies quickly. Has a light, golden colored body with great clarity. Leaves suds behind.

Flavor- The flavor starts off EXTREMELY sweet and almost as if you just took a bite out of a juicy, Granny Smith apple. Unreal! Sweet finish as well and flavorful beyond the norm. Bit artificial but this is okay by me.

Mouthfeel- Light Bodied, Medium Carbonation, A bit watered down here and finishes once again like an Apple Smirnoff Ice.

Overall Impression- Quite interesting! Caught too much artificial flavors in the mouthfeel though... Will still be giving this one an above average rating. Not sure I've had an apple ale like this ever before! I recommend picking this one up along with the others from New Glarus.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 20:08:53 | More by DCon

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

4.55/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

By far, this is the best apple beer I have had. It is not even a close contest based on the complexity of the flavors.

Poured into a fluted glass, the beer was a golden color and produced a slight head. Perhaps the only disappointment I have with this beer is the aroma. While the apple scent is present, it is quite mild. The beer is initially sweet like an apple juice beer combo. The combination of different apples is obvious. The apple snob in me takes over, as it is easy to detect both sweet and sour apples. With the apple flavor comes a vanilla taste that I would closely associate with barrel aging. In the after taste, there is a brown sugar flavor with the tart overcoming the sweet apple. This is where it becomes most obvious that this is a brown ale.

A very smooth and easy drinker. Warm or cold weather, one can consume a lot of this complex fruit beer. I only wish this were a regular beer by New Glarus

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 16:42:03 | More by JohnnyHopps

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.55/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

poured a light clear golden yellow with a little bit of a foam around the brim. as soon as the bottlecap pried open my face was hit by a curtain of apples. i've had plenty of cider in my days, and i have to say the only one that ever tasted like real apples was harpoon's - but this is just out of this world. you can tell they used a few different kinds of apples for sure. the taste was not as sweet as i expected, which is great! i think maybe they use their base recipe for spotted cow on this one. same mouthfeel with the fizziness and crisp. this is a great experiment by them, and i am glad i have 3 more to save for the summer months.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 10:07:10 | More by facundoCNB

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

4.08/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From tasting notes... Poured from 12 oz bottle into CBS snifter.

A) Looks like bubbly Mott's apple juice. There was very little head, and just a bit of lacing initially.

S) The aroma is of apple, more of a tart variety, not quite Granny Smith tart. It actually smells like Jolly Ranchers green apple candy.

T) Quite a bit sweeter than the nose. Really more like a red delicious apple. This is a little like a sweet amber cider. Very pleasing finish and aftertaste for any individual that enjoys apple.

M) This is light to a medium/light with a good dose of carbonation. It is quite crisp and fairly refreshing.

O) If you don't like apples, then it should be obvious, this is not the ale for you. If you do like apples, then you will likely enjoy this immensely. New Glarus knows how to make a good fruit beer, and this offering does not disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 15:41:19 | More by RoamingGnome

Duffman929

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've had several bottles, over the last two seasons.

A - Looks like carbonated apple cider.

S - Strong smell of apples.

T - Carbonation hits the mouth and then a tart taste of green apple. It is light and has no lingering flavors. It is exactly what I expect it to taste like.

M - Very bubbly, similar to a sparkling apple cider.

O - NG does fruit beers better than most others. This is a great anytime beer, but 1 per sitting is good enough because of the sweet apple nature.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 12:17:04 | More by Duffman929

mdfb79

New York

4.23/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 02/19/12 notes. Received from JYounger30 in the Birthday BIF; thanks Jay! Love the fruit beers I've had from NG so far so have been wanting to try this one. 12 oz. bottle poured into my Duvel tulip. 2010 vintage.

a - Pours a clear golden color with one inch of white head and moderate to high carbonation evident.

s - Smells of apple juice, cider, green apples, and light bread and grains. A ton of apples, very nice.

t - Tastes of green apples, cider, apple juice, slightly tart or sour green apples, light spice, and grains. Again, a really great tasting beer.

m - Light body and high carbonation. Crisp and dry.

o - Overall I thought this was another good fruit beer from NG; I've yet to have a bad one from them. This was exactly what I was expecting/hoping for, as it tastes a lot like hard cider/apple juice. While I enjoyed the NG Cran-bic more, if I could buy any of these fruit beers off the shelf I'd always have some in my fridge.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 16:42:16 | More by mdfb79