Thumbprint Cherry Stout - New Glarus Brewing Company

Mister_Joshy

California

4/5  rDev +6.7%

11-18-2012 08:07:38 | More by Mister_Joshy

Dactrius

Wisconsin

2.25/5  rDev -40%

06-16-2013 02:29:47 | More by Dactrius

Devi0us

California

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%

06-15-2013 09:00:25 | More by Devi0us

ackeeper

Illinois

3/5  rDev -20%

06-12-2013 03:46:02 | More by ackeeper

jarrgal

North Dakota

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%

06-10-2013 02:36:00 | More by jarrgal

coldmeat23

Oklahoma

5/5  rDev +33.3%

06-03-2013 00:23:29 | More by coldmeat23

Anonymous1

Illinois

4/5  rDev +6.7%

06-01-2013 15:07:42 | More by Anonymous1

Larrygto

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev 0%

05-24-2013 17:51:08 | More by Larrygto

mychalg9

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev 0%

05-17-2013 19:52:14 | More by mychalg9

BUNZILLA

Indiana

4/5  rDev +6.7%

05-14-2013 02:13:33 | More by BUNZILLA

bhurley

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +26.7%

05-10-2013 15:55:56 | More by bhurley

jp110099

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -13.3%

05-10-2013 02:06:25 | More by jp110099

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.25/5  rDev -13.3%

04-26-2013 06:58:10 | More by Kelp

Bowers-Brew

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +13.3%

04-21-2013 22:17:31 | More by Bowers-Brew

jreindl

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -13.3%

04-20-2013 06:31:25 | More by jreindl

cardern

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +20%

04-16-2013 02:59:29 | More by cardern

Keith_R

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +13.3%

04-07-2013 03:43:45 | More by Keith_R

Zach136

Georgia

4/5  rDev +6.7%

04-07-2013 02:58:51 | More by Zach136

zonker17

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%

04-05-2013 03:19:05 | More by zonker17

egrace84

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev 0%

03-24-2013 21:37:30 | More by egrace84

drummermattie02

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +13.3%

03-20-2013 02:31:32 | More by drummermattie02

soze47

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +6.7%

03-16-2013 14:16:06 | More by soze47

wmobley

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%

03-13-2013 20:31:41 | More by wmobley

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev 0%

03-10-2013 18:27:10 | More by spycow

kojevergas

California

2.79/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

12 fl oz brown glass bottle with foiled over branded pressure cap served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Thanks to Duff27 for the bottle. Expectations are high given the brewery and style, though the current ratings seem rather low. Aged in oak barrels according to the label. Uses 8 different maled barleys. Brewed with cherries. Label art is nothing to write home about.

Served straight from the fridge and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours an audibly fizzing head of beige colour, poor thickness, and bad (~10 second) retention. No lacing whatsoever. Not horribly impressed with the head, especially at a paltry 6.50%. Body colour is a refined understated dark amber. Semitransparent and semitranslucent. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Not at all what I expected for a Cherry Stout, but I suppose New Glarus isn't known for churning out predictable beers. Still, this one doesn't look all that great. I'm excited to try it regardless.

Sm: Ugh. Distinct cherry cough syrup; it's uncanny. I've joked about cough syrup aromas in previous reviews, but this really really evokes it. In any case, the cherry seems chemical and artificial, not genuine or fruit-like. The aroma is really turning me off to it. Ugh. Maybe there's candi sugar when I really look for it? A pretty strong, pungent aroma. I don't detect any yeast or alcohol.

T: Better than the aroma, to be sure. Clean malts form the body, with a pleasant lightly sour cherry kick on the climax. Sugary and candy-like. Good sweetness is balanced well by light caramel. The oak is nowhere to be found. Lightly tart. Enjoyable. It's decently balanced, if a bit too sweet. Not horribly complex or subtle, but it gets the job done. I do like it, but this is not the level of quality I've come to expect from New Glarus. I do like the cherry.

Mf: Smooth, wet, a bit too thick, and slightly undercarbonated. Full-bodied. Too heavy on the palate. A bit viscous, but I wouldn't call it syrupy. Suits the flavour profile okay.

Dr: The appearance and aroma really had me concerned, but it wasn't a train-wreck after all. Still, I do expect more from New Glarus and this so-called "Cherry Stout" wasn't at all what the name might suggest...that wouldn't be an issue if it was amazing anyway, but it's neither a cherry stout nor a very good beer. I definitely think it's worth trying and I like the experimentation, but this one missed the mark. They need to commit more to the spontaneous fermentation/cherry combination or to the oak aging; neither is well explored here. Glad I got to try this one. Thanks again, Duff27!

Low C

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 02:53:12 | More by kojevergas