Stone Soup - New Glarus Brewing Company

brandoneast

Texas

2/5  rDev -46.8%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Simply tastes like a joke, like someone poured 3/4 of Miller Lite in my glass that was holding 1/4 of an average triple.

Pours translucent, little to no lacing and head. Fills the glass with aromas of cornflakes and unripened green bananas, aged hops, and wheat cracker - has kind of a wit thing going on, some faint, and I mean faint, spice in the background. Mouthfeel was somewhat effervescent but that was the only thing average about the beer. As far as Belgian Pale Ales go, this sits at the bottom in my book.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2010 04:10:10 | More by brandoneast

Rennpferd

Wisconsin

2.35/5  rDev -37.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a clean pint glass.

It poured a golden yellow. It was slighty cloudy and active. A 1 inch white head quickly shrank down to just a lacing of head.

It has a light malt smell that is earthy.

A slight malt taste, a bit of corn taste. A tang of something I can not quite identify. A crispness gives way to a medium body.

I can drink it, but I would prefer something different.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2007 23:54:08 | More by Rennpferd

scaliasux

Wisconsin

2.45/5  rDev -34.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Appearance - Light yellow-orange. Somewhat cloudy. Foams energetically, but quickly dissipates into a thin film.

Smell - Sweet and yeasty. Prominant spicy orange aroma. Tempting.

Taste - Begins with unremarkable sweet malt flavor with mild orange spice flavor emerging at the end. Somewhat less flavorful than I expected from the aroma. A little alcohol aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Light and highly carbonated.

Drinkability - Though I'm a big fan of this local brewer, this beer doesn't really do it for me. Tastes just a few ticks off. I don't expect to get this one again.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2007 03:18:47 | More by scaliasux

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.73/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bottle courtesy of Plucier: Poured a golden color ale with a small bubbly white head with little retention. Aroma of light malt with some very subtle spices is blander then expected. Taste is a mix between some dry malt with some light spices and very little yeast in the finish. Body is about average with some medium to low carbonation. This is definitely not one of the most interesting offering from this brewer.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2007 15:33:22 | More by Phyl21ca

Opethsprite

Kentucky

2.73/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

From notes...
Pours a golden straw with light, voluminous head--slow to dissolve. Carbonation evident. As noted on the bottle, you get ginger and cloves on the nose, but also with a grassy yeastiness, bitter orange peel, and alcohol. There is a hint of the macro sweetness there...oh dear... You can definitely taste the ginger, a tad of the bitter orange peel, and then it goes sweet, caramel and malts. The macro element was pushed at times, as was the bitterness, in my opinion. Nicely balanced mouthfeel, perhaps a tad too much carbonation for my taste. All in all, a decent beer. More of an "interesting" than a "solid" choice, though.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2009 20:56:38 | More by Opethsprite

OneDropSoup

Pennsylvania

2.73/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Many thanks for alcstradamus for the trade!

Pours a hazy straw with plenty o' bubbles, a fizzy & quickly dropping head. No lacing to speak of.

Smells like a wheat, with some clovey banana, sweet. As it warms a kind of brown sugar emerges.

Taste is kind of muddled. I can taste some of the estery flavors, but they're struggling under the prickly, bubbly mouthfeel. Very subtle. After a few seconds this dryness rears up & steamrolls all the other flavors, leaving a dead taste in the mouth with some tiny remnants of fruit.

The mouthfeel is too active & sharp, especially considering the small amount of flavor. For a beer with so little head, I find the bubbly character kind of abrasive.

I went into this one with high hopes, but unfortunately really can't say I enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2009 20:43:05 | More by OneDropSoup

hodgsongreg

Minnesota

2.83/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I made a beer run to WI on a Sunday seeking out this beer. I've heard from dozens of people the exact same thing, "I love this beer." I asked the clerk at Hudson Liquors what he thought, he said "I love this beer." Solid and consistent endorsements all around.

Poured into an iced glass, drank slowly to taste the flavors change as it warms. Slow, standard pour down the side of the glass...HOLY HEAD!!! It foamed up like a 5th grade volcano science project. Waiting for the head to recede. 2 minutes, half the head...I think this qualifies as decent head retention and is something I did not expect from a Belgian Pale Ale. Stone Soup has a nice cloudy honey color. It smells malty and yeasty and a has a sweet and spicy witbier flavor to the taste buds of this amateur observer. Light carbonation and mouthfeel.

Like all of the New Glarus beers that I've had, this is a good beer, but the flavors are a little more subtle than what I like, which leaves me wanting.

I like this beer, but do not love it. Meh, you can only be so happy.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2009 02:03:34 | More by hodgsongreg

RTrain12

Illinois

2.83/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

12 oz. poured in to pint glass.

A: Pours a straw yellow in color with a 1/2" off white head. The head faded away to about a 1/4" and stay the entire beer. Lots of caronation in the glass.

S: Spices, floral, and Belgian yeast.

T: Cloves for sure! Spices with a hint of yeast.

M: Medium bodied not to heavy. Light carbonation. Slightly bitter at the end. Finishes clean tho.

D: This is a ok beer. I've tried to like Belgian pale ale but can get into them. Still a big fan of New Glarus!

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2010 01:41:24 | More by RTrain12

BasementBer

Manitoba (Canada)

2.83/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Not my favorite of styles to begin with.

A: Hazy pale to yellow. Not overwhelmed by the head retention, but poured two fingers of bone white foam.

S: Not much in the way of smell. More hoppy than fruity or grain.

T: Bitter. This pale ale has more bite than expected from the style and doesnt have the catty staleness that ive experienced in others.

M: Hops in the pockets of the cheeks, and lingering grainy on the tongue.

D: Not the one I would choose for the style, but it was ok.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2011 19:00:28 | More by BasementBer

RJUGA03

Illinois

2.93/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

A-Orangy/ yellow slightly cloudy (Hefelike) with a simple thick edge head that has scant lacing in the center.

S- Somewhat fruit with a yeast like odor ( very hefe typical).

T- Strong carbonated breadlike up front flowing into flavor bursts of fruits and slight clove....and finishing with a malty bitterness.

M- Thin with frothy activation in your mouth.

D- It's a great summer beer, but for me personally it is a bit too light.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2009 08:19:08 | More by RJUGA03

Vixie

Illinois

2.95/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a cloudy yellow with a bit of a white head which dissipated quickly.

Smell is sweet and malty, also can detect a bit of spice there, kind of a peppery scent.

Taste is ok, nothing really stands out. There's a bit of a citrus flavor, and just a touch of spice. There's a lot of an orange juce flavor there, and compared to the best Belgian ales I've had, this one is not in the same league.

Mouthfeel to me is thin, the carbonation is the main thing going on here.

Overall an ok Belgian style ale, but compared to what I am used to, nothing special. Not a bad beer by any stretch, but not a standout either.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2009 02:13:43 | More by Vixie

Westsidethreat

California

3/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to JeffKrenner for this beer.

A: Vibrant melted gold color with a cloudy personality. Head started and ended fizzy, with just a tiny ring of white bubbles to remind you of what once was.

S: Primarily honey with dried hay, some banana, dandelions and milk.

T: Begins yeasty with your standard farm house flavors; fresh cut grass clippings, banana peel and spicy hops. Some lemon twang starts at the tip of the tongue then moves towards the center bringing with it some milky flavors. Finishes with banana candy, some vanilla and cloves.

M: This body with a hard water mouthfeel. Carbonation very fuzzy and explosive across the tongue.

D: There’s nothing special about this beer. Just another farmhouse style on the market. Definitely not one of my favorite New Glarus beers.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2007 00:15:25 | More by Westsidethreat

dcloeren

Texas

3/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured a pale pale straw color with 1 finger of FIZZY white head that instantly disappeared and left no trace of it even being there...

Catching a lot of fruity yeast up front and still waiting for the rest of the scent like a small child after school waiting for a forgetful parent and stupidly hopping that they will show up soon... but it never does. So I will start my metaphorical walk home...

This tastes like a belgian knock off... It would be the equivalent of buying a pair of oakleys from a stranger on the street corner for 10 bucks. Getting some belgian yeast, some biscuity quality but definitely lacking on hops and depth.

This is nothing but a fizzy mess in my mouth. Body is very thin and extremely carbonated. Just to keep up with the trend of comparisons, I'll throw this one out there. When I sip on this beer it makes me feel like I just ate Pop Rocks and took a sip of pepsi. Fail

I'm extremely surprised this carries a B+ avg on here. It was one of the most disappointing craft beers I have ever had...

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2011 23:42:40 | More by dcloeren

nrunge

Wisconsin

3.03/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I would like to note that I am a huge fan of New Glarus, and that under most circumstances my opinion is a bit tainted.

Being a huge fan of unfiltered cloudy beer I thought that the pour was very attractive.

Very drinkable, nice carbination. Crisp with some great bananna and citrus notes but the clove seems to really overpower the other flavors. Which is why I gave this beer a fairly low rating. Personally I like more deep, malty beer with the other flavors (especially clove) playing the supporting roles.

The hefe side of the beer really does take the edge off the abbey ale side. While not quite a session ale you could definately throw a couple of these back in succession.

In the end not really for me but I know that many people really like a strong clove/citrus flavor in their hefe's. I was just really hoping tha the abbey side of this beer would have dulled that down a bit.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2009 15:54:59 | More by nrunge

jjanega08

Minnesota

3.03/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A= A slightly hazy yellow color with a two finger thick white head. Bubbles are rising replenishing the head quite frequently. Looks pretty got only not much lacing on it though.
S= Smells very sweet and chalky at the same time. It has quite the pungent odor but I just can't figure out what the smell is... Yeast maybe very nice though.
T= A sort of wintergreeny odd taste to it. Apples are there of course as well as yeast but the wintergreeny taste is odd. Also a little chalky like a guiness. Bannana's are their and maybe some pears. Lotta strange fruit in this one.
M= medium body and average finish. Really nothing to notable.
D= Pretty good but I dunno if I'll be drinking much more of it. The wintergreen taste is really weird.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2009 02:16:13 | More by jjanega08

snaotheus

Washington

3.03/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle shipped to the West coast from the East coast, poured into a pint glass

Pours a bright yellow color with a little orange tinge at its core, small fine head with little visible carbonation, noticeably cloudy but not opaque. Smell is strong, bananas and cloves, yeast.

Taste is kind of boring. There's a little banana, very little of the clove comes out, mostly it's a lagery yeasty flavor.

Mouthfeel isn't bad, a little flat. Drinkable, but not exceptional beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2010 05:20:10 | More by snaotheus

AleWatcher

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Served in duvel tulip.

Hazy gold body starts off with a towering 4 finger head of fluffy white bubbles. Before I can even take a sip... After a few sips I'm down to a little collar of foam.

Smells like: bubblegum, cloves, and banana-- really, lots of banana. Wow. What's the deal with the banana? The beer tastes lightly sweet, then WAY too yeasty.

Light, heavily carbonated, airy body.

Overall-- BPA's aren't a style I dink a ton of, but this is not one I'll plan on having again. It isn't terrible, but it is low on the spectrum of how I like the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2011 03:34:33 | More by AleWatcher

brewmudgeon

Wisconsin

3.08/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12/10 re-review, NG stone soup

a 2.5-3 light lemony hay color, extremely fizzy and short lived head.

s 3 lots of bubble gum, some banana. it's banana bubble gum. and i'm not a big fan.

t 3-3.5 tastes a bit better than it smells, but far from great.

m 2.5 big fizzy bubbles, a bit irritating though the style might tolerate such things.

d 2.5-3 lacks the sort of character i was looking for, makes me think its a training wheels BPA with too much gum tossed in, not enough else going on.

3.5 hazy gold with a touch of orange. short head leaves a ring

3.5 fairly pleasant mild estery nose, some lemon, overly clean for this style.

3.5 tastes like a little lemon, a little baking soda, a tiny touch of banana, not much else. the finish is particularly boring.

3 lots of setzery carbonation that can't sustain a head and makes a pretty loud fizzy sound. the body is pretty light.

3.5-4 it's drinkable and generally inoffensive, though lacking in character.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2009 02:28:17 | More by brewmudgeon

zachary80

Indiana

3.08/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a Guinness Pint. Influence given from earlier notes. No date is visible (those hashes are impossible) but the rest of the mixed 12 pack tasted fresh.

Head starts off nice but quickly fades to a thin layer of white bubbles. Body is a cloudy and a nice golden straw color, reminiscent of hefeweizen. No lacing

Smell typical of belgian yeast, although there is some of that german banana aroma. Pretty light on the aroma

Taste is somewhat light and almost entirely malty, with some bread character. Yeast influence is mild. Hops? What hops?

Mouthfeel is good, maybe a little too much carbonation if anything.

Overall it is an average beer. Almost seems diluted - not much character

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 01:05:17 | More by zachary80

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

3.1/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Pours into my chalice a light hay gold. Nontransparent with a thick white head that dissipates in seconds to barely a skim. When invigorated a wavy lacing reappears briefly.

Aroma: light malts, Belgian yeast with just a hint of banana and ginger, clove, coriander. Light.

Taste: light. Balanced, light malts, hints of light fruits, touches of the tropics. Easy on the palate.

Mouthfeel: way too carbonated. The carbonation makes it almost impossible to taste anything. Otherwise, light bodied, balanced in every aspect.

Drinkability: I just drank 4 in a row. Sessionable big time.

Note: I need to expand on this review after I think about this beer. My main thought is that it should sit for about 6 months so that the carbonation can mellow. It is really distracting.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2007 03:48:18 | More by DaPeculierDane

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.1/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Semi hazy, golden and pale body supports a growing head, which I thought would spill over. But it didn't and died out fairly quickly leaving a bit of lacing, not very sticky.
Some hints of yeast and sour orange peel come out in the nose, maybe some honeydew as well. Not very rich, kind of light.
Taste needs some more richness. I didn't think (and didn't know) this was a Belgian PA until this review. I thought it more of a Pilsner with some kick. Yet it's a bit think for a BPA, imo. It is easy to drink and doesn't have any bad tastes, just doesn't fit the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2007 20:49:54 | More by Mebuzzard

levifunk

Wisconsin

3.1/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Some head that holds well. A bit cloudy, but looks clean and inviting.

S - Hints of honey, flowers, and lemon. Smell reminds me of sitting on the grass watching fireworks.

T - Earthy flavor....like drinking river water mixed with grass and lemon. Some harsh points, but still refreshing.

M - Smooth and not too watery.

D - Could be a good summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2010 02:24:08 | More by levifunk

botham

Illinois

3.13/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into a pub glass. pours a golden yellow color with two fingers of fluffy white head and moderate retention.

aroma is of pale malts and a lightly fruity quality. the brew has a clean quality overall with notes of faint apple and pear. a flutter of grassy hops hangs around in the back; a typical abbey ale in profile.

taste is somewhat bland, with no one quality standing out. mixed together are pale malts, light spices and a touch of bready yeast. not bad overall, but the brew seems to be confused as to that it is trying to be.

mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with a touch of tartness in texture. finishes mildly clean with a bit of residual breadyness.

drinkability is decent. the brew is non-descript. there are no real defining qualities to call its own. a sub par abbey ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2009 03:14:54 | More by botham

KBomb

Minnesota

3.15/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

This is a beautiful looking beer. Brilliant "thick" gold, you can't see through it. Small but lasting foamy head with fine lacing. Quite a bit of banana, bubblegum, and a hint of yeast and citrus in the nose. Sadly, the taste is a bit bland. We get a little citrus-sour, but too little sweetness and nuanced flavors of the yeast. Mouthfeel is sharp on the tongue with high carbonation, and that same carbonation makes it a little filling.

There is so much that is right about this beer, but unfortunately the most important element (taste) is lacking. One of the rare "disappointments" to come from New Glarus. Far from a drain pour, but I won't be getting this again the next time I come through WI.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2009 00:44:10 | More by KBomb

CampusCrew

Florida

3.15/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

appearance: more on the golden apprearnce with fizzy diaspating head

smell: belgian yeast

taste: clear and low taste belgian pale. Maybe wheat malt... Belgian yeast flavors are present, mild hop flavors and a touch of spice. tastes like a Belgian Light

mouthfeel: light-medium bodied

drinkability: forst beer from new glarus and this was not that great. an avg belgian pale. It's a intro to craft beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 02:33:21 | More by CampusCrew