Fat Squirrel Ale - New Glarus Brewing Company

GIVEMEBACKMYSON

Alaska

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

This pours a mildly brown color with a 1 finger slightly fizzed foam head and moderate lacing.
The scents of the foam are some hop bitterness smells and warm caramel.
This enters the mouth with a near APA-like hop sensation and bitterness. The foreshadowed caramel is definitely one of the largest flavor contributors. The malts don't really convey a nutty character until the beer is swallowed and the mouth is becoming parched. And then you say "oh, i get it" and go for another swig.
This bottle is not bad, but different from most others I've had, which is many. The difference is the hops. They are much more pronounced than usual. I am a hop head, so this isn't a major problem. But, I drank a nut brown tonight because I was in the mood for a nut brown tonight. Oh well. So one batch is a bit different from another. Who gives a shit? This is still quite good.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2005 18:20:25 | More by GIVEMEBACKMYSON

mntlover

Tennessee

3.85/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a lighter brown with some red highlights light tan creamy head that doesn't last long.
Aroma is toasted malts sweet smelling some grassy hops to balance out the sweetness, not much nutty aroma in the nose.
Taste is sweet toasted malt some caramel mix with some nuts that weren't in the nose. Finishes with some light toffee like flavors mixed with some herbal hop flavor and a light bitterness.
Mouthfeel is a little light for a brown ale , whole thing a little difrent for a brown ale.
Drinakability is good not a bad little beer. Thanks to Ave for the sample.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2005 20:48:09 | More by mntlover

clvand0

Kentucky

3.85/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a brown color with almost no head and leaves no lacing on the glass. The aroma is very sweet. No nutty tones here, just sweetness. The flavor has some toasted malts and caramel with a bit of hop. This is lacking what I want from a nut brown ale. I really wasn't impressed with this. Drinkability is good and the body is ok.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2005 14:29:58 | More by clvand0

kmpitz2

Tennessee

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a slightly brown amber color with no head and a slight ring over the beer. The nose is not what I expect from a nut brown or english brown ale. Lots of sweetness that I can't place. The flavor is better than what the nose would say. Good roasted malt with a nice nutty and roasted coffee flavor, Nice nice nice. The feel is right at moderate, maybe a bit more. Drinkability is also very nice. Another solid beer from New Glarus.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2005 05:44:09 | More by kmpitz2

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Fat Squirrel pours a beautiful, subtly hazy (it's bottle-conditioned), light chestnut body with a crimson cast and glowing orange highlights. The frothy ivory head receeds to a thin layer of cream; and it leaves some nice, albeit it mainly transient, lace with each sip. The nose is loaded with toasty malt and welcomes you to take a sip! It's delicately zesty on the tongue due to it's very fine-bubbled, natural carbonation. The body is medium; and it becomes a bit creamier as it warms. Toasty and slightly nutty malt carries through the flavor from start to finish with some delicate, floral and mildly spicy hops appearing towards the finish. It's solid bitterness ushers in a dry finish; and toasted malt lingers gently in its long aftertaste with the occassional appearance of some floral and piney hops. Enjoy this one at just below cellar temperatures to get the most out of it.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2004 14:57:46 | More by NeroFiddled

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bright orange-amber-bronze with an expansive head that is airy, yet creamysoft, and still fills at least half the glass several minutes after the pour. Fine bubbles rush up to replenish the cap of foam even as smooth divots form in the surface and erode it from the top down. Unfortunately, the texture of the cap isn't conducive to lace formation, as the clean glass attests.

The nose is lightly roasted malty, toasted nutty and contains a hint of milky cocoa. Very nice. Coffee-with-cream appears unexpectedly on the palate and is the major component of the flavor profile. Nuttiness is still present, although cocoa/chocolate is nowhere to be found. The Squirrel is satisfactorily malted with a valued contribution from softly bitter hops. I'd like to see a fatter body than the one that has been provided, but it isn't bad given the style.

Fat Squirrel is a well-crafted brown ale that (unfortunately, as far as I'm concerned) tastes more like coffee than anything else. It isn't overpowering however, and although I would never buy it on a regular basis, it was fine as long as the bottle lasted. Another good New Glarus beer for which I have Skidz to thank.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2004 20:08:40 | More by BuckeyeNation

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This poured with a big, tan-colored head that gave off a malty, nutty (think hazelnut) scent on the nose. The head quickly subsided, but it left behind a light amber beer. The first sip revealed a very sweet, very nutty flavor. It had a medium mouthfeel, but gave a great lingering, nutty aftertaste. I found it to be a great accompaniment to a meal of WI brats.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2004 14:48:42 | More by woodychandler

Popsinc

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: an amber brown pour with some carbonation and a light tan head.

Smell: big roasted malts and some bread like qualities. semi sweetness of mild carmel underneath. light earthy notes. some nuttiness.

Taste & Mouthfeel: lively on the tongue up front with some maltiness creeping in. mid sip the sweetness moves forward and dances to the back of the tongue very pleasantly. some good hop bitterness on the finish with a drop of molasses that makes for a nice medium bodies beer with long lingering qualities.

Drinkability: an every day drinker of decent quality. neither here nor there but quite good without having wowed me.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2004 22:41:20 | More by Popsinc

Boto

Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz. bottle: This beer pours a fairly clear amber color with an off-white head. It didn't linger for long. The aroma is caramel malty with some roastiness. A bit nutty also. The roastiness comes through in the taste with a good malty body behind it. Some nuttiness also. A very nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2004 01:36:15 | More by Boto

Skidz

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A nice light brown that is a bit hazy with a nice off white head. Smells nutty with some bready tones to it as well, like you're about to jump into a pecan pie. Tastes malty up front, moving into the sweetness of chocolate and caramel, then a nice balanced bitterness. Nicely bodied, very easy to drink.

One of the best from New Glarus.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2004 19:42:57 | More by Skidz

ADR

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Brown and hazy, greenish head of rounded 1/2 inch foam. Laces in primary rings. Sweet malty aroma, almost a sugary pecan pie sense with caramel and associated "pie crust" biscuity qualities. Body is shy of medium, with moderate carbonation. Maltiness strikes first, and follows the aroma note-for-note, just a little sweeter than Schell Snowstorm 2003. Finishes softly, with slight hop, but more of the crusty breadiness lingering into the aftertaste. This beer is entirely pleasant and perfect for a drinking session.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2003 19:46:15 | More by ADR

mrpivo

Wisconsin

4.38/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Overall a very drinkable beer. What else would you expect from a New Glarus creation? Had everything a nut brown should. Had a very nutty, malty taste. Excellent carbonation. Appearance was sparkling clear with an off-white head. In my opinion the color could have been a little browner. Hops were perfect for the style.

Excellent beer Dan!

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2003 16:42:29 | More by mrpivo

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

And I though I was impressed with the Native Ale(brown) but this is a solid beer all around. Nice light syrup brown with a amber tone to its slightly hazy color, tall one inch cream colored head that recedes slowly to a thin skim always present and thin whispy web stings and patches. Aroma is dry and woodish, slightly sweet and roasty with a nice overlay of nuttyness, hazel and almond I make out pretty well but I believe there is more here then I'm cable of putting my nose to. But its a pretty nice whiffer either way you put it. Nice taster too, flavor is mild but stays long of a nice little roasty maltyness with some nutty factions of almond candybar and hazelnut. A super fine drying quality just keeps sitting there on your palate which is quite extraordinary. The dryness produces a nice little wood-like dryness with a small bready fluffyness thats really nice. Solid medium body, bold, nearly full in the middle, lightly creamy in a way near the finish along with all the nice little drying qualities, which I'm really digging about this beer. Subtle but flavorful with lots of things going for it. Another New Glarus winner! A session beer all the way! Glad to have picked this up at Ciccone's, my new favorite place to venture on Sundays.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2003 02:55:00 | More by tavernjef

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: clear, caramelly-brown color, with a nice, off-whitish head.
Aroma: nice, soft, creamy, a little sweet, but speaks of little else.
No, I speak too soon...in time, more flavor develops in this nose, give it time and the tell-tale nut appears, the aroma fleshes out, yeah, now, it's working...no diggety...
Good hops right up front, and big, chocolatey malt immediately thereafter...good, substantial mouthfeel, this felt very nice on the palate, great prescence, very nice.
So many browns are meek and mild in flavor and body, so few display much in the way of taste and body, and the Fat Squirrel is a step in a better direction. I could drink a few of these, I could...
Big thanks to cokes for the sample!

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2003 05:26:37 | More by feloniousmonk

mjohn27603

Michigan

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

Smells roasted and nutty. Taste is very subdued roasted and nutty with some caramel. The best thing about this is that the roasted and nutty flavors are subdued. Often nut browns provide too much of these flavors. My first New Glarus experience. Not blown away but a very nice example of a style I don't particularly like. The subtleness of the beer is very much appreciated.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2003 01:38:15 | More by mjohn27603

ZAP

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

An excellent brown ale...color is light brown with an impressive vanilla head on top that rims the glass...nose is toasty and nutty....flavor is toasty and nutty as well...also, some caramel and breadiness deepere in....hops complement the flavor nicely...this seems pretty full-bodied for a brown ale, but still easily drinkable....New Glarus does not brew bad beers....some are just better than others....this is one of those that is better than some of their others...

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2003 21:56:00 | More by ZAP

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.28/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer is a dulled, hazy copper-brown color. A medium sized airy white head sits on top and sticks around for the duration. Rings are left on the glass for viewing pleasure. The aroma is pretty damn good for a brown. Roasted nut, toasted malt and cocoa are the domineering players. The mouthfeel is so creamy and nice. Body of about medium. Toasted malt comes to the forefront on the palete. Also a subdued roasted bitterness. A little bready yeasty touch is a appealing. And the nutty tones comes to play as well. This is really a pleasurable brown ale to consume. The epitome of a session beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2003 19:47:31 | More by Bighuge

cokes

Wisconsin

4.15/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A hazy, toasted honey brown underneath a supple pale khaki dome.
Scents of hazenut cappuccino, powdered cocoa, and roasted walnuts.
Toasted malts hit right up front, leading this towards a caramel-infused variety of cocoa. Honey-roasted walnuts follow and loom largely throughout the midsection, mingling with a pie-crust doughiness. Pricks of nutmeg, hazelnut and french vanilla add interest. Hopping is fairly sedate, but adds a unique grassy, floral flourish at the end with traces of bitterness.
Thinnish in the mouth, but not overly so. Sparce carbonation.

In a world full of brown ales that are often either worthlessly mundane or hopped to the verge of being unrecognizable per the style, this is a welcome departure.
Mellow yet interesting. And quaffable in large sums.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2003 09:46:44 | More by cokes

Winter

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This bottle conditioned unfiltered nut brown ale pours a slightly hazy caramel-copper color in appearance. The head is a fluffy off-white, light tan color. Decent carbonation apparent. Tantalizing aroma consists of caramel malt, roasted nuts and a touch of oak. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and somewhat fizzy. The taste has a nice rich roasted malt flavor in combination with a delicious toasted nuttiness. Midtones consist of melted caramel in addition to an almost pumpkin pie crusty goodness. More sweet caramel follows with a dusty oaken finish. Slight hop bitterness lingers. This is a must have for brown ale fans. Another excellent offering from New Glarus.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2003 16:06:39 | More by Winter