Last weekend I ran into reader Kassie who happened to be running around South of the River. She was kind enough to share a bottle of New Glarus’ Wisconsin Belgian Red Ale with me. Rated at a 96/100 on BeerAdvocate and winner of numerous awards in the last 15+ years, I have to admit that this one intrigued me even if I am not at all a fan of fruity beers.
I took it home on Saturday planning to drink it that night. Unfortunately I didn’t get around to it until Monday night instead. The bottle is a big beast at 25oz (a little over a pint and a half) and is sealed with wax making it look a lot like a wine bottle. The labeling is simple and was applied unevenly but I wasted little time cracking it open.
The first whiff was of sweet cherries and nothing else. I poured it into a pint glass even though New Glarus suggests a brandy snifter or champagne flute and immediately noticed the deep red color and lingering head. The cherry smell almost overwhelming, so much so that I really began to reconsider trying it at all. However, I pushed through and took a deep drink.
My first impression was that this beer wasn’t a beer at all and instead was simply a recreation of my childhood favorite soda, Cherikee Red. It was sweet, carbonated, and had a strong cherry flavor that seriously tasted artificial. The only difference between New Glarus’ offering and any cherry sodas is that the mouthfeel afterwards is very similar to hard cider–a dry and parched feeling.
I was surprised that I made it all the way through the bottle. While I really expected this to be a sip or two and down the drain with it, I have to admit that I found myself wanting to make the drive to WI soon to get stock up on this stuff. While this isn’t something I can drink on a daily or even weekly basis, it’s certainly something I would enjoy from time to time throughout the year.
New Glarus notes that it goes well with many different food items including spicy ones. While I think the carbonation would really enhance the spice levels of the food I eat in a negative way, I could certainly agree that it would work with a lot of different dishes and I suggest that even if you are not a fan of fruit beers that you give this one a try if you have a chance.
Have you ever had New Glarus’ Wisconsin Belgian Red Ale? If so what did you think of it? Are you a fan of fruit beers in general and if so what others have you tried that you’ve enjoyed? Whatever you have to say about New Glarus’ cherry beer go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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May 2nd, 2012 at 7:44 am
I haven’t tried it yet, but the mrs. is always looking for something to suppliment her barrel of Berry Weiss she keeps on hand during the summer months. I’ll go ahead and add it to the fridge list. Thanks for the review.
May 2nd, 2012 at 7:50 am
Congratulations! You have discovered one of the best breweries in southern Wisconsin. The Belgian Red is a favorite of mine, but like you said, enjoyed in limited quantities. Best when shared because one regular glass is usually enough. Give the other New Glarus beers a try, some good brewing going on down there.
May 2nd, 2012 at 8:09 am
I love this beer, along with their Raspberry Tart (which I recommend you also pick up a bottle of if you’re making a WI run). Both are well made fruit beers that craft beer lovers appreciate but I think could also be good gateway beers for those just testing the craft beer waters.
May 2nd, 2012 at 8:32 am
I really enjoyed the red, but I did have the impression of it being almost too sweet. Raspberry Tart on the other hand…I may get a stomach ache from trying to drink an entire bottle, but I don’t think that will deter me next time. Unless the husband gets a hold of it. Fo a guy who normally despises fruity beers, he loves this stuff.
May 2nd, 2012 at 8:47 am
Not one of my favorite beers from them. Too sweet.
New Glarus Blacktop – their black IPA is one of my current favorites from them. Worth a drive over the border.
May 2nd, 2012 at 8:56 am
I am not big on sweet beers, but that one sounds interesting enough if I had 4 other people to share it with. I hate wasting beer, and I suspect if I opened that alone, I would choke the whole thing down so as not to waste it.
I still have a bottle of Surly V that I have not opened. Technically it is a “sour” beer, but it tastes like candy too. Sour cherry is the most prominent note from when I tried it when it was fresh. Hoping a couple of years in the bottle improve the flavor (at least to my personal palate), but with a big bottle like that (750), I am going to share it when I open it.
May 2nd, 2012 at 12:06 pm
New Glarus is my favorite brewery, and the Belgian Red is pretty much my favorite beverage ever (but I like almost all of their brews). I have not found a cherry beer to equal it (and I’ve tried several!). It tastes like liquid cherry pie!
The raspberry tart is pretty good, too (but I like the cherry better).
May 2nd, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Hey lefty,
Don’t hesitate to ask me to share that Five with you. ;)
May 2nd, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Lefty, I will trade you a 6′er of Hop Slam for that bottle of Surly V
May 2nd, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Oo, I think I have a bottle of Five left too. I think I even have one or two Smoke bottles left!
May 2nd, 2012 at 1:57 pm
linkstorinks
I could let it go for a 12er of HopSlam. The fact that I would be passing up having a beer with Claire makes it super valuable.
lefty
May 2nd, 2012 at 1:58 pm
New Glarus is awesome beer. I’m a huge fan. That’s about all I have to say about it.
I’m about to bottle a huge batch of beer I brewed at Vine Park on West 7th in Saint Paul. How about a Vine Park brew-on-premises review? Their Wednesday brew clubs offer a great variety pack of six different beers and a social brewing get-together. Best of all, you don’t have to clean anything up and you walk away with 36 double-sized beers brewed by yourself for $70 plus bottle deposit.
http://www.vinepark.com/brewclub.html
May 2nd, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Colin, sign up to write a guest post on it! :-)
May 2nd, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Lefty-
I only have a 6′er left to spare unfortunately so that is why I asked since and since they were very close monetarily in value.
Greg, same offer I gave lefty if you are willing to part with yours. Not a fan of smoke though.
May 2nd, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Let me double-check what I have at home, I might be up for a swap!
May 2nd, 2012 at 8:11 pm
I do have a bottle of Five left, it’s been in the fridge since I bought it. I would be willing to trade it for a 6-pack of Hopslam.
May 2nd, 2012 at 8:16 pm
that sounds good, thanks!
let me know how you want to exchange, etc.
May 2nd, 2012 at 8:57 pm
Greg, what’s the expiration date? :)
May 2nd, 2012 at 9:53 pm
There’s no indication on the bottle anywhere about an expiration date. I bought two whenever they came out and drank one, saved the other. I don’t know how this one was supposed to be stored, but I assume it’s still good. It’s been in the fridge since I bought it.
Links, I’m pretty flexible. I live in Farmington, work in Burnsville. Whatever works for you will probably work for me.
For what it’s worth, I do also have a bottle of Smoke as well as a bottle of Darkness sitting next to the bottle of Five in the fridge. Apparently I’ve become a hoarder of Surly products.
May 2nd, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Greg-
I live in Rosemount so we are close to one another. The Five will be fine in the fridge or cellared.
I can email you and we can figure out the specifics, just let me know you addy.
Thanks again!
May 3rd, 2012 at 6:23 am
Sure, shoot me an e-mail. KTM625 (at) mac (dot) com
May 3rd, 2012 at 8:13 pm
As a bonus Greg, I will bring you a couple bottles of an unreleased brew that Surly brewed and I fermented. It is very different from their normal offerings and quite good even though I do not prefer that style. Thanks again!
June 28th, 2012 at 7:02 am
[...] alcohol is legal at WI State Parks, as opposed to MN. Which is good for me because I require a New Glarus Belgian Red any time I’m in Wisconsin!). They are nice and big, but are also situated so that sub-groups [...]