BRAND: New Glarus Brewing Co, New Glarus WI

NAME: Fat Squirrel Ale and Spotted Cow Ale

TYPE OF BEER: American Hazelnut Brown Ale / “Naturally Cloudy Farmhouse Ale”

ALCOHOL CONTENT: 5.8% / 4.8%

PRICE: Not sure; was purchased in a 12 pack New Glarus Sampler Pack for $15.99 just down the street from Lambeau Field in Green Bay , WI

DESCRIPTION: I was first made aware of Wisconsin’s New Glarus Brewery from fellow MANLANDER Jeff. He had just returned from Wisconsin and was excited about a local brew he had sampled called “Spotted Cow.” I was recently in WI, so I had a goal of seeking out some New Glarus beers while I was there. My first stop was to a liquor store called Stadium Liquors, which had a full selection of NG beers as well as a twelve-pack sampler. The 12’ver included three each of Spotted Cow, Fat Squirrel, Stone Soup, and Crack’d Wheat. I couldn’t bring an entire 12 pack back with me in my bag, but I managed to shove one of each into my suitcase. Next time I’m bringing a travel trunk!

The bummer about these beers? New Glarus brews are only available in Wisconsin. You cannot purchase them anywhere else. So, unless you live in Wisconsin, you will only be able to virtually taste these beers through this review. I am reviewing the Fat Squirrel and Spotted Cow.

Fat Squirrel uses 100% Wisconsin malt made of six different varieties to impart a natural toasted color to this bottle conditioned, unfiltered ale. “Clean hazelnut notes result from these carefully chosen barley malts. Hops from Slovenia, Bavaria and the Pacific Northwest give Fat Squirrel its backbone.”

Spotted Cow is a cask-conditioned ale that’s brewed with flaked barley and the finest Wisconsin malts. New Glarus also adds a “little hint of corn from Wisconsin farmers.”

POUR/TASTE: First up is the Fat Squirrel. This is one of my favorite beer styles: American Brown Ale. Fat S pours with a beautiful cloudy brownish/copper color that’s adorned with a healthy, off-white head. There is a sweet, dark, nutty aroma. The first sip of this medium-bodied beer is heavenly. This is one of the nuttiest brown ales I have tried as there is an intense, toasted hazelnut flavor that blends perfectly with the beer’s high-carbonation bite. Man, this is one excellent beer. I would rank it in my top 25 list. 

Bring on the Spotted Cow! This is a super “sessionable” beer as it weighs in at 4.8% ABV. I love the hazy, golden, Hefeweisen-like appearance and small yeast particles that are suspended in the brew. Spotted Cow has a sweet, slightly fruity aroma – one that kind of reminds me of Juicy Fruit gum. Drinking this beer is a treat with its incredibly smooth, rich body – if it weren’t for the medium carbonation, you’d swear you are drinking a nitro-widget can style beer. This is one of Wisconsin’s most popular beers and it is easy to see why: it’s an easy-to-drink brew with excellent flavor.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BREW TO OTHER MANLANDERS? Oh, yeah. I am savoring each sip as I know that it will be awhile before I can savor these great beers again. If you are lucky enough to live within driving range of Wisconsin, do yourself a favor and go buy a case or two of these beers. Here’s a big “Thanks!” to my buddy Jeff for putting these beers on my radar.

Do I need to say it? Both Fat Squirrel and Spotted Cow earn a KICK ASS BEER AWARD!