New Glarus Wisconsin Belgian Red

(750 ml bottle via trade with <A HREF=http://www.ratebeer.com/View-User-38026.htm target=blank>buckybeer, thanks Mark!) Luscious and tart...Pours cloudy pale red, the color of a pale strawberry jam with some grayishness. Two fingers of white-pinkish head recede to a thin slightly foamy cap. Aroma of tart, fresh berries (actually kind of muted). Mouthfeel is full but light (if that makes sense) - pillowy soft. Sloppy, small spots of lacing. Tart, slightly sour cherry-berry taste with a base of reserved sweetness to balance it out. I was a bit underwhelmed by the aroma but this has a great mouthfeel and a very nice taste. (Rating #500!)

I am not usually a fan of fruit beers, however.... this is something special. The aroma quickly transports you into a cherry orchard on a perfect summer morning. pours slightly cloudy red with a thin head. Flavor is cherry of all varieties; sweet, sour, etc., but also includes the other characteristics found in good belgian ales. This was a very balanced beer. My Christmas present came early when I discovered a family member who travels to Wisconsin on a regular basis. We now have a standing order.

Wow. Very impressive. Tons of sweet cherry aromas balanced nicely by a malty background. Sweet and sour cherry notes on the palate. Delicious. Nice sour/’tart finish. Liquid cherry. Wonderful.

simply one of the best beers i have evr had in my life. the flavor of the beer was perfect. The New Glarus Brewing company has new made a beer that i dont like.

I’ve been wanting to try this one for a really long time. Pours a cloudy red with a thin white pink head. Smells like a cherry or strawberry candy jolly rancher. Very tantilizing. Very candy sweet like the taste just like the smell. You get the huge cherry taste as I’m sure was intended for this beer. The flavor just explodes in your mouth and the aftertaste is quite big. Truly a delight.

I just can’t fight it any longer. Had this again last night thanks to Gillard, and this time instead of being the best beer I’ve had after only ~30 beers, it’s still the best beer I’ve had after ~600 beers. I feel more comfortable now giving this beer an even higher score with that experience in mind. Cherry pie filling, vanilla bean, cherry soda, the nose has it all. What sets this beer apart is the flavor has a tartness to it and just enough acidity to offset the sweetness. Palate is viscous while being spritz, and perfect for the style, supremely drinkable. I’ve had this on 4 separate occasions now from 4 different bottles and it’s been this good each time. It’s the best smelling and best tasting beverage I have ever consumed, and I don’t see any possible way it could be any better. So I have to give it a perfect score.

Original rating 03/04/2007
Huge thanks to jonboy32818 for sharing this at the O Town Throwdown. Wonderfully cherry red pour, small white head. Aroma is full on cherry, tartness, yeast, malt. Very sticky, clinging moutfeel. Feels very nice rolling around on the tongue. Flavor is cherry, cherry, cherry. Some nice sour notes to keep everything together. Smelling this beer you have a fear that it could be too sweet, but it never approaches that, keeping everything wonderfully blended. I could honestly drink this every day if I could get it here in Florida. The single best tasting beer I have ever had. A defining experience.

Original Rating: 10 / 4 / 10 / 4 / 19 = 4.7

What can I say? This beer is in it’s own class. It has the fruit of a lambic laid over the rich maltiness and yeastiness of a classic belgian style ale. I even detect a bit of bitter hops to balance the cherry sweet & sour notes. This is probably the best beer brewed in Wisconsin and rivals finest from Belgium, the UK or Michigan. If I could reimagine it to my own perfection it would have a tad more alcohol kick near the finish, but that’s quibbling with perfection.

Bottle courtesy of hopsmoker. Paired with a frikadelle and black cherry sauce at a Belgian-themed dinner at maltydogs. Great cherry aroma, sour and fruity. Cherry skins and sugar, acidic and sweet. Fresh macerated sour cherry. Reddish hazy with thin lacing pinkish head. Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Great cherry taste, like fresh tart cherries and sour cherry pie filling. Ascorbic acid and cherry skin tannins. Great tartness throughout with mild bittering finish and tart fruity after.