New Glarus Unplugged Enigma

Formerly brewed at New Glarus Brewing Company
Style: Sour Ale
New Glarus, Wisconsin USA

Sampled March 2007
This beer is quite hazy and pours with a murky, dark, reddish brown color. It is topped by an initially one-finger thick, dirty tan colored head that disappears fairly quickly despite a vigorous pour. The aroma is quite tart of course, but there is a bunch of oak character here as well; adding notes of butterscotch, spicy-sharp oak notes and some vanillin. The buttery oak character actually comes to be the dominant aromatic component by far. Somehow the oak note reminds me of sweetened oatmeal, though I am not quite sure what makes me think this as I smell this beer.

The taste has that same distinct note that made me think of oatmeal, or better yet oatmeal raisin cookies. I can’t quite place it though; it is certainly not a bad thing, I just wish I could pinpoint it. It even becomes more distinctive than the oak character. The oak flavor is here as well, with some soft buttery notes, a touch of vanillin and some spicy wood character towards the end. This is not nearly as tart as it could be, but it does have a nice underlying sour character which is quite appealing without ever approaching aggressive. This beer still has a fair amount of sweetness to it as well, though it is not nearly as sticky or syrup-like as the Belgian Red or Raspberry Tart, which in my mind is certainly a good thing. Hints of tamarind, raisins, cherries, toasted grains, and brown sugar are all noticeable in the flavor. I like how the oak adds a touch of spiciness in the finish. This beer does not have the bitterness, nor a large sour presence to provide the balance that is needed for the malt character; the spicy wood character helps to provide that in conjuction with the tartness that is here.

This is quite a distinctive brew. I wonder if it is the cherries that add that sort of oatmeal raisin cookie flavor. This beer is really nice; I really like the interplay of fruit, malt and fermentation character. Really the best way I can describe it is that this beer tastes like a beery version of an oaky oatmeal raisin cookie. I love oatmeal raisin cookies and I am certainly digging this beer. If I lived in Wisconsin, I would beg for this to be a year round beer as this would be a perfect staple in the beer fridge.

Pours with an amber brown body topped by a thin, white head with little lacing left behind. Slightly sweet yet tart with sour notes, malty undertones and some cherry. Reminds me a little of the Belgian Red but with more tart/sour notes. Light bodied, fizzy and a touch dry.

Bottled. Hazy amber colour, not much head. Aroma is coconuts, cookies, alcohol, grapes and some slight touch of caramel. Flavour is sweet fruits, malts, caramel, alcohol and some plum. Though the sweet fruits, the overall is quite sour. Wellbalanced, and quite easy-to-drink. Very pleasant thing! WOW!

Pours a hazed, deep amber honey w/ a shallow froth. Residual lacing is minimal. Aroma is very complex. It’s sweet yet tart then earthy and spiced. Wow! Medium nectar w/ ample residual effers. Theres a defined german chocolate cake character here. Add a twist of gueze lambic and we’re in business. The flavor profile is very complex. Coconut, vanilla, granny smith apple, green peaches, apricot nectar, ginger, a pinch of cinnamon. The finish is long on flavor w/ a serious tartness. Bittered and beautiful. This is one of those brews you don’t easily forget. Highly reommended.

This delicious beer made me fantasize about breaking the empty bottle on the bumber of my car and stabbing fly in his stupid cold ’lil black heart...pour was hazed brown with a small brown head...very woody lightly tart aroma...taste was slightly sweet up front with a delicate sourness building into a delicate sour finish...like a crescendo to decrescendo...never incredibly sour and a wonderful palate cleanser...I must have more.

SECOND TRIAL: I like sour. I like sour a lot, so it’s not surprising that I enjoy this beer. That being said, I don’t think it’s best sour I’ve had, but it is very good. It pours a very cloudy, dense brownish-red. The aroma is sour cherries, apples, and a little alcohol. The taste is quite similar and the finish is slightly dry. Although, my second tasting (which came quite a while after the first) seemed slightly less sour and slightly more alcohol-y. Overall a very interesting beer, I’m glad that the Unplugged line seems to take real chances. Good... bad... it doesn’t really matter as long as it’s something different (although this one does happen to be delicious).

Pours a murky brownish color with a small head that disappeared quicly.Has a citrus orange and cask wood aroma to it.Nice cherry tartness and you can definatly taste the cask conditioning,Has a great little carbonation to it as well.Im not really tasting the vanilla hues though.Wow,this is my first Flemish Sour,and I gotta say,I Like Um!

Thanks NYbeer! Thick brown with a cream top head. Aroma of cherry, with a bit of vanilla. Flavor is rather sweet up front with a cherry vinegar that folds into a little hoppy finish. Great carbination with a nice creamy finish.