Spotted Cow across the IL/WI border [New Glarus Brewing]

Some of you may have already read in my most recent post's that I took a Sunday trip to Kenosha this past weekend. What I didnt tell you was my reasoning for it...to purchase some spotted cow beer from new glarus brewing for my fridge. Im sure most here you here have heard of or had the pleasure of drinking an ice cold spotted cow.

New Glarus is a small independent local brewery located in New Glarus, WI (America's little Switzerland). I had the honor of taking the self guided tour of the brewery year in and year out while living in Madison...one of the great drives of the midwest is the byways of WI from Madison into New Glarus. Due to the fact they are such a small locally owned brewery, New Glarus beer is only available in the state of Wisconsin, where it can easily be found. After taking trip after trip during my college days I got to know the people behind the beer and basically after many bribe offers and begging them to make it available in Chicago, I was always given the same answer..."we have trouble meeting demand for the state of Wisconsin"

There really isnt a bad beer in New Glarus' catalog, they make an amazing Octoberfest brew, fat squirrel which they describe as "100% Wisconsin malt of six different varieties impart the natural toasted color to this bottle conditioned unfiltered ale. Clean hazelnut notes result from these carefully chosen barley malts" is also one of my favorite brews. But in my opinion the best beer in the world pound for pound is spotted cow. When I went to college in Madison after HS in Willmette and Oakdale, CT and a year of college in Tampa and first tried this brew at State St. brats, I said to myself "what the (bleep) have I been drinking all this time". Its just the most refreshing beer and on a hot summer day, cannot be beat.

I am wondering if there are any bigger/mega liquor stores near the border where I can pick up cases? I actually had a hard time finding a packy (shout out to all you New Englander's) let alone one that had cases and not just $8.99 sixers. I ended up getting six-six packs from Piggly wiggly @ $7.99/each but I have to believe there is a better price where I can pick up cases or a keg.

When I lived in Madison, I always lived within short walking distance of "Riley's, wines of the world" which is one of the top five money making liquor stores in the US...and they close at 9pm daily. I was able to get cases from there for $22.99. I know they could afford to sell it for less because the turnover is so fast, but is there anywhere near the border where I can get this stuff a little cheaper so I can fill up my fridge for the summer? thanks to all.

I also have rec's for anyone eating in New Glarus or doing a food tour, they got a great butcher shop not to far away in the next town and in the heart of town is a bar, who's name escapes me that is a real deal cubbies bar, where the game is always on. Ill never forget about the owner telling me about this kid, Marmol, "who we got down in triple-a who's going to be a star for us." I posted this in shopping and not drinking b/c im looking for a place to buy it and thought I may get more answers on here. thanks.

http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/Index.cfm

If you do a road trip, to New Glarus bring back a bunch of landjaeger sausage -- nice little hard sausages shaped like paired candy bars. I can't remember the name of the butcher who makes the best there, IIRC it's the one on the east side of the main drag.

The Woodman's store in Kenosha [right off of Hwy. 50] has a wide selection of Wisconsin microbrews, most likely including New Glarus Spotted Cow. I'd recommend a phone call to check before you haul on up there on $4 gallon gas that there's some in stock now.

And don't stop at the liquor department. This Woodman's grocery appeared to have a specimen of every cryovacced sausage produced in the state of Wisconsin, a sampling of kringles from the area and . . . oh, just go look. It's a unique store and you'll have an interesting time. There are threads elsewhere on the board about it. But I'm fairly sure it will be your closest source for Spotted Cow.

Giovanna

awesome, great tip. I used to go the woodman's in Madison whenever I wanted to stock my fridge up. Spotted cow, Pasties, Kringles, sausage and cheese sounds like a reason to head up there next week. I actually thought of google texting "Woodman's Kenosha, WI" but it quickly escaped the mind when I was driving around town yesterday.

http://www.woodmans-food.com/

The Pub, a University of Chicago student / alumni "club" tavern (but anyone can get in for $1) downstairs at Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th Street, regularly carried a full array of New Glarus beers for several years starting in 2001, legally or no. My first lambic beer was a lovely snifter of New Glarus raspberry back then.

While nothing NG has been on the board or menu for some time, if you go during the evening (say, 7-11:30 PM, primetime there), and ask very politely at the bar, they just may have a bottle or two to share with you. In general, I recommend ordering from their bottle lists, since the tap lines aren't all that clean, but the selection is excellent.

I would be surprised if they still had them. New Glarus beers used to be reasonably available in Chicago until a few years ago. I don't recall if it was a Bell's level distributor issue or something else, but they were all off the shelf, which I agree, was unfortunate.

Several years before I moved to Chicago--probably 10 years ago no--I encountered the Uff-da beer in Decorah, IA, at a Norwegian inn, and greaty enjoyed both the name and the brew.

I would be surprised if they still had them.

Officially, no. [read: yes. Cough.]

If they won't sell them to you from the private stash, it's not unknown for them to just share what they're drinking in the back room as a warmup for something you will buy from them. I'm not saying they definitely have anything, I'm just sayin.'

Aaron Deacon wrote:I would be surprised if they still had them. New Glarus beers used to be reasonably available in Chicago until a few years ago. I don't recall if it was a Bell's level distributor issue or something else, but they were all off the shelf, which I agree, was unfortunate.

The way they explained it on my brewery tour a couple of years ago, it was just a matter of demand exceeding supply, and they did not want to expand the brewing operation, so scaled back distribution.

Santander wrote:

I would be surprised if they still had them.

Officially, no. [read: yes. Cough.]

Sorry, my wife often accuses me of being obtuse, and she's usually right.

Kennyz wrote:

Aaron Deacon wrote:I would be surprised if they still had them. New Glarus beers used to be reasonably available in Chicago until a few years ago. I don't recall if it was a Bell's level distributor issue or something else, but they were all off the shelf, which I agree, was unfortunate.

The way they explained it on my brewery tour a couple of years ago, it was just a matter of demand exceeding supply, and they did not want to expand the brewing operation, so scaled back distribution.

Tis true.

Da Beef wrote:After taking trip after trip during my college days I got to know the people behind the beer and basically after many bribe offers and begging them to make it available in Chicago, I was always given the same answer..."we have trouble meeting demand for the state of Wisconsin"

I, too, long again for New Glarus brews. My brother-in-law or I always pack the van full of various flavors whenever we're within reach of a selection.

If I recall correctly, I remember seeing some at Mars Cheese Castle, post Chicagoland embargo.

You might want to check out the Woodman's in Carpentersville or North Aurora, they carry everything Wisconsin and have a huge inventory of beer. The Woodman's in North Aurora is right at the I-88 and Orchard Road exchange.

Mars Cheese Castle does carry New Glarus, but you'll find a better price and selection at the Woodman's in Kenosha. I almost always make a stop at that Woodman's to stock up on New Glarus, Bell's and Tyrannea Brewing Co.

Likestoeatout: New Glarus doesn't distribute in IL anymore, so I don't think the Woodman's in Carpentersville or North Aurora will carry their beers.

Wouldn't the Woodman's in Illinois be violating some of our fine state's goofy alcohol distribution laws if it brought in New Glarus from Wisconsin?

Hi,

Ruef's Meat Market in New Glarus, Wisconsin is a wonderful place for sausages of all kinds. Their specialty is Kalberwurst, a mild veal sausage that combines flavors from bratwurst, weisswurst and bockwurst.

http://www.ruefsmeatmarket.com/

There is also a bakery next door with killer apple strudel.

The old hotel across the street has great swiss food, a pub (the Glarnerstube) and polka dancing on the weekends.

Tim

It's a bit farther, but should you be in the area, the Woodman's in Janesville has it. TODG was rather hooked on Spotted Cow herself, and so our fridge always had that for her and Two-hearted Ale for me. Of course, every oncet in a while, we'd catch each other sneaking one from the spouse's stash.

I miss both those fine fine beers, altho' I must say, there are some AWfully good local brews up here in Montreal.

Geo

I know the Star Bar, across from the Mars Cheese Castle, carries Spotted Cow. I think my husband ordered one with his brat the last time he was there.

Suzy

Woodman's in Kenosha carries New Glarus and Bell's Beers. I bought a sixer of spotted cow not too long ago.
I live a few miles away and Woodman's has turned into my local go to grocery store.

I purchased 2 full racks of Spotted Cow at Woodman's in Kenosha Yesterday. They had a large stock of many different New Glarus brews. Spotted Cow will set you back a little over $30 a case, i cant remember the exact price. I am nursing one right now.

I was also able to purchase a jar of "Secret Stadium Sauce" produced by the food service company that runs the concessions at Miller Park and formerly County Stadium, Camp Randall, etc. It is a ketchup/bbq type sauce that they serve on brats at Brewers and Badger games and Wisconsonites go crazy for the stuff...I bought some for a laugh and its not a bad spicy ketchup although i personally wouldnt put it on a brat. Here is the Wiki if you are interested.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Stadium_Sauce

The Brat Stop had Spotted Cow for $8.50 a six pack yesterday. We did not buy any, since my husband had a cold draft at the Star Bar Friday evening with his dinner and did not feel it was necessary to shlep more across the border.

Suzy

Aside from their "Fat Squirrel", there haven't been any New Glarus products that I've disliked.

Their new "Organic Revolution" is fantastic stuff, definitely worth checking out. It isn't heavy, but it has a dark richness to it that combines nicely with a slight bite of hops. I'm pretty happy with this stuff.

The real finds are the premium 4 packs that they'll crank out. "Enigma" was an all-time favorite, but a couple of four packs of "Bourbon County Stout" nearly incited a riot after they were left at a friend's. Apparently he had the first one and decided that they were far too good to share. I can't disagree.

Pete wrote:Aside from their "Fat Squirrel", there haven't been any New Glarus products that I've disliked.

Their new "Organic Revolution" is fantastic stuff, definitely worth checking out. It isn't heavy, but it has a dark richness to it that combines nicely with a slight bite of hops. I'm pretty happy with this stuff.

Im a big fan of their fat squirrel and also a huge fan of their Oktoberfest and as mentioned elsewhere the spotted cow. But I too stocked up on some "organic revolution" and it might have taken over that number one ranking in my book. Here is a description of the beer from their website:

"Since 1516 Brewers have led the purity revolution. They mandated only four natural ingredients be used to brew beer. This Reinheitsgebot law was the first ever food purity regulation and New Glarus Brewmaster Dan Carey has consistently respected out palates by employing yeast, hops, barley and water to explore a wide spectrum of flavor.

Today Dan pushed the purity envelope by using Organic Hallertau Hops from Germany with Wisconsin organically malted barley to create complex and assertively hoppy golden ale. This beer is even naturally carbonated. 100% bottle fermented means you can expect a flavor celebration to dance cleanly across your palate. Raise your glass and toast to Wisconsin’s common sense Revolution!"

Makes my mouth water just reading it and it tastes as good as it sounds.

Pete wrote:Aside from their "Fat Squirrel", there haven't been any New Glarus products that I've disliked.

Their new "Organic Revolution" is fantastic stuff, definitely worth checking out. It isn't heavy, but it has a dark richness to it that combines nicely with a slight bite of hops. I'm pretty happy with this stuff.

The real finds are the premium 4 packs that they'll crank out. "Enigma" was an all-time favorite, but a couple of four packs of "Bourbon County Stout" nearly incited a riot after they were left at a friend's. Apparently he had the first one and decided that they were far too good to share. I can't disagree.

The Enigma was amazing! Bourbon County Stout on the other hand is a Goose Island limited release brew, is that what you're referring to?

There's a New Glarus Unplugged: Bourbon Barrel Bock. I think I bought a four pack last Summer. I'm also pretty sure that they are limited releases. Maybe they make a special Bourbon Barrel beer every year? According to Beer Advocate, they also made a Bourbon Barrel Eisbock the year before.

Da Beef wrote:Im a big fan of their fat squirrel and also a huge fan of their Oktoberfest and as mentioned elsewhere the spotted cow.

DB,

The wife and I visited the brewery in New Glarus back in September and I picked up a few Fat Squirrels 6-packs. They sat untouched until just last week when I popped a room temperature bottle. I loved the beer, good head, bit of heft slightly sweet with a malty toasty hint of caramel.

I prefer beer at room temperature, not macro bud/miller etc, but nuance of flavor, complexity style are more apparent to my palate when not chilled to refrigerator temps.

Fat Squirrel



Enjoy,
Gary

I concur wholly on the Fat Squirrel. It is my favorite domestic brew.

Does anyone know the closest place to get kegs of NG? I'm looking at Otto's in Milwaukee since they list Belgian Red, but a 4-hour round trip may be a little too much.

Check Woodman's in Kenosha. Right off I-94

Yeah, pretty much any decent grocery store or liquor store in Kenosha should have barrels of Spotted Cow. I recommend you try Woodmans first, then Pick 'n Save, then Tenutas and any of the 5 Shenanigans locations.

Just a quick note for the Spotted Cow fans. I like Spotted Cow a lot. On a whim, I tried Milwaukee Brewing Company's "Outboard" which is also a cream ale like Spotted Cow. LOVED IT. Pretty similar to the cow. Very clean. Costs about the same ( I was hoping it would be cheaper, but no such luck.)