33 replies to this topic

[Big Nake]

The Two Women Lager is nice (amber, malty lager) and I really like the Staghorn too. Moon Man is available all the time, AFAIK. Also, someone on the tour mentioned that 75% of their revenue comes from Spotted Cow, by far the most popular of their beers. What's really fun is walking into a café or tavern in New Glarus and seeing 8 or 10 New Glarus tap handles in a row. The town itself is very cool as is the brewery tour. Have a grilled pork tenderloin sandwich at the Glarner Stube and some schnitzel for dinner at the Landhaus and you're there!

[Big Nake]

Here is a response from my buddy (a local brewer and a member here... darkmagneto):Hey Ken!I found a few pictures from the tour, the date on the digital pics is August 15th 2010. I remember the tour very well. Dan led the entire thing. At the end of the tour he brought out a case of beer and was telling us about it. It was his brand new beer called Moon Man. He said he blended 7 hops for this pale ale. I remember thinking that he was crazy. At that time I was really trying to become simplistic in my brewing (one bittering hop, then one variety for aroma/flameout/etc). After he let us sample it, I was amazed at the aroma. Dan was just hanging out with us while we all enjoyed a few bottles of Moon Man. I got to ask him tons of Q's. He told me it's 7 hops. 4 American variety and 3 from New Zealand. He wouldn't give out variety names. However, that aroma on Moon Man screams Nelson and Riwaka to me. There is also a piney bittering flavor I get. I'm assuming that's one of the american varieties giving that off. This might be the first time I have heard that there were 7 hop varieties in Moon Man.

Edited by KenLenard, 10 November 2014 - 09:52 AM.

[neddles]

Here is a response from my buddy (a local brewer and a member here... darkmagneto):Hey Ken!I found a few pictures from the tour, the date on the digital pics is August 15th 2010. I remember the tour very well. Dan led the entire thing. At the end of the tour he brought out a case of beer and was telling us about it. It was his brand new beer called Moon Man. He said he blended 7 hops for this pale ale. I remember thinking that he was crazy. At that time I was really trying to become simplistic in my brewing (one bittering hop, then one variety for aroma/flameout/etc). After he let us sample it, I was amazed at the aroma. Dan was just hanging out with us while we all enjoyed a few bottles of Moon Man. I got to ask him tons of Q's. He told me it's 7 hops. 4 American variety and 3 from New Zealand. He wouldn't give out variety names. However, that aroma on Moon Man screams Nelson and Riwaka to me. There is also a piney bittering flavor I get. I'm assuming that's one of the american varieties giving that off. This might be the first time I have heard that there were 7 hop varieties in Moon Man.

The official press release says 5 with only one being from NZ.

[HVB]

The official press release says 5 with only one being from NZ.

I wonder if it was 7 and then teh 3 form NZ got harder to procure in large amounts and they just dropped them?

[Big Nake]

I wonder if it was 7 and then teh 3 form NZ got harder to procure in large amounts and they just dropped them?

Or if the recipe just morphed over time... certainly possible as a number of beers over the years have changed. Fat Tire comes to mind.

[neddles]

I would have to go back and look around at bottles.  I know over the time I had at least 6-8 different ones back when I was trading a lot.  They were all sent from people in the area and I would have to assume fresh because trading stale beer is frowned upon.  I just remember getting teh hyped raspberry tart and shared that with some friends and we all agreed it was nothing special and now one wanted to finish the bottle.  It got to the point I requested no NG beer be sent to me as extras.  Maybe they were old, or not their best beers, I do not know but after that I never understood the hype.  They were not awful or poorly crafted beers, just nothing that wowed me.

 

I looked at the website and these are the ones:

Spotted Cow

Raspberry Tart

Belgian Red

Staghorn

Stone Soup

Fat Squirrel

a few from the Enigma series too, Abt and Sour Apple maybe?

I don't blame you. I wouldn't have been that impressed by that list either. Beer geeks are always disappointed but the fruit beers. Their price and ubiquity tell me they are designed more for large market appeal. Therefore, they are too sweet. Great for bringing home to a non-beer drinking wife.

 

Spotted Cow should be called Cash Cow because that's what it is. Fat Squirrel is another broad appeal nut brown. It's good but really... it's a nut brown ale.

 

Staghorn is the one beer on your list I would have recommended. I really love their lagers. I remember liking the Abt but that was like 4-5 yrs ago that came out. Kinda hard to remember it now.

 

 

Here are the one's worth getting your hands on IMO. Moon Man (fresh is critical), Black Top, Two Women, Dancing Man Wheat, Hometown Blonde. I am really digging their recent IIPA called Scream. They used to make another IPA called Hearty Hop, it was less hoppy by today's standards but beautiful nonetheless. It had a nice aromatic charge of Cascade and EKG. Very drinkable.

 

I have no doubt you would enjoy Moon man.

Edited by nettles, 10 November 2014 - 01:23 PM.

[HVB]

I don't blame you. I wouldn't have been that impressed by that list either. Beer geeks are always disappointed but the fruit beers. Their price and ubiquity tell me they are designed more for large market appeal. Therefore, they are too sweet. Great for bringing home to a non-beer drinking wife.

 

Spotted Cow should be called Cash Cow because that's what it is. Fat Squirrel is another broad appeal nut brown. It's good but really... it's a nut brown ale.

 

Staghorn is the one beer on your list I would have recommended. I really love their lagers. I remember liking the Abt but that was like 4-5 yrs ago that came out. Kinda hard to remember it now.

 

 

Here are the one's worth getting your hands on IMO. Moon Man (fresh is critical), Black Top, Two Women, Dancing Man Wheat, Hometown Blonde. I am really digging their recent IIPA called Scream.

 

I have no doubt you would enjoy Moon man.

 

Just from what has been posted in this thread I am sure I would love it. 

[dmtaylor]

My favorites from New Glarus over the years (some of these no longer being made) include: Coffee Stout (phenomenal), Hop Hearty IPA, Alt, Black Wheat, and Oud Bruin.  Pretty sure they're making that Oud Bruin again.  Others worthy of mention include their Blonde Lager, Edel Pils, Imperial Hefeweizen (this out again??), Crack'd Wheat, Cran-bic, Snowshoe Red Ale.  Their other common beers, while good, are not spectacular, including Cash Cow, Belgian Red, Raspberry Tart, Serendipity, Uff-Da Bock, etc.  Personally I have a soft spot for the Fat Squirrel, I really like it personally, but on the other hand it's not a super phenomenal beer either.  Just a very easy tasty quaffer.

[neddles]

My favorites from New Glarus over the years (some of these no longer being made) include: Coffee Stout (phenomenal), Hop Hearty IPA, Alt, Black Wheat, and Oud Bruin.  Pretty sure they're making that Oud Bruin again.  Others worthy of mention include their Blonde Lager, Edel Pils, Imperial Hefeweizen (this out again??), Crack'd Wheat, Cran-bic, Snowshoe Red Ale.  Their other common beers, while good, are not spectacular, including Cash Cow, Belgian Red, Raspberry Tart, Serendipity, Uff-Da Bock, etc.  Personally I have a soft spot for the Fat Squirrel, I really like it personally, but on the other hand it's not a super phenomenal beer either.  Just a very easy tasty quaffer.

You mentioned several other good ones there I had forgotten about. Yeah the Oud Bruin was out a few months ago. Have a couple of 4 packs in the cellar. Cran-bic too. Also forgot to mention the Berlinner Weiss and the Wild Sour Ale.

[Big Nake]

That Showshoe Red was pretty good too. I'll be honest... I don't keep up with the regular rotation, the seasonal stuff, the Thumbprint series and all of that. I just know what I like. For a wimpy gold lager, I like Totally Naked. Moon Man, Two Women and Staghorn are favorites. I tried a "Blonde Lager" kind of thing on my tour that I actually thought was pretty bad. My wife and both winced when we tried it. I would drink Spotted Cow if the opportunity was there but if I'm grabbing New Glarus beer, I'm probably not grabbing that one. I think I have some Blacktop IPA in my bar fridge too.

[neddles]

I think I have some Blacktop IPA in my bar fridge too.

Yum, oxidized hops. Chuck it. That hasn't been out for at least a year, probably two.

[Big Nake]

Yum, oxidized hops. Chuck it. That hasn't been out for at least a year, probably two.

Yeah, it's been in there awhile.

[dmtaylor]

Are you sure about the Black Top?  I swear I just saw some for sale yesterday, at a decent store.

[neddles]

Are you sure about the Black Top?  I swear I just saw some for sale yesterday, at a decent store.

Yeah Im sure but thats not to say it wasn't just rereleased. We aren't usually first to get things way up north here so if it just came out again I should expect to see it in another week or two around here.

 

ETA: According to this it should be out now. I'm gonna look tomorrow. https://www.newglaru...rs/beerschedule

 

Also Scream IIPA around until dec. WooHoo!!!

Edited by nettles, 10 November 2014 - 07:51 PM.