Spotted Cow Beer: Michigan's Availability And Accessibility

Spotted Cow beer is a popular beverage produced by the New Glarus Brewing Company, a Wisconsin-based brewery run by the couple Daniel and Deb Carey. The beer is only distributed and sold within Wisconsin, which has led to smuggling attempts across state lines. While it is possible to buy Spotted Cow in Wisconsin and take it out of state for personal consumption, the company does not ship its beer or distribute it outside of the state. This has not stopped some people from trying to sell it in other states, which is illegal and can result in felony charges.

Spotted Cow beer is only available in Wisconsin

Spotted Cow is a very popular beer in Wisconsin. It is the best-selling beer of the New Glarus Brewing Company, accounting for about two-thirds of the roughly 245,000 barrels brewed annually by the company. In fact, it is so popular that people have smuggled it across state lines, despite the risk of prison time.

The company's owners, Deb and Dan Carey, have no ambitions to expand nationally or globally. Instead, they are "committed to brewing world-class beer and taking care of the people who work for us," according to Deb Carey. By focusing on just Wisconsin, the Careys can put more effort into sourcing the best raw materials and investing in their local community. For example, money that might have been spent on sales and marketing outside of Wisconsin goes to local charities and paying living wages to their staff.

While Spotted Cow beer cannot be purchased outside of Wisconsin, it is legal to buy it in Wisconsin and take it out of state for personal consumption or to share, as long as it is not being sold.

Spotted Cow is a popular beer made by New Glarus Brewing

New Glarus Brewing has been making Spotted Cow since 1997, and it is the brewery's best seller. Of the roughly 245,000 barrels brewed annually by New Glarus, about two-thirds is Spotted Cow. The beer is available in kegs, bottles, and cans, and can also be bought by the case, which is a rarity for a craft beer.

Despite its popularity, Spotted Cow is not distributed outside of Wisconsin. The company does not ship its beer and is committed to only selling its products within the state. This is in part due to the complex tax and distribution systems involved in selling beer across state lines, as well as the company's commitment to local ownership and charity.

The name "Spotted Cow" was inspired by the many spotted cows in Wisconsin, and the beer is modelled after a traditional farmhouse ale. It has a unique flavour profile, leaning sweet with hints of peach, apricot, and strawberry, balanced by a crisp, tart finish. It is an unfiltered beer, giving it a hazy appearance, and has an alcohol content of around 5.1%.

While Spotted Cow may not be available for purchase in Michigan, it is a testament to the beer's popularity that people are willing to go to great lengths to enjoy it, even if it means crossing state lines.

The beer is a traditional farmhouse ale, handcrafted and unfiltered

Spotted Cow beer is a traditional farmhouse ale, handcrafted and unfiltered. This means it is brewed in the ancient European tradition of farmers who made beer for consumption on their own farms from their own grain. While most farmers brewed for Christmas and late summer work, those with enough grain would use beer as an everyday drink.

Farmhouse ale has enormous variation in its ingredients and brewing process, both of which follow ancient local traditions. Spotted Cow is unfiltered, which gives it a hazy appearance, and it is naturally carbonated through a fermentation process. It is brewed with a blend of malt, hops, and occasionally sugar, coupled with a specific wild yeast strain. This blend gives it a rustic charm and a full-bodied flavour.

Farmhouse ales are typically light in colour, including blond, gold, amber, and pale orange. They are usually crystal clear with minimal haze, though some styles can be hazier. They are also effervescent, with a gentle bitterness, and a mild alcohol content.

Spotted Cow is made by New Glarus Brewing, which has been brewing the beer since 1997. It is the brewery's best seller, and the company has been true to its "Only in Wisconsin" tagline, refusing to distribute or ship its beer out of state.

Spotted Cow is the brewery's best seller

Spotted Cow is a beer made by the New Glarus Brewing Company, a Wisconsin-based brewery run by the husband-and-wife duo of Deb and Dan Carey. The company has been brewing Spotted Cow since 1997, and it has become the brewery's best-seller. In fact, of the roughly 245,000 barrels brewed annually by New Glarus, about two-thirds is Spotted Cow.

The popularity of Spotted Cow has led to people smuggling it across state lines, despite the company's "Only in Wisconsin" tagline. The beer is not distributed or shipped out of the state by the company. However, people can buy Spotted Cow in Wisconsin and take it out of the state for personal consumption or to share, as long as it is not being sold.

The wide availability of Spotted Cow in Wisconsin makes it a popular choice for beer lovers in the state. The beer is known for its sweet taste with hints of peach, apricot, and sometimes strawberry, balanced by a crisp, tart finish. It has a complex flavour that makes it a good beer, delivering the flavours it promises.

The Careys have no ambitions to expand their distribution nationally or globally and are instead focused on brewing world-class beer and taking care of their employees. They attribute their success to their commitment to individuality, cooperation, and the use of 100% natural ingredients.

It is illegal to sell Spotted Cow beer in Minnesota

Spotted Cow beer is a popular beverage in Wisconsin, but it is illegal to sell it in Minnesota. This is due to the state's strict alcohol laws and regulations, which include a ban on Sunday liquor sales and the purchase of alcohol at grocery stores or gas stations. Minnesota Statute 340A.701, subdivision 2, specifically states that it is a felony to "transport or import alcoholic beverages into the state in violation of this chapter for purposes of resale."

The New Glarus Brewing Co. of New Glarus, WI, the makers of Spotted Cow, has chosen not to sell its beer outside of Wisconsin. The company's "Only in Wisconsin" tagline reflects this decision. They have no ambitions to expand nationally or globally and instead focus on brewing world-class beer and taking care of their employees.

Despite the illegality of selling Spotted Cow in Minnesota, there have been instances of bars and restaurants in the state offering the beer. In one case, felony charges were filed against a bar owner and manager who bought kegs of Spotted Cow in Wisconsin and sold them in their bar in Minnesota without a license.

While it is illegal to sell Spotted Cow in Minnesota, it is not illegal for individuals to purchase the beer in Wisconsin and take it across state lines for personal consumption or to share, as long as it is not being sold.

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