Spotted Cow Beer: Illinois Availability And Legality

The New Glarus Brewing Company is an American brewery founded in 1993 in New Glarus, Wisconsin. Its Spotted Cow beer is a farmhouse ale that has gained a cult following, especially in Wisconsin, where it is the best-selling draft beer. However, due to high demand and limited production capacity, Spotted Cow is not distributed outside of Wisconsin, leaving beer enthusiasts in neighbouring states like Illinois resorting to smuggling to get their hands on it. So, can you buy Spotted Cow beer in Illinois?

Spotted Cow beer is only sold in Wisconsin

The Spotted Cow beer was first brewed in 1997 and is now the company's best-selling brand. It's a cask-conditioned, traditional, unfiltered farmhouse ale with a 4.8% ABV. The name was inspired by a trip to England where the Careys saw sheep and thought it would be funny to name a beer after the animal, reminding them of the Holstein cows.

The New Glarus Brewing Company made the decision to only sell in Wisconsin due to insufficient capacity to fill both Wisconsin and Illinois markets. The company wants to focus on their home state and ensure that Wisconsin locals have enough stock. The beer is so popular that it accounts for about 40% of all the beer the company makes annually, which is about 45,000 barrels.

While it is not illegal to transport the beer across state lines for personal use, it is illegal to sell Spotted Cow beer outside of Wisconsin. The New Glarus Brewing Company does not have a license to sell outside of Wisconsin, and bars in other states have faced penalties and fines for selling it illegally. The company has no plans to expand sales to other states, ever.

So, for now, Spotted Cow beer remains a Wisconsin exclusive, much to the dismay of Illinois residents who have attempted to smuggle kegs across state lines to satisfy their cravings.

It is illegal to sell Spotted Cow beer outside of Wisconsin

Spotted Cow beer is a highly sought-after beverage for beer enthusiasts, especially those in Illinois. The beer, produced by the New Glarus Brewing Company, has a reputation for its unique flavour and is considered a staple in Wisconsin. However, it is essential to understand that it is illegal to sell Spotted Cow beer outside of Wisconsin.

The New Glarus Brewing Company made a strategic decision to focus on their home state, and as a result, their products, including the beloved Spotted Cow, are exclusively sold within Wisconsin. This decision was made in 2003 due to insufficient capacity to meet the demands of both Wisconsin and Illinois markets. By concentrating on their local market, the brewery ensures that their Wisconsin fans always have access to their favourite beers.

The exclusivity of Spotted Cow beer in Wisconsin has not deterred enthusiasts from attempting to acquire it through alternative means. There have been instances of people smuggling kegs of Spotted Cow across state lines, with a notable incident involving Chicago Cubs fans in 2021. While some viewed this as a harmless act of devotion, others criticised it as a violation of Wisconsin's liquor laws. It is important to emphasise that while individuals can transport Spotted Cow beer across state lines for personal consumption, it is illegal to sell it outside of Wisconsin.

The popularity of Spotted Cow beer has resulted in some bars and establishments attempting to obtain and sell it illegally. In 2009, a bar in New York City faced penalties for selling Spotted Cow, and a similar incident occurred in 2015 when a bar in Minnesota was caught selling the beer. These establishments faced severe fines for their illegal activities.

The New Glarus Brewing Company has firmly established that they have no plans to expand their distribution beyond Wisconsin. Co-owner Deb Carey has stated that they do not intend to change their distribution policies, reinforcing the exclusivity of their beers to the state of Wisconsin. This decision ensures that Spotted Cow beer remains a unique offering for Wisconsin locals and visitors to the state.

Spotted Cow is the best-selling New Glarus beer

The decision to sell exclusively in Wisconsin was made in 2003 due to insufficient capacity to fill both Wisconsin and Illinois markets. The Careys, the owners of the brewery, wanted to focus on their home state and ensure that Wisconsin locals had enough stock. This decision has led to a cult following for the beer, with some people going to great lengths to get their hands on it. For example, Chicago Cubs fans were caught smuggling kegs of Spotted Cow across state lines in 2021, causing a media frenzy.

The popularity of Spotted Cow can be attributed to its unique flavour profile and high-quality ingredients. It is a traditional cask-conditioned farmhouse ale with a creamy finish. The beer is also unfiltered, meaning the brewer's yeast is still in it, and it has a 4.8% ABV. Spotted Cow has received numerous awards and accolades over the years, including being named the Best Drink in Wisconsin in 2009 by Bon Appetit magazine.

While it is illegal to sell Spotted Cow outside of Wisconsin, it is not illegal to transport it across state lines for personal use. This has led to a thriving market for Spotted Cow enthusiasts in neighbouring states like Illinois, who are willing to go the extra mile (or state) to get their hands on the popular brew.

New Glarus Brewing Company is located in Wisconsin

The New Glarus Brewing Company is located in New Glarus, Wisconsin. It was founded in 1993 by Dan and Deborah Carey, and has since become a popular craft brewery, focusing on using local ingredients and traditional brewing techniques. The brewery has gained a cult following, particularly for its Spotted Cow beer, which was first released in 1997 and has become the company's best-selling brand.

New Glarus Brewing Company is the 15th largest craft brewer and 25th largest overall brewing company in the United States by sales volume. Despite its success, the company made the decision to only sell its products in Wisconsin. This decision was made in 2003 due to insufficient capacity to meet the demand of both Wisconsin and Illinois markets. The Careys wanted to focus on their home state and ensure that Wisconsin locals had enough stock.

The New Glarus Brewing Company has a strong connection to its home state. The name Spotted Cow was inspired by a trip to England, where the founders saw sheep that reminded them of Holstein cows, a common breed in Wisconsin. The company's beers are known for their unique flavour profiles and high-quality ingredients, with a variety of beers available year-round, seasonally, and in limited releases. The brewery has become a destination for tourists visiting Wisconsin, with its new facility designed to look like a Bavarian village.

While the New Glarus Brewing Company's beers are exclusively sold in Wisconsin, it is not illegal to transport their products across state lines for personal use. However, it is illegal to sell their beers outside of the state, and the company has no plans to expand its sales to other states. The exclusivity of their products in Wisconsin has created a sense of pride and devotion among fans, as evidenced by the media frenzy surrounding Chicago Cubs fans smuggling kegs of Spotted Cow across state lines in 2021.

Spotted Cow beer has a cult following

Spotted Cow beer, brewed by the New Glarus Brewing Company, has a cult following. The beer, a traditional farmhouse ale, was first released in 1997 and has since become the best-selling draft beer in Wisconsin, accounting for about 40% of all the beer the brewery makes each year.

The New Glarus Brewing Company was founded in 1993 by Dan and Deborah Carey in the small town of New Glarus, Wisconsin. With a focus on using local ingredients and traditional brewing techniques, the brewery quickly gained a following among Wisconsin locals. The company's beers, including Spotted Cow, are known for their unique flavor profiles and high-quality ingredients, with Spotted Cow in particular noted for its creamy finish.

At one point, New Glarus distributed its beers to neighbouring states like Illinois. However, in 2003, the Careys made the decision to pull distribution outside of Wisconsin, making their beers exclusive to the state. This decision was made due to insufficient capacity to fill both Wisconsin and out-of-state markets, ensuring that Wisconsin locals had enough stock.

The exclusivity of Spotted Cow and other New Glarus beers has only added to their popularity, with Illinois residents going to great lengths to get their hands on the brews. In 2021, Chicago Cubs fans were caught smuggling kegs of Spotted Cow across state lines, causing a media frenzy. While it is not illegal to transport New Glarus beers across state lines for personal use, it is illegal to sell them outside of Wisconsin. Bars in states like Minnesota and New York have faced penalties and fines for obtaining and selling the beer illegally.

Despite the demand for their beers outside of Wisconsin, the New Glarus Brewing Company has stated that they have no plans to change their distribution policies or expand sales into other states.

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