Spotted Cow Beer: Wisconsin Exclusive Or Available Elsewhere?

Spotted Cow beer is a popular beverage in Wisconsin, but can you buy it outside of the state? The answer is no—Spotted Cow is not distributed outside of Wisconsin. The New Glarus Brewing Company, which makes Spotted Cow, has stayed true to its Only in Wisconsin tagline and does not sell or ship its beer out of state. However, people can buy Spotted Cow in Wisconsin and take it out of state for personal consumption, as long as it's not being sold. So, if you're outside of Wisconsin and craving a Spotted Cow, you may be out of luck unless you know someone willing to bring some across state lines for you!

Spotted Cow beer is only sold in Wisconsin

Spotted Cow is a popular beer in Wisconsin, and it can be found in many bars, restaurants, and liquor stores across the state. It is the New Glarus Brewing Company's best seller, with about two-thirds of the roughly 245,000 barrels brewed annually by the company being Spotted Cow. The beer is a naturally cloudy farmhouse ale, with a unique recipe that includes yeast, hops, water, and malted barley. It has a sweet taste with hints of peach, apricot, and sometimes strawberry, and a little bit of breadiness.

While Spotted Cow cannot be purchased outside of Wisconsin, it is possible to buy it within the state and take it across state lines for personal consumption or to share, as long as it is not being sold. This has led to a bar manager famously smuggling the beer across state lines to put it on tap.

The New Glarus Brewing Company chooses to only sell Spotted Cow in Wisconsin because they do not need to sell to other markets to be profitable. By focusing on just Wisconsin, they can put more effort into sourcing the best raw materials and investing in their local community.

It's a popular beer, but not sold outside the state

Spotted Cow beer is a very popular beer in Wisconsin. It is made by New Glarus Brewing, a company based in the state. The beer is the brewery's best seller, with around two-thirds of its annual output being Spotted Cow. It's a naturally cloudy farmhouse ale, with a unique recipe that includes yeast, hops, water, and malted barley.

Despite its popularity, Spotted Cow is not sold outside of Wisconsin. The company has been true to its "Only in Wisconsin" tagline since 2003 and does not distribute any of its beers, including Spotted Cow, beyond state lines. This exclusivity is a deliberate choice by the company, which does not need to sell to other markets to be profitable. In fact, New Glarus has done very well by focusing solely on the Wisconsin market.

The popularity of Spotted Cow has led to some interesting consequences. For example, it is not uncommon for people to take the beer across state lines for personal consumption, and there have even been reports of a bar manager smuggling it across state lines to serve in their establishment.

For those who live outside Wisconsin and want to try Spotted Cow, there is a limited opportunity. State Street Brats, a company that sells gift packages featuring Wisconsin products, has been given permission by New Glarus Brewing to offer Spotted Cow in their online orders for a limited time. So, while it is challenging to get Spotted Cow outside of Wisconsin, it is not impossible for those who are eager to try this popular beer.

It's a naturally cloudy farmhouse ale

Spotted Cow beer, a naturally cloudy farmhouse ale, is not available for purchase outside of Wisconsin. The New Glarus Brewing Company, which makes Spotted Cow, has been true to its "Only in Wisconsin" tagline since 2003. The company does not distribute its beer outside of the state, nor does it ship its beer. However, you can buy Spotted Cow in Wisconsin and take it out of the state for personal consumption, as long as you are not selling it.

Farmhouse ale is a traditional European beverage with a long history. It is not a single style of beer but a broader category of styles, including saison, bière de garde, gueuze, or sahti. Farmhouse ales are characterised by a funky flavour, reminiscent of wet hay or earth, with a crisp, tart finish. They are typically brewed with natural yeast and leftover crops, and the variability in the style means that each batch can be unique.

The origins of farmhouse ale lie in ancient Europe, where farmers brewed beer for consumption on their farms using their own grain. While it was once a widespread tradition, farmhouse brewing declined in southern Europe due to the rise of wine-growing and in northern Europe due to taxation, modernisation, and the availability of commercially brewed beer. However, it never completely disappeared, and there are still commercial farmhouse breweries in Finland, Estonia, and Lithuania that brew according to ancient traditions.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in farmhouse-style brewing, driven in part by the unique brewing methods and ingredients used. Modern interpretations of farmhouse ales have emerged, particularly among craft breweries, catering to consumers seeking novel drinking experiences. While the term "farmhouse ale" may be used loosely in marketing, it continues to evoke a rustic, traditional style of brewing with unique flavours and characteristics.

It's made by New Glarus Brewing Company

Spotted Cow beer is made by the New Glarus Brewing Company, which was founded in 1993 by Deborah Carey as a gift for her husband, Daniel. The company is an independently owned craft brewery, and its products can only be found in Wisconsin. The company is based in New Glarus, Wisconsin, and is run by the couple, who have combined business management and brewing professionalism. The company's philosophy is based on individuality, cooperation, and the use of 100% natural ingredients to produce handcrafted beers.

New Glarus Brewing Company is the 15th largest craft brewer and 25th largest overall brewing company in the United States by sales volume. The company brews a variety of beers, with Spotted Cow being its best-selling brand and leading in sales. Spotted Cow is a cask-conditioned farmhouse ale that was first brewed in 1997. It is an unfiltered brew, which means the brewer's yeast is still in it, giving it a hazy appearance. The beer has an alcohol by volume of 4.8% or 5.1%. It has a sweet taste with hints of peach, apricot, and sometimes strawberry, balanced by a crisp, tart snap at the end.

The New Glarus Brewing Company made the decision to pull out of Illinois sales in 2003, leading to the Only in Wisconsin tagline for its beers today. The move was made due to insufficient capacity to fill both Wisconsin and Illinois markets. The company has since done well selling its beers exclusively in Wisconsin and has no plans to expand outside the state anytime soon. In fact, in 2009, a New York City bar was raided and fined for illegally selling Spotted Cow, and in 2015, a bar in Minnesota was caught doing the same.

The New Glarus Brewing Company has a strong commitment to the artistry of crafting world-class beer and blends tradition, creativity, and boldness to produce an unmatched selection of local brews. The company's campus includes a hilltop building, a new parking lot, and brewing and distilling facilities. The company is also planning a new 65,000-square-foot facility with expanded brewing and distilling capabilities, which is expected to be completed in fall 2026.

It's available in cans and bottles

Spotted Cow beer is a popular beer that is widely available in Wisconsin. However, it is not distributed outside of the state. The New Glarus Brewing Company, which makes Spotted Cow, adheres to the "Only in Wisconsin" tagline and does not ship its beer to other states.

That being said, there are still ways to buy Spotted Cow beer outside of Wisconsin. One option is to purchase it from State Street Brats, who have been given permission by the New Glarus Brewing Company to offer Spotted Cow in their online orders as part of a gift package called the Wisconsin Box. This option is available for a limited time.

Another option is to buy Spotted Cow in Wisconsin and then take it out of state for personal consumption. This is allowed as long as you are not selling the beer to anyone outside of Wisconsin. You can find Spotted Cow in various packaging options throughout Wisconsin, including 12-pack and 24-pack cans, 6-pack bottles, 12-pack bottles, and cases of 24-pack bottles.

Spotted Cow is a unique beer that is crafted with only four hand-selected, all-natural ingredients: yeast, hops, water, and malted barley. The yeast is left in the bottle to enhance the fullness of flavours, giving the ale a naturally cloudy appearance. It has a sweet taste with hints of peach, apricot, and sometimes strawberry, balanced by a crisp tart snap at the end. The fruity notes are derived from the fermentation process, not from any added ingredients.

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