Chicago's Best: New Glarus Beer, Where To Buy

New Glarus Brewing Company is a highly-rated brewery based in Wisconsin, known for its world-class, handcrafted beers made with 100% natural ingredients. The brewery, run by the enthusiastic couple Daniel and Deb Carey, offers a range of unique beers, including seasonal and specialty brews. While the company does not ship beer, their products can be found in select locations across Wisconsin and neighbouring states like Illinois. In Chicago, Illinois, for instance, New Glarus beer can be purchased at the Mars Cheese Castle, a popular stop for travellers seeking Wisconsin's iconic provisions.

New Glarus beers worth the drive from Chicago

The New Glarus Brewing Company is a beloved fixture in Wisconsin, and its beers have gained a reputation that reaches far beyond the state's borders. For beer enthusiasts in Chicago, a trip to Wisconsin may be well worth the drive, especially if you're craving some of New Glarus' unique offerings. Here are some of their beers that might just tempt you to hit the road:

Moon Man North Coast Pale Ale

This beer is an appetizing surprise for your taste buds, with a sweet aroma that hints at butterscotch, cotton candy, mango, kiwi, and orange. The sweetness is mirrored on the palate, but with a softer touch. The hops make their presence known with minimal bitterness, adding a tropical touch that leads to a clean finish. At 5% alcohol, Moon Man is an approachable and uniquely composed pale ale that's hard to resist.

Two Women Lager

If you're looking for a refreshing lager, Two Women is an exceptional choice. It's known for its bready notes and gentle sweetness, with quality ingredients shining through in every sip. In a world where IPAs and craft beers reign, this lager stands out as a simple yet masterfully crafted brew. It's the perfect drink for a hot summer day and is well worth the trip to Wisconsin.

Serendipity Fruit Ale

This fruit ale is a clever concoction, blending the flavors of apples, cranberries, and cherries. It's an interesting and layered beer that stands alone in the beer landscape. The addition of a touch of cinnamon gives it an earthy fall-winter vibe that's perfect for the colder months. Serendipity is a unique and delightful brew that will leave you wanting more.

Wisconsin Belgian Red Ale

Crafted with Door County cherries, this fruit beer strikes the perfect balance between sweet and tart. It's a straightforward brew, but the harmony of flavors it achieves is flawless. The sweet-tart cherries take center stage, making it the ideal companion for a rich meal. This ale is a favorite among beer enthusiasts and is definitely worth the drive to Wisconsin.

So, if you're a beer lover in Chicago and you're craving something different, a road trip to the New Glarus Brewing Company might be in order. These beers, along with the brewery's other unique offerings, will surely make the journey worthwhile. Just remember to enjoy them responsibly and always have a designated driver or plan for safe transportation when indulging.

Where to buy New Glarus beer in Wisconsin

The New Glarus Brewing Company is an American brewery founded in 1993 and located in New Glarus, Wisconsin. The brewery is only open during the week, Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. It offers free, self-guided tours, which include a 15-minute introductory video, and beer tastings for a charge. The company's best-selling brand is Spotted Cow, a cask-conditioned farmhouse ale that accounts for about 40% of all the beer New Glarus makes annually. Spotted Cow is one of the brewery's unfiltered brews, meaning the brewer's yeast is still in the bottle, giving it a cloudy appearance. Other popular beers include Wisconsin Belgian Red, a fruity Belgian lambic-style ale, and Uff-da Bock, a stronger version of a traditional bock.

New Glarus beers are distributed exclusively in Wisconsin and can be found in many grocery and convenience stores, as well as bars throughout the state. The brewery itself is located on County Rd W & Highway 69 and is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world. The brewery is committed to using 100% natural ingredients and producing world-class, handcrafted beers.

In addition to Spotted Cow, the New Glarus Brewing Company offers a variety of year-round beers, including Moon Man, a "no coast" pale ale, and Two Women, a classic country lager brewed in collaboration with another female-led craft company. They also produce seasonal varieties, such as a winter Coffee Stout, a summer Dancing Man Wheat, and a fall Staghorn Oktoberfest. The brewery also releases limited-edition "Thumbprint", fruit, barrel-aged, and R&D beers.

New Glarus' Moon Man North Coast Pale Ale

New Glarus Brewing Company is based in Wisconsin, and its beers are only available in Wisconsin. The company is run by the enthusiastic couple Daniel and Deb Carey, who combine business management and brewing professionalism. The brewery is committed to crafting world-class beers, blending tradition, creativity, and boldness to produce a range of local brews.

New Glarus Moon Man No Coast Pale Ale is a highly-rated beer, scoring 92 out of 100 on BeerAdvocate. It is described as a "session beer" with a bright, bold blend of five hops that complement a smooth malty flavour. The beer has a strong citrus aroma, with notes of grapefruit, orange, and a slight floral honey scent. It has a crisp, fruity taste, with a well-carbonated fizz that makes the flavours "dance on your tongue". The beer is well-balanced, smooth, and highly drinkable, with a subtle citric sweetness that lingers after each sip.

Moon Man has received numerous positive reviews, with some describing it as the "best pale ale" they have ever tasted. It is praised for its refreshing, crisp, and bittersweet finish, and its ability to appeal to both beer enthusiasts and newbies. The beer is also noted for its approachability and casual ABV, making it a perfect choice for a relaxing day by the lake or a lazy kayak trip.

While Moon Man is available for purchase at the New Glarus Brewing Company in Wisconsin, it is unclear if it is sold in Chicago specifically. The company provides a Beer Finder tool on its website to help locate specific beers, but it appears to be limited to locations within Wisconsin.

New Glarus' Two Women Lager

New Glarus Brewing Company is a brewery nestled on a hill overlooking the Wisconsin countryside. The brewery is run by the enthusiastic couple Daniel and Deb Carey, who have successfully combined business management and brewing professionalism. The company is committed to the artistry of crafting world-class beers, blending tradition, creativity, and boldness to produce an unmatched selection of local brews.

New Glarus Two Women Lager is a unique collaboration between two craft companies led by women, New Glarus Brewing and Weyermann Malting. It is a classic country lager brewed with Weyermann's floor-malted Bohemian malt and Hallertau Mittelfrueh hops. The beer is described as tempting and graceful, with a rich malt flavor, honey sweetness, and biscuity richness. It has a subtle, subdued aroma with pleasant notes of caramel corn. The mouthfeel is soft and well-rounded, with a perfect level of carbonation, making it a very easy-drinking lager.

The Two Women Lager is part of New Glarus Brewing Company's year-round beer lineup, which includes a variety of can and bottle packaging options available throughout Wisconsin. The company also offers specialty R&D beers that are meticulously crafted within their Wild Fruit Cave and are exclusively available for purchase at the brewery.

To find New Glarus beers near you in Chicago, you can use their Beer Finder tool on their website. Simply choose the specific beer you are looking for, the business type, and your zip code. You can also contact the retailer to confirm availability.

New Glarus' Milk Stout

The New Glarus Brewing Company is based in Wisconsin and run by an enthusiastic couple, Daniel and Deb Carey, who have successfully combined business management and brewing professionalism. The company is committed to crafting world-class beer, blending tradition, creativity, and boldness to produce an unmatched selection of local brews.

The New Glarus Milk Stout is a sweet stout brewed with a touch of real Wisconsin milk sugar. German and Czech hops are harmonized with the contribution of the local bovine. This milk stout is not for the lactose intolerant. A blend of English, Czech, German, and Wisconsin malted barley creates soft mocha, caramel, and java notes. The result is a chewy, dark, and voluptuous beer.

The New Glarus Milk Stout has received generally positive reviews, with ratings ranging from 3.32/5 to 4.25/5 on BeerAdvocate. Reviewers have described the beer as having a "strong, tan head", with aromas of "rich chocolate, bittersweet English cocoa, some Irish cream, and lactose". The taste has been noted as having flavors of "chocolate, cocoa, and a mild roast". The body is described as "medium to heavy", with appropriate carbonation, and a soft, smooth, and sweet finish.

If you are looking to purchase New Glarus beers in Chicago, you can use the Beer Finder feature on the New Glarus Brewing Company website. Simply select the specific beer you are looking for, the business type, and your zip code. The Beer Finder will then provide you with locations where you can purchase the beer. Alternatively, you can visit the New Glarus Brewing Company gift shop, located at 218 Hoesly Dr., New Glarus, WI, which is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

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