Reviewers taste New Glarus specialty brews

Welcome back to the Review. We know you probably forgot about us in the last two weeks, but we’re pleased to be back. We’re in the throes of a spring that feels like winter and summer at the same time, so we thought we’d review a variety pack of beers that you can bring out pretty much any time of the year. New Glarus, Wis., has put itself on the map for its local brewery and cult favorite beer, Spotted Cow.

**Spotted Cow: Ale**

It looks like a beer in the best way possible, and it smells like a beer with a little citrus. Spotted Cow tastes like what a beer should taste like. It’s by far one of the best things to come out of Wisconsin, along with Jack Doyle (Milwaukee-born), cheese curds, Culver’s, Summerfest, Tyler Herro and Chris Farley. It’s not flashy or trying to do something crazy. It’s just a good freaking beer. In terms of optimal season, it leans summer, and it’s definitely on the lighter side. If Jack could drink a beer for the rest of his life, it would be this one.

**Two Women: Country Lager**

A beer that we should’ve tried with the Gellers during Women’s Month, this lager is brewed in honor of the two women that lead New Glarus Brewing Company and Weyermann Malting. Did you know that Sumerian women invented beer? (God, women are so cool.) This one was the Spotted Cow of lagers: simple and effective. It has a really nice darker hue, what you’d expect in a lager. It’s a utility beer, and it can play a lot of different positions (i.e. case day, dinner with the family, first 70-degree day beer, last 70-degree day beer).

**Moon Man: No Coast Pale Ale**

This is what Chuck wants to smell like when going out into the town. Slightly sophisticated with a juicy and fruity scent. It’s a really nice, light IPA. We’re starting to think New Glarus knows exactly what they’re doing. No crappy IPA aftertaste, nice smooth finish. Fruity notes, simple. Dare we stay its THE Midwest IPA.

**Road Slush: Stout**

To Jack, he might as well be drinking road slush. We think it’s maybe not the best to name a beer after the worst part of winter and spring, but we also don’t own one of the country’s most recognizable breweries. Chuck thinks it smells sweet, like a chocolate cherry, beautiful on the nose. Taste-wise? It’s actually like stepping into a piece of sidewalk with a sneaky amount of slush. On the surface, you think it’s safe, but you end up with a soggy pair of New Balance 990s. It’s getting warm out; this just isn’t the beer for this time of the year.

**Two-year-old Coborn’s 100 Year Anniversary Ale by Lift Bridge**

We decided to throw this one in just for kicks. Just to be clear, Coborn’s celebrated their 100-year anniversary in 2021. Expectations were understandably incredibly low. But, free beer is free beer is free beer. With that in mind, it tastes drinkable, and that’s all we can ask for at the end of the day. When this brew first came out, we enjoyed it fruitfully and would have recommended it to anyone in a 1,000-mile radius. Disclosure: Per our ethical transparency and independence standards as beer reviewers, we must disclose that one of the reviewers has a minor affiliation with the Coborn’s Incorporated family of companies. In order to remain independent, we did not receive any compensation or favors in exchange for a positive review.

Thanks again for joining us for the review. The season feels like it just started, but we’ve hit the final stretch. By the way Jimmy, we’re thinkin’ ‘bout you. Love your pod. Check out The Yearbook on Spotify. We hope to have some last-minute guests on the review to round out our final weeks as your favorite beer reviewers. Until next time…love you all.