New Glarus Brewing Company Wisconsin Belgian Red
What the brewers say
“This beer is brewed with whole Montmorency cherries, Wisconsin-farmed wheat, and Belgian roasted barleys, lagered in oak tanks, and balanced by Hallertau hops we aged in our brewery one full year.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “High fruit, cherry, and cranberry notes up front with moderate sweetness toward the back. Strong sour cherry pie aroma, or cherry Jolly Rancher. A touch of alcohol lingers in the background.”
Flavor: “Very strong sour cherry flavor that’s sweet with no bitterness and a bit of lemon acidic tartness. Some nice spice character— a touch of cinnamon or some pumpkin spices. The sweetness then fades to a cranberry-like tartness. Has a crisp carbonic bite that pairs well with the slight alcohol warming toward the end of the sip. The sweetness lingers in the finish.”
Overall: “Cherry pie in a glass—a deep, fruity beer that is more sweet (almost too sweet) than it is tart. Almost candy-like at times. There is a slight tart note toward the end that intertwines with the carbonation but quickly dimin- ishes. A good sipping beer that would pair well with dessert.”
