New Glarus Brewing Company
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| New Glarus Brewing Co. | |
|---|---|
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| Location | New Glarus, Wisconsin United States |
| Owner(s) | Deborah and Dan Carey (independent) |
| Year opened | 1993 |
| Active beers | |
| Spotted Cow | Cream ale |
| Edel Pils | German Pilsner |
| Fat Squirrel Ale | Brown ale |
| Hop Hearty Ale | India Pale ale |
| Raspberry Tart | Framboise |
| Uff-da Bock | Bock |
| Wisconsin Belgian Red | Fruit Beer |
| Yokel | Lager |
| Seasonal beers | |
| Black Wheat | Dunkelweizen |
| Coffee Stout | Stout |
| Copper Kettle Weiss | Dunkelweizen |
| Dancing Man Wheat | Hefeweizen |
| Home Town Blonde | Pilsner |
| Native Ale | English Brown Ale |
| Norski Honey Bock | Maibock |
| Organic Revolution | Pale Ale |
| Road Slush Stout | Stout |
| Snowshoe Ale | Red Ale |
| Solstice Weiss | Hefeweizen |
| Staghorn Octoberfest | Märzen/Oktoberfest |
| Stone Soup | Abbey Ale |
| Tail Wagger Barley Wine | Barley Wine |
| Totally Naked | Lager |
| Unplugged Belgian Quad | Quadrupel |
| Unplugged Bourbon Barrel Bock | Bock |
| Unplugged Smoke on the Porter | Porter |
| Unplugged Imperial Weizen | Imperial Weizen |
| Uff-Da Bock | Bock |
| Zwickle | Zwickle |
The New Glarus Brewing Company is an American brewery founded in 1993. Located in New Glarus, Wisconsin, a small town south of Madison, Wisconsin, the New Glarus Brewing Company is by definition a small independently owned craft brewery.
New Glarus Brewing Company is the 34th largest brewer in the country, according to the Brewers Association in Boulder, CO, and over the years it has received numerous awards for its many different beers.
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[edit] History
New Glarus Brewing Company was founded in 1993 by Deborah Carey (making her the first woman in the United States to found and operate a brewery) and her husband Dan Carey. Before starting New Glarus Brewing Company Dan Carey was an experienced brewer and was a Production Supervisor for Anheuser-Busch. New Glarus Brewing Company brewed their first beer in June of that year and began selling their product in December. They brew a variety of beers today, with their Spotted Cow label leading in sales.
The brew kettles used by New Glarus Brewing Company were recovered from a brewery in Germany that was slated to be demolished. When the retiring brew master learned his beloved brew kettle might live on, he sold all of his copper equipment with an estimated value of $2 million to the Careys for its scrap value of just over $2,500.
Until 2002 New Glarus Brewing Company beers were also sold in Illinois, with a majority of its sales throughout greater Chicago. When Southern Wine and Spirits of America, Inc. purchased River City Wine and Spirits the small New Glarus Brewing Company was told that Southern Wine and Spirits of America, Inc. would no longer distribute their product. When they were told to pay $20,000 for returning unused stock and after already having difficulty meeting demand in Illinois the New Glarus Brewing Company decided to cease sales in Illinois altogether and hasn't returned since.
In May 2006 New Glarus Brewing Company broke ground on a new $21 million facility south of New Glarus, Wisconsin. The new 75,000-square-foot (7,000 m²) facility will triple the amount of production space. Production at the company's old facility had topped-out at over 44,000 barrels a year and the new expansion will enable the company to keep pace with its current demand and expand production of its 'Unplugged', fruit, and barrel-aged beers. The new facility is being designed to look like an old-world town square in Switzerland and is likely to be a popular destination for tourists who visit New Glarus. The number of employees is expected to nearly double from about 35 to 60. Employees earn an average wage of $16.74 per hour. Construction is expected to be completed in 2008.
The Green County, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation says the brewery has a direct and indirect economic impact of about $40 million a year.
[edit] Beers
By far the company's most popular label is Spotted Cow, a blonde ale sweetened with a hint of corn. The Wisconsin Belgian Red is also very well-received and has won a variety of awards world wide. It is a fruity Belgian lambic-style ale flavored with cherries from Door County, Wisconsin. This beer has won numerous awards in beer competitions around the world, and consistently ranks in the 100th percentile (highest possible average rating) among the critical beer drinkers at RateBeer.com. The Uff-da Bock is also popular, being a bit stronger than most bocks.
New Glarus Brewing Company brews a total of eight regular beers that are available year-round. In addition, the company produces four seasonal varieties which rotate; for example, a spring-time wheat beer and an Oktoberfest lager. Occasionally available are "Unplugged" beers, experiments by owner Dan Carey, which are produced in extremely limited quantities.
Other beers include: Native Ale; Fat Squirrel, an American Brown ale; Edel-Pils; Hop Hearty Ale, an American India Pale Ale; Raspberry Tart, a Framboise; Tail Wagger, a Barley wine; Road Slush Stout; and Copper Kettle Weiss.
Retired beers no longer in production include Apple Ale, Cherry Porter, Enigma, Nut Brown Ale, Symposium Eisbock, Unplugged Cherry Stout, Unplugged Eisbock, Unplugged Imperial IPA, Unplugged Imperial Stout, Unplugged Smoked Rye Bock, Unplugged Sour Brown Ale, and Unplugged Triple Tripel.
[edit] Awards
New Glarus Brewing Company has been one of the most award-winning brewers of its size. Some of their awards include[1]:
Apple Ale:
- 1999 - Gold Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 1998 - Bronze Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
- 1997 - Gold Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T. I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 1997 - Bronze Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
- 1996 - Gold Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 1996 - Peoples' Choice Award for Best Brew - Essen Haus Bierfest and Tasting
- 1995 - Gold Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
Coffee Stout:
- 1997 - Silver Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 1996 - Silver Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
Edel Pils:
- 2001 - Best of the Midwest - Pilsner Class - United States Beer Tasting Championships
- 1997 - Silver Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 1996 - Silver Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 1995 - Silver Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
Enigma:
- 2007 - Gold Medal - Best Beers in the World Overall - Rate Beer - Santa Rosa, CA
- 2004 - Bronze Medal - World Beer Cup - San Diego, CA
- 2003 - Silver Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
Hometown Blonde:
- 2002 - Bronze Medal - World Beer Cup
- 1999 - Bronze Medal - Great American Beer Festival – Denver, CO
- 1998 - Bronze Medal - World Beer Cup
Hop Hearty:
- 2007 - Gold Medal - Best Beers of the United States - Rate Beer - Santa Rosa, CA
Nut Brown Ale:
- 2004 - Gold Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
- 2004 - Bronze Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
Raspberry Tart:
- 2007 - Gold Medal - Best Beers in the United States - Rate Beer - Santa Rosa, CA
- 2005 - Silver Medal - Brewing Industry International Awards - London
- 2004 - Silver Medal - Brewing Industry International Awards - London
- 2004 - Gold Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
- 2003 - Silver Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
- 2003 - Bronze Medal - Brewing Industry International Awards - London
- 2002 - Bronze Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
- 2002 - Gold Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 2002 - Bronze Medal - Brewing Industry International Awards - London
- 2001 - Gold Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
- 2001 - Best in the Midwest - Fruit Beer - The United States Beer Tasting Championships
- 2001 - Grand Champion - Fruit Beer - The United States Beer Tasting Championships
- 2000 - Gold Medal - World Beer Cup
- 2000 - Gold Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 1999 - Gold Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 1998 - People's Choice Award - Spring Beer Fest - Portland, OR
Road Slush Stout:
- 2007 - Gold Medal - Best Beers of the U.S. - Rate Beer - Santa Rosa, CA
Snowshoe Ale:
- 1997 - Silver Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 1996 - Silver Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 1995 - Bronze Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
Solstice Weiss:
- 1996 - Bronze Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
Spotted Cow:
- 2002 - Best of Wisconsin - Wisconsin Trail's Magazine
Staghorn Octoberfest:
- 1997 - Silver Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
Uff-Da Bock:
- 1997 - Silver Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 1996 - Gold Medal - World Champion Bock Beer - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 1996 - Silver Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
Unplugged Cherry Stout:
- 2006 - Gold Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
- 2005 - Gold Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
- 2003 - Bronze Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
Unplugged Eisbock:
- 2004 - Gold Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
Unplugged Smoke on the Porter:
- 2007 - Most Surprising Beer - Isthmus Newspaper - Madison, WI
Unplugged Smoked Rye Bock:
- 2007 - Gold Medal Best Beers of the U.S. - Rate Beer - Santa Rosa, CA
Wisconsin Belgian Red:
- 2007 - Gold Medal - Best Beers in the World By Style (Specialty Beer) - Rate Beer - Santa Rosa, CA
- 2006 - Gold Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
- 2005 - Gold Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
- 2003 - Silver Medal - Brewing Industry International - City of London
- 2003 - Gold Medal - Great American Brew Festival - Denver, CO
- 2003 - Platinum Medal - BTI World Beer Championships
- 2002 - Silver Medal - Great American Beer Festivall - Denver, CO
- 2002 - Platinum Medal - Fruit Beer World Champion - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 2002 - Silver Medal - Brewing Industry International - City of London
- 2001 - Bronze Medal - Brewing Industry International Award - The Guildhall, City of London
- 2001 - Silver Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
- 2001 - Platinum Medal - Fruit Beer World Champion - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 2000 - Bronze Medal - Brewing Industry International Awards - The Guildhall, City of London
- 2000 - Platinum Medal - Fruit Beer World Champion - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 1999 - Brewing Industry International Award - World Champion Specialty Beer - The Guildhall, City of London
- 1999 - Platinum Medal - Fruit Beer World Champion - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 1998 - Brewing Industry International Award - World Champion Specialty Beer - The Guildhall, City of London
- 1997 - World Champion Specialty Beer - Brewing Industry International - Burton Upon Trent, England
- 1997 - Peoples' Choice Award Fruit Beers - Spring Beer Fest - Portland, OR
- 1997 - 12 Best Beers in America - Men's Health Magazine
- 1997 - Platinum Medal - Fruit Beer World Champion - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 1997 - Gold Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
- 1997 - Best Beer Made in America Award - Malt Advocate Magazine
- 1996 - Platinum Medal - Fruit Beer World Champion - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
- 1996 - Gold Medal - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
- 1996 - Silver Medal - World Beer Cup - Associations of Brewers U.S.A.
- 1996 - 10 Best Beers - Wine Enthusiast Magazine
- 1996 - World Champion Specialty Beer - Brewing Industry International - Burton Upon Trent, England
- 1995 - Platinum Medal - Fruit Beer World Champion - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
Yokel:
- 2006 - Top 25 Best Beer in America - Men's Journal
Zwickle:
- 1997 - Gold Medal - World Beer Championships - B.T.I. - All About Beer Magazine
Other Awards:
- 2007 - Top 100 Breweries in the World - Rate Beer - Santa Rosa, CA
- 2007 - Dan Carey - Forbes Tastemaker List 2007
- 2007 - Bronze Medal - Best Microbrew of Madison - Madison Magazine
- 2006 - Dan Carey - Innovation in Craft Brewing - Russell Schehrer Award - Brewers Association
- 2006 - Bronze Medal - Best of Microbrew of Madison - Madison Magazine
- 2006 - Brewery of the Year (Midsize) - Association of Brewers - Great American Beer Festival
- 2006 - Dan Carey, Brewer of the Year (Midsize) - Association of Brewers - Great American Beer Festival
- 2005 - Brewery of the Year (Midsize) - Association of Brewers - Great American Beer Festival
- 2005 - Dan Carey, Brewer of the Year (Midsize) - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
- 2003 - Dan Carey - Best American Brewer - Great American Beer Festival - Denver, CO
- 2003 - Best Small Brewery in America - Great American Beer Festival
- 2002 - Wisconsin's Favorite Microbrewery - Wisconsin Trails Magazine
- 2002 - 10 Breweries to Watch For - Business Magazine
- 2001 - Wisconsin's Favorite Microbrewery - Wisconsin Trails Magazine
- 2000 - Wisconsin's Favorite Microbrewery - Wisconsin Trails Magazine
- 1999 - Top Ten Brewery of the Year - All About Beer Magazine
- 1999 - Wisconsin's Best Microbrewery - Wisconsin Trails Magazine
- 1998 - Business of the Year - Green County Development
- 1997 - Wisconsin's Best Microbrewery - Wisconsin Trails Magazine
- 1997 - Local Brew - Best of Madison - Madison Magazine
- 1997 - Madison's Favorite Beer - Isthmus Newspaper - Madison, WI
- 1995 - Top Ten Breweries of the Year - The Beverage Testing Institute
- 1995 - Best of Wisconsin - Wisconsin Trails Magazine
[edit] Availability
Once available in Illinois and a few other neighboring states, New Glarus Brewing Company beers are distributed exclusively in Wisconsin. Most larger liquor stores in Wisconsin carry Spotted Cow and a few other varieties. Wisconsin Belgian Red and Raspberry Tart are only available in 750 mL bottles and quarter-barrels (29.3 L); the rest are sold in standard 12 fl oz (U.S.) bottles, by six- and four-packs or cases, and in quarter- and half-barrels. Most bars, if they carry New Glarus Brewing Company beers on tap, will have Spotted Cow. Currently, the brewery does not distribute outside of Wisconsin so they can focus on the quality of their product. However, with the recent multi-million dollar expansion of their brewery, New Glarus Brewing Company may begin expanding their territory. New Glarus beers are distributed by Frank Beer Distributors of Middleton, WI.
