Wisconsin is known for its beer and cheese, so it only seems fitting that a weekend brewery tour should take place. This also is a special post as my dear friend Sean, who writes the postcard blog "Going Postal with Sean" will be popping in for some guest writing. Him, I, and a few friends stopped by the New Glarus Brewery on a Sunday afternoon in October.
The brewery located in New Glarus, WI, has been around since 1993. Since then it has become one of the prides of Wisconsin. In fact, you can only taste their many brews within Wisconsin, as they don't distribute outside the cheeseland borders.
Hold it right there Karmen, you’re leaving out some wonderful factoids! Sean here, did you know that the New Glarus Brewery started in an abandoned warehouse and that much of equipment was bought second-hand? Dan Carey, co-founder of the brewery, acquired copper kettles from a brewery in Germany that was scheduled for demolition. When the retiring German brewmaster learned that the kettles would live on, he sold all of his equipment (estimated at $1 million) to the New Glarus Brewery, at scrap value. I guess that’s one German who certainly loved his beer!
The brewery (gift shop, tasting area, and self-guided tours) is open from 10am-4pm Monday-Sunday. They have some various tours you can also sign up for posted on their website. While you're there be sure to sample their ever changing variety and stop by the shop near the parking lot to take home some brews.
Although the brewery produces a number of beers, their most popular concoction is a farmhouse ale by the name of Spotted Cow. The brew is quite popular, several of my out of state friends have told me that they make pilgrimages to Wisconsin to purchase Spotted Cow. I can certainly see why it is one of my favorite beverages. Keep that in mind with Christmas coming up!
So if you're a beer lover the New Glarus Brewery is a great stop to make in Wisconsin. Check out our visual tour:
The Staircase Leading Up to the Brewery
Once you pay the small fee, you're given a tasting glass and wristband with vouchers on it
Grab some water or rinse out your glass at this old school tap
While there Sean and I became the label models for one of their brews
The outdoor patio is quite picturesque
Some of the brewery equipment you can see during the self-guided tour
