New Glarus Brewing Company

Finaliy made the pilgrimage to New Glarus with the goal of drinking Spotted Cow from the tap! Goal achieved, two times over! Recently in town visiting a friend in nearby Madison, and seeing New Glarus was a 30 minute drive, we made our way over on a Friday afternoon. As most breweries/distilleries, New Glarus is set quite a bit off the road and feels like a little compound. Several parking lots with one main by the main building, and several overflow lots. I did appreciate the marked shortcuts from the overflow lots as I'd imagine it's easily to get turned around in all those woods! To get to the good stuff you have to first purchase your pint or sampler. I knew I was after a couple of Spotted Cows, so I went straight for the pint and added a refill. Total cost was $14 and it included a glass! Additionally, you receive a coin that allows you to redeem for a free beer at any of the local restaurants in New Glarus. Sadly we did not eat in the area, but I do have a cool coin now! The staff was super friendly from the cashier to the actual bartenders slinging the goods. The gift shop was full of great items from hats to shirts to signs, koozies, dog accessories and countless other great items. I personally walked away with a great hat and t-shirt. They also have an onsite beer store that allows you to take a 6-pack or case of your favorite New Glarus brew home. After you get your beers and browse the shop, you and your way out to the outdoor seating tables and seatings areas that are scattered amongst the stone walls and buildings, and rock areas on the lower levels. There is plenty of seating and great views depending on where you sit. It feels very much like an old Scandinavian church village with a mix of new and old. Beautiful grounds, great beer, solid merch and a cool experience! Overall, very happy that I got to experience New Glarus! Love me some Spotted Cow and now I definitely know it tastes better directly from the tap!

Such a fun day trip from the Chicago area! Everyone raves about New Glarus beer, the only problem is you can only buy it in Wisconsin! If you're a beer lover, or just looking for a weekend activity, I'd say this is worth the drive! I happened to be in Madison for the weekend, and New Glarus is only about 45 minutes away. New Glarus is a quaint town with some beautiful views on the way. The brewery has a self-guided tour, beer room, tap area, and gift shop. Keep in mind the beer sold by the case is more expensive here than any local gas station or grocery store, but they have all flavors available and they are fresh. We decided to do the $8 tasting, which includes 3 tastings in a souvenir cup. They have different options on tap every day. I was happy to see the cherry beer, but wish they had a couple more fruit options. It was may favorite for sure! The gift shop had lots of fun items, and I ended up taking home a cute spotted cow T-shirt. Our tasting also included a token to get a free beer in town. Highly recommend checking out the little downtown area. We ended up getting full raspberry beers at the Dirty Dog Taphaus. Such a fun day!!

Visiting here is almost a pilgrimage! They may not make the best IPAs I've ever tasted (my preference), but they do brew a lot of really excellent beers. The grounds are picturesque and sprawling, making for an outstanding experience.

Been waiting for so long to come here and it lived up to the type. Amazing venue. Beautiful grounds. Only 8 beers on tap at a time but plenty of non-hoppy options for those of us who don't like pale ales or IPAs. The beers rotate seasonally and March the season really well. Especially liked the Belgian red even with a cherry flavor. Tons of seating in the shade and in the trees if the patio is hot or full

Stopped in at New Glarus Brewing Company in Wisconsin for the brewery tour and tasting, known for their famous Spotted Cow beer. The self-guided tour was interesting and informative, though it would've been even better with a guide. The tour began with a movie from the founders, which was definitely worth watching as it provided a lot of insight into their story.The founders, Dan and Deborah Carey, seem like great people who treat their employees and community exceptionally well. The brewery also offers some fantastic outdoor spaces to enjoy your beer while taking in the beautiful surroundings.We sampled a variety of their beers--some we loved, and some we didn't--but we definitely enjoyed their Spotted Cow. The beer selection is diverse, ensuring there's something for everyone. Overall, New Glarus Brewing Company is definitely worth a visit, and while you're in the area, be sure to explore downtown New Glarus as well.

You better be ready to walk a little when you go here because the parking lot neer the castle is pretty small. It sits on a huge plot on top of a mountain. So of the place has been allowed to crumble but I think that adds to the allure. Beautiful views from the edge of the castle grounds. You can pretty much do a self guided tour of the entire place. There is a brewery history section and a tasting room/souvenir shop. I felt like the process of getting a beer was annoying. You have to buy tickets that you later give to beer pourers...they're not even beeristas. And it's too pricy. They have a large storage area where you can purchase package also. I'm glad I went but I'm not going back.

My husband and I first visited New Glarus Brewing Co. more than a decade ago, when we were still just dating. Since then, we've visited several more times, including one winter visit when we stayed overnight in the town of New Glarus (see my previous review). My husband and beer-loving friends stopped by during his bachelor party, and we toasted with New Glarus' Belgian Red at our wedding. And most recently, we visited again, with our two kiddos in tow. New Glarus has a special place in our hearts and travels. It has consistently remained a quality, delicious, family-owned product, and we look forward to making visits part of our Wisconsin travels into the future. On our most recent trip, we stopped for a quick bite and drink in New Glarus' beautiful outdoor picnic area on our way to the Northwoods of Wisconsin. I opted for a Raspberry Tart, a close cousin to my favorite, the cherry-filled Belgian Red. And my husband got a tasting that included a new favorite, the Edel-Pils German Pilsner. Having an outdoor area where our kids could stretch out a bit after being in the car for so long was much appreciated. We also noticed new trails and picnic tables near the trees that looked inviting. New Glarus seems family friendly, though heed the words on their website: "Anyone, regardless of age, who cries, spits, screams, fights or climbs on the machinery will politely be excused from our brewery tour."The kids got cow stuffed animals from the gift shop -- my son named his "Sausage" for some funny reason only known to him -- and my husband and I stocked up on some beer cases from the beer depot for the rest of vacation and beyond (you can only get this world-class beer in Wisconsin). One quick recommendation to the brewery: Please put changing tables in your bathroom. Even still, New Glarus will remain a favorite for years to come. We can't wait to go back!

Awesome brewery, especially the outside areas to wander at your leisure with a beer in hand. The beers are all solid, if not mostly great. Love the feel of it, and the traditional Swiss vibe and appearance. Nice and quiet, tucked up on its own little hill looking out over the town, and valley. There's tons of cool structures and details scattered all over the property.

My second time visiting New Glarus but my husband's first, I knew I had to take him to the New Glarus Brewery. It was a winter weather day so we didn't spend lots of time outdoors but I did make sure to show him the great view from the back of the brewery. It was pretty busy inside that day but the process for getting a beer was flawless. My husband got a pint and I got the tasting. Each was $8 and we got to keep the glass. Mine was a little glass of course but for $8, my husband's pint glass was a great keepsake! We sipped our beer and wandered around the gift shop looking at all the things we wanted to buy but reasonably settled on a few. Each time I went back for one of my tasting beers, the bartender was really helpful in assisting me on what beer I might like. Visiting the brewery was definitely the highlight of our day/night in New Glarus! We hope to make another visit one day!

From The Beautiful Grounds to self guided tour of the Brewing Facility to Video Footage to.....The Taste Testing!!! A Simple Beautiful way to spend a relaxing time!!! There is a good size gift shop with some special goodies to purchase. Friendly service! Beautiful large courtyard as well to enjoy your drinks!!