Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week:" New Glarus Wisconsin Belgian Red

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Feb 4, 2009 9:40PM

Among the many reasons New Glarus beers are held in high regard is their attention to detail. From research to bottle, Dan Carey brews some amazing beers. One of our favorites is so good that if you poured it to some unsuspecting drinkers, they might mistake it for a sparkling rosé.

Wisconsin Belgian Red is a sublime blending of wheat malt, roasted barley and Door County Montmorency cherries. It's that last ingredient that puts this selection over the top for us, with over a pound found in every 22.5-ounce bottle. Carey says that the beer is so uniquely Wisconsin, between the malt and cherries, that New Glarus applied for a patent on it. It pours a rich ruby in color, with very high carbonation and a lot of sweetness. Dessert beer? You better believe it. In fact, on our short list of perfect beers, Wisconsin Belgian Red makes the cut.

If you're planning a trip to New Glarus anytime soon (it's only a hop, skip and jump away) you can load the trunk with a few cases of this wonderful brew, or just buy a bottle and hide it for a special occasion. After a two-week hiatus, we're back with what we hope for you readers is an agreeable "Beer of the Week."

Image courtesy of Wright Angle.