New Glarus Brewing Company Cran-bic Ale (365 Day 226)

By scot in 365 Days of American Craft Beer, Beer on Friday, July 15th, 2011

New Glarus Cran-bic Ale

New Glarus Brewing Company started up a new line of beers this year: Thumbprint. I believe the idea behind this line of beers is to continue to be creative and different from the rest of the American craft beer industry. There is a quote on the New Glarus site on this topic from Deborah Carey. Exert from that quote:

Thumbprint beers are still brewed with the beer enthusiast in mind. Thumbprint beers are brewed in small batches that are intended to be available for one time only. However, popular demand has caused some styles to return. This is my own thumbprint, to let everyone know this is a real New Glarus handcrafted beer! Cheers.

The second release this year is Cran-bic Ale. This beer was part of the Unplugged series back in 2009 and now is re-released into the Thumbprint series. I don’t mind at all. The oak that this beer is aged on comes through spectacularly on the nose: white oak is so pleasant and tantalizing. There are also notes of cranberries, sweet, and tartness. Per any of the fruit beers that come out of New Glarus, Cran-bic is delicious and especially refreshing this time of year. Enjoy!

Aroma: 8 (25%), Taste: 8 (25%), Look: 8 (15%), Drinkability: 8 (35%), Overall: 8.0

Useless Fact: Harry Drake of Lakeside, California, competing in a footbow archery contest at Ivanpah Dry Lake, California, in October, 1970, shot an arrow that traveled 1 mile, 101 yards, and 21 inches. A foot bow is fired by lying on one’s back, stringing the bow, and pushing out the wooden part of the bow with one’s feet.