Native Ale

[steveh]

New Glarus Brewing Co., New Glarus, WI - 12 oz. bottle - no ABV stated.

Dark, hazy, brown-copper color with ruby highlights. Thin, tan head of small, tight bubbles that settles to a foamy collar around the glass.

Toasted, biscuit nose - no hops apparent at all. Ester fruitiness present - blackberry or black raspberry. Slightest sulfur.

Estery initial flavors, followed by smooth chocolate and roasted malt, ending in a mildly tart hop flavor with biscuit malt back. All of these flavors are very fleeting - there and gone with little aftertaste.

Thin body and mouth-feel, little carbonation on the tongue.

Refreshingly smooth and reminds me of the Samuel Smith Mild I sampled in London. Light, yet immensely flavorful session beer.

S.

[davesarman]

Had this last fall and I must admit I was a little disappointed. Maybe it's because I hold New Glarus in such high regard, that I expect a knockout beer every time. (As I do with Bell's.) If I remember correctly the label was fairly vague as to what style of beer it was. I remember it saying something like "pours almost black" or something like that and when I found it to be lighter in color and body than I expected, I was a little disappointed. It was a decent beer once I got adjusted to what it was, but it was not what I expected. I believe I saw somplace else refer to it as an alt.

[steveh]

Beer Advocate calls it a Brown Ale, which is the same category Milds fall under.

I can see being disappointed if you were expecting something different, but I didn't know what to expect - and the label sure doesn't give you much to go on, other than telling of the drinkability.

I did enjoy it though, and have some left...

S.

[Jeff]

I bought a six pack of this when I was in Wisconsin on business back in February. I didn't know what to expect and was wanting something I couldn't normally get such as the usually IPAs, APAs and stouts. I would almost compare it to NB Black Ale, but maybe a little fruiter and little less bite to it.

[hops99]

I tried a sixer of the Native Ale last Summer while on a family vacation in the Dells - it was the first time I'd seen it, and also didn't know what to expect. This was a VERY drinkable beer. While not something that I'd go out of my way for, it was the perfect brew to enjoy by the pool while the kids were swimming. As a matter of fact, I think I drank all six before the kids got out of the pool, which irritated the hell out of my wife.

Anyway, I recall it being richer and tastier than most light-ish brown ales (almost Uff-Da-esque). Certainly a decent brew.

[steveh]

Originally posted by hops99
I think I drank all six before the kids got out of the pool, which irritated the hell out of my wife.

Anyway, I recall it being richer and tastier than most light-ish brown ales

But I bet you felt little buzz - even after 6. When I sampled this bottle, and tasted no alcohol throughout the glass-ful, the thought crossed my mind that it would be easy to drink the whole sixer. However, I refrained. After all, I had to sample the Hopdevil for you guys. ;)

S.