New Glarus Cran-bic

A Berry Good Beer

No doubt, my favorite thing about visiting Wisconsin is the company I keep there.

A close second may be the beer.

On my most recent visit, I got to try a hard-to-find new offering from the folks at New Glarus: Wisconsin Cran-bic.

Even better, my host was wise to snap up every bottle he could find when it was released, so I enjoyed several bottles during my stay.

This beer is a neat marriage of wine and beer – making use of oak barrel aging and Wisconsin’s state fruit, the cranberry. (Who knew Wisconsin supplies half of the world’s cranberries?) It’s a lambic style ale with an attractive zinfandel color and a lovely tart cranberry finish.

This may be my new New Glarus favorite. Sorry, Cracked Wheat, but I just can’t resist a little bit of berry.

The Beer Details Brewer: New Glarus Brewing Company (New Glarus, WI) Style: Fruit Beer ABV: 6% Cost: ~$12/ 4-pack Goes with: mild and creamy cheeses, sauted kale, dark chocolate

The Beer Extras Visit Madison, Wisconsin and drink some beer. Try this other fruit beer. Print a beer shopping wish list. Try these other happy hour tips and ideas.

Want this beer? You'll have to travel to Wisconsin to get it. But it's probably worth it. 

Erin Malone is a Thursday Happy Hour contributing editor, providing the what's-up of beer all over on Fridays. Got a great fruit beer? Let me know in the comments below. Or chat with me on Facebook.