FINALLY I get to try something from New Glarus Brewing.
Sort of.
New Glarus Brewing Company, in New Glarus, Wisconsin, has been highly regarded in beer circles seemingly since the beginning of time (well, at least 1993). They started winning industry awards almost immediately, including the Great American Beer Festival’s Midsize Brewery and Brewer of the Year in 2005 AND 2006. Check here for the slew of honors and accolades they’ve garnered. Far too many to list here.
Problem is, they do not distribute outside of their home state. Period. Those of us not fortunate enough to live there are pretty much out of luck.
However, thanks to the good graces of Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp, the rest of us finally get to taste something they at least had a hand in.
There And Back Extra Special Bitter
According to the collaborators, the name is a nod to the not-too-direct traveling route between the two breweries. There isn’t exactly an expressway connecting New Glarus and Chico, CA, so getting “there and back” requires some planning, and more than a little determination.
While not an off-the-charts, mind-blowing beer, There And Back hits all the right ESB notes.
Nice and tart, almost tingling-y bitter, this tangy copper-colored brew is very refreshing with a crisp, biting finish. A touch of caramel sweetness comes through as it warms. But this is so easy drinking, it won’t have much of a chance to lose its cool.
Another winning collaboration from the Beer Camp. Looking forward to the next one.
I should just copy that previous sentence and keep it on the clipboard. I’ll most likely be ending all my Beer Camp posts that way.