New Glarus to Pull Out of Wisconsin
UPDATE: In case you missed it, this was an April Fools’ Day joke, and New Glarus Brewing Co. is staying put in Wisconsin.
NEW GLARUS, WI (April 1)—Saying it was time to try something new, the founders of New Glarus Brewing Co. said today that they would begin removing their beers from shelves and taps in Wisconsin, effective immediately. It was a stunning—almost unbelievable—announcement from the 22-year old brewery that has only distributed within Wisconsin’s borders since its founding.
“Let me be clear, we love it here. We raised a family here and grew a business here. We’re not leaving and the brewery isn’t closing, we’re just going to stop selling beer here,” said brewery president Deb Carey in a statement. “Everyone that we’ve spoken with, from financial advisors to life-long trusted friends said this is a terrible idea, but what’s the point of having a business unless you take a few risks.”
As word spread across the state retailers reported block-long lines as customers rushed to stock up on, among others, the brewery’s flagship cream ale, Spotted Cow.
Carey said beer production would continue in New Glarus and that tours would still be available, but visitors would only receive samples of Baumeister’s orange soda afterwards, not beer.
As despondent beer drinkers gathered outside the brewery for a candlelight vigil, imbibers in Rhode Island were celebrating, as Carey said all of the brewery’s 162,000-barrel annual production would soon be sold in the Ocean State.
Well, this sounds legit.
I didn’t need to read it to see its a joke. But still mean. Happy April fools everyone!!!!
rhode island how about sending spotted cow to southern illinois? Since inbev purchased ab a lot of people are boycotting ab products and want to buy american made instead. Please consider distributing to southern illinois/!st louis area. I think you would do very well in this market
New Glarus will never come to Illinois ever. Ever. Distribution is “pay to play” and the Careys have gone on record in all Chicago media outlets and told Illinois distribution in not so many words to go f themselves because they believe their products speak for themselves. While I agree, the consumer loses out in the end. It’s said that Chicago politicians ruin the rest of the state for everyone else
It’s an April foods joke
Tell that to 3 Floyds
New glarus beer was sold in illinois about 15 years ago.
April Fools??????
PLEASE TELL ME THIS ISNT REAL?!?! WHAT?!? stupid!!!! This state made your beer and now your going to bail?!? What!?!!!?
Clearly April Fools.
Idiot!
Hi,
NO!!!!!!!
You guys are great!
ps: I”m a friend of Aunt Aggie up in Sparta
Your beer is my favorite. I live in Iowa and come up to get beer regularly. I would like to know how i would be able to get Spotted Cow because all other beer doesn’t even come close to your product. Please let me know if I can still get your incredible product.
Thank you.
Happy April Fool’s Day!!!
This has got to be an April fools joke!! No way would you stop selling beer in Wisconsin!
This is unbelievable! Literally! Unbelievable! I thought they were sending it all to Indiana.
April Fools!
April Fools! Nice one!
Clearly an April Fool’s joke…
Nice April fools joke
April Foolz
What? No way! There’s no explanation as to why the brewery is pulling out on the sales market here. Why not expand the sales market, but not withdraw from the home state. This is ludicrous! We love New Glarus beer. It’s sold in drinking establishments all over the state. What gives?
April fools joke hoping!
Oh yeah, April Fool!
Is this an April Fool’s joke??? 🙁
Awesome April Fool’s prank!
april fools! If not, I need to train my body that life without beer is going to be ok..
I can’t believe what I am hearing I live near Chicago and ride the motorcycle up there at least 3 times a summer. Really sad I look forward to your beer every summer.
April fool? Pleeeeaaassseeeee
nice April fools
Ha, Ha, April Fools !!!
you better post April Fools!!!!!!
April Fools, right?!?!?!?!?!
You Suck Deb Carey, but I love your beer 🙂
You got me on that one.
April Fools!
This is a terrible idea! New Glarus beers are the best!!!!!!!
I assume this is an April fools joke.
april fools
April Fools?
Not funny! You made me cry!
April Fools to you all as well ! Not selling your beer in Wisconsin would be like banning umbrella’s in Seattle, or banning Pete Rose for the Hall of Fame ( wait, that really happened ). Tell you what, keep churning out awesome beer and I will keep drinking it ! Troy Yarolimek – Oshkosh WI
Yeah, yeah. What day is it again?
APRIL FOOL!
PLEASE tell me this is an April Fools joke! Okay, just read “click here to read more”. Thank goodness! I about had spotted mad cow disease!
April fools. Right.
Will your beer be available in other states besides the ocean state?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Stupidest thing I’ve ever heard! Why not just add the other state? So the people who have bought and enjoyed their beer for years and helped make them rich get left with nothing. Yep, stupid move New Glarus!
Happy April fools’ day Beth.
Hope New Glarus was in on this one…. 🙂
Just pack up and move the whole liberal co. to Rhode Island. See YA.
WHAT?! This is a horrible idea!! I am a bartender in the small town of Waupaca, WI and have many customers that love the SPOTED COW and FAT SQUIRREL. Do not do this!!
I almost lost it, called into work, and drove the hour to LaCrosse. Then I remembered what day it is. Thanks for the mild panic attack.
Ha ha, not funny!! Life almost ended as I know it. Completely forgot it was April 1.
NOT FUNNY!!!!
What a slap in the face of Wisconsin economic development and prosperity. Boycott
Good luck boycotting something that is not available where you live. You are a fool. A special one, an April one.
Well Wisconsin, you’ve got just about as many dummies as every other state! Cheers!
You’re an idiot. Clearly they wouldn’t just pull their product out of Such a money pot. They would expand. Boycott. They don’t need your business.
what is the reason for this? No reason is given.
Has to be April Fool’s – has to be!
That sucks
nice of us to support you since your inception, now you are going to leave us.
not nice!
How can you do this to us? I always knew what I could give as gifts to a few of the guys in our family…now what will I get to replace spotted cow? Where or how will we be able to purchase your products?
A very disappointed and loyal Wisconsinite.
I’m disappointed in the Wisconsinites who stocked up. They want to make money off the tours here but not sell it to this state? I would’ve been attending the vigil with my middle finger not a candle. Good Riddens.
Worst April fools joke ever! And can you please expand to Minnesota and north dakota I’m thirsty!
APRIL FOOLS!
Do you have the name of anyone in NJ that can ship me some? This is asinine!
Not Funny! Hits too close to home.
April fools!
This is ridiculous, if you guys don’t want to sell here in the state of Wisconsin, personally I don’t want your company here then.
Will it still be sold in stores in other states?
Is this an April Fools Joke or what!
is this an April Fools joke or what?
sad
You can’t stop selling here. Spotted Cow is my only beer.
Ok. So the state and its people who made you and grew your company are now the same people you are turning your back on. Its a slap in the face! Pleanty of great beers out there. “We” dont need you as , much as you need WI. The beer capital. Shame on you! Should listen to your family and friends
This better be an April Fool’s Joke!
April Fools
I am curious!
How many people have fallen for this?
Please don’t do this. Spotted cow is my favorite beer! I don’t want to find a new favorite. 🙁
So, I’m confused. Will you still be distributing? I live in St. Louis now but travel to Madison quite regularly and I bring back lots of Spotted Cow. My friends would be devastated if distribution stopped.
Advise – please, and thank you.
April Fools!!!
This couldn’t possibly be true!!! What will we drink? This almost all we buy when it comes to beer! I’m stunned, at a loss if words. Please, don’t let this be true.
Look at that date line.
Lefty nut job! Insincere, hypocritical and selfish as all Lefties.
This better be an APRIL FOOLS JOKE!!!
Minnesota sure would like to be able to purchase! Good thing my family lives near Rhode Island! Good Luck!
This must be April fools joke! Please!!!
sounds like an April fool situation.
I AM SO PISSED. WE HAVE BEEN BUYING THEIR BEER FOR YEARS AND NOW THIS!?!??!
April Fools! (she hopes)
HAHA! I ALMOST forgot what day it was. Also, since I have your ear bent my way, do you sell in Fargo, ND or anywhere close?? -Thanks
Check the date…
This wasn’t funny.. I am glad you will still be here and selling your great product. Happy April Fools Day to you.
This had better be an April Fools joke! The 2 reasons we visit Wisconsin are the Pacjers and New Glarus! So, if this is try, you better be making a stop in Ohio on your way to Rhode Island!
Hope this is a april fools joke? If not i will never have a spotted cow beer again.
Good Luck!
Well do you think they want you to go buy there beer and then they ll say April fools…wow…clever
I hope this is an April fools joke. We can’t wait to come visit at thanksgiving.
Wow! That was a good one! Really had me going until you said “…beer production would continue…but visitors would only receive samples of Baumeister’s orange soda afterwards, not beer.” Made no sense. THAT’S when I remembered what day it was.
click on the part that says read more at the end
Couldn’t do better than that for April fools?
I see what you did there.
April fools people
Click read more. It’s definitely an April fools. Thankfully
If you click the link to read more it states its an april fools joke. I was sad until i clicked there
i live near the facility, and love having local companies using local farm grown products to make their products! What makes it better? Laughter!!! Great 4/1 joke! I’d lift my spotted cow to you if she didn’t weigh almost 1000 pounds, so I’ll lift one of yours! Cheers!
Bad joke. On par with the 4th Indiana Jones movie.
Perhaps they, too, are fed up with Scott Walker and the Republican majority.
Time for a…Road trip!
Wow, some people really got upset. Great April Fool’s joke. Gutsy. You deserve the confidence to pull that one off. Keep up the great work!
Wth!!!!! Better be April fools joke!!! There’d be alot of pissed off people here in Gree Bay!!!!
In my best comic book guy from the Simpsons voice best April fools joke ever.
Don’t mess with the (spotted) cow! dis chit ain’t funny man. you mess wit a cheeseheads beer… there’s gonna be trouble *burp* pass me another bottle of cherry 🙂
I (or my wife and daughter) routinely make a “beer run” (look up “da yoopers”) to WI to bootleg beer back to IL. The proprietor of the store *knows* we are from IL and has proudly proclaimed “We encourage bootlegging”.
I like how all the dumb asses who believed this turned it into an opportunity to try and bash NG and their political beliefs
I really cannot believe how many people fell for this.
I hope this is not an April fools joke and they are in fact pulling their beers. They don’t support the small breweries in Wisconsin and I think they are a joke
My favorite part is, “Everyone we’ve spoken with. . . said this was a terrible idea. .” Lol. Please bring back R&D Golden Ale! Amazing!
It’s all about Deb, let’s hear from Dan. Come on Dan it’s about time to wear the pants. …… 4-1-2015
Over rated beer anyway! Won’t be missed!
So i have one thing to say…Thank you Governor Walker!
Doubt this. I call bullshit, but good marketing idea. No logical reason far as i can tell.
my husband had me going on this all day, so happy it’s April 1! Down to my last 4 bottles of spotted cow-till my next trip to Milwaukee !
Definitely an April Fools joke. They will never leave Wisconsin.
Please keep the beer in Wisconsin! Hopefully just an April fools gag.
April Fools! U got me!
I have sold Spotted Cow and many of your other brews in my Pub for 18 years. Shame on you! I am done with your products. Even if this is an April fools joke…I AM DONE! See Ya!!!
I love Baumeister’s orange soda!!
Hey I’m a good sport and can take a joke, but I’m curious how the Careys will feel about a false quote and bad advertising for their clearly well-respected brand. Bad form, John. Very bad form, indeed.
Being a Wisconsin native now living where New Glarus beers are not available, it would be nice if they could expand their market!
Won’t miss it a bit stuff tastes like bag balm.
No, this just can’t be so. Where’s the punchline to this joke.
What’s next? The Packers moving to Minnesota? NOT!
Not funny. New Glarus may have Beer on the mountain but that’s about it for the money pot. Great backfire technique Walker must have effected you too!
Only here in Park City, Utah, will they sell it now. And new brewery construction to start here this summer as well.
Life has just lost its meaning. Moon Man….
But, but, can we still get spotted cow? My Bessie the cow won’t drink nothing Elsa.
Wait. Wtf. Am I reading the onion?
Not The Onion, just last year’s April Fool’s joke!
Daniel Hartis
Digital Manager
All About Beer Magazine