Via iStockphoto / @jaustinswag TikTok
A Texas man traveled to Wisconsin and was floored after trying Spotted Cow. The only problem is that it's not sold out of The Badger State.
A region-locked Wisconsin beer, Spotted Cow, has haunted one Texas man’s palate ever since he first tried it. And the beer’s reportedly so good, some people have almost gone to prison trying to get it out of Wisconsin.
Beer-enthusiast J. Austin (@jaustinswag) posted a viral TikTok that’s accrued over 530,000 views, in which he details his first time trying it and how the booze brought him and his friends closer together.
“I think I found the best beer in the world. But the only problem is, I can’t even buy it,” Austin laments. Following this, he delves into how he was first introduced to such a glorious brew.
While dating his now-wife, he took a trip to Wisconsin to meet her family. A native Texan, he said he’s never been to The Badger State, nor did he know much about it. Upon arriving in Milwaukee, his wife’s parents picked them up. Immediately thereafter, they went on a bar crawl, which he saw as an instant “green flag.”
During these festivities, his future in-laws asked him if he wanted a Spotted Cow. First, Austin was confused, as he’d never heard of the beer before. That’s all his wife’s mom and dad needed to hear. They turned to the bartender, ordered for him, and Austin’s life was never the same. “Not to be dramatic, but it’s one of the best beers I’ve ever had in my life,” he says.
In fact, he goes so far to say that if you don’t like Spotted Cow beer, then you probably don’t like beer.
‘I Can Not Stop Thinking About This Beer’
“It tastes like the nectar of the gods. By the end of the weekend, I’ve had like 12 or more of these cow beers,” he says.
Austin just found his new favorite beer of choice—that is, until he learned about its availability, or lack thereof, rather. “I find out I can’t get this beer outside of Wisconsin,” he ruefully tells his audience.
After returning to the Lone Star state, Austin says he was consumed with the idea of getting his hands on Spotted Cow. Later on, while he caught up with a friend at a bar, he talked about his trip to Wisconsin. It didn’t take long for his pal to bring up Spotted Cow beer, which prompted Austin to enthusiastically proclaim his love for the beverage. As it turns out, his friend was a fan as well, and they opined at length about how amazing it was.
Fast forward to Austin talking to yet another friend, Ben, before a subsequent trip to Wisconsin. And he, too, loved Spotted Cows.
‘Makes Me Love It More’
Austin concluded his video by commenting on how bittersweet Spotted Cow’s limited availability is. While it would be nice to be able to buy it whenever he wanted to in Texas, he almost “love[s] it more” that this brewery is in another state and packs its own lore. What really made him value the beer above all is how he and his friends bonded over it.
And Austin isn’t alone in professing his love for Spotted Cow. Beer review blog TwoBeerDudes gives the beverage high marks, and one assessment gave a thorough breakdown of the drink. It reads, “Pours a pale golden color with a cloudy haziness. Half-inch head of fluffy foam head … [which] dissipates quickly leaving a thin layer on top. Aroma is nice … refreshing … a bit of citrus maybe lemon, and a maltiness.” It also went on to state that the drink “lives up to the hype” and that its overall taste “is really well balanced.”
Redditors in this r/beer thread also commended the beer’s flavor profile and availability all throughout Wisconsin. “I can go into literally any bar in the state … and get a Spotted Cow from a fresh keg that tastes good,” one said, explaining why they’re such a fan of the drink.
Someone else echoed Two Beer Dudes’ evaluation of Spotted Cow, writing, “It’s just a fantastic, flavorful easy drinking beer that’s ubiquitous there. I think it’s one of the best beers I’ve ever had at what it does.”
Bringing Spotted Cow Over State Lines
In 2018, the former owner and bar manager of Maple Tavern in Minnesota were each hit with a Spotted Cow-related felony charge. The pair took beers manufactured by the New Glarus Brewing company and brought them over state lines. They then put it up in their own bar for sale but were slapped with a criminal complaint.
That’s because New Glarus’ beverage is only licensed for sale and distribution within the state of Wisconsin. After being tipped off to the sale, investigators visited Maple Tavern to try the bar out on April 13th, 2015. After verifying (and probably double and triple verifying) the beer was indeed Spotted Cow, authorities issued search warrants. They learned that the bar employees had purchased 10 kegs of the beer and were serving it on tap.
Both of the men involved in procuring the beer found themselves facing a potential five-year prison sentence, which it looks like they didn’t serve. As of 2018, they weren’t working with the restaurant, and management at the time had no association with the incident. Furthermore, the Maple Tavern acquired a new liquor license following the ordeal.
BroBible has reached out to the New Glarus Brewing company via email and Austin via TikTok direct message for further comment.