'Unbelievable, delicious': RNC visitors are discovering Spotted Cow beer

As thousands of out-of-state visitors descended on Milwaukee for the start of the Republican National Convention on Monday, many seemed pleasantly surprised by a local delicacy: Spotted Cow beer.

Spotted Cow is the best-selling beer made by the Wisconsin brewery New Glarus Brewing Company. The company brewed about 230,000 barrels of beer last year, 30% of which will be Spotted Cow, according to a report from the Wisconsin State Journal.

A tweet from one visitor about the popular beer — from journalist Robert Evans — has been "liked" more than 3,400 times.

Evans' takeaway? "Shocked by how good it is. Wisconsin should be proud."

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reached out to people around the RNC perimeter on Monday afternoon to get their perspectives on the popular local beer.

Kevin Prior, a bar patron from Connecticut who was visiting the 3rd Street Market Hall, said he was sold on Spotted Cow after he tried it based on the recommendation of a friend.

"A buddy of mine in Chicago loves it, told us you can only get it up here, and cracked a couple bottles for us in Chicago, and it was unbelievable, delicious," Prior said. "Love it."

Prior described Spotted Cow as a lighter beer that packs more flavor than Miller Lite and Coors Light.

"I definitely want to have it again," Prior said. "From Connecticut, I don't think we can get it out there, but I will see if my Chicago friends can ship it out to me in Connecticut."

Next to him, Terry, an RNC attendee from Alabama who did not give his last name, said Spotted Cow is in his top ten favorite beers.

"I'm drinking it now," he said. "I love it."

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Nathan Bartley, a bartender at Mo's... A Place For Steaks, said the fact that New Glarus does not sell outside of Wisconsin speaks to the brewery's commitment to quality.

"They're refusing to send it across the rest of the Midwest, nationwide, overseas, so that they have a great product that is local to them and stays popular," Bartley said.

When asked his opinion on people who don't like Spotted Cow beer, Bartley didn't mince his words.

“Well, they can go back to St. Louis and drink Bud Light products," he said.

Journal Sentinel reporters even asked law enforcement officers patrolling the RNC for their opinions on the popular beer.

Although none of them were allowed to drink on the clock, they all agreed to try the beer later.

Contact Adrienne Davis at [email protected]. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss. Contact Angelika Ytuarte at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: RNC attendees give their opinions on Wisconsin's Spotted Cow beer