Year of Beer Paintings – Day 219

Today’s beer painting is of a beer that is available only in Wisconsin, Spotted Cow Ale by New Glarus Brewing Company in New Glarus, Wisconsin.  More of a cream ale than a saison, this beer is perfect for drinking on a hot summer day, or basically any time, anywhere.  Not too strong, this is a session brew for sure.  New Glarus is keeping it close to home and this beer doesn’t leave the state, unless you pack it out in your luggage.  My friends Adam and Kara brought me this beer from Kara’s home state of Wisconsin.  She suggested that I paint this beer as soon as she found out about the Year of Beer project.

Since Kara is a Wisconsin local, I let her have a lot of creative control over this painting.  We covered that Wisconsin has rolling hills, lush farmland, and livestock.  I was told it had to have a red barn in it, which is also fitting as this beer is described as a farmhouse ale.  Kara showed me a picture of her mini-horses and mentioned how they like to steal beer at the family BBQs. We thought about it, and decided to paint a cow stealing a beer!  Under further scrutiny, we concluded that a Holstein cow was the obvious choice.  What a great way to depict the Spotted Cow Ale.  This cow is going to sour her milk with all the beer she is consuming.  Maybe it will come out as cheese!  

Cheers to the Spotted Cow!  To the Wisconsin farmers, fields, and Holsteins!

The original painting sold. You can purchase a limited-edition print at my Etsy shop.

View the complete Year of Beer Paintings gallery.

Year of Beer 08.07. Spotted Cow Ale by New Glarus Brewing Co. Oil on panel, 8″x10″.