(New Glarus, WI) – For those looking for a pre-party to the Friday pre-parties, New Glarus Brewing will release two R&D Series beers in bottles for the first time today.

Big weekend for beer in Wisconsin with the Great Taste of the Midwest taking place on Saturday and various pre-parties on Friday. If you’re swinging by New Glarus early in the day, you’re in for a special treat. Per the brewery’s Facebook page:

“We will be setting a sales limit of 3 bottles per person (per type) per day priced at 8.00 a bottle. The Gueuze and Bourbon Barrel Kriek will be available for sale on Friday, August 13th. Still available are the Two Women and the Golden Ale (no purchase limit). […]

Here is a description of the Gueuze:
Brewed in the tradition of the Lambics of Belgium but using a blend of Ale Yeast, Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, and Acetobacter. These microorganisms came from our culture collection as well as many collected by Dan around the wilds of Wisconsin! Fermented and aged in Oak. This beer spent the summer of 2009 aging outdoors in used oak barrels. Then bottle fermented. This is a funky and very sour beer not for the faint of heart. If you are unfamiliar with sour or Brettanomyces beers you may want to pass this one up!

and the Bourbon Barrel Kriek:
Ale infused with a large dose of sour cherries. Fermented in an Oak Vat using a blend of Ale Yeast and Lactobacillus. Then aged in freshly dumped bourbon barrels. Strongly Sour with intense cherry overtones married to oak and bourbon character.

The newest R & D brews will be available for sale when Hilltop opens for regular business hours in Friday (at 10:00 am).”

The Full Pint reports that there are 1,500 bottles of the Kriek and 1,900 bottles of the Gueuze.