I should come clean and say that even though I decided to review this beer, this is by far not the first time I have had this amber ale. It has often been a favorite of mine during happy hour or when I am out on the town with my friends. I cannot say it is my all-time favorite beer, but it is a very reliable beer that you can easily find on draft in my area. It is a beer that I can drink several of through the night and not easily tire of the flavor.
Fat Tire is brewed by New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins Colorado. It is 5.2% ABV, a pretty standard strength for a craft beer. It also tends to be a standard craft beer on draft here in Charlotte, NC.
Pouring the drink looks quite impressive. It produces a substantial head, and it actually took a good bit of time for the head to settle so I could finish pouring the bottle. It clung to the glass nicely, while the beer itself is a very nice dark amber color, almost brown.
The beer has the smell of a fresh cut apple or pear. It’s cooling, but more mellow than crisp. Even the scent has a sweetness to it that is very pleasant. The first taste has a noticeable presence of hops, but it isn’t the kick in the teeth that most IPAs and pale ales have. It is extremely smooth and pleasing, yet not strongly flavored. The presence of an apple flavor or tart melon is still apparent. It makes the beer very light in body but quite refreshing. The beer finishes with a subtle sweetness that reminds me of fresh berries.
This beer is reasonably priced at $5 for a pint at my local pub. Its light body and fruity essence make it a great hot weather beer, though for a true beer snob who loves his porters and stouts, it might be a little lacking in complexity.
Filed under: Amber, amber ale, beer, craft beer, fat tire, new belgium
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