New Belgium Brewing Company- Fat Tire Amber Ale: Classics never die…
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 5:28PM | by Wes 
When I first moved to Chicago there were all of these strange lights. No, not the city lights, I’m not from that small of a town. I’m speaking of these strange neon signs that were lurking in the windows of half the bars in town. There was this little red bike that said “Fat Tire.” Every bar I went to was buzzing about this beer. You couldn’t walk five feet without someone asking you if you had tried Fat Tire. It was enough to make anyone try to figure out what the buzz was about!
This orange-amber brew pours with a very thick foam head and very light almost flat carbonation. The scent of the malt definitely outweighs the hops and provides a very sweet, almost creamy smell, like a sweet butter. There is also a light, fruity, graininess that completes a dense and complex aroma. Fat Tire’s flavor has a slight citrus bitterness that quickly turns into a malty sweetness. There is a subtle milky, almost dairy like quality to the aftertaste, very reminiscent of eating vanilla ice-cream, which finishes with cereal sweetness. This is a complex and extremely delicious brew.
I still have the same reaction to Fat Tire that I did four years ago, WOW! New Belgium has a winner here and they know it. It is rare to find a beer this complex yet so beautifully balanced. Not many beers are able to remain light in their finish but so strong and heavy on your palette. This is a tasty beer, with an amazing body and quick charm. Fat Tire will romance you onto the couch in a hurry, but it is also light and delicious enough for that Friday night Co-ed softball league. You can even track it down in cans for a stealth mission. No matter how you can find it, just get your hands on Fat Tire, or you should be given a fat lip.
ABV: 5.2%
Consumed: New Belgium Globe Glass
Verdict: Buy A Keg!
