My first Fat Tire!!

[TBIM]

I had my first Fat Tire yesterday in Houston and really enjoyed it. How are their other beers?

[steveh]

Even better.

S.

[fretlessman71]

Agreed. Come on up to God's Country (that's Fort Collins, for those of you unsure) and sample them straight from the tap-handled vines. :D

[skahtboi]

Yeah. Fat Tire is probably the "weakest" of New Belgium's beers from a taste perspective.

[OntheLoose]

Fat Tire was the first beer I tried to copy in my garage. I never made an exact copy but I sure had fun trying.

[darylM]

if you like ambers, try Full Sail Amber

[fretlessman71]

Yeah. Fat Tire is probably the "weakest" of New Belgium's beers from a taste perspective.
Maybe, but that's kind of like saying the 2005 Steelers were the worst Pittsburgh team to win a Super Bowl, you know?

[Arassuil]

2 Below is tops!

[skahtboi]

Maybe, but that's kind of like saying the 2005 Steelers were the worst Pittsburgh team to win a Super Bowl, you know?

What's a Super Bowl??? :D (I don't watch football)

No, but seriously, you are right.

[BrewDog]

There are a LOT of other beers that I'd rather drink than Fat Tire. Matter of fact, I'd put it pretty much at the bottom of my list of beers in general, not much above the macro swill. Blech.

[fretlessman71]

When was the last time you had one? I felt the same way 10 years ago. That recipe has changed, as has the longevity of the yeast (and therefore the beer). I shall reference my thread from nearly 4 years ago for you:

http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?threadid=3643

[BrewDog]

about 4 months ago. yech.

[steveh]

Matter of fact, I'd put it pretty much at the bottom of my list of beers in general, not much above the macro swill. Blech.

Yeah, that one I won't buy into. While Fat Tire is not on the cutting edge of, well -- edginess in beer, I was persuaded into trying it again by no less than Stan Hieronymous and Lew Bryson.

It's a fine beer, full of character and big Brett flavors from the yeast they're using. Not at all bland or thin, as macro swill defines.

That said, if given the choice of some of New Belgium's other labels or a Fat Tire, I'd pick one of the other labels first.

S.

[TBIM]

I've never seen any of their other beers in my area. I'll be on the lookout!

[fretlessman71]

Fat Tire, while not my favorite beer and certainly not able to live up to the "hype", is a decent beer with a unique flavor that seems to suffer from its own highly effective advertising campaign and cool name amongst the beer snobs (I almost wrote "beer snots", which is probably just as good). The other brews from NBB suffer for its success, to be quite frank. How many people who have heard of Fat Tire haven't heard of 1554, or Blue Paddle, or Springboard, or La Folie, or Frambozen, or 2° Below, or Mighty Arrow, or Mothership Wit? Or know that they brew a divine Abbey and Trippel? I'm guessing a fair number. And all are good beers, though the wit doesn't do much for me.

One good thing about Fat Tire, regardless of what you think about its flavor: it has allowed NBB to pretty much brew whatever they want in addition to FT. And they do a fantastic job of it. :)

[steveh]

Or know that they brew a divine Abbey and Trippel? I'm guessing a fair number.

Or know that it's New Belgium Brewing, not Fat Tire Brewing. :rolleyes:

S.

[chazwicke]

I remember Jeff Liebish (sp) founder of the brewery visiting the Brickskeller for a tasting eons ago. It was soon after they moved the brewery from his house. He related a story about his actually stealing a yeast strain from a Belgian brewer. I've had their brews and enjoyed them. Although I'd like to sample the "new" Fat Tire.

[Common]

I really enjoy the 2 Below and their 1554 but I cannot drink Fat tire. I know this sounds silly but every time I have had Fat Tire (most recent is a month ago) it tastes "burnt" to me. Anyone else feel the same?

[steveh]

Burnt? No, there's a certain ester character to the yeast that comes across as musty or "horse blanket"-like, and there's some bready/biscuit character too -- but never gotten burnt from it.

Certain dark malted beers, such as Guinness Extra Stout, take on a very roasted, coffee character that's been described as burnt - if you want to compare.

S.

[fretlessman71]

FT's that have been too cold to taste properly have given me a burnt character to a degree - yeah, I can see that. Not "burnt" in the classical BJCP sense, but still. Let it warm up, and give it a good hard pour.