New Belgium Fat Tire Review

Overall 4.40 of 5 view all 5 reviews

add to my favorites email to a friend view more Beer Reviews

Publisher's Circle

Bryan-Carey
Houston, TX

add Bryan-Carey to my friends list

Fat Tire Amber Ale: Underinflated and Riding Rough

brand conscious, carnivore, Open- Minded

Pros

Easy to Find

Cons

Little Aroma, Body too Light

APR

2007

Fat Tire Amber Ale is one of the more common examples of the amber style and among all amber ales, this is the one I see most frequently in stores. It can be found in Wal- Mart as well as in a beverage store making it an obvious choice for someone who wants an amber ale and isn't willing to traverse the city looking for one.

Like I stated before, this is a common, easy to find amber ale but as every beer drinker knows, "common" is not a word normally associated with "good tasting"; and in fact, the opposite is usually true. So how does Fat Tire Amber Ale stack up? Looking at this beer in a glass, it is golden in color with a tinge of tan, offering a completely clear body and a head of foam that starts out smooth, but falls apart into a rocky, uneven coating with large bubbles. The aroma isn't very strong but what little is there reminds me of biscuits. The appearance could be described as acceptable, but nothing more.

This beer is decent tasting and it offers a fair level of complexity with flavors that include toasted malt, caramel, bread, and some chocolate in the middle. The hops don't kick in until late in the finish and they are not powerful enough to undo the overall sweet taste. They offer a slight sensation of bitterness along with a slight taste of apples, but this is quickly pushed aside by an aftertaste of sweet malt.

Fat Tire Amber Ale is certainly not a bad beer but it is also far from being the best amber ale I have ever tasted and the main flaws lie in the light to medium body and the lack of much aroma. From the start, the weakness of the aroma is a disappointment because, unlike some of the better amber ale, there is no enticement to take a sip. But the biggest letdown is the taste. I like the chocolate, the toasted malt, and the caramel biscuit flavors, but the taste sensations are too short lived and the body of the beer a little too easy drinking. I have heard many people sing the praises of this beer and I am puzzled to figure out why. It is okay, but there is nothing great about it. Sure, it is more interesting and better tasting than other easy to find beers like Coors Light and Budweiser, but that isn't saying much if you think about it.

Overall, Fat Tire Amber is about as middle of the road as a beer can get. It is a solid three- star beer all the way, with a taste that isn't bad, isn't harsh, and isn't bitter, but also isn't particularly memorable. It ranks among the most average beers on the market, both amber and otherwise.

Last edited on Sep 26, 2007