Fat Tire Amber Ale - New Belgium Brewing

DrewsBrews450

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Copper color with a nice fluffy white head good laceing. Sweet butter biscuit, slight bit of hops for the smell. The taste much like the smell biscuits with sweet butter carmal malt, slight hoppy finish. Mouthfeel is kinda thin but no biggie for this amber ale. The one thing I like most about this amber ale is the sweet butter biscuit that it does so well that many other amber ales don't have. it makes it a little more then just caramal malts like most amber ales.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 23:15:53 | More by DrewsBrews450

wvsabbath

West Virginia

3.48/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Serving Type - Bottle

Appearance - Copper tan/brown, Creamy 2 inch foamy head and tons of lacing.

Smell - Amber malts, caramel, added sugars, Some mild hops, bready/biscuit nose.

Taste - Pretty much right on flavor for a standard amber ale, malts are biscuit and caramel. Light floral hops add some minor bitter/dryness. Some added sugars and spices add some flavor.

Mouthfeel - Light malts coat the tongue along with some spices. Palate gets some sugars and more malts. The finish is weak and dry. The aftertaste is malty and a little hoppy.

Overall - Decent, very light, mild flavored, a good summer beer, or a great alternative to coors, or bud. The price is excellent, 7.99$ a 6'er. Nothing special, just a soild easy to drink beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 20:49:46 | More by wvsabbath

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

3.34/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

(bottle with 07 Jul 2013 best by)

A: Westvleteren-style bottle.... clear, gold liquid... copious, lasting, frothy off-white head and sudsy lace... real pretty

S: like candied peaches or fruit cocktail that were sitting out for a couple hours, oxidizing

T: like jelly/syrup... caramel-topped angel food cake, caramelized flowers... way too "wort-y", way too sweetish, kinda diaper-y

M: fullish on the palate...the cottony carbonation lends a little lift to it... actually a bit laboring sip to sip

O: brings the label "Belgian Amber" to mind....not all that appealing.... couldn't drink one again

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 19:08:23 | More by Bouleboubier

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

"Fat Tire Amber Ale's appeal is in its feat of balance; toasty, biscuit-like malt flavors coasting in equilibrium with hoppy freshness. Named in honor of a storied bike ride through Europe, Fat Tire cruises with Belgian imagination and inspiration. Take it for a ride! Brewed in the style of an Amber Ale. Date on bottle is May 19 2013. Available in 6 packs, 12 packs and Folly pack selections. Fat Tire has become New Belgium's staple beer and developed a devoted mainstream Craft drinker's following.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a Fat Tire pint glass. Served north of 54º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a light frothy head of an off-white tone over an orange-amber body with high clarity and standard carbonation. Retention is average and lacing is light and spotty. Not a bad appearance overall, just a little shallow on head quality. 3.5

(Smell) Lightly sweet toasted biscuit caramel malts, with a touch of husky bitterness with a mild floral hop and a pinch of citrus character. Balance is slightly sweet over bitter. Potency is mild/medium. Very clean aroma overall with an accessible lightness in the aroma. Not really blown away by it but it's appealing. 3.25

(Taste) Light biscuity cereal malts, a touch of toasted caramel grain on the finish. The malt bill is complimented by a floral, earthy hop character for a moderate dry finish without a dominant hop flavor. Sweetness is a touch more reserved and light, so the balance is a bit better, but the combined flavor is light throughout for a high drinkability and has a touch of toasty malt body for some depth and character. 3.5

(Mouthfeel) Texture is slick, light with a subtle buzzy carbonation, a very mild grain sweetness and a dry finish accented by a mild alpha hop blend. Body is light/medium for the style and light/medium overall. Alcohol presence is light. Texture and carbonation is very good for the style. 4.25

(Overall) A drinkable, session Amber Ale. It's probably the most mainstream example you can find, and it's not too bad. Despite a light body, there's a pleasant toasty caramel malt character and a matching floral hop note for a nice balance. It's a good Amber ale choice for those who enjoy a mild, drinkable ale with a good balance and character. Fills in the gap well between the more adventurous styles. 3.75

New Belgium Brewing's
Fat Tire Amber Ale
3.58/5.00

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 02:01:17 | More by Jadjunk

kshizzle101

Washington

4.05/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

22oz bomber into pint glass

A - clear amber in color, 2 inch white head, strong retention. good lacing

S - bready/biscuit malts, slight bit of caramel, kick of hops

T - caramel and biscuit is big, but the hops balance it out nicely. well balanced but not overly complex

M - med bodied, a little dryness to it, not a bad thing though,

Overall - above average amber, well balanced, gets the job done, very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 01:57:41 | More by kshizzle101

bennett_loves_good_beer

Wyoming

3.11/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Pours a medium amber with little head and decent lacing. Not much aroma at all. Can smell a little bread but that is about it. Taste is malt forward with a hop finish. This is definitely a well balanced beer that many can enjoy. Not too malty and not too hoppy. Not my favorite style of beer but definitely something I will drink with little complaint. An above average amber ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 00:12:48 | More by bennett_loves_good_beer

Florida9

Illinois

3.44/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A: Amber in color. Clear. Visibly effervescent. Forms a very attractive, fluffy white head that has great retention. Moderate lacing. A good looking beer.

S: Aroma is rather malty. Caramel malts with a light mix of earthy and herbal hops.

T: Taste is similar. A strong blend of caramel malts, biscuit, and peanuts. Creamy. Finish is smooth. Very light grassy hops.

M: On the lighter side of medium in body. Slight tartness. Mild bitterness.

O: Okay, so this isn't the greatest beer, but it is a fairly ubiquitous offering that is far better than BMC. Plus, at $3.99 for a bomber, the price is hard to beat.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 22:36:57 | More by Florida9

jbjohnso

South Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +25.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Deep red/Orange-ish.

S: Bready and Malty, almost verbatim as the brewery's description per my lack of imagination.

T: Biscuity as the label suggest, but in addition, I would suggest maybe even buttery. It's not too far a stretch to suggest, because we think butter when we think biscuits. I mean that in the best possible way. Because I'm a homebrewer, this is normally a taste I would try to avoid. For this beer though, I love it.

M: The only thing I would suggest is a slightly higher amount of carbonation, but that's just me.

O: I've not been one for food and drink pairing in the past, but I would suggest trying this with angel food cake; it works quite well; make sure it's with strawberries. This is an easy go-to beer because A) it's tasty B) easy to find in grocery stores and C) it works for me any time of the year. I definitely recommend this to beer geeks like myself and those transitioning from"beer" and what beer can actually be: tasty.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 00:00:46 | More by jbjohnso

tomakeanend

California

4.69/5  rDev +29.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

My favorite go-to beer. Excellent flavor, full-bodied, and great however you take it (can, draft, bottle). Whether you need something refreshing for a hot summer day or a nice accompaniment to a fine meal, Fat Tire is the kind of brew that is appropriate for every situation.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 02:03:09 | More by tomakeanend

emyers

Illinois

3.26/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

12 oz. bottle poured into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a very slightly hazy amber-gold with a half-inch white head.

Smell: Toasted biscuits and a little bit of caramel malt. Smell is predominately bready. Pretty simple, but that is to be expected.

Taste: Similar to the smell. Very biscuity/bready, with a touch of caramel. Maybe some raisins if I dig really deep, but once again there isn't a whole lot of complexity here.

Mouthfeel: Light-bodied, medium carbonation. Very drinkable, but could benefit from a little more body.

Overall: For what it is, it's a solid beer. Just don't expect anything spectacular. I consider this to be something of a "gateway beer" to craft beer, and it doesn't hurt that you can find it in most bars that don't carry much other than BMC.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 01:48:26 | More by emyers

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.64/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

This beer was served from a bottle at the Sundeck on Aspen Mountain in Aspen, CO. It arrived in a pint glass, glowing a golden pumpkin orange. It held a two finger head of copper-brushed foam, resembling the body of bubble bath. This showed nice retention, leaving a quarter of an inch of thick foamy lacing. Carbonation appeared light, but solidly present, with no haze or sediment noted. The aroma gave toasted pale and amber malts, light metallic adjuncts, sweeter raw barley, and big grassy hops that were more crispy drying than juicy With warmth came peanut nuttiness, vegetal sprouts, toasted graham cracks, and overripe bananas. Our first impression was that the flavoring was very toasty and biscuity, as advertised, but the adjuncts definitely shone through. As we sipped, the flavor opened with bittered pale malts and ambers, as did the nose, with metallic bite off the bat. Mixing in were white flour adjuncts, and milder grassy and herbal hops. The middle peaked with a deepening of earthiness, with dried tree bark, green stick hoppiness, and a continuation of those pale malts. The finish came with light vanilla and milky creaminess, effectively breaking up that standard, even graininess. The aftertaste breathed of toasted pale malts, buttery sweetness, mineral, baker’s yeast, light adjuncts, coppery metallics, and big mustiness. The body was lighter, and the carbonation was medium to high. The mouth was coated with wet, watery foaminess, with eventual light dryness once it finally dissipated. Each sip gave nice slurp, smack, cream, and froth. The abv was fine, and the beer drank decently.

Overall, what we liked best about this beer was the bitterness through the flavoring, due to both the grain and the hops. Neither really acted to steal the show, but both helped to box out those comparatively unpleasant adjuncts. The nose, comparatively, was weak, but did improve with warmth. This beer is a classic for the style, but its basic nature leaves you searching for a bit more.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 03:39:39 | More by TheBrewo

acevenom

Louisiana

3.73/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a glass mug. The beer pours clear amber with a thick, off-white head. There are abundant tiny bubbles rising in the beer. The beer smells like toffee and bread crust. It also smells a little nutty. The taste follows the nose. It's a mild flavored beer with slight toffee and nice bread crust flavor. There's a touch of nuttiness as well. The body is light with moderate carbonation. There's a light aftertaste and this beer is highly drinkable. This is a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 01:13:31 | More by acevenom

JordonHoltzman

New York

3.69/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

2013 Louisiana Commemorative bottle.
Clear amber color with a cream colored foamy head that fades to a thin layer.
Amber nose of candy caramel with sweet floral notes. All well balanced.
Crisp taste of malts that seem roasted that wasnt as prevalent in the smell at all, followed by caramel.
Well carbonated and crisp. Good mouthfeel.
I love ambers and this is a good one. Very drinkable and especially great for spring.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 03:33:56 | More by JordonHoltzman

bmwats

Louisiana

3.59/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 650 ml bottle into a footed tulip.

A: Medium-light brown. Pours about a 1 finger, foamy, brown-white head. Settles fairly quickly, leaving a thick blanket of foam. A bit of spotty spider web lacing. Remaining head eventually dissipates completely, but renews fully with each new pour.

S: Malt, almond, pecan, molasses and raisin. All very-well balanced.

T: Woody malt. Cardboard-y character. A little pungent peat and bitter pecan shells.

M: Sappy feel, pungent throughout.

D: Not much resistance. This is a full flavor, well-balanced, session style brew.

Atmosphere is pretty good. Shallow hue, solid foamy head, and only slight lacing. Nose is a great combination of malt, nut, and sweet components. Very well done. Flavor has a papery wood and nut character. Pungent aftertaste. Overall, this is a good quaff.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 00:58:23 | More by bmwats

MShirokov

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

The others have described the taste well.
This beer won't give you any kind of "religious experience" but on a hot summer day it's perfect to quench your thirst.
I had it a few days ago at a golf course with a light snack (honestly it was either Fat Tire or Miller Light, so that was an obvious choice) and found it to be refreshing and a good companion to food.
Yes, it lacks flavor a bit, but sometimes you want that.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 13:50:12 | More by MShirokov

MikeAAL

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

This is a very average beer. Definately not the best example of the style.

Red/ amber body with a white head.

Smells a little hoppy, bready and malty. But not much smell.

Watery taste, a little hops and malty at the end.

Light, watery mouthfeel. Heavy carbonation. A dry finish.

Not a lot of flavor with this beer. Wouldn't buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 18:43:59 | More by MikeAAL

Immortale25

Florida

3.44/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Can supplied by SatlyMalty. Poured into a snifter. Bottom of can says 06 JAN 13.

A- Pours a medium amber color with a 1/2 inch cream colored head that retains very well before becoming a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a sheer coat of surface foam. Slick lacing leaves a solid ring behind on the glass.

S- Sweet aroma with faint hops and biscuity pie crust-like malt. Tinge of alcohol.

T- Pretty standard amber ale profile. Bready, light alcohol, kiss of hops, easy to drink. Struggling to find more character but it's just oh so basic.

M- Pretty thin, almost watery. Medium carbonation with a body that's lacking substance.

O- Can't really see why this was or is regarded so highly (by average beer drinkers) but I guess that's the point: it's easily accessible from a taste standpoint. Can't say that I necessarily had high hopes for it since craft beer drinkers in the know warned me it's not all that, but it's kind of a letdown all the same. C'est la vie.

Serving type: can

04-02-2013 02:10:47 | More by Immortale25

sam_bliss

Washington

3.13/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

My rushed pour yields an enormous frothing off-white foam-head. As it settles a bit, lacing is already evident. The color is classic red-copper of an American amber. Smells fruity at first, roasted malts and hay come through at second whiff. The taste is more subdued than the smell, a bit of black malt is thrown into the mix of bready and caramel. Some mellow grassy and spicy hops mingle with the mild red fruitiness. The mouthfeel is medium or even light, but leaves a coating on the roof of the mouth nonetheless. Carbonation is understated like the flavor.

I am a bit biased against Fat Tire, because I have always thought it was overrated. Obviously not the best of New Belgium's offerings, but I did my best to review it impartially. Not my favorite amber, which isn't my favorite style.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 03:35:36 | More by sam_bliss

TabletDude

Pennsylvania

3.11/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The waitress told me it was a Belgian Ale, and although it had a hint of Belgian characteristics, I found it to be wanting in fullness of body and taste.
I see that it is classified as an American Amber Ale and agree that is a more fitting description.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2013 21:41:46 | More by TabletDude

Hopinista

Nevada

3.61/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: Light amber, slight orange hue.

S: Bread, bread, and bread. This has a very malt-forward smell. Just the slightest hint of anything remotely hoppy.

T: Roasted malts are the dominating taste here. It does have a biscuit-like taste to it (just like the label says.) There is almost no hop presence here.

M: This is where the beer really shines, it's surprisingly light and carbonating for being so malt heavy.

O: Not my favorite beer ever, I like a lot more hops than this beer offers. To me one of the most redeeming qualities is that out of the beers widely available at restaurants, bars, and gas station etc, this is one of the better options, especially since I don't drink (anything) from macros. The other thing I think Fat Tire has going in it's favor is that it's extremely sessionable. It's ironic that I absolutely love Ranger and 1554, but the original is somewhat lacking.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 07:52:56 | More by Hopinista

orcsinspace

Virginia

3.23/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

This was "the" beer to be seen with in my neck of the woods last year, although I often wondered if anyone was drinking it. On paper, this is a great beer. In presentation, this is an excellent beer. In truth though, the taste I find sub-par.

The color is amazing, the head pours nice (I poured from a bottle), and there is some really light lacing down the side. However, I find this beer much too earthy tasting for me, and while it is decent, it is defiantly not one that I will try again anytime soon. To me this beer tastes like someone went half and half with a Michelob and a Yuengling Traditional, and I am not really crazy about either. I will admit that the taste does mellow out if you drink several of these, but I find that with most beer too.

Fat Tire is basically like having a friend that is a body builder, and when you get him to help you move you find out that it is all superficial and he sucks at using his muscles in a realistic way--it is a let down. I feel like if they spent more time on the beer rather than the label art and the advertising, this would have been better. I expected more out of New Belgium, because I generally like their beers, but the Fat Tire offering that I had reminded me that not every microbrewery can be Sierra Nevada. Man, I should go and get some Pale Ale to wash this earthworm flavor out of my mouth...

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 18:37:03 | More by orcsinspace

HopsGoblin

California

3.33/5  rDev -8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

The first time I tried this beverage I hated it, good thing I reserved judgment till now. This amber ale has grown on me as of recently. I sampled it a few months back after I took a long hiatus from tasting it that first time.

I would say it is above average in all aspects except appearance. A good basic go-to, but nothing exceptional. Value is decent as well when compared to similar styles.

If I was to drop in a random gas station I would not hesitate to grab a sixer of this.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 04:19:44 | More by HopsGoblin

Rast

Maryland

2.79/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Served ice cold at Matthew's 1600 in Catonsville, MD, so I gave her a few minutes to warm up for proper consumption & rating. The appearance has a pleasant golden amber hue. Inoffensive, but nice enough to look at. Nose was lacking. Malt, I suppose? This is a beer, correct? Taking my first sip, the carbonation gives way to runny ale seething abt my teeth. I felt provoked to swallow. Taste is OK. Inoffensive. Medium-grade malt flavor with light hop under/overs. I can't figure why this beer is the flavor of the spell, but it's a serviceable enough upgrade over mass-produced lite beers. You can do better.

Serving type: on-tap

03-21-2013 01:55:46 | More by Rast

laramis

South Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a pint glass

A: poured an amber color that was on the orange side there was a finger sized head white in color that did not last to long, little lacing.

S: somewhat sweet perhaps a citrus note, some malt and bread as well

T: malt and biscuit a distinct roast flavor is present there is also a cereal and grain taste there as well

M: Light in the mouth, drinkable but not watery, there is a very distinct bubbly body to it, it goes down smooth

O: it has a full taste that is enjoyable and rich but it is very drinkable not weighing you down after one or two it is not the best beer in the world but it is a solidly good one. you dont have to regret drinking it because it is so precious you were saving it for an event instead this is a beer you can enjoy again and again.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 19:43:00 | More by laramis

Cyrion

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into a nonick pint, I was surprised at how unlike an amber ale it seems. A clear, medium gold appearance instead of the red I was expecting? And what's this, no carbonation bubbles rising from the bottom at all! Still, it presented a nice frothy head with complex lacing, which I found delightful.

Aroma was sweet and biscuit-like. I detected a slight orange hop tang, but nothing more than a hint.

Taste was a rich, sweet malt. It brought to mind oatmeal cookies. That bakery taste was unmistakeable. A slight cocoa flavor was also present- I shall be interested in learning the malts used. A slight hop flavor was noticed at the edges of the tongue, but remained hidden for the duration of the quaff.

Mouthfeel was of medium body and only slightly chewy. Went well with the bakery flavors presented by the malt.

Overall, a delicious first foray for me into the New Belgium lineup. The flavors were uncomplicated, which may disappoint those looking for far more character than I was seeking. I'm still not sure I'd call this an amber/red ale, but I found it delightful.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 00:07:52 | More by Cyrion