Fat Tire Amber Ale - New Belgium Brewing

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

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

jjamadorphd

Florida

4.24/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Last night while still in California I was able to enjoy yet another great tasting beer - this one with the catchy name of Fat Tire.

The beer has a nice dark golden color that has light and dark highlights that accent quite nicely when candle light catches it just the right way. The head was lightly brown, frothy and had a bit of staying power - there was plenty of lacing the entire way down the bottle. What surprised me was the distinct caramel smell that I found appealing and added just a little to the taste. Mouthfeel wasn't anything spectacular, carbonation was a bit more than I like. Overall it was a great beer, I'm jealous with Californians, they have a very good selection of brews at their local restaurants.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2013 01:35:56 | More by jjamadorphd

Bronks

5/5  rDev +38.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer is one of my favorites from a great brewery with excellent standards. A staple for any place with a craft beer selection! We will be keeping this beer on our list for a long time! We will also be rotating New Belgium's seasonal selections!

Serving type: on-tap

01-18-2013 15:03:26 | More by Bronks

Ford

Texas

4.06/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Berryhill Baja Grill in Webster, Texas

There were only three beers on tap here that I would drink. I hadn't had Fat Tire in a long time, so I went and ahead and ordered one. Great decision!

First let me say, this beer goes great with Mexican food.... really paired well with the Tamales I orderd.. and the black beans... oh and the chips and salsa.

It's malty with a touch of bitterness... amber color....

Every once in a while you just need to revisit a classic.. and Fat Tire has been around for a long time now it seems... one of the first craft beers I ever had in fact... glad I had it again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-18-2013 02:41:36 | More by Ford

gnftr44

4.13/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Slightly cloudy appearance with a uniquely sweet aroma. Smooth taste with a fruity finish.

Very easy to drink and has no negative aspects. Particularly enjoyed drinking the Fat Tire slowly and with a non-spicy meal such as fries.

Overall a solid daytime draft beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2012 20:30:16 | More by gnftr44

Alextricity

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

For MONTHS I've been seeing Fat Tire advertisements around Michigan, and I just finally had one on draft. At $3 for a 20oz, I figured, why not?

Appearance: I feel like it's not even fair to judge a beer on tap because I've just found that any beer will look better when it comes on draft... this beer looked awesome. Had a small, creamy head that went away pretty quickly, but the lacing was great.

Smell: Has a dry, malt aroma. My friends like to say the smell is reminiscent of a "wet trunk". I can't disagree with that, but it's not an off-putting smell to me.

Taste/feel: Much like the smell. I've had a few ambers, and I find this tastes a little bit different. Most ambers I've had have had that "trunk" smell and taste, but Fat Tire's not quite the same. Not a fantastic beer by any means, but it's drinkable and cheap. The feel on this one is probably as good as I think it is because of it being on-tap... smooth and easy drinking.

Fat Tire's a solid beer all around. When left with this or the option of several BMCs, this one clearly wins.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2012 23:26:29 | More by Alextricity

kojevergas

California

3.03/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served on-draught into a pilsner glass. Expectations are average; I'd had it from the bottle before. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a beige floater. Body colour is a semitransparent amber. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Amber malts, caramel, hints of butterscotch? Some biscuit malt. A mild strength aroma.

T: Amber malts, caramel, and biscuit malt. Clean but simple. Pleasant and balanced. Little yeast comes through.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Suits the flavour decently. A touch too heavy on the palate for the lack of diverse or bold flavour. Good thickness. Overcarbonated.

Dr: Drinkable but unremarkable. A good beer for drinking at a bar on the cheap, but it's lackluster. Overpriced at $6.00. New Belgium makes far better beers.

Low C+

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2012 17:41:46 | More by kojevergas

tectactoe

Michigan

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

Pours a copper color, fairly translucent, with a slightly off-white head, thick and fluffy looking, decent retention and a little bit of lacing. The smell is malts, malts, and malts all day. A tiny bit of a floral aroma can be picked up if you really force yourself to find it, but the malts are what smacks you in the face. The taste is quite nice - clearly lots of roasted malts, most heavily in the form of burnt caramel, toffee, and light, milk chocolate. This sweetness is counterbalanced by a subtle, yet apparent hop sting that jumps out about two-thirds of the way through. Slightly piney, the slight touch of bitterness at the tail end leaves your mouth in perfect harmony from the jumbo sweetness of the up-front malts. Medium body, medium to high carbonation, decent mouthfeel.

Very tasty amber ale, I'm glad New Belgium finally brought this product to Michigan. Easy to drink and enjoyable, plus it's relatively inexpensive and is being served at a lot of local places!

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2012 03:19:06 | More by tectactoe

Jangles

California

4.43/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I enjoyed this out of my home Kegerator, drawn on tap at 36* into a frosty mug taken straight from my freezer. It had a beautiful copper color and a three-finger head that made its way onto my upper lip, since I could barely wait to drink it. It was absolutely delicious.

This beer for me strikes a nice balance between the everyday lagers and the heavier ales and craft beers that I enjoy. I love the spices and the drinkability. It is a wonderful Autumn/Winter brew for my Kegerator; it is a substantial enough seasonal offering without being too heavy or over the top.

Many dismiss it as pedestrian, mainstream, or just the gateway to craft beers, but I respectfully disagree. I have a two-tower Kegerator, and it has firmly established a position on one side for the Fall season.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2012 21:11:25 | More by Jangles

chinchill

South Carolina

3.63/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Fall for Greenville Fest.

Pour is amber with a rather orange tone; clear; A small amount of coarse carbonation was visible.

Caramel malts over citrusy hops.

Sweet up front. Balanced mid-taste through the finish.

A well-crafted brew deserving of its widespread appeal (and sales).

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2012 02:56:24 | More by chinchill

claspada

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a light golden brown color with a thin off-white head that dissipates rather quickly and leaves a thin lacing on the glass.

Aromas begin with strong toasted malts and sweetish honey maltiness. As it warms you get some lighe yeasty spice along with some minimal floral hops.

The tastes begin quite malty with flavors of caramel, honey and toasted biscuits. There’s a pretty good floral hop presence that provides a nice balance with the semi-sweetish malt and light yeasty spice notes that emerge as it warms.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. The finish is clean, crisp and smooth, almost creamy.

Overall this is a beer I have had many times and this is the first time reviewing it and enjoying it to be honest. All my previous experiences have been from the bottle so many there was a freshness issue, but this is a suprisingly tasty sessionable American/Belgo-Red Ale. Almost like an amped up American Cream Ale. Would get it more often if it was readily accessable to me.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2012 20:10:22 | More by claspada

NiceTaps

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap in a pint glass.

A-Brown in color with a 1 finger head and decent lacing and carbonation.

S- Earthy and malty, slightly sweet. No hops. This beer lacks any distinct aroma for me.

T- A nice malty flavor,toffee or caramel. The slightest citrus flavor for a bit of balance.

M- medium, good body. It holds up.

O- Not a bad American Ale. I may not be able to nail down all the flavors and aromas, but it drank well.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2012 20:50:09 | More by NiceTaps

Hex

4.28/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Wow... just let me saw WOW! what a uniquely gorgeous beer!

A - sunset burnt orange in color. 1 finger head with heavy density. Nice and cream. Translusent enough to see the perfect amount of carbonation bubbles floating to the top to help keep the consistancy of the head. And B E A U T I F U L lacings! After it sits the fuzzes makes a ring that DOES NOT go away. After each gulp there are rings indicating where the beer was at in the glass and they stay there untill the end of the beer.

S - earthy notes and undertones. very foresty. very roasted.

T - First reaction is that the beer taste like a bonfire. The aromas that emmit from camp fires or char coals was the taste of this beer. very unique and yummy. A must try, to understand first hand the experience of this burnt fire woody beer. almost like bourbon.

M - perfect mouthfeel to make this an almost dangerous beer. medium bodied, with a very clean finish. Did not sit this beer down very long at all.

Overall this is a great beer. One just to be drinking, one for festivities, one for parying, one for good ole times. The name is very misleading of its quality.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2012 06:24:06 | More by Hex

TheRealBigC

Nevada

3.33/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Fat Tire is an odd one for me, because I've found it tastes significantly better in the bottle than on tap. The last couple of times I've tried it on tap there's been a pungent, almost sour foreground to the flavor that I've found off-putting. Otherwise, it's a pretty solid beer which I can understand being a popular name in bars around the country.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2012 00:36:00 | More by TheRealBigC

brewskifan55

Mississippi

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

Enjoyed at the Chili's, Atlanta airport

A: weak tea amber with a frothy, off-white one finger head that lingers. Good lacing

S: citrus, malts, floral, yeast

T: malt, chocolate, oranges, toffee, sweet, a smooth finish.

M: Medium with medium carbonation. Frothy and nice.

O: A pleasant drinker. I see why it's so popular.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2012 19:43:45 | More by brewskifan55

Jsteez

New Mexico

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap in a weizen glass.

A-Dark orange, golden hue, with hints of light brown. White and tan cream head (almost Guiness like)with lacy rings around the edges of the glass. Moderate carbonation.

S-Hints of caramel, toffee, malt,sweet bread and mild hops.

T-A little sweet and dry at first. The aftertaste left a sweetish malty taste that lingered on my palate.

M-A little wet. Mild carbonation, combined with malty sweetness, made this ale a perfect combo with grilled jalapeno shrimp, topped with grilled zucchini and tomatoes.

Overall- This a good brew. It's not the type of beer to have one after another. It's a great complement to good food. It's a New Belgium go-to brew.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2012 02:12:23 | More by Jsteez

TSJ4000

Iowa

3.65/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The reasons why we drink beers we don't love is because they are the best choice at the given location. Fat Tire was the best choice recently and I'll honestly say there is nothing wrong with it. It's a little carbonated for me and it's a little boring for me. I'm always burpy after drinking it. There is so much better from New Belgium but it's Fat Tire that we are always stuck with.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2012 21:46:51 | More by TSJ4000

rangerred

Tennessee

3.7/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap in a pint glass.

Arrived with a one finger off-white head and a clear, medium copper body.

Aroma contained some light caramel and nuts along with a floral hop aroma. It wasn't very strong, though, and I thought there was a slight metallic note.

Flavor was quite nutty and biscuity with floral hops quickly following. A little sweet with a mild bitterness and sticky finish. Mouthfeel could have been a little bit fuller.

Overall a pretty average beer but a step above macro lagers. A great gateway beer into the craft brewing world.

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2012 22:45:00 | More by rangerred

beerman1

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an amber color with a medium sized white color head and decent lacing. Aroma of caramel, passion fruit, nuts, roasted malts. Taste is sweet caramel, nutty and a bit grainy. Not much hops in the taste. Moderate carbonation and medium bodied. Overall drinkability is good if you don't mind the sweet and nutty flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2012 18:00:30 | More by beerman1

jojoluvsbeer

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep reddish orange color with a medium sized off white head and decent lacing. Aroma is rather subdued and mostly of caramel malts and some faint hops. Taste is biscuit and caramel sweetness with some floral hops. Mouthfeel is medium and easy drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2012 23:25:42 | More by jojoluvsbeer

Adam5150

3.63/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear light amber color with a good sized white head that diminishes quickly into a ring. Spotty lacing on the glass. Aroma is biscuit and caramel malts. Taste is similar with biscuit and caramel malts along with a slightly grainy finish. Finishes with a mild bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium to light with good drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2012 23:15:46 | More by Adam5150

blindpiglet

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours clear amber color with a small off-white head that quickly disappears. Some lacing is left behind. Aroma is biscuity malts with some hints of fruit. Sweet bready/biscuit flavor along with some hops to balance it out. Medium in body. Good session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2012 19:07:36 | More by blindpiglet

calicaliente

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear orange-brown with a large, frothy, light tan head that lasted a good while. Fair lacing. Smell heavy caramel malt and light perfume hops. Can also detect a light alcohol/soy sauce odor and actually something very solvent like. Medium bodied with a creamy texture, soft carbonation, and a bitter finish. A long toasted cereal flavor that is lightly sweet and moderately bitter.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2012 15:51:57 | More by calicaliente

paulginva

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

APPEARANCE: This beer, poured from a TAP into a pint glass, produced a 1" creamy white head that dissipated slowly leaving good head lacing. Carbonation was lively in a clear amber body.

AROMA: Moderate malts and light hops.

TASTE: Well balanced moderate malts and light lemony hops.

MOUTHFEEL: This beer had a light to medium body (somewhere in between) with a light to medium texture, moderate carbonation and good body lacing that dissipated slowly. The initial flavor was moderately sweet with a lightly bitter finish that lasted for a moderate length of time.

DRINKABILITY: This was a good session beer. Repeatable, providing good value for the price and easy to drink, it would be a good beer for a hot summer day. It's not very complex but is well-balanced and drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2012 12:39:20 | More by paulginva