Fat Tire Amber Ale - New Belgium Brewing

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

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

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

Fat Tire pours a clear amber color with a small, frothy white head on top. The foam dissolves quickly leaving behind a netted pattern of lace on the glass.

The aroma is malty with caramel with a touch of pale malt and a touch of rye. Some light fruit (apple) and a touch of grassy hops.

Each sip of this light to medium bodied beer is creamy with light carbonation. The flavor is malty with a touch of spice. Caramel malt and bread dominate, possibly rye. A little fruityness in the middle with a moderate grass and pine hoppy bitter finish. Once gone the bread and grass bitterness lingers on the palate.

This is a tasty, easy drinking beer. A bit more malty than I expected. Have to thank a friend for giving me a can from a recent trip to the mid west.

Serving type: can

10-09-2012 23:24:20 | More by WanderingFool

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

16 oz can poured into a New Belgium globe.
22 JUL 12 on bottom of can.

A - Steady carbonation streams from the glass' nucleation point, through the clear, gorgeous amber beer, to the frothy off-white head. Retention is rather poor, but plenty of lace remains caked to the glass.

S - Deeply earthy, Fat Tire has always reminded me of a musty fall day after a rainfall in a lot of ways; crisp, cool air, damp leaf piles, and wet rock. Toasted malt notes emerge behind the extremely earthy hop aroma for a good level of balance.

T - The earthy aspects the nose offers follow through to the flavor incredibly. Mulch pile and damp leaf with a wet rock-like finish that doesn't so much remind of hops or malt, just a unique earthy flavor - one that I'm really not a fan of.

M - Medium-light bodied, Fat Tire, with it's moderately higher carbonation level, is crisp on the tongue, biting at the throat in conjunction with dryness on the finish leaving a rather refreshing lingering bitterness post-swallow.

O - New Belgium's Fat Tire has made quite a name for itself, building the brand by leaps and bounds. It's popularity has allowed New Belgium to do unique and different things with beer, and for that I'm grateful but, I'll be honest; I really don't care for this beer. I strive to be as objective and style-focused as possible when reviewing beer; in the end, I just don't think Fat Tire is very good. The combination of malt and hops in this beer doesn't showcase either of the two ingredients, rather, it leaves a lasting impression of just plain "earthy". It's damn consistent though, and that takes some serious skill. If people didn't like it, New Belgium wouldn't be where they are today.

Serving type: can

07-31-2012 22:08:06 | More by BeerFMAndy

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Light amber with a lively carbonation. Head is white and drops to a thin, spotty cap. Some wisps of lacing cling to the glass. Clear.

Smell: Biscuits and flowers. Very much a floral hit. Almost like rosewater at times. Big, chewy, sweet malts. Caramel malts and something akin to caramel candy. Bright citrus backing. Bready. Runs the gamut from dough up through crust. It's an edible experience. Toasted grains add a nice depth. Mild roasted profile. Almost fruity...ripe cherry?

Taste: Toasted and roasted. Clean grain profile upfront. Malts run sweet and drop big caramel notes, almost hitting toffee. Mega toasted. Bread all up in this thing. Dry crust and fresh-baked goodness. Mild fruitiness wrapped in a delicious doughy exterior. Nice roasted profile keeps things from getting stale. Some pale malts as well. Gritty.

Mouthfeel: Moderate body with a solid carbonation. Smooth and a touch gritty. Nice to drink.

Overall: This is solid, but not mind-blowing. I wish I had more plentiful access to this as its unique enough to warrant drinking from time to time.

Serving type: can

05-18-2012 01:12:39 | More by Goblinmunkey7

grannaniwa

Massachusetts

2.6/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A little bit of tire/rubber on the nose on a base of malts. Color is a good-looking amber, tending toward golden.

Mouthfeel starts pretty flat, and then picks up from the carbonation. Not much to the taste experience. Some of the same rubber undercurrent. A little bit of bitterness on the second half. Ends with biscuity malts. Flavors start to come together a little more on subsequent sips, but flits away a little too quickly for me. Aftertaste feels like it is stuck in my throat.

Overall: B-

Serving type: can

04-04-2012 01:34:20 | More by grannaniwa

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

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

Dark orange with slight haze, small white bubbly head, and spotty lacing.

Smells of warm, rich, toasted malts, fresh bread and light herbal hops. Mild spice notes and sweetness.

Taste is more lightly roasted malts, hints of honey sweetness, faint floral hop character and refreshing clean spice.

Feel is refreshing and easy. Well carbonated.

Very tasty overall. A nice treat from the West.

Serving type: can

02-15-2012 18:43:33 | More by TheMultiYeast

tvv375ia

Iowa

4/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured from 12oz can into pint glass

A-nice amber color with a 2 finger head that leaves alot of lacing as it fades

S-I get some piney hops with some carmel malts

T-some bready carmel malt with some pine hops on the finish

M-good carbonation with enough hops to cut the sweetness on the finish

O-its been awhile since I had this and it is a good readily available beer

Serving type: can

12-21-2011 01:10:14 | More by tvv375ia

cradke

Texas

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

Wanted to try one out of the can to compare with on tap vs bottle. This review is more a comparison to tap at the brewery.

Appearance: Copper and Amber. Nice thick, fine head.

Smell: Not quite as potent as on tap. Still there but not as malty or pleasant.

Taste: Pleasant and intense malts. Great malt flavors compare very well to the taste at the brewery.

Mouthfeel: More carbonation than from a keg. Still good, but maybe a bit too much carbonation.

Overall: The taste is transferred better from the bottle but right on line with it on tap. Pretty happy and impressed with the taste (bottle vs can vs tap)

Serving type: can

12-13-2011 10:53:07 | More by cradke

Glax69

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

bear with me, I've been on this site for a couple of years but have yet to review a beer.

Saw a super cheap 12pack of fat tire cans at the local grocery store in portland (where I've just moved, from NC and we don't get FT cans there)-- decided to give it a go.

despite its (due) rep. as being one of the most "macro" microbrews, this beer deserves the praise and popularity that has received. It's got a unique characteristic (that I don't know how to put into words) that separates it from any standard amber, and in due time with reviewing beers I hope to be able tell you exactly what that characteristic is!

Overall- a very good, sessionable brew.

Serving type: can

09-04-2011 03:10:54 | More by Glax69

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Woodychandler comed through again with yet another canned beer. Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a golden/brownish color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of malts, a touch of hops. Taste is caramel malts up front, hops kicking in towards the finish. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall is a good quality beer.

Serving type: can

08-27-2011 16:09:14 | More by tone77

rebel1771

Florida

3.9/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a copper color with a nice frothy head that sticks around a long while.

S: Light aroma of sweet malts with a hint of floral hops.

T: Light malt flavor with a bit of sweetness to it. Hops come in at the end add a slight bitter bite.

O: This is a very easy going intro into craft beer. Not to crazy to scare anyone off but pretty darn delicious. It makes me sad this isn't distributed in my area.

Serving type: can

08-12-2011 23:24:34 | More by rebel1771

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It has a dainty amber core and soft-pressed haze, but Fat Tire burns up like it were a lamp. A beer this radiant looks an instinctive accompaniment to hot weather and a thirsty palate, even if it means drinking straight from the can. The staying power of its head and scabrous lacing, however, shows that it's rather deserving of a proper glass (if not chalice).

The beer has a soft, spongy toffee bouquet that is only mildly sweet but supremely appealing. Light fruity esters may develop from swirling but those honey-and-biscuit malts - rather Belgian-esque malts, it should be noted - simply dominate. It doesn't quite lavishly pamper the nose, but it does make sure that it's been properly looked after.

Likewise for the taste: the palate isn't spoiled but it is properly looked after. Biscuit-like malts, modestly sweet with wafer-like overtones, again govern the profile but fruity yeast esters stay buoyant and a stale black pepper taste, err, well, peppers the finish. Earthy, herbal hoppiness may not be that perceptible, but it's been spun in there rest assured.

Fat Tire has a full and wholesome maltiness that is thick enough to gratify without being too thick so as to fill you up. At a modest alcohol strength, there's no telling how many I could have before thinking better about having one more; it truly is an enjoyable, easily quaffed ale. It's no surprise this microbrewery, now America's third largest, has done so well.

New Belgium haven't built their house on sand, they've gone about things the right way: they've made strives for environmental sustainability, social and civic responsibilities, and they've built their reputation behind a solid, reliable, extremely agreeable flagship brand. Fat Tire doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it sure hits the spot on a nice, sunny day!

Serving type: can

07-01-2011 00:30:33 | More by biegaman

rawfish

California

3.6/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from can to NB globe.

Tawny amber colored body with a rocky 3 finger parchment shaded head. Retention falls a little short but leaves some netted lacing all over the glass.

Bready caramel malts, with a touch on honey. Earthy hops balance this out. Some weird aroma like raw pumpkin and a little metallic, a little out of sorts.

Biscuit flavor mirrors the aroma along with some raw grain, honey and mint underlaying. Hops are earthy and do just enough to push back the bready malts to a reasonable level. That unique bready aftertaste is very present but the drink is still crisp.

Average body and carbonation, balance is obviously swayed a little bit towards the malty end but always crisp and satisfying.

Fat tire has that bready/biscuit taste that seems prevalent in a few of NBs main brews but there is a considerable amount of variation based on tap and bottle age. This is the first time I smelt the off aromas, perhaps due to canning. Always a balanced refreshing brew.

Serving type: can

04-07-2011 01:12:02 | More by rawfish

DCon

Missouri

3.78/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed Fat Tire in a Can @ Molly's in Soulard (Downtown) St. Louis, MO and poured into a Pint Glass.
Has 19 JUN 2011 written on the Bottom of Can.

Appearance- Clear Orange in color, Frothy, 4 fingers of Head leaves netting type of lace.

Smell- There is an Amber smell with a great ton of floral hop notes and yeast.

Taste- A mild hop taste up front and then a grainy flavor. There is a light amount of bitterness and fruit as well.

Mouthfeel- Light bodied, medium casrbonation and crisp, smooth like always! Can always count on a Fat Tire to be the same.

Overall- Always refreshing! Always know what it will taste, feel, and drink like. The only other time I've seen Fat Tire in cans was when I used to float on the Comal River in San Antonio, TX. Glad I was able to find this and enjoy! Good beer overall!

Serving type: can

04-03-2011 04:30:11 | More by DCon

SkunkWorks

New York

3.68/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this before in a bottle. This time, I'm getting it in the can thanks to CurtisMcArthur. Thanks for the trade and the chance to try this beer!

12 oz can with a best before date of May 2011 stamped on the bottom. Poured into an Irish pint glass.

Look: clear amber body. A very aggressive pour yields about a finger of off white head with decent retention and a little bit of lacing.

Smell: toasted, biscuity malt with some earthy hop aromas. Compared to the bottle I had, not as strong and a bit more centered on the toasted malt than I remember it being.

Taste: follows the nose with toasted malt being in the forefront and a slight taste of earthy hoppiness. There's not a whole lot going on here except the toasted malt, which is a bit too forward for me.

Feel: thin body, crisply carbonated, and a little sweet.

Drink: quite an easy drinking beer. Since there's not much flavor, you don't have to worry about getting a fatigued palate.

Overall, the can isn't as good as the bottle. There seems to be something different about it... the toasted malt flavor is a bit too forward and its a bit too one noted for me. Stick to the bottle is my advice. I don't know if my experience is common but if it is... New Belgium, clean up your canning operation! Cheers!

Serving type: can

03-05-2011 13:57:50 | More by SkunkWorks

mdunman

Texas

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

A: Clear amber with a good head and some linger

S: Malt, some slight hops and spices

T: Starts with malt and spices then finishes with a slight hoppiness.

M: Medium body with good amount of carbonation

I think there was more hoppiness to this beer than the last one I had on tap. Overall still a good beer.

Serving type: can

02-05-2011 01:10:16 | More by mdunman

morimech

Minnesota

3.3/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The first time I had this beer I was underwhelmed. It was one of my first reviews. Now after a few years and close to a 1000 reviews under my belt. I felt it was time to revisit this beer. This time I got the beer in cans. Amber color with just the slightest bit of haze. One inch of solid head forms and has good retention before settling to a thin cap. Heavy lacing is left on the glass. Still not a fan of the aroma or flavor. But it has nice qualities. Definately on the malty side of the beer spectrum. Has a bready and slightly musty quality. Not much for hop aroma or flavor. It is a lighter beer with low ABV, so the body has enough heft and has a nice texture. Not ever going to be in my regular rotation, but it does drink nice and there is no problem downing a few in a sitting.

Serving type: can

01-15-2011 21:04:39 | More by morimech

depechemode1983

Texas

3.38/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - Pours a clear light amber color, with an off-white head. Good Retention. Not too much lacing going on. There's a few patches here and there.

Smell - Lots of earthy smells going on but is balanced out fine by the hops. This beer has an earthy quality to it. Im picking up fresh bread, some grapefruit and a pine finish. Very pleasing, smells clean.

Taste - The bread is just as strong in the taste as in the smell. The malts give it a grainy taste which is followed by citric hops finish and after taste. Fairly simple tastes in this beer.

Mouthfeel - Light bodied, nice carbonation that tickles the palate. It has a very clean mouthfeel.

This beer is highly drinkable. I could session this one with no problems, and love it. This is a good fall back beer. It is widely available and seems to be a good alternative when there's nothing else but BMC.

Serving type: can

11-25-2010 16:24:59 | More by depechemode1983

isualum12

Idaho

4/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this beer for the first time out of the can yesterday....The greatest part was it was course one of a 5 course beer pairing dinner at the front door in boise. Jamie from NB gave us the coolest presentation on how they can their beers and why it is so damn fresh still. It is actually fresher then a bottle even with the oxy in the can.

This beer is simply a great beer but I tend to carry a headache the next day from this beer even if I only drink one.

3rd largest mico in the US.

Serving type: can

10-23-2010 02:44:35 | More by isualum12

GabrielM

New Mexico

4.33/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've had this many, many times, but never out of a can, so I thought I'd give it a review. Poured into a pint glass.

A - great amber color with nice head and retention. The sight of this beer reminds me of fall, which is just around the corner.

S - combination of malt and hops, some fruit, maybe apricots or cherries, and a very slight bit of alcohol perhaps.

T - on the front are the hops, a tad dry and bitter, but then comes some sweet malt, fruit, bread, and caramel. Finishes very smoothly, not too dry or sweet, but just right.

M - good carbonation, nice balance of flavors, but a little liter than expected when compared to the bottle (which is what I've grown used to).

D - very smooth, not filling, and at a sessionable ABV. As mentioned above, it's liter than I'm used to, but I actually think I prefer this brew out of a can. Will definitely buy again.

Serving type: can

09-28-2010 00:11:59 | More by GabrielM

dwarvenfriend

Montana

2.65/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours a nice head with a nice bit of lacing. Soft golden honey color with a bit of murkiness.

S-Has that yeasty, bread bread smell that overwhelms anything else. Slight hops with almost no malt.

T-The New Belgian yeast continues to dominate, the soft malt comes in more for this one, but even then, this beer doesn't scream amber to me.

M-Very pleasant, soft but complex flavors that allow the beer to sit well.

D-Fat Tire is a beer that I believe is brewed to be drinkable while not being overly impressive in flavor.

Serving type: can

08-21-2010 03:14:57 | More by dwarvenfriend

GregSVT

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz can into a snifter (I started with a heavier stout so I kept the glass the same)

A: Pours a perfect amber with a small head that fades quickly leaving a small amount of lacing on the glass as you drink.

S: The nose is mostly caramel malt and sweet bready grain. Nothing crazy but just plain good.

T: The taste is loads of sweet caramel malt, light toffee, and I swear I detect the slightest coffee flavor...maybe something like a slightly watered down frapachino with a lot of caramel in it (that sounds worse than it tastes).

M: The feel is slightly creamy and medium-light bodied.

D: This has always been a favorite and it's just as good if not better out of the can. If I see this on draft in a predominantly BMC bar I don't think twice about ordering it.

I love this trend of canning beers and look forward to hopefully being able to buy other New Belgium beers in the can in the future.

Serving type: can

08-18-2010 07:40:05 | More by GregSVT

Goliath

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear amber color with a two inch light tan head. There is retention and a nice bit of lacing.

The aroma is fine. There is a swwet caramel aroma with a bit of an agressive hay quality. There is also a faint hop aroma in the background.

The taste is fine. A light hop presence adds a bit of bitterness to the beer. The beer is a bit more malt forward though. There's a nice dose of caramel and again I get a hay like character.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and a little on the flat side. It's kind of dull and lifeless.

Drinkability is fairly high. The ABV is relatively low making it a more sessionable beer. The flavor profile is unique but not overly impressive. I can't see myself draining more than a handful of these without getting bored.

Serving type: can

05-27-2010 23:45:14 | More by Goliath

SamN

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A-Clear and lively. Copper brown color, big, loose foamy head that seems better out of the can.

S- Background of sweeter bread malts, some foreground of fragrant floral hops, but mostly a nutty, maltier aroma.

T- Not super flavorful, a tad biscuity. Bread like malts with crisp citrus twangs. Unfortunately, this taste is rather dry and boring, like a dry biscuit.

M- Pretty lively carbonation, spritzy, Light body, rougher carbonation feel.

D- Not my favorite NB beer of all time. A good introduction to craft beer for those too timid and prone to pants-pissing to try anything with balls. But, this isn't bad, nor it is unoriginal, just a little boring and monotone.

Serving type: can

03-25-2010 19:35:18 | More by SamN

ZeroSignal

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a cooper-amber color wit a somewhat thin white head.

S - Malty nose with hints of sweetness and grain

T&M - Heavy biscuity flavor, grains, very light sweetness and some hops bitterness that smooths everything out nicely. Very smooth with a slight dryness.

D - Very drinkable; I can see throwing a few of these back no problem. Very happy to have had an opportunity to try a beer not available in my area.

Serving type: can

03-17-2010 00:54:57 | More by ZeroSignal