Fat Weasel Ale - Steinhaus Brewing Co.

UCLABrewN84

California

2.85/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a murky honey orange with a 1 inch foamy tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of toasted malt and sugar. Taste is of toasted malt, burnt sugar, and some medicinal and herbal flavors on the finish. There is a weird and somewhat harsh bitterness on the palate that lingers after each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty average beer with a weird finish but I am glad I finally tried this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 04:17:33 | More by UCLABrewN84

TMoney2591

Illinois

1.85/5  rDev -37.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Served in a Dogfish Head shaped pint glass.

I do enjoy the random finds at the local TJ's. This one pours a clear brass topped by a finger of lightly-off white foam. The nose comprises flowers, mild orange rind, lemon peel, and a very faint hint of caramel. Once things hit the tongue, pain begins. Something akin to a mixture of balsa, vinyl, mandarin orange syrup, and cotton candy is the only way I can describe the taste. What's worse, though, is that this melange instantly made me grimace in mild pain. Seriously. Boo this immediately. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta smooth feel. Point are deducted for the pain, though. Overall, I could not stand this beer. I'm not sure what it is, exactly, but it hurt me deeply. I feel traumatized by this bottle...

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 22:53:30 | More by TMoney2591

zeff80

Missouri

3.25/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a clear, bubbly, pale gold color with a foamy, white, two-finger head. It left minimal lace.

S - It smelled of caramel and alcohol. There wasn't much else.

T - It tasted of caramel malt and some boozy alcohol. It was very sweet and rich.

M - It was soft and smooth. A medium bodied ale.

D - This is an interesting beer. Classified as an American Strong Ale, it seems to fit. It's fairly strong and boozy but not very hoppy so it fits as a strong ale.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2009 00:06:14 | More by zeff80

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.38/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours from the bottle with a tan colored head that rises to three-fingers in height. The beer is a brilliantly clear, copper color that shows a rich gold hue when held up to the light. The aroma is quit malt focused with notes of biscuit-like malts, toffee and some crushed cracker notes. A touch of fruitiness and a light herbal note round things out for this soft nose.

Lightly sweet tasting and fuller bodied than I was expecting; it coats the mouth a bit and is on the chewy side for a beer that I was expecting to be lower in alcohol. There is also quite a bit more hop flavor and character than I was expecting; this has a solid herbal note to it, a noticeable grapefruit like hoppiness and a solid, lingering bitterness in the finish. Toasty malt note contribute soft caramel flavors, biscuit-like grain notes and a very soft nuttiness. The hop character seems to fade a bit after a while, and it becomes a bit more malt accented. There is a touch of alcohol warming in the finish as well.

Another Trader Joes beer that is far better than I was expecting. The aroma is a bit bland, but this is packed with a surprising amount of flavor; the strength of this beer obviously helps as I was expecting this to be around 4% and not the 7.2% that it is at. Not quite something that I can see myself buying again, but if handed this at a BBQ I would be quite content.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2008 02:14:58 | More by Gueuzedude

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

2.78/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This beer poured out as a typical amber color with a light tan colored head on top. the head doesn't leave much in way of lacing. The smell of the beer is a malty and a bit hoppy. The taste of the beer is a little all over the place. I have a hard time figureing this one out. I think it's hoppy and it's got malts in there too but there is other stuff that I can't grasp. The mouthfeel wasn't as thick as I was hoping for and overall I feel it's just an average brew to say the least. Wouldn't seek this one out again.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 03:31:35 | More by Knapp85

barleywinefiend

Washington

2.53/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Picked up from Trader Joes and it was a mistake..
Poured a deep gold, nice head, fair lace and carbonation. Mild malt on the nose, hints of hops but nothing overbearing. Taste is smooth, a mild hint of malt giving it a sweet feel and a bitter hop finish. Well this brew didn't do much for me, kind of one dimensional at best. Looks good but looks can be deceiving...

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2008 22:29:13 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Cloudy, golden yellow color. Thin head, no lace.

Fermented honey aroma. Strong lactose smells as well. Strong vanilla with a touch of lemon.

Some citrus featuring a noteable sourness. Orange/lemon. Very dry for the style. Some surprising hop bitterness shows up in the swallow. Highly carbonated, with a moderate body.

Here's another unusual brew that defies description from the style. Interesting enough to try, but non-descript enough to pass on the second offering.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2005 01:11:34 | More by smcolw

Jason

Massachusetts

3.08/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz brown long neck bottle with no freshness date or info about the beer or brewery.

Sufficient lace, fluffy and off white … the retention is good also. Hazed pale amber golden colour.

Fruity, alcoholic esters and sweet residual malt dextrin aroma.

Chewy and slick body, spicy alcohol with suggestions of cinnamon and black pepper. Sweetness is abundant underneath the alcohol, flavours of honey and dough biscuit come to mind. Fruitiness is of ripe golden raisins and pears. Faint solvent like character. Hops are there but lost in a way as they through down a bitterness and leave. Warmth from the alcohol increases and a residual sweetness in the finish.

The higher alcohols are a bit too much to handle and throw the brew off balance, add the sweetness to this and it drops a drinkability even lower. Not a horrible beer at all but just not something I’d go back to anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2002 17:34:49 | More by Jason

Zorro

California

3/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a clear gold brew.

Smell is mildly malty and some piney hops. Mild honey smell here.

Taste is mostly malt with a sharp hop finish. There is a bit of caramel taste here. Clean finish.

Mouthfeel is OK.

Drinkability is OK. A 3 X 3 Brew. Not bad, not great.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2004 04:59:49 | More by Zorro

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

2.95/5  rDev -1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Trader Joe's exclusive. I remember when this stuff was made in Minnesota I think. Now its CA. Golden pour with plenty of haze. Mild aroma, almost yeastyesque.

Taste, yeah, slight belgian yeast feel to it, not like it has a bunch of clove or banana, but otherwise it seems to be more of a belgian ipa than a strong ale.

Just kind of a yeasty, low hop, average bitterness beer, malt profile is unremarkable, doesn't contribute anything, doesn't offer anything specifically to the taste. Really kind of a weird conglomeration of nothing that stands out. Not thick, not hoppy, not really all that bitter, no roast, just kind of a hodgepodge batch.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2011 22:11:41 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Gusler

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On the pour a cloudless amber color and the head portly in size, somewhat creamy in texture, the color an off white as it dissolves, the lace formed is a fine sheet to conceal the glass. Nose is citrus crisp and malt sweet, pleasant to the senses with the start malt sweet, top is a bit thin. Finish has a crisp acidity, the hops noticeable but not overpowering, very dry and a drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2003 22:43:53 | More by Gusler

kojevergas

California

2.78/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Acquired at Trader Joe's. 7.10% ABV confirmed. "Brewed by River Trent Brewing Company, Ukiah Ca". Curious. 355 ml/12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard uncustomized pressure cap served into a New Belgium stem-goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are low.

Served straight from the refrigerator. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a half finger beige colour head of decent cream and thickness, and bad (maybe 30 second) retention. Body colour is a murky dark peach-copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Muted orange and tangerine. Banana from the yeast. Bland pale malts. Underwhelming. No yeast or alcohol is detectable.

T: Malty, with some orange fruit-esque notes. Tangerine. Mild floral hopping. A simple, straightforward beer. There's nothing unique or special here. Little balance.

Mf: Smooth, artificial, wet, and overcarbonated. Sharp. Thickness is decent. Suits the flavours okay. Pretty hands-off. Not at all tailored to the flavours.

Dr: Drinkable but underwhelming. It's well priced but I wouldn't get it again. Might be alright on draught. Not worth seeking out. There are some good elements here and the alcohol is well hidden, but it's far from great.

C

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 05:58:11 | More by kojevergas

Dogbrick

Ohio

2.95/5  rDev -1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Orange-amber color with a very thin off-white head and very little lacing. Light caramel malt aroma. Thin-bodied with astringent hops and alcohol at the forefront with not enough malt to balance it out. The finish does contain some sweetness but the underlying bitterness throws the whole thing off. Overall this is pretty much the same quality as the other Trader Joe’s beers I have tried.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2004 20:52:30 | More by Dogbrick

mactrail

California

3.58/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Rich and strong like a light bock but a little deeper on the hops. Looks nice in the chalice, amber color with a decent head. Pleasant in the mouth with a robust body. Tastes stronger than it is. Sharp edge with a big hint of candied fruit. Long aftertaste with bitter hops, almost a Belgian raspiness. Some dark flavors like burnt raisins and toast.

I don't know why so many souls hate this stuff-- it would be the greatest malt liquor on the planet if you bought it in a flashy tall can. I'd blind taste this with the Dogfish or the Rogue malts and see who comes out best.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2011 05:06:30 | More by mactrail

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.15/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Aroma is fairly strong and malty, not complex but still inviting. It pours a nice clear golden amber with a fairly thick though not persistent white head. Flavor is malty, a little crisp, slightly fruity and slightly bitter. Texture is smooth, somewhat thick and just a little tingly. Not too shabby.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2009 18:27:48 | More by Cyberkedi

ccrida

Oregon

3.13/5  rDev +5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

BA note, Trader Joe's markets this as a beligan style tripel, not a American strong ale. I believe it is their house brand, $4.99/6 pack, although you can buy them as singles.
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass, the fat weasel is bright gold and crystal clear, with a tall white head that quickly faded to a fairly thick surface skim. leaving moderate lace.
The aroma is strong and sugary, and also a grassy/grainy aroma that reminds me a lot of any marco Pils, a la bud. Actually, the appearance is much like them as well.
Unlike the aroma, the taste is more grainy then sugary, and continues the macroish parallels, although there is a definite mark of belgian yeast esters, but it is overwhelmed by the straw flavor. The finish is clean with only a mild, macro aftertaste, a bears the only indication of the ABV, neither mild nor overbearing.
The mouthfeel is pretty light and has a high level of effervescence
The drinkability is moderate. This taste is not great, nor terrible. It went down easy enough, and has some heft that would catch up to you more quickly then you realized. It's price is probably it's greatest attribute, and it consequently tastes like a cheap belgian style tripel, which is the style comparison I'm basing my rating on.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2007 02:47:39 | More by ccrida

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance- Pours a modest hed with decent retention. The color reminds me of a pretty pils but with less lacing. Petty golden in color. More akin to a belgian blonde ale but more pale.

Smell- Very dry snuff of dandelions and subdued hops. Not a lot of character.

Taste- starts out with some macintosh apples,braedy malt and hops with some old barn hay. The finish is a crisp whip crack of citrusy hops and ethanol alcohol. Don't ask how I know what that tastes like.

Mouthfeel- Pretty crisp, but not as refreshing as the color might suggest. A mix of medium hop bitterness and alcohol. Not that the alcohol is overpowering, but its presence is undeniable.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2006 04:33:17 | More by scruffwhor

TheLongBeachBum

California

2.15/5  rDev -27.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Presentation: Single, picked up from Trader Joes for 75 cents. 12 fluid ounce bottle with a strange looking label that depicts a rather obese looking weasel that appears to wearing some kind of blue blanket and a sun hat, that also has a Beer Glass that looks remarkably like a BA Mug – is the Fat Weasel a secret Mug Club Member that we do not know about?

Appearance: Pure lucid gold body, very clear, very pale, thin white head cap that laces the glass well. Little carbonation – I check for a freshness date, there isn’t one.

Nose: Sugary hints mixed with an orange fruit aspect.

Taste: Raw and unbalanced, straight off the bat this is just not a very appealing beer at all. Sweet with a raw grain feeling that is bloody annoying. The sickly alcohol level reminds me of Chevy Chase as the archetypal American tourist in the film National Lampoons European Vacation – hopelessly high profile, utterly lost and attracting unwanted attention.

Mouthfeel: Jumbled, high alcohol, and sweetness are mixed in a fruity mixture that has some redeeming features – they do eventually fade away completely and are easily forgotten.

Drinkability: Sickly and unbalanced, took me a while to finish the 12 ounces. Not something I would want to try again.

Overall: Sadly a rather negative review, which is not usually my style, but its hot and humid tonight in Long Beach, and like this beer, I cannot be bothered to be coherent.

Boy, I am *really* glad I was not tempted to pick up a Six-Pack of this!!!!

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2003 05:22:06 | More by TheLongBeachBum

Tone

Missouri

2.63/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a clear, golden yellow. 1/4 inch head with slight retention and no lacing. Smells of a lager with some sweet malt and possibly some adjunct. Fits the style. Has a sweet malty flavor with a lager background. There is a nasty kick to this beer (similar to vodka), a strong puckering. Overall, this beer started out with some potential and then quickly went down hill until it ended up with that nasty sour kick.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2008 00:50:56 | More by Tone

beertunes

Washington

3.13/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Another TJ's bargain grab. Strong Ale? Seemed more like a typical Pale to me, but, whatever. Poured into 9oz Pilsener glass. Poured a lightly hazy medium gold with less than 1/2 of off-white head that had good retention and lacing.

The aroma was an even blend of malts and hops, nothing stood out, kinda bland. On the tongue, there was some light citrus and pine hops on top of the gently grainy malt. The beer was decently balanced.

The body was nicely medium-light. Drinkability was OK, it was quickly, and forgotten almost as quickly. Overall, nothing special, but an OK bargain buy.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 02:42:43 | More by beertunes

kylehay2004

Florida

3.05/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: half finger head with tons of circumferential lacing on a cloudy deep gold and amber body.

S: full nose with a subtle bitter and wet sock hop like aroma. breads and grains as well.

T: lots of bread and grains with some malt in the background. a mildly sour lemon note in the finish.

M: fuller body than I expected. moderate carbonation. Unfortunately there is a slightly sour lingering aftertaste.

Overall: Lots of "almosts" for this one. The flavor up front is good but forgoten by the sour finish. The fuller body is erased by the off-putting aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 21:50:32 | More by kylehay2004

bluejacket74

Ohio

2.58/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Served in a pint glass, the beer pours a golden/orange color with about an inch white head. Not much in the way of smell, it just smells like grain and some sweet malt. It tastes like sweet malt, alcohol and some grassy hops. Mouthfeel is medium and a bit slick. Drinkability isn't too good, the alcohol is too noticable for me since there isn't much other taste to this beer. I don't think I'll try this one again anytime soon, I'm just glad I bought a single bottle of it instead of a six pack.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2007 01:19:59 | More by bluejacket74

GClarkage

California

2.78/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

March 2005- Purchased at Trader Joe's in San Francisco, CA

Amber pour with small white head. Malty scents. Very sweet and malty taste with a bit of nutmeg or something. Goes down fairly easy, but not one that I would need to try again. There are better ones at Joe's.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2005 17:37:18 | More by GClarkage

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +26.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a crystal clear golden colcor with modest white head. Poor retention but nice sticky lacing.

Smell is light, almost to the point of non-existant.

Taste shows a nice fruity sweetness. The is enough hop presence to balance the malt weel. The alcohol is so well hidden that I could not believe it is 7.1%.

Imparts a lingering sweetness that leaves a pleasant taste in the mouth.

Well done beer, way too easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2008 21:05:51 | More by tgbljb

beerguy101

California

3.28/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Medium gold color, large head. Medium bodied ale. A malty and hoppy ale, malts slightly sweet. Fairly aggressively hopped. Nice balance. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is smooth and clean. Aftertaste is a little bitter. Taste is a trifle thin, but still a decent beer. Tastes more like a Pale Ale or an Amber.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2003 04:01:21 | More by beerguy101