Fat Tire (1991-2022)
New Belgium Brewing Company

Fat Tire (1991-2022)Fat Tire (1991-2022)
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From:
New Belgium Brewing Company
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.6 | pDev: 14.72%
Reviews:
2,195
Ratings:
9,425
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 19, 2024
Added:
Oct 07, 2000
Wants:
  281
Gots:
  2,956
Fat Tire Amber is the easy-drinking Amber Ale born in Colorado from New Belgium Brewing Company, a certified B-Corp.

See: Fat Tire Ale for the relaunched/reformulated version.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DaPeculierDane:
Photo of DaPeculierDane
Reviewed by DaPeculierDane from Wisconsin

4.32/5  rDev +20%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
One can gather a good account of this beer's qualities from other reviews so rather than be redundant I'd like to share a story, which I hope will show just how special this beer is.

I first had the Fat Tire in June of 1999 at a graduation party in Chicago. Around 8 O'clock that evening with some friends arrived with several dozen cases in the back of their dodge. It turned out that they had driven to some place in Missouri the night before to stock up on the brew for the occasion.

I immediately fell in love with the stuff and was disapointed to learn that it was unavailable anywhere in my area. I asked my "buddies" if they would sell me a case, and despite having literally hundreds of bottles of fat tire they all exclaimed no. That was just the beginning of my experiences with Fat Tire hoarders.

After moving to liberal Madison three years ago, I was happy to discover that many of the city's Yippie types keep a tire or two lying around for special occasions. Even these typically generous folks, however, wouldn't share much with me, "the fat tire's to prescious man. get you own man."

I put an end to that last month, though, when I picked up a good quantity of Tire in Colorado Springs on a road trip. Refusing to sucomb to the meiserly ways of those who introduced me to the beer, I have sworn to give it away freely and to any who appreciate a solid brew., although perhaps sometimes with a price.

Last week I made my friend Thomas, one of those yippie types that I was talking about earlier, clean my kitchen for a Tire. Despite the grime build up in the sink, and the rotten potato that was sprouting a virtual tree in the corner, Tom thanked me for the brew and offered to help paint my garge for a similar payment in the future.

To date, I can not think of single other beer that so many people will drive so far and go to such great lengths to obtain. Sometimes beers just have a quality that go beyond taste, and they are those beers that become the thing of legend.
Apr 03, 2004
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by Mickeyharris from Alabama

Feb 19, 2024
 
Rated: 3.75 by chicagoish from Pennsylvania

Feb 18, 2024
 
Rated: 3 by AbeO

Dec 23, 2023
 
Rated: 1.99 by rexdeopp from Texas

Nov 24, 2023
 
Rated: 3.59 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Nov 07, 2023
 
Rated: 5 by Zachboyd3334 from Indiana

Jul 29, 2023
Photo of EdwardGallegos
Rated by EdwardGallegos from North Carolina

4.84/5  rDev +34.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Used to be the gold standard Amber Ale. Now it’s just garbage. Sad, RIP old homie.
Jun 26, 2023
Photo of Hmmmmm
Reviewed by Hmmmmm from Florida

4.59/5  rDev +27.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5
Harkens back to a time in America when beer was just tipping off into the GLOBO-SPHERE. Microbrews were new. Imports were great, but this was OUR version.
May 29, 2023
Photo of Reedtimothy
Rated by Reedtimothy

4.6/5  rDev +27.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
A classic. RIP
May 28, 2023
 
 
Rated: 4.5 by headfullofacid from Maryland

May 01, 2023
Photo of burnstar
Reviewed by burnstar from Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
Pours a nice clear amber with a good sized persistent head. Nice caramel malt smell. Taste is rather watery. Toasted malt again. Pleasant. Very drinkable. A good session-able summer beer.
Apr 30, 2023
Photo of UWDAWG
Reviewed by UWDAWG from Washington

3.55/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle marked enjoy by 4/30/23 into a tulip glass.

Look- Pale amber, white frothy head, clear, scant amount of smell visible particulate, above average lacing and head retention.

Smell- Barley, floral, wet grass, earthy, weak strength of scent.

Taste- Biscuit, barley, earthy, medium strength of flavor.

Feel- Medium body, average carbonation, moderately creamy, moderately bitter, crisp finish.

Overall- Found an in date bottle of the original recipe and I couldn’t resist revisiting this beer, that I served at my wedding in 2005, one last time. Look was pale amber with above average head retention and lacing, but I had expected it would be deeper amber. Bouquet was malt heavy with some wet grass character. Flavor was also malt forward with medium strength and some earthy notes. Feel consisted of medium body with moderate bitterness and creaminess. This beer provided me with a sentimental trip down memory lane. I would not be motivated to buy anymore of this should I see it, but it was nice to have the opportunity to say my goodbyes.
Apr 18, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by db9000

Apr 10, 2023
Photo of bspainhour
Rated by bspainhour

4.53/5  rDev +25.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Nice smooth taste even as it warms.
Apr 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3.94 by TP2MSU from Michigan

Apr 03, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by leinie13 from Ohio

Mar 24, 2023
Fat Tire (1991-2022) from New Belgium Brewing Company
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 9425 ratings