Fat Boy
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery


- From:
- The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
- North Carolina, United States
- Style:
- Baltic Porter
Ranked #166 - ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #24,259 - Avg:
- 3.85 | pDev: 12.21%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 18
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 28, 2025
- Added:
- Jan 13, 2013
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 21
When it comes to making fresh, flavorful beer, we say go big or go home. That’s why we created Fat Boy, OMB’s “biggest” beer. But as rich and bold as Fat Boy is, it also nimbly covers a lot of tasty ground, blending sweet, malty notes of caramel, toffee, and chocolate with subtle hints of prunes and raisins. Fat Boy is a big, bold, and bountiful premium craft beer. There’s just no getting around it.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by jeffdr123 from Florida
4.08/5 rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On tap in the relaxing biergarten in the Charlotte airport. They are right to call it their "big beer." Foamy in presentation, with Christmas fruits in the nose. Not as roasty as some porters, but sweet and a little boozy. Sort of a dessert beer.
Sep 28, 2025Reviewed by Reef from South Carolina
4.24/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16 oz can dated 11/25/24
Clear mahogany with one finger fine tan head. Head quickly settles to a surface ring with scattered surface carbonation. Full curtain lacing.
Fig, licorice, raisin, spice cake aromas.
Raisin, ginger, fig, light roast flavors.
Medium body with light stone fruit and bitter aftertaste. No alcohol heat.
Drinks like a regular porter or dunkel with heightened depth of flavor.
Unique and delicious.
Jan 19, 2025Clear mahogany with one finger fine tan head. Head quickly settles to a surface ring with scattered surface carbonation. Full curtain lacing.
Fig, licorice, raisin, spice cake aromas.
Raisin, ginger, fig, light roast flavors.
Medium body with light stone fruit and bitter aftertaste. No alcohol heat.
Drinks like a regular porter or dunkel with heightened depth of flavor.
Unique and delicious.
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
4.24/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16 oz can from Appalachian Vintner in Asheville, NC ($3.57).
Appearance. Beautiful dark mahogany colored body with high clarity but topped by a fairly weak head.
Excellent, bold version of this style. Exceptionally harmonious and well balanced. Some light smoke in the aroma is barely detectable in the malty flavor. More chocolate and dark dried fruit notes than usual for the style.
Aug 28, 2024Appearance. Beautiful dark mahogany colored body with high clarity but topped by a fairly weak head.
Excellent, bold version of this style. Exceptionally harmonious and well balanced. Some light smoke in the aroma is barely detectable in the malty flavor. More chocolate and dark dried fruit notes than usual for the style.
Reviewed by Apellonious from North Carolina
3.94/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle poured into a tulip glass. A brownish black with ruby highlights and a beige tan head that moves to a rim of lace quickly. Aroma of malt, bread, and some mild roast/caramel. Taste is right in line. Not overly sweet. Feel is medium light for the style, carbonation is medium. Overall, a solid Baltic. Worth a go.
Nov 28, 2023Rated by TheRougeBastard from North Carolina
4.13/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Delicious! Not a malt bomb for sure and the 8% is well-hidden.
Jan 17, 2021Rated by BeardedWalrus from North Carolina
3.77/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A very good beer on it's own merits, but it doesn't represent the Baltic Porter style very well.
Sep 21, 2018Reviewed by Squire from Mississippi
3.84/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.84/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Dark brown color with ruby red highlights.
Aroma of dark toasty malt and dark ripe Mission figs with a light lacing of licorice.
Taste is dark malt with a cola like richness that brings together the malt, figs, licorice elements into a well balanced whole. The finish brings a touch of sweetness that lingers in the aftertaste just long enough to offset the malt roastyness.
Light medium texture with balancing carbonation.
Overall it strikes me as a well balanced take on the style that is also well crafted. The resident Guinness fan believes it could use a bit more flavor but it tastes fine by me.
Jun 06, 2018Aroma of dark toasty malt and dark ripe Mission figs with a light lacing of licorice.
Taste is dark malt with a cola like richness that brings together the malt, figs, licorice elements into a well balanced whole. The finish brings a touch of sweetness that lingers in the aftertaste just long enough to offset the malt roastyness.
Light medium texture with balancing carbonation.
Overall it strikes me as a well balanced take on the style that is also well crafted. The resident Guinness fan believes it could use a bit more flavor but it tastes fine by me.
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!