What's all the buzz over Fat Tire?

Agree on some--notably Sierra Nevada's Ovila line, Boulevard (which I personally place on the level of Ommegang and Allagash), and Lost Abbey. These are all on the level. But many of the others don't have nearly the footprint of New Belgium. And distribution matters, too.

It's true that quite a few breweries make exceptional beers, but to carry that to scale is another matter.

 

I agree, but I didn't think we were talking about limiting to those who have wide distro.

 

Me too, thanks! I feel more at home in California, you know. Nice tan women, beautiful weather with no snow, fast cars, and ofc, and world class beer. What more could I ask for!?

But seriously though, if you took offense to something I said, don't forget that everyone has different palletes and expectations when they walk into a brewery or taproom. Colorado and Wyoming was not my thing. Might be for you and that is great! Rock on man! But I will pass. Sorry.

 

Even as a beer geek I enjoy fat tire, I think it's a nice amber and just like Boston Lager sometimes you get a craving for a familiar flavor and nothing else will do. It's available at every grocery store and gas station around so it's not too difficult to track down, but it's funny to think that there's such a buzz about it and people actively seek it out in areas without distribution. As for people leaving your bottle shop when they can't find it, the last time I was in Total Wine I saw no less than 10 people leaving with only Keystone, Coors, etc.

 

You're right, we probably weren't. But it seems worth noting. I'm not trying to praise New Belgium to the stars. But I would say that there's a lot more to the brewery than Fat Tire. It took a while even for me to appreciate that fact.

 

LOL to the OP! I work at a beer store in WNY, and I get asked about Fat Tire at least 2x week. I agree that it is about what's scarce locally, not what's good

 

You seem a bit too tightly wound. Relax, don't worry, have a brew.

Sure, if that was what I went to get. That's not a behavior restricted to beer purchases, either. Do you always buy something anyway when a store doesn't have what you were looking for? It's not really that strange.

A couple other thoughts (many repeating what others have said):

It may be the case that certain beers lend themselves readily to serving as gateways for people trying beer. However, it is ridiculous to pretend there is a category of beers that are only gateway beers as if they are some lesser category of quasi-craft beer.

I think hype was a strange choice of words, but it is not surprising a lot of people ask for it. It is a very popular beer. A lot of people like the way it tastes. It is widely available around the country so people are exposed to it and then try to find it near them. It's not really that befuddling unless you start with the preconceived notion that people shouldn't like Flat Tire.

Personally, I really like Flat Tire. I don't drink it all that often, but it is definitely among the beers I pick up on occasion just because I feel like having some. I don't think of it as a lesser beer than other beers I regularly buy.

 

Agreed. Like I said, I do dig La Folie and La Terroir (especially the latter, which is comparable but not as good as St. Gilloise). Abbey is a really tasty Belgian, 1554 is very good as well, and Fat Tire is great in spring and autumn. They're a solid brewery that serves as a great bridge to craft and a good fallback when in craft wastelands (Ranger is sometimes the only IPA around). Plus the pricepoints on their sixers are very friendly.

 

It tastes better if you can't get it.....I'll admit that I did drink a lot more Fat Tire when I only got it from my brother from NC. I still think it is a solid beer if the mood strikes me, but now that I can get it here in OH it just seems like there are so many other options that I want to try instead. I'm sure my tastes have changed a bit too, but now any time my brother comes in I have him stocking me up with Hop Drop N' Roll and Jam Session from NoDA.

 

I've seen plenty of Fat Tire (and other New Belgium brews) sitting on normal room temp shelves across the nation.

 

no idea its just a decent pale ale. nothing great about it. IMHO

 

Fat Tire sales allow all the other beers to be made. We don't have to drink it, but it serves a purpose.

 

I remember trying it and really digging it when I was living in Colorado but that was when I was just getting into beer and I moved back east shortly after. I was down in New Orleans this past May and had one (to go! Great fucking city!) and was very underwhelmed. But its definitely a gateway and a not very offensive beer to give to the BMC crowd.

 

Buncha assholes here! Why would you disparage people for their beer preference(s)?

 

New belgium makes some great affordable beers. In the early 2000's fat tire was a solid easy drinker when there wasn't much out there in that category besides wheat beers. When I lived in fort collins I will say that they weren't even my second favorite brewery in town, but they have released plenty of stuff that is well worth trying.

 

Cuz they have commercials and people who don't know shit about craft beer just know they want it.

 

The snobbery permeating this thread is ridiculous.

Fat Tire is an excellent amber, at least to my taste buds. I was always happy, excited even, to be able to have a few pints whenever I left the NYC area, even after I had "graduated" to more complicated craft brews. I am sure that happy memories about trips out west or a desire to have what isn't readily available both play a role in Fat Tire's popularity in NY, but the fact that it is an excellent, sessionable, and reasonably priced beer don't hurt either.

 

Wait till one day until hops aren't cool anymore and malted barley is.

This beer will be back!!

 

Best comment I've heard in awhile. Several years ago this seemed to be the beer of the pretentious. Look at me I'm drinking Fat Tire, wearing Birkenstocks, driving a Lexus, what evah. I think it was a passing fad.

 

When New Belgium was newly distributing to MI about 2 years ago, I tried one, and it went over with a resounding "meh." That said, I do like most other NB brews.