Brews and Blues Beer and Smokin’ Blues

Fat Tire Amber Ale

I scored another big hit this afternoon at Gail's Hops & Grapes. I stumbled across some New Belgium Brewing Fat Tire Amber Ale while browsing the cooler.  This is a beer that is not foreign to me, but I haven't had it in a long time.  I was surprised to find it in a local shop, so I bought a bottle.  Popping the top and tasting it reminded me exactly why I liked it so much when I tasted it originally in Colorado. 

From the bottle:

Fat Tire Amber Ale's appeal is in its feat of balance: toasty biscuit-like malt flavors coasting in equilibrium with hoppy freshness.  Named in honor of Jeff's mountain bike trip from brewery to brewery through Europe.

Fat Tire is still crafted following the original home brew recipe that Jeff brainstormed on this cycling trip.

5.2% ABV

The equilibrium mentioned on the bottle, in my opinion, is one of the greatest points about this beer.  A lot of amber/red ales that I try are a bit on the hoppy side, but since I prefer the balanced approach to this style, this beer sits on or near the top of my favorites list for amber ales.  I actually like this beer more than Ft. Collins Brewery's Retro Red, and I really do like the Retro Red a lot.  Colorado is definitely known for its beers, and I hope to make a trip out there sometime in the near future to attend one of the Great American Beer Festivals.  It probably won't be this year but I intend to be there in 2010 for sure. 

I also picked up another top shelf brew at Gail's this afternoon, so stay tuned for that one.  I have a mid-term on Thursday so I really shouldn't be drinking anything this week, but the top shelf will probably appear before Sunday...