Note: This is a series I call Caveman Beer Reviews, because I like to drink beer but am a caveman when it comes to beer knowledge. I know only the basics, and do not have a refined palate. I’ll review the beers on price and what they look, smell, and taste like to me.
Beer: New Belgium Fat Tire Belgian Style Ale
Bottom Line: A dark-ish, hearty brew with malt and chocolate notes. I really liked it.
Price: About $13.49 for a 12-pack of 12 ounce bottles*.
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Details
Knowing of my fondness for trying new brews, my wife bought this as part of a big beer sampling she got at the wonderful and quirky Trader Joe’s. I had no idea what to expect, but would up very pleasantly surprised.
Origin: Colorado and North Carolina, USA. Not Belgium.
“Old” Belgium
Alcohol: 5.2%
Looks: A cool, hipster-ish looking dark glass bottle with a drawing of an old-school bicycle on it. The beer itself is brown.
Smell: Somewhat malty smell.
Taste: This was a great beer. I found it to be medium-to-full bodied, hearty without being too bitter. It had a malty taste, with notes of chocolate.
Frankly, I would have liked it to be a bit more bitter, since I enjoy bitter beer. However, I can’t say that there was anything wrong or unpleasant about it; it’s more a matter of personal preference.
The Fat Tire was quite gaseous, and light enough to be refreshing and easy to drink.
Hangover Factor: Normal for a non-light beer; nothing unusual. I’m a male in reasonably good health born in 1983.
Final Thoughts
I really liked the Fat Tire, and found that it strikes a great balance between taste, body, and bitterness, with pleasant chocolate notes. It was slightly expensive, though, so I would not buy it every day. (My price target for beer is about $1 per bottle).
*This is the price for the company’s Amber Ale; the price for the Belgian-Style Ale was hard to find.
I live just down the road from New Belgium in Colorado! They’re a good brewery. If you ever get the chance to try something from O’Dell’s (also right down the road from New Belgium), go for it. They use way more hops in their beer and have lots of interesting flavors. I’m not a huge hop fan myself, but O’Dell’s brought me around.
I would love to try O’Dell’s; I’m learning about new beers and flavors all the time. I try to get to Colorado as often as I can, so I’ll keep them in mind. Thanks for the tip!