The New Belgium brewery produces a lot of different ales. Most of them do not make their way to Kentucky. I've always been anxious to try their beers. Recently Fat Tire Amber Ale has found it's way to a local beer store near me.
Unfortunately, it is the only offering to find its way here. At least as far as I have found. I bought a 6-pack based on positive reviews alone.
I'm now 4 beers into that 6-pack, over a 4 day period. This is my opinion of this beer thus far. It is easy drinking. This would be a great beer to use as a "gateway" beer to turn BMC drinkers on to better beers. It's very good, in an unremarkable way. It is an excellent example of an amber ale. I don't want to take anything away from it for that. It's good, it's very good. But it doesn't ring any bells. It doesn't stand out, it doesn't make any statements. It is simply a very good basic amber ale.
Reading online, it is often considered a very good example of a hop-forward American Amber Ale. I don't get that. It isn't hop forward in the least. If, perhaps you are comparing it to BMC brand A or B, then yes. It is hop forward, at least when compared to BMC brands. When you compare it too other brands of American Pale Ales, it still manages to shine. Mostly because most American Pales are still rather bland by large. Even then, it fails to make any statement.
In the end, is this beer a poor beer? Oh, no. It's very good. It just isn't anything amazing or new. In fact, it isn't even bad. It's good. Just don't expect anything life-changing. Don't expect it to be a beer that sets any new standards. What you can expect is a solid American Amber Ale that is easy for BMC drinkers to appreciate. In that may even be the marketing goal of New Belgium. At least I would like to think that is their goal.
While it doesn't appeal to me, I'm sure there are plenty of beer drinkers it does appeal to. After all, my tastes are far removed from the average beer drinker. With that in mind, I think New Belgium brewery is being realistic and smart in their offerings.
It I was heading a brewery, it would only be barleywines.
Unfortunately, it is the only offering to find its way here. At least as far as I have found. I bought a 6-pack based on positive reviews alone.
I'm now 4 beers into that 6-pack, over a 4 day period. This is my opinion of this beer thus far. It is easy drinking. This would be a great beer to use as a "gateway" beer to turn BMC drinkers on to better beers. It's very good, in an unremarkable way. It is an excellent example of an amber ale. I don't want to take anything away from it for that. It's good, it's very good. But it doesn't ring any bells. It doesn't stand out, it doesn't make any statements. It is simply a very good basic amber ale.
Reading online, it is often considered a very good example of a hop-forward American Amber Ale. I don't get that. It isn't hop forward in the least. If, perhaps you are comparing it to BMC brand A or B, then yes. It is hop forward, at least when compared to BMC brands. When you compare it too other brands of American Pale Ales, it still manages to shine. Mostly because most American Pales are still rather bland by large. Even then, it fails to make any statement.
In the end, is this beer a poor beer? Oh, no. It's very good. It just isn't anything amazing or new. In fact, it isn't even bad. It's good. Just don't expect anything life-changing. Don't expect it to be a beer that sets any new standards. What you can expect is a solid American Amber Ale that is easy for BMC drinkers to appreciate. In that may even be the marketing goal of New Belgium. At least I would like to think that is their goal.
While it doesn't appeal to me, I'm sure there are plenty of beer drinkers it does appeal to. After all, my tastes are far removed from the average beer drinker. With that in mind, I think New Belgium brewery is being realistic and smart in their offerings.
It I was heading a brewery, it would only be barleywines.