The longing to bring Fat Tire Amber Ale from New Belgium Brewing to the East Coast has been a phenomenon for as long as I can remember. It seems that everyone has a different story to tell about the first time they experienced Fat Tire.
I was at the poker I lost. What I can tell you is that I went on a mad hunt for Fat Tire when I arrived home – only to find that it wasn’t available. What a bummer.
Fast forward to last Labor Day weekend. My husband and I took a road trip to Atlanta, GA, where we jumped from beer store to beer store searching for new brews to try. Eventually, we stopped by a beer store on the SC/GA border. Not only did they have Fat Tire, but there was Ranger IPA, too. Huzzah! We bought two cases of each. It’s true – people go on a quest for New Belgium.
The DC area has been anticipating the arrival of Fat Tire since early spring and in August I was invited to a New Belgium release party at Piccadilly’s Brew Pub in Winchester, VA. I’d soon enjoy the taste of Fat Tire once again!
Guests mingled with members of Premium Distributors Virginia as well as local restaurant and beer shop owners. I really like talking to distributors about rolling out new product, and the team at Premium buzzed with the excitement of bringing New Belgium to the area.
We enjoyed these New Belgium brews:
Fat Tire Amber Ale (5.2%ABV)
New Belgium’s flagship beer; this biscuity, malty brew coats your mouth with the feel of comfort food and leaves the taste of refreshing hops behind. While its popularity is evident, Fat Tire is a must-try for any beer lover.
Hoptober Golden Ale (Seasonal, 6.0% ABV)
Of all the brews we tasted, Hoptober was a crowd pleaser among our group. I felt that the name “Hoptober” was a little misleading as this wasn’t the “hop head” beer I was expecting. With a blend of five hops and four malts, Hoptober presents a really hoppy, citrusy nose but has a smooth, malty flavor and a clean finish. It also has a really creamy feel in your mouth. This golden ale is very easy to drink, very accessible and is truly a great end-of-summer beer.
Ranger IPA (6.5% ABV)
With three pounds of hops per barrel, Ranger IPA is one of my all-time favorite IPAs. And at 6.5%, it’s relatively sessionable. Ranger has a bold hoppiness that is amplified by pale and dark caramel malts. Ranger goes down smooth and is a great beer when you need something bold and refreshing.
Trippel (7.8%ABV)
New Belgium’s Trippel Belgian Style Ale is made in the same spirit as the trippels produced by Belgian monks. This yeasty brew is almost a meal in a glass. The Trippel presents with lots of banana both on the nose and in the flavor, but is very drinkable for a Belgian-style beer. Next to Hoptober, this was the beer our tasting group enjoyed most.
As of August 22, “bombers” (22-oz.. bottles) of Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA and Hopotober Golden Ale are available in area bars and retailers. New Belgium will also be releasing their “Lips of Faith” series on draft shortly. This rollout will consist of:
Clutch (9% ABV)
Created in collaboration with hard rocking Maryland band Clutch, this dark, sour ale combines dark chocolate, coffee and black malts with the tartness of dark wood ale.
Kick (8.5% ABV)
This collaboration between the creativity of Kim Jordan of New Belgium and Dick Cantwell of Elysian resulted in a ruby-hued, slightly sour, pumpkin and cranberry ale.
Prefer a six-pack? By the end of the year, you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite New Belgium brews in 12-oz.. bottles! Wendy Willis, owner of Cristina’s Café in Strasburg, VA, exclaimed, “I’m looking forward to introducing the beer enthusiasts in the northern Shenandoah Valley to another great Colorado craft beer!”
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Now the third largest craft brewer in the US, New Belgium produces seven year-round beers: Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases.
New Belgium takes a unique approach to sustainability and employee involvement that they refer to as a “High Involvement Culture.” Forty-three percent of New Belgium is owned by the coworkers through an “Employee Stock Ownership Plan.” Employees are part of business planning and decision making concerning the overall brewery direction. New Belgium also opens all of its books to coworkers and provides financial training so people can understand New Belgium’s business goals. In 2010 the brewery produced a little more than 660,000 barrels of beer, which is up about 12 percent from 2009.
In order to meet its sustainability goals, New Belgium utilizes technology like an on-site Process Water Treatment Plant, which cleans their production waste water and establishes energy for the brewery. Solar panels were installed on the roof of its packaging facility that provides the facility with three percent of its power. The brewery also bought into the City of Fort Collins’ Wind Program. It is the single largest subscriber to the program and has its own turbine. For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.
Whether you’re new to New Belgium beer or are anxiously awaiting the arrival of your old friend Fat Tire, give these beers a try. Any choice is a great example of a quality American craft beer created by a brewery that truly cares about its products, its employees and its impact on the environment.
