Jason McGlone

It took some doing, and a couple weeks to orchestrate a meeting, but I was able to procure a bottle of New Belgium Brewery’s Fat Tire Ale.  Quite a story, really.

Many, many months ago–no.  That’s not it.

A friend of mine–let’s call him Wes (since that’s his name)–got in touch and told me that I had to try this beer, since it’s not sold ’round these parts.  I agreed, and after some back-and-forth weirdness wherein I had trouble getting over to his place to pick the beer up, I was finally able to stop over this past Friday and snag one of his last bottles.  I felt honored.

Seriously.

Apparently, the closest place that New Belgium ships beer is something ridiculous, like the edge of the Mississippi.  I didn’t look this up, and I probably am not going to, so correct me if I’m wrong.  There are a few places in Chicago that carry Fat Tire, but they have to pick it up from somewhere and drive it back to their respective places.  Wild shit, right?

So Wes’s soon-to-be ex-roommate (or something like that) was able to procure a couple cases during a recent trip, and therein lies the story of how a fine, upstanding citizen shared a beer with me.  What a guy.

I went home and immediately cracked the beer.  I was admittedly a little scared of it–mostly because I expected it to be good, despite not typically liking “amber” beers, or even ales in general.  Nonetheless, I poured the beer into a pintglass and out came a nice-looking, nice-smelling beer.  So far so good.

First drink: Tasty.  Smooth.  Tastes like a beer should, really.  I’d say that it’s more or less close to a pilsner, but with lots of bite in the finish, just to let you know what you’re drinking.  This is a very drinkable beer, and I’ll be doing what I can to get my hands on more in the (hopefully) near future. ARE YOU LISTENING, PEOPLE FROM CHICAGO AND ST. LOUIS?  Email me for my address.

On the crap-to-superb scale, I’d put New Belgium Brewery’s Fat Tire Amber Ale at a firm Very Excellent, which is just below a shaky superb.  Like I said, I don’t know where you can get it, but I heard that The Handlebar in Chicago has it.  I ate there this past summer, and didn’t know to have a pint.  I’m a douche.

Ed. note: If you’re interested in writing a beer review or two every week, get in touch.  I’d like to post more reviews every Friday, but don’t have the time to write more than two a week.  We can discuss format & other requirements later.  Thanks!