Fat Tire - New Belgium ditches classic recipe

[Airborneguy]

I left it there. Ugh.

 

[Pennine]

When I buy Fat Tire, I expect it to be the same beer that it used to be. For those of us who don't keep up with the recipe changes, I feel that the breweries should either give the new version a new name or make it clear on the packaging that it has been changed. Otherwise, it's a bait-and-switch.

This is my feeling exactly, this will be the last thing I ever buy from New Belgium. They used to be one of my favorites back in the day too. I also think Bell's is on the way down too, same owner...

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

I also think Bell's is on the way down too, same owner...

meh.

With regard to home brewing, as of today, Bell's General Store (link) has for sale

• home brew kits for the beers they brew and sell
• their "house yeast": Imperial Yeast A62 Bell's House Yeast
• "Select Hops" : from the web site (link) "These are the same hand-selected hops we use to make our own beers in the brewery."

Which is basically what Bells' General Store was selling before the merger.

 

[mac_1103]

their "house yeast": Imperial Yeast A62 Bell's House Yeast

Have you used it? Just wondering how important it is since they basically say that US-05 is an acceptable substitute.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

Have you used it [Bell's House Yeast]?

Not yet.

---

shifting the topic slightly:

I have brewed with their "Select" hops in the past and enjoyed the difference. For me, it's probably time to order from "them" (Bell's General Store) again.

YMMV.

 

[mac_1103]

I have brewed with their "Select" hops in the past and enjoyed the difference.

So you've brewed their kit with their hops and US-05? Because that's what I'm thinking about doing soon.

 

[Pennine]

Have you used it? Just wondering how important it is since they basically say that US-05 is an acceptable substitute.

I have, it's more of an English yeast than US-05, it's a good one too.

No idea about their home brewing store, the actual beer though, specifically 2 hearted has changed a bit this year, it's has that sweet malty thing going on all the time, I loathe to say oxidation but similar. Although that could be a hop year or even a distribution issue.

 

[hout17]

meh.

With regard to home brewing, as of today, Bell's General Store (link) has for sale

• home brew kits for the beers they brew and sell
• their "house yeast": Imperial Yeast A62 Bell's House Yeast
• "Select Hops" : from the web site (link) "These are the same hand-selected hops we use to make our own beers in the brewery."

Which is basically what Bells' General Store was selling before the merger.

This was the same sentiment that was expressed about New Belgium after they were purchased that nothing would change and in fact be better. Huge misnomer it's only a matter of time for Bells better get it before things change.

 

[Airborneguy]

Seeing the new Fat Tire for the first time today really broke my heart. I’m going to really focus on perfecting a clone now. It’s sad.

In silent protest, I’m drinking a screwdriver out of a Fat Tire shaker I bought at the brewery on a tour.

 

[bracconiere]

Is there spelling error in the thread title?
Didn't you mean to write Flat Tire [...]

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

This was the same sentiment that was expressed about New Belgium after they were purchased that nothing would change and in fact be better.

meh.

Over the past 5+ years, I have order occasionally from Bells General Store.

When Bells was purchased, I saw a reduction in what was available to purchase at the General Store

Recently, at the General Store, there has been a return to much of what was available before the purchase.

And the web site "look and feel" appears to have been "refreshed".

To me, this suggests a continued commitment to home brewers.

Huge misnomer it's only a matter of time for Bells better get it before things change.

Things are always changing.

Enjoy the moment.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

So you've brewed their kit with their hops and US-05?

I have brewed with the "Select" hops (centennial, cascasde, golding), but not the kit.

 

[Langerz]

Well that's a bummer. My next brew after getting back from vacation was going to be a Fat Tire clone. Now how am I going to know if it's close?

 

[wdavis2003]

Gotta love 'carbon neutral' branding. Isn't that just recycling their CO2? What about the rest of their energy consumption? You can definitely tell they are trying to attract the younger crowd.

 

[ncbrewer]

Gotta love 'carbon neutral' branding. Isn't that just recycling their CO2? What about the rest of their energy consumption? You can definitely tell they are trying to attract the younger crowd.

They might be referring to the solar power - see this article: New Belgium Brewing adds solar to North Carolina facility

It includes this: "New Belgium Brewing has a goal to become net-zero by 2030. It's flagship Fat Tire beer became America's first carbon-neutral beer in 2020, the company said."

 

[redrocker652002]

Very disappointing, just like when Lagunitas sold out to Heineken. I have also heard that Bear Republic has sold out to Drake's. I have not had many beers from Drake's so I am not sure what to expect, but damn Racer 5 was my go to. I still like RR Blind Pig, but the supply has been limited here. I am going to try and do a Racer 5 clone again and see if I can get close. Too bad, I wanted to go check out their brewery.

 

[Langerz]

Local store had one last 12 pack of the OG so I grabbed it for a comparison. Not sure how fresh it is or will be by the time I brew my clone but it’s something

 

[mashpaddled]

I had the new recipe last week. It's...fine. It still has some of that biscuit malt taste but it's toned down and a less interesting beer. I tried it out of curiosity but I bet I'll buy it as often as I did the old recipes these days, which is once every few years. Fat Tire was one of the few craft beers I could find regularly for a long time when I first got into beer where I lived. I've drank a lot of it but don't tend to pick it up anymore.

I wonder if this is just a marketing move to try to get people excited about Fat Tire. According to their market research Fat Tire was still a huge seller before the recipe change. I could see them running this recipe for a year or so and then bringing back the old one like public outcry made them do it. NB tried to break out Fat Tire as a string of beers like Voodoo Ranger with a lot less success. I wonder if this is an attempt to refresh the whole brand concept.

 

[Airborneguy]

I ordered the ingredients today for the fat tire clone, but I probably won’t get around to brewing it until late April.

 

[Pennine]

I can't believe I have like 16 left to drink of both versions... They are just sitting in the back of the fridge like the 5 cans of sunny little thing and shiner holiday cheer. How do I get suckered into these things?

 

[3 Dawg Night]

I had the new recipe last week. It's...fine. It still has some of that biscuit malt taste but it's toned down and a less interesting beer. I tried it out of curiosity but I bet I'll buy it as often as I did the old recipes these days, which is once every few years. Fat Tire was one of the few craft beers I could find regularly for a long time when I first got into beer where I lived. I've drank a lot of it but don't tend to pick it up anymore.

I wonder if this is just a marketing move to try to get people excited about Fat Tire. According to their market research Fat Tire was still a huge seller before the recipe change. I could see them running this recipe for a year or so and then bringing back the old one like public outcry made them do it. NB tried to break out Fat Tire as a string of beers like Voodoo Ranger with a lot less success. I wonder if this is an attempt to refresh the whole brand concept.

I tried it on Sunday, and this was my take: it's "fine." It's a very non-descript beer now. There's nothing that sets it apart.

I wonder if New Belgium is going to go "New Coke vs. Old Coke" on us in a year or two.