New Belgium Fat Tire

New Belgium Fat Tire is an amber ale, and it sits in the biscuity, toasty middle of the style rather than the hop-forward end. Expect a copper-to-amber pour with a modest off-white head, and a nose of baked bread crust, light caramel and a touch of toasted malt. Beers in this category usually land around 5% ABV with low-to-moderate bitterness, so the hops are there to keep the malt from turning sweet, not to take over. The finish is typically clean and fairly dry, with a faint earthy or herbal hop note rather than citrus or pine. That balance makes the beer easy to match with food. The caramelized malt works with anything grilled or roasted: bratwurst, pulled pork, burgers with a good char, roast chicken and pan-seared sausages. The gentle bitterness also copes with mildly spiced dishes such as chicken tacos or a soft pretzel with mustard. Aged cheddar, gouda and other nutty, semi-hard cheeses suit the toasty character well. Very hot or heavily spiced food will outrun a beer of this weight, so save those meals for something with more hop bite. Serve it cold but not frozen, around 40 to 45°F (4 to 7°C). Straight from a refrigerator set near 38°F, give it a few minutes in the glass so the malt aroma can open up. A standard shaker pint or a tulip glass both work. The tulip is the better choice if you want to catch the bready aroma, while a pint suits casual drinking. Pour at a slight angle, finish straight down the middle to build a one-finger head, and leave any yeast or sediment in the bottle only if you prefer a brighter pour. A six-pack gives you enough to share across a cookout or a few weeknight dinners, and the bottles keep best stored upright, cool and out of direct light.