Who else thinks Fat Tire is swill?

Not having done a one-on-one taste test against others, I'll hold off on labeling it "swill". I will say it's so nondescript as to be on my "don't bother" list. OTOH, have you tried their 1554? It's awesome! It says a lot about a brewery that is more than capable of producing very good beer, yet its primary earner is appeal-to-the-masses mediocre. Sad, but successful.

nb

I like to think of Fat Tire as a gateway beer... And yes. 1554 is truly outstanding!

Swill? No way. Overhyped? Oh yeah.

I think for a lot of people the "swill" classification is simply overreaction to the ridiculous hype that surrounds this beer. It's like the micro equivalent of Coors 30 years ago, where it was limited in distribution and therefore gained more cachet because of exclusivity.

In reality, it's a good beer. Not a great beer. A good beer. I won't go out of my way for it, but I don't mind it at all when it's available, and I will choose it sometimes if I'm in the mood for it.

BTW, keep in mind that it's not remotely comporable to an American amber. It's designed after De Koninck from Belgium. And it's a reasonably good facsimilie.

-Steve

Compared to Budwater, Fat Tire rules. I don't know about the bottled beer, but on tap at the bar, I thought it was pretty good.

Swill is pretty strong language to describe almost any beer I've tried. There are several I would not try a second time, but they are certainly drinkable. The only beer I can think of that could be called swill was a San Adams Lager. And the reason...a family member tried to pass off some 3 year old beer as good! And he thought it tasted just fine. Talk about awful.

I actually think its swill myself. And I swear its not an over-reaction to the hype.

My first experience with it was just so-so, not bad, not good, but not enough to make me want to drink it again when there's lots of other better stuff.

Then a couple of years later I had it at a bar, as it was the best beer available. My expectation was a boring amber ale. However, I couldn't finish it, it had a hint of ashtray-roast malt and bitter hops without enough sweetness to cushion them. I was ready to attribute it to the bar, but I later tried a fresh bottle on 2 separate occasions and had the same reaction. I think it is disgusting at this point.

snipped-for-privacy@iquest.net (Moodster) wrote in news:egtr92$2sh2$ snipped-for-privacy@news.iquest.net:

I'm sure glad that Fat is offered at the local race rack as an alternative to Bud and Coors. Talk about swill.......

And I think Fat Tire is one of the better American beers.

Couldn't wait to get to Arizona from Illinois to have a pint.

I guess that's what makes variety fascinating.

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