Perhaps all the high altitude and clean air got to me, maybe I lost my bearings in the wilderness, but I recently made the impromptu decision to take advantage of my family reunion location and tour
New Belgium Brewery. For the record, this craft brewery is
very popular and tours are pre-booked months in advance so either book early or just show up like I did and hope to get lucky. Most people know New Belgium as the makers of Fat Tire Ale but, as is usually the case, their most popular beer is also their least interesting. But first, the tour.
The Tour
When we showed up to NB's picturesque brewery the sun was shining, dogs were prancing around off leash, and song birds perched on people's shoulders because they were gentle. There's a reason people have to apply eight times over the course of eleven years to get a job here; the location is prettier than Rory McIlroy's back swing, the perks include a free bike, partial ownership of the company and a free twelve-pack for every week you work there. The brewery has really big, shiny equipment, processes and recycles its own waste water and has the largest solar array in Colorado. The tour lasts ninety minutes and involves a lot of walking, minimal talking and a lot of drinking. If the Guiness brewery tour is Disneyland, then this is Shedd Aquarium (educational, clean, a bit smelly at times).
The Beer
A lot of beer snobs turn their snobby beer noses up at New Belgium and their flagship brew, Fat Tire. It's considered to be too approachable, too bright eyed and bushy tailed and, most importantly, not exclusive. I have to say that I can't entirely disagree with them which is why I picked out three beers that I thought were, as Busta Rhymes once put it,
stupid fly.
Super Cru: This 20th anniversary brew uses the same ingredients as Fat Tire but doubles the doses of hops and malt which consequently doubles the alcohol. It's not for the faint of heart nor stomach but will stand up to the strongest cheeseburger, or spiciest guacamole your summer imagination can think of.
Blue Paddle: This is a Pilsner that makes you happy to be alive. It's refreshing and light but, thanks to its use of noble hops,
won't be put in a corner during the summer retreat talent show. If I wasn't already in a serious beerlationship this would be my summer fling.
La Folie: French for "the folly," this was quite possibly the most unique beer I've ever laid lips on. It's aged three years in huge French Oak barrels and the result is what's called a Flemish Sour Red. If champagne, beer, and red wine had a freaky threesome this would be their love child. It slaps your face with sourness, has the tannins of a Merlot, and the musky effervescence of a French Grand Cru. You have to take three sips to appreciate it; one to wake you up, two to acclimatize your mouth and three to actually taste anything. Crazy. Good.
Conclusion
Should you ever find yourself in or near Longmont, Colorado steal the nearest vehicle you can find and get the hell out of there. That town is no good. For anyone. Point your newly stolen vehicle north and drive for twenty minutes. Then you'll find yourself in Ft. Collins, and that's where you can tour New Belgium's swanky digs (also worth checking out:
Odell and
Equinox). Despite its commercial success the company is staffed by really nice people who ride bikes and make very decent beer for a living and will answer all the annoying questions they are allowed to*. Did I mention the tour is free? All in all, it's not a bad way to spend an slightly drunk afternoon.
*
Since all employees own a stake in the company and it's a privately held company, neither our tour guide (Dave), the bartenders or the unassuming girl outside could tell us how much the equipment costs or what percentage of their total beer sales Fat Tire made up because they were legally bound to keep such matters private.
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