Being a resident of the Mile High City for 3 years, I fell in love with Fat Tire and New Belgium. On flights back to Knoxville I was seen carrying a case of beer with me for my friends to enjoy. Many of my top ten beers include several Fat Tires after a heavy day of snowboarding, cycling, fly-fishing, and mountain biking under the bluebird skies of Colorado. Below is a run down of how, when, and where my favorite beer is coming to town.
Rumors of New Belgium coming to Knoxville have been circulating for years. Last night at Casa Don Gallo in Rocky Hill I ran into Jeremy Walker, craft beer brand manager for Eagle Distributing. I noticed him because he was sporting a Patagonia button-down with a New Belgium logo. He told me that Knoxville will see Fat Tire, 1554, and Mothership Wit brews at local restaurants and watering holes. He mentioned several places including Casa and Roosters.
Apparently, all you have to do is ask your local bartender to bring New Belgium in. The timeline is end of June, so after riding with the Wakeshop team and Knox Wake this summer, you can meet me for a top ten beer experience.
I have been waiting to say this for so long…New Belgium you have been Knoxified!
Photography by mfajardo
Patrick Beeson
June 5th, 2008 at 8:46 am
This is great news!
I drank many a Fat Tire while living in Durango, CO for college. You can’t be a mountain biker, and not know about the infamous brand.
Downtown Brewery, Nama, The Crown and Goose, Soccer Taco, Tomato Head, Kroger on Middlebrook Pike: Please start carrying this beer!
BCKnoxify
June 5th, 2008 at 10:17 am
PB, you know whats up! Just ask for it, that is what I was told…ask them to carry the sweet goodness.
Brandon
June 6th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Great News! I frequent Roosters often and I am always disappointed by the lack of variety of Craft Brews offered in Knoxville. Toured the New Belgium Brewery in 1996 when I was in college and had time for home brewing adventures.
BCKnoxify
June 6th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Brandon thanks for stopping by, I love some Roosters myself. Great neighborhood bar and your right the Fat Tire only makes it better.
AVL_NB Fan
August 26th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Just heard AVL will be getting NB beers next spring. In the meantime looks like a drive to Knoxville is in order. Can you recommend any retail locations - ie Kroger- that currently sells 12 packs of FT?
bcknoxify
August 26th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
@AVL_NB Fan: sorry no 6ers or 12s. Only 22 oz bottles, try Pilots, Krogers, and maybe Weigels.