Restaurant and Bar
New to the Neighborhood
Should I Try the Ale?
We'll set the scene.
1989. Belgium. Boy on bike. (Ok, make that a young man of 32).
As our aspiring young homebrewer rides his mountain bike with "fat tires" through European villages famous for beer, New Belgium Brewing Company was but a glimmer in his eye. Or basement. For Jeff Lebesch would return to Fort Collins with a handful of ingredients and an imagination full of recipes.
And then there was beer.
Jeff's first two basement-brewed creations? A brown dubbel with earthy undertones named Abbey and a remarkably well-balanced amber he named Fat Tire. To say the rest was history would be to overlook his wife's involvement. Kim Jordan was New Belgium's first bottler, sales rep, distributor, marketer and financial planner.
And now, she's our CEO.
Electrical engineer meets social worker; ideals flourish
The other side of the New Belgium story isn't as romantic as bicycling through Europe, but it gives testament to our dedication and hard work. And it goes like this: Jeff, an electrical engineer by day and tinkerer by nature, builds a homebrewing kit in his basement out of repurposed dairy equipment. His Belgian inspired brews garneredenough praise from friends and neighbors that Jeff and Kim take their basement brewery commercial in 1991.
To read the rest of Fat Tire's story, go here.
So are Jeff and Kim now extremely wealthy? hahahhha
ReplyDeleteI don't drink beer, but I have heard people say good things about Fat Tire, so I would say, go ahead and try it.
ReplyDeleteI like companies with a good story. I'd definitely give Fat Tire a try. :)
ReplyDeleteI would have to try it simply because of it's catchy name!
ReplyDeleteYes, try the ale so you can say you did :^)
ReplyDeleteI wondered how that beer got it's name. Now I know.
ReplyDeleteI like that name and the bike logo but I don't drink beer so I don't know. It seems to be popular though.
ReplyDeleteThat's the trouble with fat-tired bikes - they end up in ale! Fun story!
ReplyDeleteYES! Try something hoppy and tell me what you think
ReplyDeletego ahead and give them a try, just for the story and sign.
ReplyDeleteGreat looking neon.
ReplyDeletei like that neon. :)
ReplyDeleteGo for it, Kate. Fat Tire is working so hard, they deserve having you give them a try.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad there are people like this. Beer was so insipid until microbrewers began trying their hand at it. It's definitely worth a try, Kate.
ReplyDelete