New Belgium Fat Tire Jeff’s Classic, Blue Paddle, Fat Tire Classic Recipe & Sunshine Returning For 35th Anniversary

Today, I have some classic New Belgium beers returning in retro cans to help celebrate 35 Years (1991-2006) of New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Asheville, North Carolina. Fat Tire Jeff’s Classic will remain an amber ale that will hit a sessionable 5.3%-AbV, Fat Tire Classic Respie will remain an amber ale that hits 5.2%-AbV, Blue Paddle will remain a pilsner lager that will hit 4.8%-AbV, and Sunshine will remain a wheat beer with spices that will hit 4.8%-AbV. These are all 12-oz cans, and stay tuned for 2026 release details.

Label Text New Belgium Fat Tire Jeff’s Classic:

“The recipe that started it all, inspired by our founder Jeff Lebesch’s European bike tour in a987. Fat Tire Amber Ale is an iconic homage to the classic Belgian brews Jeff sampled over 35 years ago, still serving as a reminder to slow down and enjoy the ride. Cheers to 35 years of adventure!”

Label Text New Belgium Sunshine:

“A timeless beer born out of curiosity. Sunshine Wheat’s recipe winks to the Belgian witbier, traditionally brewed with coriander and orange peel spices. This easy-drinking brew won hearts by transporting you in our brewery’s namesake. Cheers to 35 years of innovation!”

Label Text New Belgium Blue Paddle:

“Blue Paddle pilsner is crafted for the barkeep and you, on the other side of the bartop. Crisp and flavorful, this no-nonsense classic best accompanies the end of a long shift. It’s the catalyst for a story shared. A lore spread. A camaraderie deepened. Cheers to 35 years of collaboration.”

Label Text New Belgium Classic Recipe:

“The recipe that started it all, inspired by our founder Jeff Lebesch’s European bike tour in a987. Fat Tire Amber Ale is an iconic homage to the classic Belgian brews Jeff sampled over 35 years ago, still serving as a reminder to slow down and enjoy the ride. Cheers to 35 years of adventure!”

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About New Belgium Brewing:

New Belgium Brewing was founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, CO, by Kim Jordan, a social worker, who built her company the only way a social worker would: People first. Over the past three decades, New Belgium has turned that ethos into a unique Human Powered Business model through practices that foster a culture defined by individual empowerment and collaborative action that drives better business results in the long term. New Belgium expanded to Asheville, NC, in 2016 and Daleville, VA, in 2023, and in 2021 acquired Bell’s Brewery, based in Kalamazoo, MI. The business’ people-centric model has led New Belgium to become the most popular and fastest-growing American craft brewer today. New Belgium is famous for Fat Tire Ale and Voodoo Ranger IPA (America’s #1 IPA brand), along with year-round favorites like Dominga Mimosa Sour, La Folie Sour Brown Ale, an award-winning wood-aged sour program. To learn more about New Belgium, visit http://www.newbelgium.com.

New Belgium Brewing is a well-known craft brewery based in Fort Collins, Colorado. Founded in 1991 by Jeff Lebesch and Kim Jordan, New Belgium is recognized for its innovation in brewing and its commitment to sustainability. The brewery gained early recognition with its flagship beer, Fat Tire Amber Ale, which remains one of the most popular craft beers in the U.S.

Here are some key highlights about New Belgium Brewing:

Flagship Beers: Aside from Fat Tire, New Belgium produces a variety of other popular beers, such as Voodoo Ranger IPA, Citradelic Tangerine IPA, and La Folie Sour Brown Ale.

Innovative Brewing: New Belgium is known for pushing boundaries, often creating unique and experimental beers, including sours and barrel-aged brews. They were one of the early craft breweries to focus on sour beer production.
Sustainability: The brewery has a strong focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility. They were one of the first large-scale breweries to achieve carbon neutrality and use renewable energy sources in their operations. They also strive for zero-waste operations and focus on water conservation.

Ownership: In 2019, New Belgium Brewing was acquired by Lion Little World Beverages, a subsidiary of the Australian beverage company Lion, which is itself owned by Kirin Holdings. This move allowed New Belgium to expand its reach globally while retaining its independent craft brewery vibe.

Community and Culture: New Belgium is known for its vibrant company culture, which emphasizes employee ownership, social responsibility, and community engagement. The brewery has an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), meaning many of its workers are also shareholders.

Brewery Tours and Location: New Belgium’s Fort Collins brewery offers tours to visitors, allowing beer lovers to learn about the brewing process, the company’s history, and the sustainability efforts they put in place. They also have a second location in Asheville, North Carolina, which further expanded their reach.