Tour De Fat Brings Together Beer & Bike Culture Enthusiasts

By Shayna Yasuhara | September 13, 2016, 10:25 am

New Belgium Brewing, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a list of many other Belgian-inspired beers, is bringing Tour de Fat to San Francisco. This multi-city tour is a traveling celebration of all things bike, and it is returning to Golden Gate Park on Saturday, September 17. This colorful, costume-filled event is full of racing shenanigans, beer, food, and comedy—and it’s all in support of bike-related charities.

This year, all proceeds in San Francisco will go to San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and Bay Area Ridge Trail. The entire 2015 season raised more than $647,668, with the San Francisco event rolling in $42,713. (Good job, SF!)

The event runs throughout the park and features a main stage, plus space for additional entertainment acts and vendors. For the San Francisco part of the tour, Dr. Dog, the Philly-based Neo-Americana Psych Rock outfit inspired by the likes of Rolling Stones and the Velvet Underground, will the main headliner. Special guests with Dr. Dog will be Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, a seven-piece band that plays a mixture of soul, rock and dirty funk. Also on the lineup is Esmé Patterson, whose sound is described as soulful dream rock.

Matt Kowal, New Belgium Brewing’s Tour spokesperson is rallying behind their key event and speaks keenly about the culture behind their company. “New Belgium is celebrating 25 years this year. To me, more than anything, that means 25 years of Fat Tire shining like a rainbow over a waterfall of ho-hummity. Emblazoned with a red cruiser bicycle, Fat Tire speaks to the inspiration of our company, our founding beers, and our ethos of balance. And so it was, and so it continues, to inspire us all, let’s celebrate! Whether you ride your bike down or ride one of our mutant bikes around, we will have a bash and raise some cash for bike-orgs that work hard for you all year!”

Everyone 21+ will be able to sample new and classic favorites from New Belgium, including the brewery’s flagship brew, Fat Tire, New Belgium’s latest year-round offering. Also be sure to try the Carnie Blood, the beer is made in honor of the Tour de Fat Carnies that make this tour possible every year. Don’t be scared off by the name, Carnie Blood Vol. 3 is an Imperial Stout brewed with two single-origin cocoas and chicory, which sounds delish!