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Skull Hammer
Finch Beer Co.
- From:
- Finch Beer Co.
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
- ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- 83
- Avg:
- 3.65 | pDev: 9.59%
- Reviews:
- 15
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 27, 2021
- Added:
- Jun 15, 2016
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 13
SCORE
83
Good
83
Good
Skull Hammer follows up on the popularity of our award winning Hardcore Chimera. This Imperial IPA is a juicy gateway into the depths of your skull. Nailing the East Coast Style IPA that is more sweet than bitter, this head banger hammers down with the juicy blend of everyone's favorite hops including Citra, Mosaic, & Simcoe. Whether you are a neurosurgeon, Viking, carpenter, or beer enthusiast, this is the Hammer to reach for.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by DW78715816 from Kansas
3.53/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured out if a can marked canned on 11/10/20 so very fresh.
Copper color can't see through
Smells of citrus and pine and something I can't quite figure out. It's pleasant
Taste is sweet citrus with a slight bitterness. Very smooth for 8%
Overall solid but not spectacular double IPA.
Nov 22, 2020Copper color can't see through
Smells of citrus and pine and something I can't quite figure out. It's pleasant
Taste is sweet citrus with a slight bitterness. Very smooth for 8%
Overall solid but not spectacular double IPA.
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado
2.57/5 rDev -29.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
2.57/5 rDev -29.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
$10.99 USD/4 pack of 16 fl oz pull-tab cans at a food store in Terrytown, LA.
8% ABV. 99 IBU. Brewed with Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops.
Lacks balance which really holds it back...it's a bit warm boozewise and finishes a bit too bitter but there's not sufficient hop flavour to justify the bitterness. Not getting Citra's citrus, Mosaic's blueberry, or Simcoe's onion...just a muted generic floral and fruity hop flavour that's fine but not dazzling. I can't say any of the hop varietals used are well showcased in this beer, which is a crime in an IIPA...hops are the point.
Boozy pineapple and overripe mango surface as it warms. Maybe lychee? A scintilla of Mandarin orange syrup? I guess Mosaic's tendency towards tropical fruit flavour is manifesting in this, but that's far less interesting than the subtle blueberry Mosaic imparts when well harnessed.
This is my first beer from Finch and it's not boding well. If the best before date wasn't printed right on the bottom of the can (and I'm drinking this well before it), I'd think this was just an IIPA that succumbed to too much time on a shelf.
C- (2.57) / BELOW AVERAGE
Sep 19, 20208% ABV. 99 IBU. Brewed with Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops.
Lacks balance which really holds it back...it's a bit warm boozewise and finishes a bit too bitter but there's not sufficient hop flavour to justify the bitterness. Not getting Citra's citrus, Mosaic's blueberry, or Simcoe's onion...just a muted generic floral and fruity hop flavour that's fine but not dazzling. I can't say any of the hop varietals used are well showcased in this beer, which is a crime in an IIPA...hops are the point.
Boozy pineapple and overripe mango surface as it warms. Maybe lychee? A scintilla of Mandarin orange syrup? I guess Mosaic's tendency towards tropical fruit flavour is manifesting in this, but that's far less interesting than the subtle blueberry Mosaic imparts when well harnessed.
This is my first beer from Finch and it's not boding well. If the best before date wasn't printed right on the bottom of the can (and I'm drinking this well before it), I'd think this was just an IIPA that succumbed to too much time on a shelf.
C- (2.57) / BELOW AVERAGE
Reviewed by Craftmasterchaossipper from Illinois
3.32/5 rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.32/5 rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Fruity palate at first, transcends down to the piney finish, holds back most of the alcohol well. Not bad probably a one and done y’all boy 4 pack for me. But easy swallow for 8%
Jul 13, 2020
Reviewed by Billolick from New York
3.84/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Tall can.
Pour is medium hazed under a light tan cap and leaving fine ringed sheeting.
Fruited up nose, with melon and cotton candy coming forward.
Fruity and sweet, with more melon, some lime with semi resiny hops coming in late....decent but not overly impressed here .... one and done for sure on this one.
Aug 17, 2019Pour is medium hazed under a light tan cap and leaving fine ringed sheeting.
Fruited up nose, with melon and cotton candy coming forward.
Fruity and sweet, with more melon, some lime with semi resiny hops coming in late....decent but not overly impressed here .... one and done for sure on this one.
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire
3.42/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.42/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
From the 16. oz. can with no date that I can see. Sampled on November 3, 2018.
Orange-amber pour with good clarity and a foamy, white colored head with lacing.
I would call it a subtle aroma with a basic fruity and floral sensation. Maybe herbal. But the bready malts and other characters fail to jump out at me.
The mouthfeel is medium or maybe a little less.
Floral characters in the taste but this is far more bitter than anything else. Some sweetness. This could have an appeal for some.
Nov 03, 2018Orange-amber pour with good clarity and a foamy, white colored head with lacing.
I would call it a subtle aroma with a basic fruity and floral sensation. Maybe herbal. But the bready malts and other characters fail to jump out at me.
The mouthfeel is medium or maybe a little less.
Floral characters in the taste but this is far more bitter than anything else. Some sweetness. This could have an appeal for some.
Rated by BEERMILER12 from Maine
3.75/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap at McGillicuddys
Oct 30, 2018
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont
3.62/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.62/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a tulip, the appearance was a bronzed copper color with good transparency about it. Mild film of head sat atop and concavely had an adequate lace about it.
The aroma had a dried citrusy leafy hop bitterness rolling into a honey laden biscuity maltiness.
The flavor definitely leans towards the biscuity malty stickiness kindly adhering to some floral and citrusy bitter hops. Light aftertaste of floral dry hoppiness with some honey biscuity malts.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a sly bitter harshness pegging down my tongue. Mild stickiness and a semi-crisp brush slide over my tongue. Good carbonation and sturdy ABV. Finish was malty, dry and florally laden.
Overall, an odd sort of DIPA but definitely "old school." Might give another shot again if offered.
Oct 13, 2018The aroma had a dried citrusy leafy hop bitterness rolling into a honey laden biscuity maltiness.
The flavor definitely leans towards the biscuity malty stickiness kindly adhering to some floral and citrusy bitter hops. Light aftertaste of floral dry hoppiness with some honey biscuity malts.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a sly bitter harshness pegging down my tongue. Mild stickiness and a semi-crisp brush slide over my tongue. Good carbonation and sturdy ABV. Finish was malty, dry and florally laden.
Overall, an odd sort of DIPA but definitely "old school." Might give another shot again if offered.
Skull Hammer from Finch Beer Co.
Beer rating:
83 out of
100 with
55 ratings
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