Pig In The Wood
Finch Beer Co.

 

Been sitting on this one for awhile.

A: Poured into a Duvel tulip to a deep reddish brown topped by a dense and rocky finger and a half of dense cream colored head which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with decent lacing. There are some floaty bits and debris in the glass but it is what it is.
S: Smells of caramel malts with american citrusy and piney hops along with some oak and vanilla.
T: Taste is an interesting balance of caramel and toasted malts with some assertive american hops. Drinks more like a light barleywine. Pine resin, oak, and vanilla come in as well with some oily hop bitterness. On the swallow this one is a little resinous before the caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, and oak come back around.
M: This beer is fairly thick and creamy on the palate with a decent amount of heft. Carbonation is effervescent without being prickly while the beer has a drying finish.
O: Overall this one is really enjoyable in my mind. I'm sure it misses a lot of the marks it should in the category but as a beer it tastes pretty good with some nice complexity and assertive flavors. It seemed to hold up well despite me sitting on it for a few years. I'd say this one is worth a try.

16 oz can - not dated

Finch's Pig In The Wood poured a little cloudy dark amber with a 1-finger off-white head that shrunk quickly to a narrow ring of foam. The smell is of dark fruit [raisins], caramel malt, and brown sugar. The taste follows the nose with a mild whisky alcohol warmth at the finish. Mouth feel is sticky, medium bodied, and has active carbonation.

Overall, a nice barrel aged Imperial Red Ale that has good balance and flavor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a murky orange brown red, unappealing looking. Smells real nice, strong bourbon aroma. Heavy dark fruits, cherry. Some chocolate. Strong bourbon on the taste. Got some hop bitterness in there. But of coffee hint. Overall, quality barrel aged brew. Best part is the aroma.

Pint can into tulip. Murky look, 1 finger foamy head that dissipated quickly. Smell: not too boozy, but a warm thick aroma of malts, like opening a wooden chest that hasn't been opened in a while. Taste: hmm, not too boozy, but feels like it'll hit harder than 8%. Sweet bite in the thick mouthfeel. I agree with a couple other reviewers, not a high end barrel that it was aged in, but I'd give it better props than Evan Williams. Overall I like it, but at the price point I paid for a semi local 4 pack, it'll be a tough sale, if u find it as a single, go for it. BTW, def hits harder than 8% should.

6/8/16 Update as I finish off the original pack. This beer has really grown on me over the past month. I wish it were more readily available in my market. Also wish I had a couple more to enjoy in the coming months. It made me really want to explore more non stout BBA ales and to me this is a new favorite! Way to go!

 

On tap at the Lark in East Northport, NY, pours chestnut brown color with a 1 finger thick tannish colored head that faded slowly and left really good lacing and rings as it went down.

Smells of whiskey, rye, toffee, caramel, sweet malt, brown sugar, toasted grains, cinnamon, light peppery spices, peat moss and earthy notes. The barrel aging really tames the sweetness and adds a lot of barrel notes.

Tastes very similar to the nose with a sharp sweetness to start followed by whiskey, rye, toffee, red wine or oaky barrels, caramel, sweet malt, brown sugar, toasted grains, cinnamon, light peppery spices, peat moss, candied sugar, gummy bear candy and earthy notes. Like the nose the barrel aging really tames the sweetness and adds a lot of barrel notes, whiskey and complexities that balance the malty aspects. Lacks some hoppy aspects, but very smooth as the booze is not hot and adds a lot of character. A very enjoyable and unique amber/red ale.

 

Poured from a 16 oz can. Nice caramel color, decent head several shades lighter, nice lacing. Aroma starts with some whiskey and sweet malts. Flavor is toffee and caramel with a bit of booze on the back-end.
This reminds of of good barrel aged Scottish Ale with a big hop finish. Very well done.