Gumdrop Mountain
Finback Brewery - Glendale

Anyone who's been bored enough to go through my reviews on here knows that I've been on a big Finback kick lately and this was next up on their beers that I needed to get to. Love the name and also love the face that I need to look up RAR since I have no idea who they are or where they're from. What I didn't love was that I had to really dig deep to find the flavors that were mentioned on the label. By no means was this a bad beer but did it remind me of Neapolitan Ice Cream!

The pour to this was relatively standard and pleasing along the lines of Finbacks other releases - a deep gold hue, waxy consistency, and plenty of head on top to balance things out. A few rings of lacing were left along the upper half of my pint glass with spotty sections scattered elsewhere. Once again, this reminded me of a Tired Hands Milkshake beer with the lactose, strawberry cream, and tropical sweetness in the muted but oh-so-pleasing nose. Basic malt, peace ice cream, and dare I say....milk chocolate all make an appearance here?!?!??? The presence of the latter was so faint but was just strong enough to mention here and to make this beer true to form, even if the initial impression given off was that of a grassy IPA with plenty of tropical fruit and milk sweetness for body.

The alcohol was spot-on here as it contributed to a slight warming effect but couldn't be tasted or detected on the palate. This was quite interesting in that it came alive as it warmed up but still felt a bit short of it's full potential. I'd have it again if there was another can here, as a dessert beer unlike any other I've had before. This one's a winner that made me more impressed with Finback and RAR, only because of the edge that it pushed. The name and label to this were a nice, extra touch!

 

 

 

 

It's hard to know what to make of this beer based on its description. A Neapolitan IPA? From the can it pours like a New England IPA: hazy and pale gold or peach in color with a thick, fluffy layer of foam. Excellent head retention. Citra hops greet the nose first and foremost with juicy orange and zesty pith aromas, followed by a tickle of ripe strawberry. Wait a minute, go back for another whiff, and does that background note remind you of a Good Humor ice cream sandwich? Or an Orange Creamsicle maybe? Full bodied and smooth, Gum Drop Mountain isn't a bitter beer by any stretch, but it doesn't pile on the sweetness, either. It's far less gimmicky than its name might suggest yet the creamy and sneaky ABV make it hard to imagine downing more than a couple of cans. Prominent citrus flavors are a reminder that you are in fact drinking an IPA, but there is a fruity middle and a deeper tone at the end of the sip that's reminiscent of milk chocolate—almost like Swiss Miss cocoa. Finback and RAR have definitely come up with something creative here, even if it might be polarizing to some.

 

 

 

 

L - Murky orange body with a finger of white head

S - Subtle strawberry, subtle chocolate, subtle vanilla. Orange sherbet.

T - More of a bitter, grassy flavor. Strawberries accent the citra and el dorado rather than become a featured item. Doughy malts, orange rind, lemon zest. Bitter finish.

F - Full with a creamy body. No alcohol.

O - Didn't deliver on chocolate and vanilla and the strawberry was faint. IT still worked as a solid IPA, but it fell short of expectations.