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Finback Brewery - Glendale

 

 

 

 

 

 

very tasty coffee beer from these guys, the first one from them that isnt hop driven i have had in a really long time. nice to see they can do something like this as well as they can the ipa types, which they are of course totally rocking! i was shocked to learn this is 11% abv, it drinks smooth and slow and strong, but not this strong, and its amazing how well the booze is actually hidden here, even when it comes up to temperature, it never gets overly alcoholic. the coffee really drives this silky hersheys syrup looking brew, its huge in the nose and the taste, not as deeply roasted and bitter as a lot of these, i get the fruitiness of good espresso in here, a chocolate complex, and just a faint green pepper element, not stale, just sort of vegetal for a second. theres got to be a ton of coffee in here, its really up front. i like the rich sort of sweetness in here, is there lactose? it has that almost creamy silky sweetness to it that is consistent with milk sugar. weighty brew too, this sits heavy, but i like the warming glow its giving me. the coffee in here is distinct in its own way too, and i would very much like to try it as coffee someday. really enjoyable beer thats sneaky strong, big thank you to my brother for sharing this with me!

 

 

On tap at World of Beer in Albany, NY.

This one pours a fairly dark black, with a small head, and little bit of lacing.

This smells like bready and super roasty malt, caramel, sweet creamy coffee, and bittersweet chocolate.

This works really well for me. The coffee flavor is quite well integrated, adding dark fruit and creamy vanilla flavors to the solid base beer. It's roasty and very chocolatey.

This is a tad syrupy, but very full bodied and rich, with a lower level of carbonation.

I wish I could have more Finback- they make some great beers and don't get the fanfare of some of the other NY breweries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16oz. can into Night Shift stemware. Shared with schen9303.

Nose is lactose, roasted malt, smoke, coffee and bittersweet chocolate. Real robust and deep. Beer opens milk chocolate and maple syrup sweetness. This is somewhat balanced by a touch of roasted malt and coffee bean coarseness in the middle with more chocolate and fudge on the end and aftertaste. Rich with good balance. Body is full with moderate to low carbonation. Smooth and chewy on the palate and luscious and rich going down with a deep, sticky finish and aftertaste. You'd be hard pressed to come across a more full bodied porter.

Really an impressive offering. Super smooth and drinkable for the ABVs.

 

Pours a dark mocha thick creamy head about 1 finger and fades at a med pace, some lacing, pitch black beer

Nose lots of dark chocolate cocoa, fresh roasted coffee, little espresso and roasted malts, mild nougat and caramel, bit of char, faint smokiness, and earthy hops

Taste brings a rich creamy malt, lactose sugar perhaps, plenty of roasted coffee and a bit of espresso, rich chocolate, dark chocolate and cocoa, milk chocolate, a little oatmeal, touch of nougat and caramel, a touch of earthy hop, mild bitterness from hops and roast, little nutty earthy coffee. Dry mild sticky finish, lingering roast, dark chocolate, creaminess and coffee.

Mouth is med to fuller bod, creamy rich, decent but lighter carb about what it should be, a touch of warming booze late.

Overall pretty nice, def don't feel the alcohol, nice coffee blended with creamy base and lots of chocolate, not too charred or roasty, pretty nice.