Noise
Finback Brewery - Glendale

- From:
- Finback Brewery - Glendale
- New York, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Saison
- ABV:
- 4.4%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 4.02 | pDev: 5.72%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 5
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 09, 2018
- Added:
- Oct 31, 2017
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 5
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ichorNet:
Reviewed by ichorNet from Massachusetts
4.15/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Since noise music and other closely-related genres of experimental electronic/outsider music are really close to me personally, I nearly flipped out in the store when I saw this awesomely-designed can on the shelves of a local liquor store. Add to that the fact that this beer is a low ABV grisette-style saison with Earl Grey tea and lemongrass, which just sounds delicious and totally up-my-alley, and I would've probably purchased a four-pack of this at double the already-exorbitant shelf price I paid for it. OK, maybe not, but this is like a beer fine-tuned specifically for me, right down to the name. Weird. Creepy. Let's dig into it.
Pours a completely-opaque yellowish/bright goldenrod color with a nicely-retentive head of eggshell-white foam that builds up quite well with a moderate pour. The head leaves behind some patchy lace and has incredible legs. I think if I could see through the haze, I'd be seeing intense carbonation rising up to buoy the froth on this one, but this is closer to a "milkshake" than several of the more recent NEIPA-style beers I've had recently, so I have no idea. Anyway, looks pretty great in my glass!
Nose is a bit funky, catty, cheesy and mildly-unpleasant at first. Bigger sniffs reveal subtle lemongrass, lemon peel, bitter orange peel, grass, dry leaves and slight plastic-y yeast overtones. Herbal notes like chamomile with some of that intense bergamot from the tea addition. Not a great nose by any means, though it gets a bit better when it warms up for whatever reason. I do appreciate the slight funkiness, and don't mind the cheese/rindlike note that comes out when this is poured from a colder temp.
Flavor is much more consistent and in-line with what I expected than the nose is, luckily. I really get the Earl Grey tea here; bitter citrus and strong herbal components marry with lemon rind, wheat and perhaps even spelt malt crackeriness. There's an earthy note that I usually attribute to rye as well... since this is a grisette, I assume it utilizes a bunch of different grains. Mostly, though, this just has a nice, basic malt profile which works well with the adjunct ingredients. Bit of a bitter twang with more citrus in the finish. Soft, pillowy feel though there is some microfine carbonation coating the palate toward the middle of each sip. This is very nice overall, and I'm glad I got a four pack. Probably wouldn't revisit it, but I'd also probably be annoyed if I only ever had one of these. Take that as you will!
Dec 01, 2017Pours a completely-opaque yellowish/bright goldenrod color with a nicely-retentive head of eggshell-white foam that builds up quite well with a moderate pour. The head leaves behind some patchy lace and has incredible legs. I think if I could see through the haze, I'd be seeing intense carbonation rising up to buoy the froth on this one, but this is closer to a "milkshake" than several of the more recent NEIPA-style beers I've had recently, so I have no idea. Anyway, looks pretty great in my glass!
Nose is a bit funky, catty, cheesy and mildly-unpleasant at first. Bigger sniffs reveal subtle lemongrass, lemon peel, bitter orange peel, grass, dry leaves and slight plastic-y yeast overtones. Herbal notes like chamomile with some of that intense bergamot from the tea addition. Not a great nose by any means, though it gets a bit better when it warms up for whatever reason. I do appreciate the slight funkiness, and don't mind the cheese/rindlike note that comes out when this is poured from a colder temp.
Flavor is much more consistent and in-line with what I expected than the nose is, luckily. I really get the Earl Grey tea here; bitter citrus and strong herbal components marry with lemon rind, wheat and perhaps even spelt malt crackeriness. There's an earthy note that I usually attribute to rye as well... since this is a grisette, I assume it utilizes a bunch of different grains. Mostly, though, this just has a nice, basic malt profile which works well with the adjunct ingredients. Bit of a bitter twang with more citrus in the finish. Soft, pillowy feel though there is some microfine carbonation coating the palate toward the middle of each sip. This is very nice overall, and I'm glad I got a four pack. Probably wouldn't revisit it, but I'd also probably be annoyed if I only ever had one of these. Take that as you will!
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by BergBeer from California
3.92/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: Opaque hazy pale yellow with a thick white head. Very little activity. A very pretty beer.
Smell: Notes of fresh lemon peel, raw oats, water cracker malt, fresh cut grass, a floral note that reminds me of baby breath, and a little funky hay smell. Light and clean.
Taste: Notes of lemon peel, white pepper, and a little hint of farmhouse funk. The body reveals notes of light earl grey tea, thin water cracker malt, a grassy hop note, Darjeeling tea notes, and some raw oats give a little heft to the finish.
Feel: Clean and refreshing. Light bodied. Carbonation is similar to a Topo Chico. Just a light funky tartness. No alcohol. Quenching body to a semi dry finish.
Overall: A nice refreshing little ale. The flavors here are all really light but not muted. They shine just enough and compliment each other to make a cohesive whole. The Topo Chico like carbonation also had a layer of both flavor and it seems to clean the palate between sips making me want to go right back in for another sip. A nice little brew with a some delicate and tasty flavors.
Dec 29, 2017Smell: Notes of fresh lemon peel, raw oats, water cracker malt, fresh cut grass, a floral note that reminds me of baby breath, and a little funky hay smell. Light and clean.
Taste: Notes of lemon peel, white pepper, and a little hint of farmhouse funk. The body reveals notes of light earl grey tea, thin water cracker malt, a grassy hop note, Darjeeling tea notes, and some raw oats give a little heft to the finish.
Feel: Clean and refreshing. Light bodied. Carbonation is similar to a Topo Chico. Just a light funky tartness. No alcohol. Quenching body to a semi dry finish.
Overall: A nice refreshing little ale. The flavors here are all really light but not muted. They shine just enough and compliment each other to make a cohesive whole. The Topo Chico like carbonation also had a layer of both flavor and it seems to clean the palate between sips making me want to go right back in for another sip. A nice little brew with a some delicate and tasty flavors.
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts
3.87/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Very large initial head which requires two pours from the tap. Still served with a single finger of lace. Very cloudy. Milky, light gold color. Oddly no lace after the first sip, BUT superb blanketing lace after that.
Malty on the first smell. Belgian yeast aroma on the second smell.
The beer is malty until the swallow when the sharp Belgian yeast comes through. The carbonation is high which is enhanced by the lower body. I do get some hop bitterness in the aftertaste. Overall, an interesting and timely complexity.
Dec 09, 2017Malty on the first smell. Belgian yeast aroma on the second smell.
The beer is malty until the swallow when the sharp Belgian yeast comes through. The carbonation is high which is enhanced by the lower body. I do get some hop bitterness in the aftertaste. Overall, an interesting and timely complexity.
Reviewed by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts
4.53/5 rDev +12.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.53/5 rDev +12.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
16 oz. can
Pours cloudy hazy opaque gold yellow with a creamy frothy white foam head. Smells like earl grey tea, fresh lemon peel, saison yeast, peppery clove spice, banana, lemon, orange citrus, grapefruit, pale crackery malt, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes like earl grey tea, fresh lemon peel, peppery clove-like spice, banana, lemon, orange citrus, grapefruit, pale crackery cereal grain malt, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium-light bodied, creamy and smooth with moderate carbonation. Overall a really nice grisette ale with earl grey tea and lemon peel.
Nov 27, 2017Pours cloudy hazy opaque gold yellow with a creamy frothy white foam head. Smells like earl grey tea, fresh lemon peel, saison yeast, peppery clove spice, banana, lemon, orange citrus, grapefruit, pale crackery malt, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes like earl grey tea, fresh lemon peel, peppery clove-like spice, banana, lemon, orange citrus, grapefruit, pale crackery cereal grain malt, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium-light bodied, creamy and smooth with moderate carbonation. Overall a really nice grisette ale with earl grey tea and lemon peel.
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts
3.96/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Light fizzy fluffy head fades at a med pace, little lacing, super murky pale apricot color.
Nose grassy herbal wheat, little spice, raw grist wheat base thing, little lemony
Taste big toasted wheat creamy wheat, little grassy herbal malt, mild spices, gristy grain, lemony, lemongrass, juicy citrus, little tartness, lots of rind. Finishes dry fair bitterness big lemon zest
Mouth is med to light bod, creamy, decent carb
Overall petty nice, not as farmhouse rustic saison like as I expected, but nice
Nov 13, 2017Nose grassy herbal wheat, little spice, raw grist wheat base thing, little lemony
Taste big toasted wheat creamy wheat, little grassy herbal malt, mild spices, gristy grain, lemony, lemongrass, juicy citrus, little tartness, lots of rind. Finishes dry fair bitterness big lemon zest
Mouth is med to light bod, creamy, decent carb
Overall petty nice, not as farmhouse rustic saison like as I expected, but nice
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