Vermillion
Finback Brewery - Glendale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a hazy yellow color with visible carbonation. A moderately large foamy and sudsy white head rises to the top beautifully. It shows excellent retention and sticky Saturn like rings of lacing.
Delicious smelling aroma packed with fruit of all variety. Tropical aromas; mango, pineapple, and banana. There is also peach and citrus. There is some grain in the background as well as a honey sweetness. At the backend of each sniff there are earthy, floral and grassy hops.
First impressions are that it is juicy and sweet at the tip of the tongue. However, there is a nice crisp dryness in the mid palate. A developing moderate bitterness appears in the finish, evoking floral, pine and grapefruit pith. Flavors of grapefruit pulp, hoppy pineapple, peach pit, pear and papaya provide fruitiness. A clean and mild alcohol flavor compliments the fruit like a tropical cocktail. The bitterness continues to develop and crescendos and emits pine needles and resin. A muted sweetness from the malt subtly counterpoints with the hops.
The feel provides a nice study in contrasts. Medium bodied with a mouthfeel that is both juicy and dry. It is crisp, smooth yet prickly at the same time; owing to the hops.
I didn’t realize this had a lower alcohol content until I looked it up. It radiates a fullness of character that belies it’s low ABV. Delicious and crushable. Outstanding brew from what is rapidly becoming one of my favorite breweries.