Champagne Shores
Goldfinger Brewing Company

This pours differently between two glasses - the champagne flutes are almost a crystal clear golden straw color, but in the pint glass, there’s a significant amount of haze. Both pours yield a beautiful fluffy white head that dissipate pretty quickly.

The nose has some noble hop aromas that lend a little grassy note, and there’s a nice lemongrass aroma as well. The lemongrass is most prominent on the taste, but that noble hop flavor is present as well, and there’s an organic malt flavor in the background.

The mouthfeel is bright, but not too much like champagne, which I feared. This is an easy drinking lager that straddles the beer/champagne line really well. So glad I had the opportunity to try and enjoy this.

Poured from a 16 oz can. It's clear golden straw unless you pour to the bottom of the can. The nose is lemon with a spicy characteristic. Mild, citrus, with a dry finish. Nice crisp beer. Decent beer, definitely unique.

 

 

Can't say I've ever had a beer quite like this! It has the look and mouthfeel of a New England IPA (maybe NE PA based on the ABV), but also has a definite lager taste to it. Well done!

I had the bottle and not the cans so I did not have the sediment issue some other people had. This was more hoppy than I thought it would be but it is a collab with Hop Butcher so... It was pretty light bodied with moderate carbonation. There was a crispness at the end. Not one of my favorites.

Pours a nearly crystal clear pale gold color. Quite effervescent in the champagne glasses. Two finger white sudsy head forms on the beer before quickly dissipating. The magnum is clear, although there are reports that the canned version of this beer is not clear.

The aroma is largely dominated by the hops with notes of white grapes, and a harsh woody bitterness that I am having a hard time placing, but that I always get with riwaka hops. Reminds me a lot on the nose of those short lived brut IPAs.

Taste follows the nose with the hops dominating a very light malt backbone. the hops have notes of passionfruit, white grape, light lemon-citrus notes of a light woodsy character. There is almost no malt presence in the profile outside of a very neutral pilsner malt backbone. Again, very reminiscent of the old brut IPAs in that way.

Feel is light, crisp, effervescent - they did nail the champagne feel with this one. Vibrant carbonation. Extremely dry finish, but that should not be a surprise.

Overall I did not like this one, now as I am a good way into the magnum its growing on me some more. Its an interesting beer but does do a good job capturing the essence of champagne.

 

No canning date that I can find but I know it’s pretty fresh.

Consumed 12/28/21

I bought it on the fact that it’s a Hob Butcher collab I must say. I hadn’t heard of Goldfinger beers yet. I also crave anything Riwaka hopped, so it was an easy buy for me. Reading the description, this beer hits it out of the park. It’s super light and dry but you get that wonderful Riwaka funk (very light) that I love. It’s such a unique hop. The beer is clearly a pilsner with a beautiful color and effervescent carbonation. I have to go grab another 4 pack before they’re gone!

Released December 2021; drank 12/27/21 @ the Yarchives.

Cloudy yellow/orange appearance.

A rough pour yielded a HUGE bright white head; decent lace.

Dry champagne, mild wheat & faint lemon peel notes in the nose.

Medium mouthfeel, with a sharp carbonated bite.

A touch of creaminess in the flavor, but it's mostly dry champagne, a hint of wheat & very faint lemon peel vibes.

It's interesting, but I'm not sure I love it. Worth a try.