Finch's Beer - What say you?

Here's what BAs think.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25370

 

1.) Solid Beers
2.) I Like Cans for lots of events
3.) Non Craft Beer drinkers don't find them intimidating so a good gateway beer.

Edit: If your looking for something to blow your mind you wont find it here.

 

Threadless IPA is decent. I find their other 2 canned offerings not good.

 

Their summer release, Toasted Summer (a kolsch with toasted hops and applewood), was a decent kolsch, nothing amazing. I've had a small sample of Cut Throat (pale ale with orange peel?) and it was ok. Threadless IPA (malty yet bitter IPA) was pretty bad. So is their latest release, Fascist Pig (red ale, funny label, not very well done).

I've heard that their doppelbock and vanilla stout were good, but I never got my hands on them. In general it seems like they're not doing very well quality-wise; many of their hoppy beers seem to be astringently bitter for some reason. (All IMO of course.)

 

Sales are picking up on Finch's beers in my store. It appears that the QC issues with cans are in the past.

 

This here. All of their regular cans that I've tried have been solid. That being said, they aren't XXXTREME!!! like it seems most of what BAs want these days. Buy some and give it a whirl.

 

I really wanted to like them when they first started brewing, but after having a decent amount of their beers and only really liking one I haven't bought any since. I was gifted a Threadless a couple of month ago and it did nothing to change my opinion. I've found them to be average at best and their marketing skills far outweigh their brewing skills IMO.

That being said they seem to be a good gateway beer into craft as previously mentioned, but if I ever need cans I've got Half Acre.

 

their secret stache stout (vanilla stout) is darn good for 5 bucks a bomber

 

It's decent enough. I don't know if I'd ever seek it out on purpose, but I wouldn't turn it down if someone offered me one.

 

Cutthroat and Golden Wing are pretty average, but Threadless is a good canned IPA, IMO. What really put me off was when they sold Dirtier Bird (BA Doppelbock mind you) for $16. Haven't bought anything from them since then. Plus, they seem to be more interested in expanding everywhere instead of tweaking and making their beer better.

 

i've enjoyed the Secret Stache Stout and the Fascist Pig Amber....Threadless is decent too....

 

ryan I had both the ipa and pale ale, the ipa was actually pretty good, I recommend at least trying it once.

 

This x 1,000.

 

You can find better (SN Torpedo) for the price

 

exactly my thoughts. very average at best. Threadless is decent, but after Dirtier Bird, I was done trying paying for their beer. the only one I want to try is Secret Stache, but I'm not holding my breath.

I met the owner (Ben) at an event last year. he has a marketing background, hence the name being out there so much. but you talk to a bar manager and they can't sell their stuff.

 

For better or worse, I think the owner turned off a lot of potential drinkers with the interview in Time Out before they went into production about how he just didn't know the craft beer world very well. Which, personally, I don't care about -- if it's a good product, I'll drink it.

But I just find their beers average/meh. Secret Stache was very good -- and I really think Chicago needs a local stout/porter that's readily available (Eugene can't come soon enough) and this... could have been it.

And I wouldn't be too quick with the QC concerns -- I was at the Logan a few weeks back and the bartender had to open up 3 cans of their blonde ale before we got one that wasn't flat.

 

Obviously, being friends with Richard, their head brewer, I don't like to speak too much ill of the brewery.

As danimalarkey pointed out, Ben Finch left a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths before they were even brewing beer.

My only point is that I find their flagship products directly compete with another brewery in town.. one I'd rather purchase in every situation based on the product itself and my enjoyment of it, not on friendships/marketing/etc.

It seems there is only one logical reason that they keep pushing out to more and more states/markets.. but, maybe that's not the case at all. You don't see the brewery they specifically chose to compete against (as far as their flagships) even being able to satisfy the entire city.

 

Here's the interview:
http://timeoutchicago.com/restaurants-bars/bars/7541649/finchs-beer-co-and-the-business-of-beer

 

Of all the beer festivals I have attended over the course of the past two years, I can't remember a festival where Finch's actually brought kegs to an event. Instead, I recall a number of festivals where they had a big bowl or bucket with their cans available and they would just open them up and pour them into your glass (Beer Under Glass and the Oak Park Microbrew Review are two events that immediately come to mind).

Not sure how accurate this has been of late, but that just seemed to rub me a bit the wrong way. I'm all for advertising your product in the shape and color in which consumers can pick them up at the store, but it struck me as a bit impersonal. As in, 'we didn't really give this much thought, so we just threw a bunch of product in our car and got some bags of ice to bring along.' Now this may be a bit harsh, as I'm not sure they have the capability to keg their beer, but the thought remained the same likely due to their being one of the only breweries (quite possibly the only brewery) serving in that fashion.