Finback Brewery (2020)

Patience is a virtue my HZP friend, forget you have them and wait a couple of weeks to drink again.

 

The fact that none of these myriad Finback beers with coconut lately have made it upstate is filling me with near-nuclear levels of rage and sadness.

 

They are shipping, in the event those feelings become overwhelming: https://www.toasttab.com/finback-ship/v3.

 

Been holding out on shipping in case Smooth Beats Miami for some reason doesn't make it up here so that I can buy a full case of it.

 

I'm not sure how far upstate you are, but Half Time in poughkeepsie has had a good number of finback's stuff. They definitely had smooth beats, and they should be getting fat mango this week.

At the risk of lighting a fire, I haven't really been tipping at established breweries.

Using EQ as an example. The beers sell out within 24 hours of getting posted. It's gotten to the point where I show up and have to give them my name and tell them I have 3-4 orders. I'll throw a couple bucks into their cup bc I feel like an asshole for making the workers have to find my multiple orders, but the fact that it is necessary to do this is indicative of success. There's also always a line at EQ whenever I go. When beer is selling out so quickly because your customer base is suddenly the entire state, I have a hard time buying that the business is struggling due to corona.

Maybe I'm coming across as cheap, but I don't feel the need to tip the finback's, Suarez, equilibriums, Hudson valleys when business is apparently booming.

Now the small local spots or the people that have been unfortunate enough to open up during the pandemic is another story. I just ordered two growlers from a small newish local brewery that came to my house to pick up growlers and will fill them and bring them back. I'll be sure to leave him a nice tip to support the startup.

 

Really enjoying the 6th anniversary. Insanely pungent. Wouldn’t have any idea this is 10% if it wasn’t for the thicccness.

Picked up some fat mango, rolling in clouds and something blanc today. Something blanc is another great iteration of this series.

 

Six is awesome.

 

Not looking to get into a tipping debate here and you clearly have good intentions, I would just say that a brewery selling out of cans and/or bottles doesn't necessarily mean they're doing great.

Places like EQ, Suarez, HV also do a fair amount of business with kegs -- both on draft at their own spot and sending those kegs to beer bars or top-end beer stores. The markup on draft beer is markedly higher than on cans or bottles, so when those revenue streams take a hit -- and they are, for everyone, no matter how popular the brewery -- they're gonna feel it.

I don't think EQ, HV, Suarez or any place like that is in trouble (and many of NYs breweries will be open for business again starting in less than three weeks barring setbacks) but they could certainly still use your tip money too.

 

As someone who works for one of these "established breweries," whose pay largely comprises and depends on tip monies, I appreciate you saying this.

 

Brainlyzer is a hop bomb, good but very green with lots of hop burn, taste like a triple. I think it will be very good after sitting for a week or two.

 

So is Brainlyzer a buy?

 

I have more beer than I need, but every beer I have had from Finback during pandemic has ranged from very good to great, I am going to order couple of 4 packs, no reason to stop now. Untappd ratings good too.

 

It punches you in the mouth, but I liked it. I liked Whale Watching & O20 better though. I really think it needs time to be fair. The good news their beers usually last for a bit.

 

I think 6th anniversary will hit its sweet spot around July 2022

 

Definitely agree with this. A bit harsh on the back end but hopefully it rounds out with a little time.

 

Just finished watching "Lisa vs 8th Commandment"... great fight!

 

Lol. Classic one.

Two Tuesdays is great btw. I’m kinda kicking myself for getting 2 Brainalyzer and only 1 Two Tuesdays. “If I could turn back the clock, I’d certainly reconsider.”

 

Tried it last night and absolutely loved it. I am actually a fan of the slight harshness. Finback is definitely on a roll.

 

I've only recently been picking up Finback cans on a regular basis (woohoo new BK location!) and I really loved Osc 20 and 6th so was kind of bummed by the burn on Brainalyzer when I cracked open the first can last night. I hope y'all are right about the mellow action, as I can't think of any beers I'd had in the past with that kind of burn that mellowed out that much.

 

When I picked my up I asked what's in it? I was told everything they had extra of, he went on to name 6 or 7 hops and said he's also forgetting some others.