Goldfinger Brewing (2023)

That would be a hell of a collab..

 

I'm just excited because I've never had the chance to try anything from JA.

 

FWIW -- focused on another can for a review this afternoon and no DMS nose from this one. Go figure.

Character is still outstanding -- down to a mellow grape nose that is often apparent in fresh Bavarian lagers.

 

I've been craving Helles lagers like crazy so I compared four different local versions at once to see which ones I liked the most. It wasn't a blind tasting, but I have no serious favorites out of all these (my heart lies with Roaring table) so these were relatively non-subjective. In order of my favorites:
1. Goldfinger Original. Best by far in terms of flavorful bready character. Also clean and refreshing.
2. Maplewood - Tiger Mountain. Pretty close in pungent bready character, somewhat similar to GF, but not as flavorful.
3. Dovetail Helles. Really clean, but lacking the big bready note that others have. Getting more light oyster crackers on this one rather than big bread crust.
4. Art History - Good morning Munich. I got lemony fruit either from the hop addition or yeast character. It was a good beer, but almost as a hoppy helles rather than a traditional version.

 

Pungent probably isn't a good descriptor for what's supposed to be a clean and smooth style.

 

I've only had Goldfinger and Dovetail and thought they were both good but thought Goldfinger was close to being special. Had another one last night just to confirm my thoughts in my review.

 

For what it's worth I just completed a blind doppelbock tasting with these four doppels.

-Goldfinger
-Lakefront 35th Anniversary
-Mad Tree
-Wassatch

Lakefront was the clear winner...that's the real deal....closest thing to a German doppel from an American brewery I have had along with the New Glarus doppel from a year or so ago...would love to compare those two side by side..

Wassatch while ok was the clear last place selection.

I went back and forth on what turned out to be Goldfinger and Mad Tree before settling on Goldfinger by a slight margin for 2nd over Mad Tree...

 

@ZAP -- was the Goldfinger the Zlotonator?

If so, I definitely liked Lakefront's 35th better (I went back for a second six-pack), but I wouldn't walk away from either.

 

Yes indeed it was the Zlotonator...very good beer but that Lakefront is special...

 

Is that available in MN?

 

I don't think so. I had someone grab the Lakefront for me from Stevens Point...I got Goldfinger when someone else I knew went through Illinois.

 

Yeah, probably not. Small distro radius from Downers Grove, IL.

 

I had their Black Pilsner Saturday at Bottle Theory. Outstanding!

 

Not to be redundant but drinking another Goldfinger Original Lager and still loving it...

 

Collab with Live Oak?

 

I feel like you're Goldfinger Club Member #1.

Can you request Live Oak bring a few kegs of their stuff to the party?

 

Collaboration with Alter on tap, at Alter, as Goldfinger is closed today.
"German Style Pale Ale - 5.5% ABV Alter collaborated with Goldfinger to brew up a German inspired pale ale. Pilsner malt contributes the high quality malt you expect from German lagers, and the Mandarina Bavaria, Callista, and Saphir hops from Germany mimic the American Pale Ale shape, but with a Bavarian twist. Refined aromas of spice, sweet fruits, and spring flowers."
Crisp, yet fruity.

Took long enough for these neighbors to hook up.