Finback Brewery (2018)

1 case limit probably wasn't the best idea...

 

Got in line around 230. BQE sold out about 4 people in front of me. There was less than 10 cases left when I got my 3 4-packs.

No complaints about the purchase. However the service at the bar this afternoon was terrible. They know it's probably going to be packed for their 2nd anniversary party, they should have had one more person behind the bar or at least one person designated to pick up the empty glasses. The bartenders were running all around grabbing glasses to clean. At one point, there was no one behind the bar and easily 40+ people waiting for beers. I waited 35 minutes for my first beer. One of the biggest issues is the use of cards at the bar. The bartenders spent 1/2 their time looking for peoples cards and the other 1/2 the time cleaning up glasses.

 

Agreed. It was a mess at the bar. We picked up out bottles and cans while grabbing a couple tasters. After that the lines were so bad we just left.

 

Finback did the best with the limited setup... oscillation 4 tasting very nice.

 

and I'm definitely not blaming the bartenders at all. They had a rough time. A lot of people were there and they didn't have the resources to cover it all. They did a good job with what they had but it could have gone so much smoother. I noticed the same thing during the AB BQE release.

04 is definitely delicious. Glad I got a few 4-packs.

 

Also must say that Knoll was the biggest surprise for me today. What a great beer for the ABV. Would love to see them can this beer or Buddy System.

 

Having been too quiet a few finback releases before this was definitely unexpected and I believe they will do better in the future. That being said I am very glad they are getting this popular as they deserve it.

 

Was lucky enough to have a friend pick me up a 4 of Oscillation and a BQE, and this 004 is stupid good. I didn't get to try 003 but this blows 002 out of the water. Really danky, with a nice mango/almost honey dew finish that's just real clean. A pleasure to smell and drink.

 

I got a 32oz growler of Buddy System a few weeks ago and I loved it. Melon for days.
Finback is becoming like SingleCut to me. I've always enjoyed their IPAs and stouts, but I feel like they're really dialing it lately. Both breweries doing a killer job.

 

I was sitting at the bar from the get go and I thought the service was completely fine. They had 4 bartenders, at times 5 even. When the bar is packed so full of people all asking for a drink, or drinks it seemed like most of the time, it's going to get backed up. The crowd was so anxious they were blocking bar seats for patrons returning from the restroom, I found the attitudes to be abhorrent on the other side personally.

 

Might be best for them to lose the bar stools for events like this... Would make it much easier for everyone to come and go without obstruction.

 

This seems like the best idea. Waiting 30 minutes for a 3oz pour is not cool. Still had a great time though

 

They should've canned Smooth Beats Miami. Fantastic, interesting beer and sick label

 

Agree that they definitely should have removed the barstools. There were people who went up to get beer then just never moved. Kind of a dick move when you have a line of 5 people behind you.

 

I think that was part of the problem - the people sitting at the bar had no issues, it was the 4 rows of people behind you that couldn't get a drink.

They also should not have been filling growlers, if the bar is that busy you need to not be spending time filling multiple 64oz growlers. Still they did well for what they had - will definitely be at the 3rd year party. Also the sandwiches were amazing.

They did

 

Exactly this. And should be the case for anytime a bar gets busy. Confuses me that people sit at the exact space needed to order drinks.
You have to get in the middle of people's space and conversation to order. Hovering drinks over their shoulders and laps and hoping not to spill on them.

Of course the people sitting right at the bar had no problem getting a drink when they don't have to squeeze through and hover over people to order.

 

I didn't say I received attentive drink service just because I was sitting at the bar, in fact, I was in the same 10-20 minute wait period everyone else was. I just don't particularly think having more than 4-5 bartenders is at all feasible or even necessary. When you have that many people wanting to order drinks, with most ordering 3-5 little tasters, it's going to take awhile regardless. The bartenders were all certainly hustling.

 

As a short person I couldn't agree more. I don't know why bars don't leave a spot open.

 

Sounds like you guys haven't been to a bar before.

 

These Oscillation 004 cans are VERY good. Extremely Citra forward & dangerously drinkable at for 8.5%.