This used to be my go to beer until they stopped producing the 12 packs of cans. They've started to can again so I picked up a 12 pack. I'm just curious as to whether or not the recipe has changed since the brewery went through some financial issues. It doesn't taste like I remembered, like they're using a different hop bill in it now. Anyone else notice a difference or is it just me? I used to love the stuff but I have to say I'm not loving it based on this 12 pack. (Yeah, the title should be Smuttynose not Smuttnose lol)
I bought one 12pack of 12oz cans maybe 2 months ago. Tasted like same ol' finestkind to me. Thought it was delicious. Is your 12pk fairly fresh? I actually think FK holds up pretty well.
Not as fresh as I'd prefer, the date on the cans is 8/29/2018. It has a much danker taste than I remember, and it was my go to beer for years.
Hmm.. dunno. It's hard to say. I always liked FinestKind because it was a fairly dank beer. Maybe palate changes? Maybe something just off. Dunno. I'm sure I'll purchase it again in the next few months so I'll let you know.
Yeah, I'll try it again for sure. I always thought FK was a delicious beer myself, just not getting the vibe from this batch. So after FK stopped canning, my go to beer became Founders Centennial so you're right, perhaps my palate changed.
FinestKind has often been inconsistent, even given freshness. I had a 12 pack of bottles a month ago that was dated early September & it was pretty tasty - the familiar grapefruit up front backed by some dank & pine at the back end. Haven’t seen cans in ages, I assumed they stopped offering in that format.
It was inconsistent from the start. I actually thought it had become the most consistent it had ever been around a year before the known financial struggles. At that point it was different than my early memory but damn good. Still a semi frequent buy.
That's what's missing - the grapefruit front end now that you mention it. Now it's just kind of dank and lacks the piney accent. It's also a lot clearer than it used to be and the mouth feel is a lot thinner, just doesn't taste like the same beer I used to love. The current product doesn't jive with my original review: This poured a nice hazy orange-amber color with a lovely head that lasts a while. The aroma is citrusy, fruity, very pleasant and enticing. This is a finely balanced IPA with none of the over-the-top hopping that characterizes so many American IPA's. Though the hops are the predominating attraction, there's enough of a malt backbone to balance the whole affair very nicely. Left a nice laciness down the side of the glass due to it's medium body. Thoroughly enjoyable and a nice session brew. 10/20/2016 - Here it is, 12 years after I posted this review and Finest Kind is still my go to beer. I think it's the most satisfying, balanced IPA and it's still priced reasonably. For me it never fails to satisfy. Great mouthfeel - almost chewy, and the balance of the malt and hops is spot on. I was looking forward to the return of FK in cans but have to say I'm pretty disappointed with it.
My final thoughts after drinking several cans, I really don't like it. Something has definitely changed in this beer, it's really not very pleasant to drink anymore. This will probably be the last 12 pack I buy, it pretty much sucks now, a totally different tasting beer than it used to be.
You're drinking an IPA almost 3 months old. Who the hell knows how it was stored during this time period? Find it fresher and then start comparing to previous years, IMO.
