We've gone through a lot of kegs since building ourselves a two tap kegerator for Bespoke Post HQ.
Since there are so many craft breweries in the U.S., we've got an absurd number of choices for what beers to order. We've done a saison from The Bruery, a terrifically bitter IPA from Wormtown Brewery, a smoked pilsner from Evil Twin, and a bunch more. And there's a nearly endless list of other brews we want to try.
Despite all those choices, though, we keep ordering keg after keg from one knockout new contender: Finback Brewery.
After years of home brewing, the co-founders Kevin and Basil decided to go pro. After setting up a 25 barrel brewhouse in a quiet part of Queens, they released their first batches in early 2014 — and have been knocking it out of the park ever since. Their uniquely spiced wits and puckering sours have been our favorites, but even their more traditional offerings, like this Finback IPA, are plenty impressive.
They're still a relatively small operation, so sadly, you won't be able to find their offerings outside of NYC. But if you're in town, make a point to seek them out — you'll be glad you did.
Appearance - Hazy golden orange.
Smell - Orange pith and cracker-y malts.
Taste - A mild dose of citrusy hop flavor along with a slight floral note. After that comes a bright and lingering bitterness that you'd expect in an IPA, but it's not overly intense and has a nice orange-y tinge.
Mouthfeel - Bubbly and tongue-coating. The bitter citrus flavors really stick to your mouth (in a good way).
Overall - This keg is going to be gone in, like, two days. The orange-y citrus notes are well balanced with bracing hoppy bitterness, and the pale malts give it a nice, light base despite all the big hop flavors. It's juicy like Cigar City's Jai Alai and The Alchemist's Heady Topper, but with a bit more upfront bitterness.
90/100
If you're in New York, check here to see where it's pouring and go get yourself a pint. Or stop by the brewery and get it direct from the source.