Cut Throat - Finch's Beer Co.

JayQue

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A light, crisp Pale Ale. Good summertime drink/thirst quencher. Nothing great here. Poured from a 16 oz can into a pint glass. Unusual hazy orange color, looks like unpasturized apple cider. Fairly good size slightly off-white head with good retention and thick lacing.

Aroma is light citrus hops, fairly pronounced. Fairly pleasant. Flavor is weaker than the aroma. Flavors are not that strong. There are some floral hops/citrus hops. A fairly good balance between hops and malts. THere is a slightly odd aftertaste, maybe a bit too yeasty or too much orange zest. Not really a problem, but a bit "off".

Mouthfeel is crisp but a bit too light. THere are better APAs out there but this one is not bad at all.

Serving type: can

05-22-2013 00:39:09 | More by JayQue

BeerNotes

Ohio

3.76/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: Slightly hazy, dark gold, with an orange tint. Moderate off-white head with decent lacing.

S: Bready citrus with a hop back. Nice balance on the nose.

T: Flavor is slightly weaker than the aroma. The malt comes through a lot more; hops a little less. Yeast plays a prominent role in the finish.

M: Medium body with moderate carbonation. Nice, dry finish.

O: Pretty solid pale ale; nothing extraordinary, but refreshing. The orange peel addition is apparent, and a really nice hop enhancer. Really well-balanced, but the amount of yeast flavor at the end is slightly off-putting. It doesn’t detract from the drinkability of the beer at all, but it’s the only noticeable flavor that doesn’t seem to belong. I’ve had this beer a handful of times before without any yeasty finish, which makes me think the issue is isolated to this batch.

Serving type: can

04-21-2013 18:13:21 | More by BeerNotes

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.49/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

- ale brewed with sweet orange peels.

A: Dark orange candy glow against backlighting shows a dense nature full of turbidity and active effervesce. The head is 2 inches plus, plush, with a memory foam like texture and coloring. Head retention is very strong and sturdy, degrading into a pitted foam structure. Heavy lace appeal.

S: Sweet orange peel and candy like sweetness.

T: Soft hay and grains mixing with orange-caramel. Dry grains and caramel, orange-citrus hops, floral with a good level of hoppiness closing things out. The sweetness of the orange peels peek out as well the caramel and honey toasted malt. Small dryness of toasted grain and alcohol .

M: Creamy mouthful, honey malt, sweetly toasted with a good vibe of carbonaiton. Flowery glow of hoppiness, and balance of sweetness hits the taste buds while a warm glow of sweet dry floral hops comes on the swallow.

O: Overall sweet, dry floral hoppiness mixes well with sweet roange peel and good malt support. Solid mid B range, not your typical west coast pale offering.

4.25 3.25 3.5 3.75 3.5

Serving type: can

04-10-2013 00:30:13 | More by beerthulhu

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Pours a lightly hazy orange-ish color with an off white head. In the aroma, sweet orange peel with hop notes. In the taste, it starts pine like hops to sweet orange peel to dryer pine hop notes. A small hop bite and a medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a dry pine with sweet orange citrus notes in the aftertaste. Nice balance with a mix of hops.

Serving type: can

01-21-2013 17:00:36 | More by OWSLEY069

SerialHiker

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a cloudy golden orange…very nice color…sediment floating all about…a thin layer of head formed but didn’t last long…some bubble action happening in the middle…(3/5)

Smell: Tons of pale malts…I do smell the orange peel zest but it’s very mild…earthy, mild citrus hops are very light…not overly aromatic…a fairly straight forward pale ale…(3/5)

Taste: Tons of fresh pale malts…very crisp flavor…there is a spiciness to it…a pretty straight forward pale ale through out…earthy and citrus hops add some bitterness and definitely play background (and balance) to all the malt flavor…the finish is really the first and only introduction to the orange peel…bitterness in the after taste…(3.5/5)

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body…lightly carbonated…a wet feel on the tongue…crisp, fresh and refreshing…(3.5/5)

Overall: A solid pale ale that’s good, but has nothing overly special about it…I wouldn’t even say there’s something missing, what they went for, they achieved, it’s just unfortunate mediocrity that was the goal…it is crisp and drinkable, so it’s worth trying once, but i doubt this is anybody’s favorite brew…(3.25/5)

Serving type: can

12-20-2012 02:48:12 | More by SerialHiker

barczar

Kentucky

3.7/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a murky light copper with a solid half inch cream head that leaves thick lacing. There are floaties.

Caramel and toasted malt accompany grapefruit and resin in the aroma. There's a hint of pine.

The backbone of the flavor is moderately toasted bready malt, with a touch of caramel and brown sugar sweetness. There's a strong underpinning of citrus hop character. Grapefruit, tart tangerine, floral hops, and lime hit mid palate, followed by a resiny dry, slightly bitter finish.

Body is moderate, with carbonation a touch on the high side, and a bit of astringency.

Overall, a bit more citrus than anticipated in the flavor. Not very complex hop profile, but a decent brew.

Serving type: can

12-20-2012 00:43:57 | More by barczar

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.2/5  rDev -35.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Bottle from Binny’s next to Goose Island Clybourn. Served in a sampler glass. Pours a copper-amber with a white head and a bit of lacing. The nose brings a bit of citrus peel and citrus hops. Bread and grain notes in the background. A bit dull. Flavor is similar. A bit too grainy and the citrus is a bit off. Too much of the malt backbone as well. Medium body and dry. A bit bitter. Just okay.

Serving type: can

12-15-2012 18:42:03 | More by Thorpe429

beer2day

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +24.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Hazy orange pour with 2 fingers unforced cream head. Slight retention and vertical lace strands.

Nose is orange peel. Lots of orange peel. Lighter citrus notes and touch of bread malt. Orange peel is very nice, though.

Taste follows the nose. A bit more citrus and a stronger malt profile than the nose suggests, but lots of orange peel. Some light tartness in the finish, but mostly sweet orange. A good bit of flavor balanced against a relatively low abv.

Body is a bit on the thick side, especially for a pale. Creamy smooth.

Overall, I like this a lot. If this was available in the area, I'd drink quite a bit.

Serving type: can

12-11-2012 02:42:11 | More by beer2day

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to the creator of the canquest, woodychandler, for this beer. Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a dark golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is hoppy, citrus fruits. Taste is hops up front, a bit of citrus, some malts at the finish. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall is an easy drinking pale ale.

Serving type: can

11-20-2012 01:10:27 | More by tone77

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Cloudy amber color. Large head of foam and froth. Laces quite well. Quite dark for an APA.

S-Citrus peel, a bit of sun-dried grass and grapefruit. Big citrus rind/peel whiffs. Well hopped, but I am not sure if I like the overall aroma. Lighter malted tones. Wet biscuit.

T-The citrus peel develops on the palate. It becomes reasonably bitter. Hops turn herbal and a bit earthen. Pretty good balance and the flavors are certainly unique.

M-Lively carbonation. Medium bodied. Moderate bitterness. Fairly drinkable.

O/D-Had its moments with me. A fresh take on the APA. Balanced and uniquely hopped and flavored. I am just not too sure if I love how all the flavors came together in the end.

Serving type: can

11-13-2012 14:27:41 | More by VelvetExtract

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Gets at least a 3.5 on this. Not sure what it looks like since I drank it out of the can but it seemed carbonated enough.

S - Bitter orange peel and citrus hops with bready malt backbone and pale malts.

T - Well it is refreshing. Sort of like a pale IPA. Not getting much orange peel which is a good thing since that can get pretty bitter. Enjoyable pounder.

M - Light to medium. Easy to drink.

Seems not very balanced and king of boring even with the orange peel going on. The almost 3 dollars a single kind of puts it off too.

Serving type: can

11-09-2012 02:13:40 | More by DrDemento456

Gavage

New Jersey

3.08/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: cloudy orange in color with a 1/2" head. No lace develops.

Smell: caramel, and a hint of pine and grapefruit come through to the nose.

Taste: caramel, orange, soft grapefrut, some earthiness, a hint of pine, and a moderate bitterness create a decent IPA.

Mouthfeel: light-medium bodied beer. Lightly crisp throughout with some dryness arriving late.

Overall: an IPA that feels a bit lighter than others in the mouthfeel, and has a flavor profile that is mild and not too adventurous.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2012 00:55:34 | More by Gavage

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer #1 in my great Illinois Brew Hunt.

This is somewhat spicy from the hops. Bready thing going on and making the body a bit thick. Could be a little more rounded and defined. And I don't really get any sweet orange peel on this. I mean there is a sweet tone, but I don't know if that is the orange peel or a malty thing. Maybe it's the orange thing.

Anyways. It's a pretty decent pale ale. If not a little too thick for its own good, and the carbonation is a bit too biting. But it's a good way to start things off in Chicago. What's next?

Serving type: can

10-16-2012 14:45:37 | More by RblWthACoz

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a perfect pint.

4.5 A: Murky dark orange brownish color. Two and a half fingers of frothy/creamy beige head. Retention is good and a tall ring of lacing is left.

3.5 S: Big breadiness with a malt-forward backbone. Caramel, neutral malt sweetness, and orange from the citrusy hops. Lots of yeast.

3.5 T: Taste is similar to the nose. Lots of yeast with a good balance between hops and malts. Caramel, neutral sweetness, breadiness. Citrusy orange and floral hops.

3.5 M: Heavier medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Light creaminess. Chewy from the yeast.

3.5 D: Good beer. A little yeasty, but good overall. Quite balanced.

Serving type: can

10-10-2012 20:42:28 | More by DavoleBomb

CFHMagnet

Ohio

3.28/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Aggressive pour yields a half finger of thin head. Body is golden orange with a good amount of bubbles rising to the top. No lacing to note.

Smell is sweet and tropical. Mangoes and mandarin oranges play around with lightly caramelized sugar notes. A hint of syrupy pine rears its head, then the tropical party comes back with oranges, grapefruit and pineapple.

The flavor is rather disappointing after what the nose promised. Weak sweet grass starts off, then dives into generic pine and grapefruit.

Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied. It's rather watery and the carbonation is weak.

Serving type: can

09-03-2012 18:12:31 | More by CFHMagnet

merc7186

New York

3.4/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this beer poured from a 16oz can into a pint glass.

A: Hazy Amber/Golden Straw Hue, Passes Mild Light, Light Off White Head Ring, Mild Lacing

S: Sweet Malts, Mild Piney

T: Sweet Malts, Bready, Piney

M: Average Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Sweet, Mildly Drying

Overall, an average pale ale with a heavy malt base. Drinkable but not a chaser.

Serving type: can

08-25-2012 00:49:34 | More by merc7186

superspak

Michigan

3.63/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16 ounce can into imperial pint glass, no canning date. Pours very hazy and cloudy golden orange color with a 2 finger foamy off white head with very good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Some minimal spotty lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of big orange peel, lemon zest, grapefruit, floral, pine, caramel, grass, and herbal. Pretty good aromas with good strength and balance. Taste of grapefruit, pine, orange peel, lemon zest, floral, caramel, grass, bread, and herbal spiciness. Good amount of spicy pine bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus, pine, caramel, floral, bread, and herbal spiciness on the finish for a short bit. Good flavor balance; with a good hop/malt balance as well. No cloying flavors, and quite crisp and dry on the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a lightly creamy and very crisp mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with pretty much zero warming noticed at all. Overall this is a good pale ale. Good amount of flavor and balance; very crisp and easy to drink. Smooth and quite enjoyable.

Serving type: can

08-17-2012 04:23:10 | More by superspak

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A can into a pint glass, another new brewery coming to Philly, cheers!

Cut Throat pours out a lighter shade of orange with some light bronze highlights. A decent amount of bright white foam on top leaving significant stick. Nice looking, active. Smell is on the citrusy side with orange, marmalade, fresh cut grass, and some lemon. A pale malt backing. First few sips an explosion on the mouth, there is certainly some flavor here. A nice amount of citrus with the addition of orange peel with small pine and pale malt at the end. A certain activity on the tounge, a bitterness that lasts, and perhaps to much. Some astringency, not really digging the aftertaste. All in all a decent APA, a lot of flavor that does not round out like i hoped. I still would drink a can in a hot second though.

Serving type: can

08-14-2012 04:58:53 | More by onix1agr

PicoPapa

Connecticut

3.73/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

16oz can. Pours a cloudy, murky burnt orange with an inch of frothy white head. Lots of lacing. Aromas of orange, citrus hops,malts and tropical fruits. Taste is some citrus hops with orange peel and some bitterness at the end. A bit fruity with some malt flavor. Lots of carbonation and a tingly mouthfeel. Solid Pale Ale with a good amount of hops. Overall, worth having again.

Serving type: can

08-09-2012 03:50:25 | More by PicoPapa

KTCamm

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 16 ounce can into a Sam perfect pint glass.

Pours hazy medium amber with fluffy white foam. Lots remaining and sticking everywhere. Hoppy malty nose, but unremarkable. Taste is a toffee blended malt with a tasty modestly bitter hop. Tasty, but lingers long after. The taste is better than the aftertaste which a minty bitter (a bitter mint?). Both good and not at the same time.

Serving type: can

08-04-2012 19:50:52 | More by KTCamm

cyclonece09

Virginia

3.58/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 16 oz can into a 14 oz "pint" glass. Pours an orangish strawish color with a small fluffy head with some staying power. Smells of sweet malt and some piney hops. Tastes of earthy notes with some sweet malty tones, but with a nice pale ale bitter finish. Light bodied beer is definitely an easy drinker and goes down extremely well. Overall, a very good beer.

Serving type: can

07-28-2012 02:34:18 | More by cyclonece09

SwarthmoreBev1

Pennsylvania

2.98/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This APA was nice to look at but it was a disappointment to drink. When poured into the glass, there was an orangish hue to the beer, which I account for the orange peel. The head was a nice touch and I was looking forward to drinking the beer.
When I drank it, I was looking for the orange nodes and didn't find them. It was a nice beer, but I wouldn't go out of the way to get it.

Serving type: can

07-27-2012 18:59:44 | More by SwarthmoreBev1

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.3/5  rDev +25.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

16 oz can poured into a Sierra Nevada imperial pint.
5.6% ABV, no date.

A - Finch's Beer cans are filled, basically to the brim, keeping oxygen out, but soaking the surroundings with a splash of beer when you crack the can open. Proceed with caution. This pale pours a robust golden orange color that's lightly hazed and topped by a hearty ivory beige head. Great suds retention eventually results in gobs of clumpy lace on the pint. Bottoms up!

S - Cut Throat isn't quite as aggressive as the name forebodes, but I'll be damned if it doesn't smell tasty! Opening with citrus notes from sweet orange peel as well as hops, this pale ale already leans towards the hoppy side. Cut lawn and earthy mulch pile add a different level to this beer that blends well with the balancing malt. Sweet caramel and flaky biscuit back it all up for a good, round, and inviting aroma.

T - Hop forward this pale ale indeed is. Citrus notes swap places with the earthy tones as this beer showcases more of that cut grass and mulch, reminding of working in the berm on a summer day. Biscuit and caramel malt follow behind, sure to balance without getting in the way, but I don't find much of the sweet orange peel coming through in the taste.

M - Moderate bitterness slakes the tongue adding a lingering dry finish that immediate draws you back for another sip. Hop-leaning but very well balanced, this medium-bodied pale has a bright carbonation tickle that livens things up for a pleasant experience on the palate.

O - Cut Throat Pale Ale is a pretty fantastic pale. The hop additions are nailed down nicely to come front and center without elevating the beer to an IPA-like level while subtle malt has no delusions of grandeur, content to provide a stable base for the deep hop exploration. Quite a sessionable pale ale, I must say.

Serving type: can

06-26-2012 23:36:30 | More by BeerFMAndy

trxxpaxxs

New York

3.08/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up on a recent trip through Ohio...

A: Pours a nice honey color with about a half finger of off-white head. The foam takes a little time to settles, but there isn't much lacing as it drinks.

S: The nose is a mix of malt, pine, and orange. The citrus and pine notes of the hops seem to want to jump out of this beer, but they are muted by the malt bill.

T: It starts out a bit sweet, and some bitterness starts to come on, but there is a massive astringent taste to this beer. It's really off putting. That nastiness sticks with it through to the finish and then the bitters linger forever.

M: Light to medium bodied beer. There is a bit of heft to this beer, but nothing crazy. Lasting bitterness in the finish.

O: I just can't get over that nasty acne medicine like taste. I'm sure this might be a decent brew on-tap, but I'm just not diggin' it in a can.

Serving type: can

06-24-2012 20:29:41 | More by trxxpaxxs

Arithmeticus

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured at cellar temp in hotel glass.

A: very cloudy dark orange; creamy froth, modest head
S: aroma of bitter spices
T: strong bitter orange flavor; rich and complex; quite bitter and not much malt profile (i.e., not very sweet); good hops; anise is strong

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality, given the average rating. A good mealy beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 22:58:19 | More by Arithmeticus