Finch’s Beer Co. Hardcore Chimera

Finch’s Beer Co. Hardcore Chimera is an American Double/Imperial IPA. 9% ABV. Best by date of 5/26/16, opened on 06/02/16. Well, it turns out the four pack I picked up was already a few days past it’s best by date, but I just could not resist a beer that pays homage to Iron Maiden in the design!

The beer pours with a deep caramel color with some light gold highlights near the edge of my glass. The aroma is malty and sweet; also getting some sugary fruit that I will guess was more of a bright tropical fruit when the can was a little fresher. This does taste just a touch old, but it really isn’t drinking that bad at all. Sweet upfront with a large amount of orange flavor, tasting some dry grain and cracker malt next before a pine hop bitterness brings up the rear.

I generally prefer to try a reasonably fresh beer for review purposes, but this was only slightly out of date. Since it has seems to have held up so well, I thought that was worth celebrating!