Phin & Matt’s isn’t a bad beer–its flavor profile is just so subdued that it risks fading into Bolivian. Southern Tier makes a lot of outstanding brews. This ain’t one of them.
NOTES: Bottle at Aleheads Central Command
STYLE: American Pale Ale
ABV: 5.7%
APPEARANCE: Golden and hazy.
HEAD: Slight white head that dissipates quickly.
LACING: Trace amounts of white lacing.
NOSE: Like Slouch Six-Pack before a weekend road trip he won’t actually take, the smell of this beer over-promises. It has a great floral hop aroma with strong undertones of fruit and even wheat. Sadly, this tasting note goes downhill from here.
MOUTHFEEL: It has the medium body of an ordinary pale ale, but it’s above average in terms of carbonation.
TASTE: Way too mild for my tastes. It is like you took a can of Dale’s Pale Ale and added a can of seltzer. The carbonation drowns out what little distinctive flavor there is.
DRINKABILITY: Below average for a pale ale, due to the carbonation.
RATING: 2 Hops
ALEHEADS 
Amen.
Disappointed with this offering. Both the nose and the name over-promise.
Which begs the question: “What the fuck?” These are the guys who make the Unearthly and the Oak-Aged Unearthly. They know what they’re doing. They must know that Phin and Matt’s isn’t going to challenge our palette. It’s like they’re producing a tame ale with a catchy name to appeal to the average beer Joe.
Oh. Think I answered my own question.