Finch Tacocat 6Pk

Finch Tacocat 6Pk is a wheat-forward American kettle sour ale from Chicago's Finch Beer Co., coming in at 5% ABV and 10 IBU. This session-strength sour earned a 3.86 rating on BeerAdvocate and accumulated over 14,800 ratings on Untappd, building a devoted following among sour beer fans in the Midwest and beyond. Note that Tacocat has been discontinued by the brewery, making remaining stock increasingly scarce.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5%  |  IBU: 10  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: American Kettle Sour  |  Brewery: Finch Beer Co.

Production & Heritage

Finch Beer Co. operated out of 1800 W. Walnut Street in Chicago, Illinois, producing a range of ales that leaned into bold, approachable styles. Tacocat was brewed using a kettle sour process: unfermented wort was inoculated with lactobacillus directly in the kettle, then reheated after several hours to kill the bacteria while preserving the clean, sharp tartness it produced. This method yields an exceptionally clean sourness without the funkier, more unpredictable character associated with barrel-aged wild ales. The wheat-forward grain bill gives Tacocat its body and soft mouthfeel, keeping the beer sessionable at just 5% ABV.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Faint but pungent citrus leads the nose — think the last sour candy at the bottom of the bag. Behind that, notes of sweet-tart candy and candy sugar emerge, along with a gentle lemon peel brightness.

Taste: The entry is immediately tart with a clean, lactic bite. Mid-palate brings pleasant waves of peach, tangerine, and white grape that soften the acidity. The wheat base adds a light, creamy texture that rounds out the fruit-forward tartness without weighing it down.

Finish: Crisp and refreshing, with the tartness fading quickly and cleanly. A faint citrus echo lingers briefly, inviting the next sip rather than demanding a palate reset.

How to Drink Tacocat

Tacocat drinks best cold, straight from the can or poured into a tulip glass to concentrate its citrus aromatics. Its low ABV and clean sourness also make it a surprisingly versatile ingredient in beer cocktails. A Berliner Weisse-style shandy works well — combine Tacocat with a splash of raspberry or woodruff syrup for a classic German approach. Try it in a Michelada, where the tartness replaces the usual lime juice and plays well against hot sauce and tomato. It also shines in a Beer Mimosa, mixed half-and-half with fresh orange juice, since the tangerine and peach notes integrate naturally with citrus.

Best For

• Warm-weather sessions on a patio or rooftop
• Introducing sour beer to friends who prefer lighter, fruit-forward styles
• Pairing with brunch dishes like eggs Benedict or smoked salmon
• Collecting a discontinued Chicago craft beer with a loyal following

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Tacocat taste like? Tacocat delivers a clean, lactic tartness layered with peach, tangerine, and white grape flavors over a soft, wheat-forward body. It finishes crisp and refreshing with lingering citrus.

How does Tacocat compare to Revolution Freedom of the Press? Both are Chicago-brewed session sours, but Tacocat leans more heavily into stone fruit and candy-like sweetness, while Revolution's Freedom of the Press tends toward a drier, more herbaceous tartness. At similar ABVs, both are sessionable, though Tacocat's kettle sour method produces a notably cleaner acidity.

Is Tacocat good for sour beer beginners? Yes — the kettle sour process creates a very approachable tartness without the funkiness of wild-fermented sours, and the 5% ABV keeps it light and easy to drink.

Where is Tacocat made? Tacocat was brewed by Finch Beer Co. at their facility on West Walnut Street in Chicago, Illinois. The brewery has since ceased production, making this a discontinued release.

What foods pair well with Tacocat? Its tartness and fruit character pair well with goat cheese salads (acidity mirrors the tang of the cheese), fish tacos (citrus notes complement lime and cilantro), Thai green curry (the wheat body tempers spice), fresh fruit tarts (peach and tangerine echo the dessert), and charcuterie boards with mild, creamy cheeses.

What sizes does Tacocat come in? Tacocat was primarily available in 6-packs of 12 oz cans, which is the standard format for this release.

Is Tacocat worth the price? Tacocat positioned itself as an affordable, entry-level craft sour — competitive with other session sours in the Chicago market. As a discontinued beer, remaining stock may carry additional value for collectors and fans of the brewery.

Why Tacocat?

What separated Tacocat from the crowded session sour field was the precision of its kettle sour process. By inoculating wort with lactobacillus and then halting fermentation through reheating, Finch Beer Co. achieved a tartness that was remarkably clean — no off-flavors, no unwanted funk, just bright, focused acidity balanced by wheat softness and ripe stone fruit. With the brewery now closed, Tacocat stands as one of Chicago's more memorable contributions to the American sour ale movement. For anyone who appreciates a well-executed kettle sour, remaining bottles represent a chance to taste a beer that quietly earned thousands of positive reviews before disappearing from production.