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Rating: 4.75
Location: Downers Grove, IL
Founded: 2021
Last visited: May 2025
Goldfinger specializes in brewing lagers and because of their meticulous approach, they only have a handful of beers available on tap. When we visited, they offered five beers. It would be a mistake, however, to conclude that the relatively small number of beers on tap represents a shortfall in beer quality. These folks know what they’re doing.
The taproom is tidy and spacious; the patio area looks like a comfortable gathering place. The brewing and fermentation tanks are on display from the taproom.
BEER:
Black Lager (5.00) – Deep, dark amber appearance. Bold, full, malty character. Caramel notes a big contributor. Residual sweetness is a great balancer. Smooth and easy to drink. Excellent example of style.5
Dortmunder (4.00) – Yellow straw appearance. Somewhat lighter bodied than expected. Highly drinkable. Hop bitterness very well balanced.
Heller Bock (4.75) – Light, amber pale appearance. Full-bodied, super malty lager. Malty sweetness dominates. Hop bitterness not an important aspect. At 34 IBU, bitterness at the high end of the range for this style. Well balanced with the grain bill. 7% ABV well concealed, hardly evident. Outstanding example of style.
Maibock (4.75) – Big, sweet malty lager. Hop bitterness takes a back seat, but is more than just a mere passenger in this beer. 7% ABV lurks in the background.
Original Lager (4.00) – Straw colored lager, medium-bodied and made for drinking. Hop bitterness is subtle and almost hidden and is evident only in the aftertaste.
Pils (5.00) – Bright, straw colored pilsner. Fresh, crisp flavor. Aggressively bittered, as appropriate. Excellent, bready mouthfeel. As good as any pilsner brewed in Germany.
Polotmavy Half Dark Czech Lager (5.00) – Dark amber appearance. The half dark designation distinguishes this beer from a typical Czech Dark Lager, which has a far more powerful mouthfeel. The beer has a somewhat lighter character, if possible. Caramel character and sweetness are defining aspects. Saaz hops provide an excellent balance to the flavor profile. Easy to drink a lot of this beer.
Vienna Lager (4.50) – Copper colored lager. Roasted and caramel malts in play, but probably needs more. Excellent balance between malty sweetness and hop bitterness.
Złotonator Doppelbock (5.00) – Deep amber color. Full-bodied, massive malt character. Malt sweetness is the big player in the flavor profile. 7.8% ABV concealed expertly.
FOOD:
Large Bavarian pretzels are available, along with other snacks.