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Mastermind
Fiddlehead Brewing Company


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Fiddlehead Brewing Company
- Vermont, United States
- Style:
- New England IPA
Ranked #85 - ABV:
- 8.1%
- Score:
- 98
Ranked #367 - Avg:
- 4.43 | pDev: 8.35%
- Reviews:
- 188
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Monday at 02:58 AM
- Added:
- Sep 06, 2013
- Wants:
- 394
- Gots:
- 269
SCORE
98
World-Class
98
World-Class


Notes:
"Tropical fruit notes.Straw colored with a hazy glow. Pineapple and Cantaloupe are dominant characteristics. This beer finishes with a slight tartness.
"
"
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Ocalafox from Florida
4.71/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.71/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Pours a deeply hazy dulled lemon gold topped with a finger or so of creamy white head; retention is very good.
Huge pineapple, grapefruit, malt sweetness, tangerine, juicy fruit.
Dank and juicy... grapefruit, pineapple, and mango. Mild melon and more citrus.
M/O Another super drinkable juice bomb from Fiddlehead. Great flavor... super beer.
Monday at 02:58 AMHuge pineapple, grapefruit, malt sweetness, tangerine, juicy fruit.
Dank and juicy... grapefruit, pineapple, and mango. Mild melon and more citrus.
M/O Another super drinkable juice bomb from Fiddlehead. Great flavor... super beer.
Reviewed by brewandbbq from New Hampshire
4.3/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
16oz can dated 10/12/22.
Pours cloudy yellow with a moderate head and retention. Melon rind, pineapple, and blood orange in the. Medium bodied with a soft mouthfeel. Tangerine, pineapple, and unripe peach on the palate. Minimal malt or bitterness. Finishes fairly dry with lingering citrus.
Oct 23, 2022Pours cloudy yellow with a moderate head and retention. Melon rind, pineapple, and blood orange in the. Medium bodied with a soft mouthfeel. Tangerine, pineapple, and unripe peach on the palate. Minimal malt or bitterness. Finishes fairly dry with lingering citrus.
Reviewed by Siriusfisherman from Vermont
4.38/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.38/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
A very nice NEIPA. Very reminiscent of their flagship IPA but bigger, mellower, and with more lush tropical fruit flavors. It is very smooth and lacks any and all astringency, just juicy, clean hop flavor balanced by some light, bready malt flavor. Highly recommended.
Oct 23, 2022Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire
4.34/5 rDev -2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev -2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From a 16 ounce can dated 10/12/22. Sampled Oct 22, 2022. Pretty fresh.
The appearance is a pulpy, hazy light yellow color under a lingering white foamy head.
Inviting tropical aromas of orange, nectarine, pineapple, and passion fruit over a white bread base.
Medium-full mouthfeel.
The taste is sweet, bread but mostly tropical with a moderate bitter bite to finish. I'm not a huge fan of the style but this one seemed to hit me just right.
Oct 22, 2022The appearance is a pulpy, hazy light yellow color under a lingering white foamy head.
Inviting tropical aromas of orange, nectarine, pineapple, and passion fruit over a white bread base.
Medium-full mouthfeel.
The taste is sweet, bread but mostly tropical with a moderate bitter bite to finish. I'm not a huge fan of the style but this one seemed to hit me just right.
Reviewed by 1009 from Massachusetts
4.27/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Was set to order a Substance yesterday afternoon at my first trip to the Publik House in brookline, but saw an add for Mastermind on the wall above the pisser and changed my mind. Good call. This was delightful. Not overly hoppy, but had a good bite and paired lovely with a meat patty. It is similar to the regular Fiddlehead IPA, but this is definitely and higher quality libation.
Oct 02, 2022Reviewed by DavetotheB from Pennsylvania
4.28/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
On draft at the Pour House into an 11oz tulip.
Pours a hazy (opaque) light yellow with about one finger of white head. Ok retention, good lacing.
Smells of citrus, lemon, pine, pineapple.
Taste follows...pineapple, grapefruit, orange, pine.
Smooth, soft mouthfeel. Slight bitter aftertaste. Low to medium carbonation.
Well made brew. Not sure if it meets the rating here, but it's pretty darn good.
Sep 25, 2022Pours a hazy (opaque) light yellow with about one finger of white head. Ok retention, good lacing.
Smells of citrus, lemon, pine, pineapple.
Taste follows...pineapple, grapefruit, orange, pine.
Smooth, soft mouthfeel. Slight bitter aftertaste. Low to medium carbonation.
Well made brew. Not sure if it meets the rating here, but it's pretty darn good.
Reviewed by Specialmick from Connecticut
4.07/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.07/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Look...Hazy light yellow with some clarity. A white foamy head
Smell...Light hop and melon, with a hard cop citrus
Taste...melon hop bitter. a fruity explosion relinquished by his bitter cousin the hop. An ample fruit inherent but a bitter onion drying with the finish robbing the beer of a sweet aftertaste.
Feel...Prickly sufficient carbonation causing a pulpy but thin enough juice. Lacing on the glass is apparent throughout entire beer.
Overall...I love Fiddlehead Brewing's single IPA. It seems I gave it a lower rating and I think that opinion has changed...Anyways this is a solid juicy double IPA. The single IPA grew on me a lot and since this is only the third one I have had I am going to need a continued evaluation on this. HAHA
Aug 25, 2022Smell...Light hop and melon, with a hard cop citrus
Taste...melon hop bitter. a fruity explosion relinquished by his bitter cousin the hop. An ample fruit inherent but a bitter onion drying with the finish robbing the beer of a sweet aftertaste.
Feel...Prickly sufficient carbonation causing a pulpy but thin enough juice. Lacing on the glass is apparent throughout entire beer.
Overall...I love Fiddlehead Brewing's single IPA. It seems I gave it a lower rating and I think that opinion has changed...Anyways this is a solid juicy double IPA. The single IPA grew on me a lot and since this is only the third one I have had I am going to need a continued evaluation on this. HAHA
Rated by brewme from Massachusetts
4.25/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Picked-up two four-packs of cans at Bradford's in Plymouth for about fifteen dollars each. My fourth brew reviewed from these guys. Good, not great.
Jun 11, 2022Reviewed by harrypowers from Massachusetts
4.46/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a hazy light yellow with a small smooth head and a lot of lacing.
Smells of grassy floral hops, citrus and sweet fruit.
Tastes of slightly tart grapefruit, lemon, pineapple, mango and melon with a slightly bitter finish.
Medium light body with light prickly carbonation. Light dry mouthfeel.
This is a complex but not overpowering NEIPA that is mildly tart and bitter overall with sweeter tastes that come out as your glass warms.
Delicious!
Jun 04, 2022Smells of grassy floral hops, citrus and sweet fruit.
Tastes of slightly tart grapefruit, lemon, pineapple, mango and melon with a slightly bitter finish.
Medium light body with light prickly carbonation. Light dry mouthfeel.
This is a complex but not overpowering NEIPA that is mildly tart and bitter overall with sweeter tastes that come out as your glass warms.
Delicious!
Reviewed by Holderness from Massachusetts
3.58/5 rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
Canned 2 weeks ago. Kind of curious appearance -- it's hazy but also very pale, almost milky like lemon juice. Aromas and flavors were a bit of a let down. A fairly straightforward dank/citrus hop profile with a light tartness from the seemingly wheat-heavy malt bill. Crisp, oily mouthfeel
72/100
Jun 03, 202272/100
Reviewed by MichaelInMA from Massachusetts
4.86/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
4.86/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
On the first smell and taste, I thought this was a fruit beer. The tap just said, "Fiddlehead IPA". It did not match their IPA or any regular IPA. I had to look it up on BA. However, it did match this one which is a New England IPA. I guess that is close enough. The bartender did not know what they had. He thought it was a plain IPA.
It is hazy to the point of being opaque. It was white under the light at the bar. I marked down look because there was no head. Being a high alcohol beer, you did not notice the alcohol. Smell, taste, and feel made up for lack of head.
Apr 15, 2022It is hazy to the point of being opaque. It was white under the light at the bar. I marked down look because there was no head. Being a high alcohol beer, you did not notice the alcohol. Smell, taste, and feel made up for lack of head.
Reviewed by malrubius from Vermont
4.2/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.2/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Can. Very pale opaque like a witbier with lasting dense head and lace. Lemon custard aroma. Medium sweet with medium-light citrus grapefruit dry finish. Medium-heavy very soft body. Excellent for style, but not my favorite style by a longshot.
Nov 10, 2021Reviewed by ajcuster89 from Vermont
4.69/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.69/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Batch 1 (the black and white can on this page) was one of those magical beers where you'll never forget what you were doing when you drank it. Popped into FH on a whim and split a case with a friend. If I had known how good it would be I would have bought their stock. An incredible beer. Don't know why subsequent batches haven't tasted that magical to me since, but Batch 1 was one for the ages. I'll keep coming back.
Mar 25, 2021Reviewed by rmp5458 from Pennsylvania
4.69/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
4.69/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
Pours a milky yellow green in the glass. Smells like sour cantaloupe, but in a fresh way. Taste follows suit. Extremely enjoyable and crushable DIPA
Oct 15, 2020
Mastermind from Fiddlehead Brewing Company
Beer rating:
98 out of
100 with
1503 ratings
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