Mastermind
Fiddlehead Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- IPA - New England
Ranked #60 - ABV:
- 8.1%
- Score:
- 99
Ranked #247 - Avg:
- 4.46 | pDev: 8.3%
- Reviews:
- 177
- Ratings:
- From:
- Fiddlehead Brewing Company
- Vermont, United States
- Avail:
- Rotating/Seasonal
- Wants
- 390
- Gots
- 266
SCORE
99
World-Class
99
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.
"
"
Reviews: 177
| Ratings: 1,473
| Log in to view all ratings and sort
ajcuster89 from Indiana
4.69/5 rDev +5.2%
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, 2021
4.69/5 rDev +5.2%
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, 2021
rmp5458 from Pennsylvania
4.69/5 rDev +5.2%
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
4.69/5 rDev +5.2%
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
BillRoth from Maryland
4.49/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Picked up a pack at FBC. Excellent creamy full bodied IPA. Usual hazy quality and flavors, but considerably more rounded balanced and drinkable than many NEIPAs. Also melon came across nicely within usual tropical fruit suspects. Which is saying something when compared to other Vermont beers I was drinking that week. Standout.
Feb 04, 2020
4.49/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Picked up a pack at FBC. Excellent creamy full bodied IPA. Usual hazy quality and flavors, but considerably more rounded balanced and drinkable than many NEIPAs. Also melon came across nicely within usual tropical fruit suspects. Which is saying something when compared to other Vermont beers I was drinking that week. Standout.
Feb 04, 2020
Vidblain from Minnesota
4.25/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Draft pour at Fiddlehead - drank on 7/12/2019. A bit boozy and sharp - certainly not soft like your contemporary NE IPAs. A bit yeasty. Still, super tasty.
Sep 30, 2019
4.25/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Draft pour at Fiddlehead - drank on 7/12/2019. A bit boozy and sharp - certainly not soft like your contemporary NE IPAs. A bit yeasty. Still, super tasty.
Sep 30, 2019
soze47 from Massachusetts
4.03/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
One week old can poured into a wide jar glass. Remarkable light in color - an extremely hazy golden haze.
Very pineapple on the nose - almost a bit like the aroma you get from snapping the stem off of a fruit before skinning and chopping. Some more citrus and rind characters pop out as it warms.
Very fruity - melon, orange juice, and a slightly underripe pineapple. Semi-dry - not a bitter finish at all.
Good beer - really juicy and a very good example of a ne ipa that still has a bit of a linger to offset sweetness. But something nuanced is lacking - it could use a bit more yeast dryness.
Sep 22, 2019
4.03/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
One week old can poured into a wide jar glass. Remarkable light in color - an extremely hazy golden haze.
Very pineapple on the nose - almost a bit like the aroma you get from snapping the stem off of a fruit before skinning and chopping. Some more citrus and rind characters pop out as it warms.
Very fruity - melon, orange juice, and a slightly underripe pineapple. Semi-dry - not a bitter finish at all.
Good beer - really juicy and a very good example of a ne ipa that still has a bit of a linger to offset sweetness. But something nuanced is lacking - it could use a bit more yeast dryness.
Sep 22, 2019
BEERMILER12 from Maine
4.44/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A: Pours a hazy yellow color with 2 fingers of head that fades down to a thin cap that leaves good lacing
S: Citrus and pine up front along with lighter floral notes and some malt
T: Follows the nose. Starts off with some citrusy hops and moderate bitterness. Picks up some pine and floral notes as well as a balancing maltiness. Finishes with lingering citrus
M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation
O: A great NE DIPA that is super easy to drink, especially given the 8.1%. Quite mellow and balanced, which just adds to that. Definitely one to check out
Aug 15, 2019
4.44/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A: Pours a hazy yellow color with 2 fingers of head that fades down to a thin cap that leaves good lacing
S: Citrus and pine up front along with lighter floral notes and some malt
T: Follows the nose. Starts off with some citrusy hops and moderate bitterness. Picks up some pine and floral notes as well as a balancing maltiness. Finishes with lingering citrus
M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation
O: A great NE DIPA that is super easy to drink, especially given the 8.1%. Quite mellow and balanced, which just adds to that. Definitely one to check out
Aug 15, 2019
Dragginballs76 from South Carolina
4.31/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance - Pours bright opaque yellow with a thin white head settles to a rocky ring. No lacing.
Aroma - Nose is orange, earthy herbal hops, grapefruit
Taste - Taste is mostly orange nice balanced sweetness and light bitterness. Grassy hops and pineapple come out well, taste is sweeter than the nose let's on.
Feel - Medium bodied good carbonation little thinner than expected but I blame that on teh alcohol which you cannot find very well hidden.
Overall - I am fine with the nose great flavors little thin not much head.
Aug 07, 2019
4.31/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance - Pours bright opaque yellow with a thin white head settles to a rocky ring. No lacing.
Aroma - Nose is orange, earthy herbal hops, grapefruit
Taste - Taste is mostly orange nice balanced sweetness and light bitterness. Grassy hops and pineapple come out well, taste is sweeter than the nose let's on.
Feel - Medium bodied good carbonation little thinner than expected but I blame that on teh alcohol which you cannot find very well hidden.
Overall - I am fine with the nose great flavors little thin not much head.
Aug 07, 2019
dfillius from Iowa
4.55/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Canned 6/6/19, drank 7/5/19. Can has notation, “HarrisMillis”. Is this pineapple juice or a beer? Sweet, drinkable, super cloudy, pineapple juice colored and opaque like pineapple juice also. Would be nicer with more head. My first from fiddlehead and it won’t be my last!Thanks Warnerry!
Jul 06, 2019
4.55/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Canned 6/6/19, drank 7/5/19. Can has notation, “HarrisMillis”. Is this pineapple juice or a beer? Sweet, drinkable, super cloudy, pineapple juice colored and opaque like pineapple juice also. Would be nicer with more head. My first from fiddlehead and it won’t be my last!Thanks Warnerry!
Jul 06, 2019
JerzDevl2000 from New Jersey
3.2/5 rDev -28.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Traded for this beer a while ago, as it had the date of 6/24/16 on the bottom of the can with "C U @ SPAC" written underneath that. Unlike many of the beers that I've had in my cellar that I'm finally getting around to, this didn't hold up that well and I'm sure it would be a zillion times better fresh. I still vowed to review everything that I'm going through and this certainly won't be an exception to that rule!
Not crazy about the pour to this as the liquid was golden, topped with plenty of fast settling head, and left behind enough rings of lacing as I worked my way through this. A bit of sediment could be seen in the liquid but it wasn't as much as I would have originally thought. Both the aroma and taste were a mess here - skunked Citra, weed, Caramel Malt, urine, and evergreen made me feel like I walked in on a Phish concert (and no, I don't listen to them). Just too much going on here and not in a good way, as this felt heavy and old on the palate with not enough carbonation to keep things light...
Plenty of booze here and this felt much more stronger than it was an actuality. Someday, I'll get a new can of this and give it another go. For tonight, it was just another reminder of how I have more beer in this house than I can possibly keep up with...
May 13, 2019
3.2/5 rDev -28.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Traded for this beer a while ago, as it had the date of 6/24/16 on the bottom of the can with "C U @ SPAC" written underneath that. Unlike many of the beers that I've had in my cellar that I'm finally getting around to, this didn't hold up that well and I'm sure it would be a zillion times better fresh. I still vowed to review everything that I'm going through and this certainly won't be an exception to that rule!
Not crazy about the pour to this as the liquid was golden, topped with plenty of fast settling head, and left behind enough rings of lacing as I worked my way through this. A bit of sediment could be seen in the liquid but it wasn't as much as I would have originally thought. Both the aroma and taste were a mess here - skunked Citra, weed, Caramel Malt, urine, and evergreen made me feel like I walked in on a Phish concert (and no, I don't listen to them). Just too much going on here and not in a good way, as this felt heavy and old on the palate with not enough carbonation to keep things light...
Plenty of booze here and this felt much more stronger than it was an actuality. Someday, I'll get a new can of this and give it another go. For tonight, it was just another reminder of how I have more beer in this house than I can possibly keep up with...
May 13, 2019
GuyFawkes from Illinois
2.92/5 rDev -34.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Canned 8/19/16; drank 8/27/16 @ the Yarchives.
Drank straight from the can; no visual cues.
This smells like Orange Crush (the soda).
Medium mouthfeel.
Orange Crush flavors up front; black licorice notes on the finish.
Kinda gross; not one to seek out.
May 12, 2019
2.92/5 rDev -34.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Canned 8/19/16; drank 8/27/16 @ the Yarchives.
Drank straight from the can; no visual cues.
This smells like Orange Crush (the soda).
Medium mouthfeel.
Orange Crush flavors up front; black licorice notes on the finish.
Kinda gross; not one to seek out.
May 12, 2019
TheDoctor from Canada (QC)
4.08/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Serving: Can
Canned: Apr-3-2019 (Consumed Apr-19)
A:
Pours a cloudy white gold with a finger of white head that settles to a film. Speckled lacing, okay retention. (4)
S:
Guava, grapefruit, some green hoppy vegetal bite. (4)
T:
Grapefruit juice, orange and other citrus with some biscuity malt underneath. (4)
M:
Medium body, well-hidden alcohol, light carbonation, not quite fluffy but good enough with a hint of tartness that kept me coming back. (4.25)
O:
Tasty beer.
This is a nice, drinkable double IPA that is pretty light on its feet. It pours about like your expect. Nothing too amazing though. The aroma and flavor are straightforward. Green matter, citrus rind/oils and a whisper of clean malt. Very easy to drink and generally enjoyable. I am excited that (without really planning on it) this beer that I have long been curious about and wanted to try should be my thousandth review. Here's to a few more! Thanks, K! (4.25)
Apr 20, 2019
4.08/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Serving: Can
Canned: Apr-3-2019 (Consumed Apr-19)
A:
Pours a cloudy white gold with a finger of white head that settles to a film. Speckled lacing, okay retention. (4)
S:
Guava, grapefruit, some green hoppy vegetal bite. (4)
T:
Grapefruit juice, orange and other citrus with some biscuity malt underneath. (4)
M:
Medium body, well-hidden alcohol, light carbonation, not quite fluffy but good enough with a hint of tartness that kept me coming back. (4.25)
O:
Tasty beer.
This is a nice, drinkable double IPA that is pretty light on its feet. It pours about like your expect. Nothing too amazing though. The aroma and flavor are straightforward. Green matter, citrus rind/oils and a whisper of clean malt. Very easy to drink and generally enjoyable. I am excited that (without really planning on it) this beer that I have long been curious about and wanted to try should be my thousandth review. Here's to a few more! Thanks, K! (4.25)
Apr 20, 2019
jrc1093 from Connecticut
4.25/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Canned on 2/21/19
Pours a deeply hazy dulled lemon gold topped with a finger or so of creamy white head; retention is very good, and results in a thin plastering of consistent lacing all around the glass, as well as a light collar of foam.
Aroma presents big notes of smooth herbal sweetness with a light citric touch; bits of orange zest, passionfruit, lemon/lime, and something resembling dank aloe tones; unique, in-your-face, but very appealing and smooth.
Taste bursts with orange juice, passionfruit, lemon zest, and plenty of subtle dank citrus; that familiar bit of herbal sweetness from the aroma appears on the finish, along with some noticeable doughy, bready malt tones.
Mouthfeel shows a medium body with a lighter touch and spectacular dose of steadily building carbonation. Mostly dry with a faint bitterness across the palate with a fast encroaching juiciness from the mid-palate onward; evolves to one of the juiciest takes on the style I’ve come across to date, and in spite of the occasional thinning, this more than establishes its incredibly high-level approachability.
Ridiculously juicy with a great citrus profile and supporting sweet, herbal dankness; easy to drink any time no doubt, but warm weather would suit this one perfectly.
Mar 19, 2019
4.25/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Canned on 2/21/19
Pours a deeply hazy dulled lemon gold topped with a finger or so of creamy white head; retention is very good, and results in a thin plastering of consistent lacing all around the glass, as well as a light collar of foam.
Aroma presents big notes of smooth herbal sweetness with a light citric touch; bits of orange zest, passionfruit, lemon/lime, and something resembling dank aloe tones; unique, in-your-face, but very appealing and smooth.
Taste bursts with orange juice, passionfruit, lemon zest, and plenty of subtle dank citrus; that familiar bit of herbal sweetness from the aroma appears on the finish, along with some noticeable doughy, bready malt tones.
Mouthfeel shows a medium body with a lighter touch and spectacular dose of steadily building carbonation. Mostly dry with a faint bitterness across the palate with a fast encroaching juiciness from the mid-palate onward; evolves to one of the juiciest takes on the style I’ve come across to date, and in spite of the occasional thinning, this more than establishes its incredibly high-level approachability.
Ridiculously juicy with a great citrus profile and supporting sweet, herbal dankness; easy to drink any time no doubt, but warm weather would suit this one perfectly.
Mar 19, 2019
GratefulBeerGuy from New Hampshire
4.51/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
12 oz. Can version.
"Lay it Down" 12/07/18
Opened on 12/19/18
Poured out into my heady Treehouse long stemmed IPA glass looking like a milky gold color. A straw golden color with a deep white haze....opaque, but lemmony.... you get the gist. Light and thick!
Creamy foam, with a whipped look, sticky-icky lacing all around. clumps or islands of foam float about like they own the place. The lacing is intricate and abundant.
Dude.. come on! The aroma or nose is unlike any other. Creamy lactose hoppy milkshake! It seriously smells like a hoppy creamsicle. Dense and sweet Mandarin oranges, banana, Fluff and a light golden malt thing combines to make a crazy, smelly and pungent aroma.
Lactose....? Man o man do I love that adjunct. Smoooth, silky easy-breazy texture with a creamy flavor that mellows out the big hops. Soft tones of primarily tangy citrus and tropical fruits that rides slingshot with the golden,grainy earthiness of both the hops and golden-style, pilsner-esque malt. Complexity is high, depth is good, but the true "wow" factor here is the creamy and smooth edge of both hop flavor and mouthfeel.
Man, I'll tell ya, this stuff is one smooth operator!
Dec 19, 2018
4.51/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
12 oz. Can version.
"Lay it Down" 12/07/18
Opened on 12/19/18
Poured out into my heady Treehouse long stemmed IPA glass looking like a milky gold color. A straw golden color with a deep white haze....opaque, but lemmony.... you get the gist. Light and thick!
Creamy foam, with a whipped look, sticky-icky lacing all around. clumps or islands of foam float about like they own the place. The lacing is intricate and abundant.
Dude.. come on! The aroma or nose is unlike any other. Creamy lactose hoppy milkshake! It seriously smells like a hoppy creamsicle. Dense and sweet Mandarin oranges, banana, Fluff and a light golden malt thing combines to make a crazy, smelly and pungent aroma.
Lactose....? Man o man do I love that adjunct. Smoooth, silky easy-breazy texture with a creamy flavor that mellows out the big hops. Soft tones of primarily tangy citrus and tropical fruits that rides slingshot with the golden,grainy earthiness of both the hops and golden-style, pilsner-esque malt. Complexity is high, depth is good, but the true "wow" factor here is the creamy and smooth edge of both hop flavor and mouthfeel.
Man, I'll tell ya, this stuff is one smooth operator!
Dec 19, 2018
Ciocanelu from Romania
4/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hazy really pale yellow color with white head. Aroma has dank and earthy hop notes with some slightly spicy malt notes. Taste is grassy and herbal with a medium bitterness and a bit of alcohol on the finish. Medium body with medium minus carbonation. Quite good but not really up to the hype.
Oct 06, 2018
4/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hazy really pale yellow color with white head. Aroma has dank and earthy hop notes with some slightly spicy malt notes. Taste is grassy and herbal with a medium bitterness and a bit of alcohol on the finish. Medium body with medium minus carbonation. Quite good but not really up to the hype.
Oct 06, 2018
Rimbimhoot from Illinois
4.49/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A: Yellow, cloudy, white head, not murky yeast slurry!
S: Huge pineapple, grapefruit, malt sweetness, tangerine, juicy fruit
T: Pineapple, bitter grapefruit, light malt sweetness, hidden alcohol, orange peel
M: Medium with light balanced carbonation
O: Does an incredible job of conveying the good parts of a "hazy" double ipa (appearance, juicy, balanced bitterness, lightly creamy mouthfeel) while also having the best parts of a straightforward great ipa (malt, no yeast burn, hop driven). One of the best double IPAs I've had in a long time and I could drink multiple cans of this
Aug 14, 2018
4.49/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A: Yellow, cloudy, white head, not murky yeast slurry!
S: Huge pineapple, grapefruit, malt sweetness, tangerine, juicy fruit
T: Pineapple, bitter grapefruit, light malt sweetness, hidden alcohol, orange peel
M: Medium with light balanced carbonation
O: Does an incredible job of conveying the good parts of a "hazy" double ipa (appearance, juicy, balanced bitterness, lightly creamy mouthfeel) while also having the best parts of a straightforward great ipa (malt, no yeast burn, hop driven). One of the best double IPAs I've had in a long time and I could drink multiple cans of this
Aug 14, 2018
EMV from Pennsylvania
4.41/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12 oz can into an Alesmith tulip
L: Cloudy golden pour. 2 fingers of foamy white head leave a great deal of lacing.
S; Grapefruit and citrus... tropical fruits. Juicy.
T/F: Follows the nose. Dank and juicy... grapefruit, pineapple, and mango. Mild melon and more citrus. Medium bodied... zesty carbonation. Bitterness very well balanced.
O: Another super drinkable juice bomb from Fiddlehead. Great flavor... super beer.
Feb 18, 2018
4.41/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12 oz can into an Alesmith tulip
L: Cloudy golden pour. 2 fingers of foamy white head leave a great deal of lacing.
S; Grapefruit and citrus... tropical fruits. Juicy.
T/F: Follows the nose. Dank and juicy... grapefruit, pineapple, and mango. Mild melon and more citrus. Medium bodied... zesty carbonation. Bitterness very well balanced.
O: Another super drinkable juice bomb from Fiddlehead. Great flavor... super beer.
Feb 18, 2018
Phineasco from Massachusetts
4.72/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Look: Yellow hazy with medium white head. Has low carbonation.
Smell: Citrus, pineapple, dank resin, and melon.
Taste: Citrus, pineapple, dank resin, and melon.
Mouthfeel: Medium and very smooth.
Overall: An excellent IPA from fiddlehead.
Dec 18, 2017
4.72/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Look: Yellow hazy with medium white head. Has low carbonation.
Smell: Citrus, pineapple, dank resin, and melon.
Taste: Citrus, pineapple, dank resin, and melon.
Mouthfeel: Medium and very smooth.
Overall: An excellent IPA from fiddlehead.
Dec 18, 2017
polloenfuego from Canada (NB)
4.27/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a hazy gold with a very fluffy three finger head. That head lasts for quite a while before breaking. Excellent lacing.
Smell is citrusy, with tropical fruits and a strong malt backbone.
Taste is like the nose, citrusy and tropical now with a tiny amount of piney. A strong malt presence is also quite noticable.
Feel is quite nice with a medium body and mild to moderate carbonation. There is a nice tropical fruit aftertaste and the finish is a touch dry.
A very nice beer, but to my liking it doesn't hold up against Second Fiddle. This is nice and enjoyable, and is a damn tasty beer though.
Dec 06, 2017
4.27/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a hazy gold with a very fluffy three finger head. That head lasts for quite a while before breaking. Excellent lacing.
Smell is citrusy, with tropical fruits and a strong malt backbone.
Taste is like the nose, citrusy and tropical now with a tiny amount of piney. A strong malt presence is also quite noticable.
Feel is quite nice with a medium body and mild to moderate carbonation. There is a nice tropical fruit aftertaste and the finish is a touch dry.
A very nice beer, but to my liking it doesn't hold up against Second Fiddle. This is nice and enjoyable, and is a damn tasty beer though.
Dec 06, 2017
sellmeagod from Virginia
3.23/5 rDev -27.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Nothing too intense going on here (regular brownish mostly yellow pour, regular bitterness, regular booze flavor), but perhaps a little light on the flavor overall.
Dec 02, 2017
3.23/5 rDev -27.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Nothing too intense going on here (regular brownish mostly yellow pour, regular bitterness, regular booze flavor), but perhaps a little light on the flavor overall.
Dec 02, 2017
dbl_delta from Pennsylvania
4.28/5 rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Can dated 10/16/17 into pint glass. Pours a hazy yellowish-amber with an off-white head that dissipates fairly quickly. Initial impression is juicy citrus, caramel, tropical fruit, pineapple, and a slight pine-y hops bitterness. Very smooth, nicely balanced. Mouthfeel is quite hefty; carbonation is on the light side. Finish is sweet fading to a slight bitterness on the back of the tongue. Very, very well done.
Nov 26, 2017
4.28/5 rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Can dated 10/16/17 into pint glass. Pours a hazy yellowish-amber with an off-white head that dissipates fairly quickly. Initial impression is juicy citrus, caramel, tropical fruit, pineapple, and a slight pine-y hops bitterness. Very smooth, nicely balanced. Mouthfeel is quite hefty; carbonation is on the light side. Finish is sweet fading to a slight bitterness on the back of the tongue. Very, very well done.
Nov 26, 2017
afroskully from New York
4.44/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Smooth, fruity with a great subtle bite throughout the front and back end flavor. Tried the flagship IPA and their oat/wheat IPA as well in the taproom this weekend, and this one blows them both away by a mile. Love this.
Sep 25, 2017
4.44/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Smooth, fruity with a great subtle bite throughout the front and back end flavor. Tried the flagship IPA and their oat/wheat IPA as well in the taproom this weekend, and this one blows them both away by a mile. Love this.
Sep 25, 2017
Radcpa from Washington
4.52/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Cloudy straw color with moderate white head that desipates quickly. Aroma is hoppy with a hint of citrus. Taste is a nice balance of hoppy and citrus that is very smooth.
Sep 16, 2017
4.52/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Cloudy straw color with moderate white head that desipates quickly. Aroma is hoppy with a hint of citrus. Taste is a nice balance of hoppy and citrus that is very smooth.
Sep 16, 2017
Lone_Freighter from Vermont
4.52/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
This was poured into a snifter. The appearance was a hazy burnt grapefruit yellow to orange color. The head dissipated immediately leaving some messy sticky lacing clinging to the glass. The smell started off with juicy grapefruit leaning towards the pulp side. Bitterness comes from the pine and has a slight underscore of citrus rind to balance. The taste reels in the sweet grapefruit and brings about a nice settling clean bitter sticky pine. The aftertaste is quick, sharp and light grapefruit with a crisp finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a clean crisp sticky grapefruit and slightly resinous feel coating my tongue. Overall, this was an extremely well done DIPA that I would love to have again.
Jun 09, 2017
4.52/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
This was poured into a snifter. The appearance was a hazy burnt grapefruit yellow to orange color. The head dissipated immediately leaving some messy sticky lacing clinging to the glass. The smell started off with juicy grapefruit leaning towards the pulp side. Bitterness comes from the pine and has a slight underscore of citrus rind to balance. The taste reels in the sweet grapefruit and brings about a nice settling clean bitter sticky pine. The aftertaste is quick, sharp and light grapefruit with a crisp finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a clean crisp sticky grapefruit and slightly resinous feel coating my tongue. Overall, this was an extremely well done DIPA that I would love to have again.
Jun 09, 2017
crob3888 from California
4.75/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Poured a beautifully bright and only slightly cloudy yellow with a full head of nice white foam. Aromas and flavors are bursting with pineapple qualities: it truly tastes like biting into a fresh, sweet tropical pineapple while on the beach of an island paradise. For a beer that doesn't have any added fruits or juices, this is the most pineapple flavor I've ever encountered in a brew; it's not cloying or too sweet though. There's some bitterness on the back end of the creamy and lightly effervescent mouthfeel. Just wonderful.
Jan 20, 2017
4.75/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Poured a beautifully bright and only slightly cloudy yellow with a full head of nice white foam. Aromas and flavors are bursting with pineapple qualities: it truly tastes like biting into a fresh, sweet tropical pineapple while on the beach of an island paradise. For a beer that doesn't have any added fruits or juices, this is the most pineapple flavor I've ever encountered in a brew; it's not cloying or too sweet though. There's some bitterness on the back end of the creamy and lightly effervescent mouthfeel. Just wonderful.
Jan 20, 2017
ghostwalker from Massachusetts
4.68/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Beautiful cloudy yellow-orange body. Thin white head.
Nose is hop encrusted pineapple.
Flavor continues the pineapple associations. Sharp, crisp, fruity, creamy, biting. Just a delicious glass of happiness.
Mouthfeel is sharp, drying, slightly chalky and a bit puckery. Very nice, you can certainly tell you are getting a hop forward 8.1% DIPA.
Overall, an outstanding beer. Glad to find it in a awesome can with a vintage sci-fi theme as well, (That is: not the black and white scientist motif shown on this website).
Jan 19, 2017
4.68/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Beautiful cloudy yellow-orange body. Thin white head.
Nose is hop encrusted pineapple.
Flavor continues the pineapple associations. Sharp, crisp, fruity, creamy, biting. Just a delicious glass of happiness.
Mouthfeel is sharp, drying, slightly chalky and a bit puckery. Very nice, you can certainly tell you are getting a hop forward 8.1% DIPA.
Overall, an outstanding beer. Glad to find it in a awesome can with a vintage sci-fi theme as well, (That is: not the black and white scientist motif shown on this website).
Jan 19, 2017
Mastermind from Fiddlehead Brewing Company
Beer rating:
99 out of
100 with
1473 ratings
0 characters. We love reviews! Turn your rating into one with 150 characters or more.
Protips: Explain why you're giving this rating. Your review must discuss the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) and your overall impression in order to indicate that you have legitimately tried the beer. Nonconstructive reviews may be removed without notice and action may be taken on your account.
Close