Fidens Brewing Company (2021)

Yeah, it just creates a bigger rush to be in the top 20. Still, if 4pp lasts until the mid morning/afternoon, then I'm for it.

 

I picked up this week's cans. Angry Greg has so much hop burn. I hope it settles down in a week or two.

 

So I had a can of Timber Ales/Fidens collab on friday. Super underwhelming by both.

 

Is it 4 per person or 4 per car? I am just genuinely curious.

 

If you are one of the first 20 ppl (not cars) in line you can buy up to 12 beers; 21-50 you can buy 8 cans and if you 51+ you can buy 4 cans.

If you show up with 4 ppl in the car, there is a chance you could be 19/20/21/22 in line and 2 ppl would get 12 cans and the other ppl would get 8 cans each per beer released. Depending on what time you show up.

We actually got there at 4:38am a few weeks ago and I was 19th. They guy giving out the order form did not see my buddy (who was sleeping) in my passenger seat. That that week they actually gave 21 full allotments.WE were both sleeping at the time he came around to give the order forms.



I actually heard that last week ppl were lined up a little after 2 and was 22nd in line.

Hope this helps.

 

Got some cans from a buddy and was pumped to try this brewery, but so far I’ve had 2 (neccessary means and socratic questioning 17) and both poured brownish and were lacking in flavor. My buddy said his were fine and his pics look normal. Anyone ever get oxidation issues with Fidens or did I just get a couple of duds? Wasn’t an easy ride picking them up so I don’t want to get burned in the future if it’s somewhat common.

 

Wait what? People lining up in 2021 for NEIPAs multiple hours before opening and the place selling out a few hours after opening? This seems like early Tree House behavior/ hype. Is Fidens making a few gallons of beer each week? I mean good for them, but you could drive from Albany to Tree House, buy as much beer as you could fit in your car, and drive back to Albany before the getting more than a few beers at Fidens. Not trying to start a which is better war- just curious about them/ situation.

 

It absolutely defies any sort of rational explanation.

I've been going to Fiden's since they opened, I used to drop into the taproom on the way home from work any time they dropped a new beer. Then covid hit, they went to a growler-only model and I'd still make a point to go at least once a month and grab some stuff. But since they've switched to mostly cans they've just absolutely exploded. Like right into the troposphere.

And it makes no sense to me because in addition to what you mentioned about Treehouse, I firmly believe the Albany area has the best distro access in the country. I could walk into any number of beer stores around here this afternoon and get Other Half, Hudson Valley, EQ, Grimm, Mortalis, Finback, Bissel, Definitive, Frost, Burlington, Beer Tree, Singlecut, Drowned Lands, Prison City, Thin Man, Bearded Iris, Anchorage, Drekker, Hop Butcher, Evil Twin, Commonwealth, I could keep going. The NEIPA selection here is miles and miles past unreal. Literal mountains of top-tier NEIPA at some of these places. Yet, still, people get in their cars at 3AM and wait in line for it.

I'll happily make the taproom a regular stop again when they re-open. But -- and its heresy to say around here -- I firmly believe we have two local spots making better IPA anyhow. I still like Fidens a lot and will go scoop what's left of cans in the late morning sometimes if I'm not doing anything but you will never catch me in that pre-opening line.

 

(Also yes the capacity is legit low and they make as much beer as possible, it's not forced scarcity)

 

You only have to line up if you want the bigger allotments. There is a sweet spot around 8-9AM where you can be in and out with relatively little wait. IMO some of their beers have been amazing (Jasper, Noine Noine), but a lot of others are nothing really special.

 

Which two spots are those?

 

The Warbler and Unified Beer Works.

I'll hedge by saying I prefer a Grimm/Fox Farm-style NEIPA to an Other Half/EQ-style NEIPA like 8 times out of 10, and those two breweries both skew very much to Grimm/Fox Farm body and feel. If that's not your bag, you likely wouldn't agree that they're better than Fiden's.

 

Pretty awesome to get a huge feature like this:

The Hype is Real: Fidens Brewing Co. Is the Best Brewery You've Never Heard Of • Hop Culture

That said: They're not planning on ever re-opening the taproom at that location

 

Anyone that goes to Fiden's religiously, how have lines been - has it tempered at all? Coming up to SPAC for some concerts later this summer, and wondering if I should even attempt to go or if it's just not worth it.

Any plan of attack would be appreciated.

 

Basically if you go between around 8-830 you'll almost definitely leave with some beer. Probably the lowest level of allotment, but you'll be fine. Getting closer to 9 you're pushing it, and by 930 shit'll be sold out.

 

I gotta hand it to the people that keep the hype train rolling for this brewery.

 

As in, it's not worth it? I haven't had the opportunity to try it, but if I'm staying a Friday night in Schnectady, it's 15 minutes away - seems like a no-brainer.

 

Much appreciated.

 

If you're already gonna be in the area it's worth spending an hour to run and grab some of their beer, but you should also go to Westmere Beverage and walk away with an assorted sampling of incredible NEIPAs mentioned in my above post.

Also, if you're staying in Schenectady, get some tomato pie from Pereccas and then go across the street to Hunter's on Jay. Great, relaxed craft beer bar with a very good selection and great food.