Fidens Brewing Company (2021)

Thanks again - I've had a ton of what you've mentioned in your post above (in fact, likely stopping at Hudson Valley / Obercreek / EQ on my way home sunday, and definitely stopping at Mortalis on the way up) but never hurts to stop in and see what's available.

Thank you for the food suggestions - wtf is a tomato pie? Just a pizza?

 

Just out of curiosity - what time would I have to get there to get a larger allotment?

 

Worth it is subjective, but a 15 min drive is pretty low opportunity cost. I definitely say go for it.

I'm more just surprised that people still line up overnight for these beers, but I'm assuming that reselling has something to do with that. The beers range from amazing to good. I've been to 3 releases, and have really only been blown away by 2 beers (Jasper and Noine Noine). Everything else has been great including some misses, but nothing that really stands out from anything that most breweries nowadays are putting out.

I'm also 10 minutes from Obercreek and they now have a canning line up and going, so I'm probably a bit biased.

 

You are clearly not from north east philly.
Tomato pie is a thick crust square pizza without cheese, sometimes served cold or at room temp. It's delicious.

 

Maybe I missed something re: your trip, but Mortalis is like 3.5 hours west of Saratoga.

 

There are several definitions here. Take your pick.

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tomato pie

 

I got you - yeah - they're just impossible to trade for, so was going to take advantage of being close. I'm not getting in line at 3am though - hence why i asked what time was reasonable so that i still get their releases that saturday that i'll be there. Heading to Tree House right after that since I never make it there.

I was at Obercreek in April for a Saturday afternoon - had a few drafts and took a crowler with me - was a really nice experience - unique place to grab a beer.

 

I mean, I'm coming from Pittsburgh - you either drive east and then head north when you get to Scranton, or you drive north from Pittsburgh through Erie / Buffalo and then drive east - I'm going up through Erie, and back the other way. So Mortalis is on the way.

 

If you're doing that, highly recommend going to Frequentum in Canandaigua. It's only like 15 minutes from OH FLX right on route 20 and from there you can easily jump on the Thruway at exit 44. Absolutely beautiful brewery and doing great things with NEIPA, fruited sours and even cream ale.

Also to answer your question -- tomato pie is red sauce on a thick, chewy pizza dough and topped with parmesan cheese and (depending where you are) maybe some other seasonings. It originated in Utica, and Pereccas iteration of it stands with the best of what Utica does. It's goddamn delicious.

 

To guarantee a large allotment? Probably 6am. Figure you'll be waiting in line about an hour or so, grab a breakfast sandwich or something before you go.

 

Awesome - i will add it to my google map - I love the opportunity to try new breweries - what's the to-go situation like there? Or all pours?

OK - i'm in on the tomato pie then - I'm one of those weird italians that doesn't eat tomatoes until they're mashed into a sauce - texture thing - so if they were whole tomatoes, ugh - but chewy pizza? Yes please.

And thanks for the Fidens bit - I'll have my brother in the car so based on reading the site, we both can get cans in the same car (i think i read that right); hence, I'm not getting up at 6am.

 

That's what doesn't make sense. If Fidens was in some area of NY that was A) Bereft of great local options and/or B) In an area of NY that doesn't have incredible distro, okay, I could see the lines every week. But neither of those things are remotely true.

And I know it sounds like I'm shitting on them, I'm not, I'd go often if the taproom was open again. But we've got no shortage of people that wait in line there every Saturday morning before the sun comes up and it's mind-blowing to me.

 

Frequentum will typically have cans to go but they're definitely open for pours too. They've got two separate patios out front and a good amount of space inside the taproom. They do flights, full pours and I think you may be able to do smaller or half pours too? If you're hungry the pizza place across the street (Pizanos) is quick and awesome and there are no shortage of good spots for takeout on that main drag too.

And I'm 100% with you on not wanting tomatoes on my subs, burgers, sandwiches, etc. But if 'chewy pizza' sounds appealing you'll goddamn love tomato pie.

 

Top 50 (8pp) is earlier than 6AM. Last week's Saturday was pretty mellow because they did a surprise Friday drop of the OH collab and people blew their loads on that. Doing a quick read of the week before that line update thread in the FB group, at 6AM they handed out ticket #61 which is no different than ticket #251 in terms of allotment.

And like @IGaveYouPower, I'm definitely not shitting on these dudes. I like their beer and more power to them for cultivating this cult following.

 

Your suggestions have been excellent - thank you so much. One last question (and you might not know the answer to this) - if I just stay in Canandaigua - what's the uber situation like if i wanted to get out to OH? Or is it just one of those deals where I have to curtail the drinking a bit if I wanted to hit Mortalis and OH on the way? (after this, I'm truly done with questions haha)

 

OK - good to know - I'll just shoot to be there at 7:30ish / 8ish then to ensure i get cans. I'm not getting there at 5:45am. That's frigging insanity.

 

Hey lob all the questions you want over, I love this shit.

And you should be able to find an Uber/Lyft very easily IN Canandaigua to go out to OH (it's only like 5/6 miles) but an uber to Mortalis would be dumb expensive (like 45 minutes away) and I think you'd have less luck getting one there to go TO Canandaigua.

Best bet would be hit Mortalis (and Rising Storm if you've got time) on the drive in. Stay in Canandaigua, uber out to OH and back and then go to Frequentum. Also if you stay in Canandaigua for a day, hit Young Lion. Beer is good, not remarkable, but it's literally on the head of the lake. Goddamn gorgeous views. And their pretzel is heavenly.

 

I’ve never heard of this place, but this is truly fascinating. People lining up for IPAs? Does this place exist in some sort of time warp where it’s perpetually 2015? You won’t catch me waiting in line more than 45 seconds for any IPA ever again.

 

And it JUST started with the cans. They did drive-up crowlers all through covid, open multiple days a week, and you could easily roll up, MAYBE be behind two cars and be out in like four minutes. So it's not like the liquid or the place changed, just going to a smaller vessel.

 

Glad I'm not becoming a pain with the questions - and that's exactly why i was asking - I wasn't planning on staying in Canandaigua (didn't know it was so close to OH) - was planning on staying in Rochester, but this seems to work better. Can stop at 5th Frame First, and then hit mortalis and then go to the hotel / airbnb, and then uber out to OH. You've solved several problems for me today (and food options have already put 5 lbs on me - so thank you).