Bad Second Fiddle Batch? (5/22/15)

Discussion in 'New England' started by pavement714, May 26, 2015.

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  1. pavement714

    pavement714 Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2010 Massachusetts

    So I was up in VT this weekend, and hadn't planned on going to Fiddlehead since I knew the last Second Fiddle release was last weekend. I drove past the brewery yesterday (5/24) and decided to stop in just to visit it for the first time. I was very surprised to see cases of Second Fiddle for sale. I bought a case which had a canning date of 5/22. Well I've drunk two of them and the beer tastes very different, and frankly, bad compared to what I know. Almost like it was canned too early. I'm getting green apple/diacetyl taste on it. I'd be very, very disappointed if all the money I spent on a case went towards bad beer. Anyone else buy this batch? Have any bad experiences with the beer previously?
     
    #1 pavement714, May 26, 2015
  2. skivtjerry

    skivtjerry Pooh-Bah (1,865) Mar 10, 2006 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    No experience with the latest; I can say that the previous batch was excellent. I did get an oniony note back in March that pretty much took over the beer - can happen if hops are picked too late - but the next 4 pack was good again.
     
    #2 skivtjerry, May 26, 2015
  3. MVP09

    MVP09 Initiate (0) Oct 19, 2012 Massachusetts

    Awesome! I hope not. Its probably the batch coming to MA today and this week.
     
    #3 MVP09, May 26, 2015
  4. pavement714

    pavement714 Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2010 Massachusetts

    One theory I had is this batch was intended mostly for ABCF and the Boston events this week. The brewery had a few leftover cases and decided to sell them low-key. Except they canned them too early in order to get them shipped and ready for Boston this week. That's just my guess though.
     
    #4 pavement714, May 26, 2015
  5. Givemebeer

    Givemebeer Savant (1,219) Apr 6, 2013 Vermont

    That would be a pretty lame and amateur move. Not saying you're wrong. Interesting to hear other's opinions on this.
     
    #5 Givemebeer, May 26, 2015
  6. brendanryan1234

    brendanryan1234 Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2014 Massachusetts

    On an unrelated note, I found three packs of Second Fiddle yesterday just sitting in the cooler. Not entirely unheard of, I guess, but they were dated 4/24. No way they'd just been sitting there for a month.

    Anyway, grabbed two of 'em and left the third for someone else to enjoy.
     
    #6 brendanryan1234, May 26, 2015
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  7. pavement714

    pavement714 Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2010 Massachusetts

    Yeah I really want someone else to weigh in on the 5/22 batch. Best case scenario is that it tastes better after a few days. Worse case is I got hosed on almost 80 dollars worth of beer. I tweeted at them and got no response. The taste reminded me of an imperial stout I once brewed with a friend. We tasted it too early and it had that off-taste. It eventually got really good though.
     
    #7 pavement714, May 26, 2015
  8. buking21

    buking21 Pundit (834) Jan 21, 2009 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Couple guys up from FL said there was a surprise release on 5/22 w/ 4 case(!) limit. No limit posted when I was there on 5/24. Considering they probably sold thousands of cans with hundreds of them consumed over the holiday weekend and there is but one complaint, I'm guessing it's a rogue can or, more likely, your palate.
     
    #8 buking21, May 26, 2015
  9. bostonwolf

    bostonwolf Zealot (656) Jan 20, 2015 Massachusetts

    Matt Cohen is doing all kinds of appearances here in MA this week at local bars that will be tapping Fiddlehead beers. I can't imagine he'd rush the brewing process just to make the ACBF deadline. Seems more likely he'd have said "hey they Second Fiddle isn't going to be ready, we'll bring more Hodad instead."

    These releases are happening because the brewers have to get a distribution deal in MA before they can offer their beers for sale at ACBF. I think the shortest timeframe is a month, so they are just taking advantage of that to get their beers out in places where it normally would not happen.
     
    #9 bostonwolf, May 26, 2015
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  10. pavement714

    pavement714 Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2010 Massachusetts

    It's not my palate. Luckily I have a can from the previous release to compare it to, I just haven't done it yet. I have had Second Fiddle multiple times and love the hop aroma on the nose and taste. The two beers I had from my case (separate 4-packs) had definite off-flavors and were not the same as the previous cans I've had.
     
    #10 pavement714, May 26, 2015
  11. buking21

    buking21 Pundit (834) Jan 21, 2009 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Eh, probably just rogue can(s) then.
     
    #11 buking21, May 26, 2015
  12. bostonwolf

    bostonwolf Zealot (656) Jan 20, 2015 Massachusetts

    @pavement714 I'm going to be grabbing a couple of four packs tonight, I will crack one open and see if I can detect anything off.
     
    #12 bostonwolf, May 26, 2015
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  13. FFreak

    FFreak Savant (1,065) Nov 10, 2013 Vermont

    Second Fiddle gets better after its been in the can for about a week. It needs some time to settle down/condition a little.
     
    #13 FFreak, May 26, 2015
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  14. mattosgood

    mattosgood Initiate (0) Jan 13, 2014 Massachusetts

    I have two four-packs of Substance and Baby Genius from this weekend for anyone who picks up Second Fiddle (Merrimack Valley) and wants to do a couple can trade.
     
    #14 mattosgood, May 26, 2015
  15. mynie

    mynie Grand Pooh-Bah (3,272) Jun 22, 2004 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Anyone know how widespread the MA distro is going to be?
     
    #15 mynie, May 26, 2015
  16. seanwhite

    seanwhite Initiate (0) Jan 31, 2008 Massachusetts

    Not true in this case regarding distro for ACBF - Craft Collective has been bringing one offs into the Mass market for a few months now. I think it is unrelated to ACBF and hope it continues.
     
    #16 seanwhite, May 26, 2015
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  17. bostonwolf

    bostonwolf Zealot (656) Jan 20, 2015 Massachusetts

    Only CBC locations in MA as far as I know. Check their FB page for more details. They listed out all the stores that would have it.
     
    #17 bostonwolf, May 26, 2015
  18. paresis

    paresis Maven (1,365) Apr 10, 2011 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Julios posted today for a Wednesday release... Hopefully gets to some other shops
     
    #18 paresis, May 26, 2015
  19. HuskyHawk

    HuskyHawk Initiate (0) Jun 5, 2014 Massachusetts

    I picked some up in Vermont on Saturday and had one, which was very good. I will check the date.
     
    #19 HuskyHawk, May 26, 2015
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  20. Patches826

    Patches826 Pooh-Bah (2,479) Aug 28, 2013 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Don't say that! I'm leaving in ten minutes to go try some for the first time.
     
    #20 Patches826, May 26, 2015
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