Socratic Questioning 62
Fidens Brewing Company in Albany, New York, United States 🇺🇸
IPA - Imperial New England / Hazy Series|
Score
7.22
|
|
Double IPA brewed with Citra, Galaxy, Simcoe & Mosaic Liquid Lupulin hops.
Sign up to add a tick or review
7.5/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Can (2/17/26) from the brewery. Opaque orange juice, light sparkle, thin head with good retention and light soapy lacing. Aroma is strong orange, background generic orchard fruit. Taste is strong orange, orchard fruit, citrus astringency, malt. Smooth, frothy texture, soft carbonation, dry, yeasty finish. Given Fidens' success with brewing IPAs in the first place, I'm not sure much can be taken away from this iteration of the experimental series. Fine but better to let this one go.
Tried
from Can
at
Fidens Brewing Company
on 04 May 2026
at 00:05
7.8/10
—
Appearance 9
Aroma 8
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Canned 2/17/26, drunk 4/2/26, compliments of tfontana. Thanks, Tom!
Smells very Galaxy-forward, initially. Big sprucey acidity and spice that is probably augmented by the spiciness of the Mosaic. It does round a bit on the end, getting fruitier, with peach and mango from the Citra, but also gains some austerity from the woody Simcoe. All-in-all, excellent complexity and the ability to pick out four individual hops is impressive (though they are very distinctive hops, to be sure). No alcohol, though there's lots of dry hop, earth, chalk, etc...Malts show light honey and white bread with a fair bit of cracker, as well, balancing nicely.
Bright and spicy with a fair bit of chalky Galaxy and dry hop. Galaxy really pushing it on the sprucey, astringent acidity character, but the Citra pulls it from the brink, softening things somewhat with mango and sweet citrus flavors. With a big woody character and dull spice, I don't think the Simcoe or Mosaic are doing too much of interest here. The malts are fat and round, with big sweetness, which is much needed. Creates a big juxtaposition of sweet and dry/spicy, which is somewhat interesting but not all that cohesive. Somewhat interesting and definitely unusual, though I think the Galaxy dominates (as its wont to do) to the overall detriment of the beer.
Smells very Galaxy-forward, initially. Big sprucey acidity and spice that is probably augmented by the spiciness of the Mosaic. It does round a bit on the end, getting fruitier, with peach and mango from the Citra, but also gains some austerity from the woody Simcoe. All-in-all, excellent complexity and the ability to pick out four individual hops is impressive (though they are very distinctive hops, to be sure). No alcohol, though there's lots of dry hop, earth, chalk, etc...Malts show light honey and white bread with a fair bit of cracker, as well, balancing nicely.
Bright and spicy with a fair bit of chalky Galaxy and dry hop. Galaxy really pushing it on the sprucey, astringent acidity character, but the Citra pulls it from the brink, softening things somewhat with mango and sweet citrus flavors. With a big woody character and dull spice, I don't think the Simcoe or Mosaic are doing too much of interest here. The malts are fat and round, with big sweetness, which is much needed. Creates a big juxtaposition of sweet and dry/spicy, which is somewhat interesting but not all that cohesive. Somewhat interesting and definitely unusual, though I think the Galaxy dominates (as its wont to do) to the overall detriment of the beer.
Tried
from Can
at
Fidens Brewing Company
on 02 Apr 2026
at 19:19
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Pours a hazy, banana-creme color, with smallish head. Aroma is citrus and tropical fruit. Flavors follow. Soft mouthfeel. Mild hop bitterness in the finish.
Tried
from Can
on 13 Mar 2026
at 23:14
7.3/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7
16 oz can in a trade with tfontana Thank you for carrying this back from Albany. Aroma is citrus and intense grass clippings. Scallion. Flavor is citrus, fresh grass and mild onion. ABV is very well-hidden. The bitterness is herb and grass clippings. Just ok.
Tried
from Can
at
Fidens Brewing Company
on 07 Mar 2026
at 01:11