Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9
Bottom of the can stamped \"06/12/15.\"
This was poured into a tulip.
The appearance was a hazy orange color with a one finger foamy white head that dissipated within less than about 45 seconds. Light stringy lacing slides into the beer.
The smell has a big burst of mango, pineapple, oranges and lemons subtly intertwining to produce a nice blend of tropical to citrus flavors.
The taste had big bittersweet burst of the previously mentioned flavors coating my taste buds extremely nicely to lead into a nice wet citrus to tropical aftertaste and quick finish.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a decent sipping quality about it. Carbonation runs nicely as an DIPA allowing a decent harshness but nothing to take away from the bitterness.
Overall, as an DIPA, this is an awesome beer to partake in. I love being able to have this right around the corner from where I currently live.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Growlette from the brewery.
This was poured into a nonic pint glass.
The appearance was a hazy yellow color with a one finger white foamy head that dissipated within less than about a minute leaving some light lacing sliding into the beer.
The smell had a crisp refreshing blend of sweet orange and light lemon spritzing itself fully into a sweet yet bitter pine and even bringing in light tropical fruits to balance.
The taste was slick and sweet bringing in a nice \"curveball\" of bitter underneath (rind-like) and crisp. A semi-dry crisp fruity aftertaste leads to the same sort of finish.
On the palate, this one sat about a light on the body with a superb sessionability about it. Carbonation feels like an APA and yet still carries a nice bitterness to pound my tongue.
Overall, what a wonderful sessionable Summer APA, this beer is one I’d definitely have again.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Can: Poured a bright orangey color ale with a nice large foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of fresh floral hops notes nice citrusy notes and no bitterness. Taste is also dominated by fresh citrusy hops notes with limited bitterness and light residual sugar notes. Light fruity notes could also be detected. Body is pretty full with good carbonation. Very well brewed but lacking a little something to be placed among the great VT IPA.
CoastGuardVet (9444) reviewed Hodad from Fiddlehead Brewing Company 10 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
Had several samples at the brewery, poured into a sample glass.
The appearance was dark brown capped with a finger’s worth of tan head that quickly dies off. No lacing.
The smell started off with a light bitter to roasty coffee bean and added a light coconut and cocoa blend.
The taste was mainly roasty with a nice ample bitter and then the sweet coconut to balance. There’s no aftertaste but it had a quick semi-dry roasty finish.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a pretty good sessionability about it. Carbonated as an American Porter, delicate roast takes over as it runs over my tongue.
Overall, American Porter with coconut, well, it sure is fitting and taking it one step further - Hawaiian styled porter, well I haven’t had too many of those, still this is one I’d definitely get again.
Clarkvv (16760) reviewed Second Fiddle from Fiddlehead Brewing Company 10 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 4
2 draught tulips at Lord Hobo, 5/27/15
Not the prettiest IPA, with a very rapidly receding white head topping a hazy dark copper body.
Somewhat of a difficult nose. Obviously being fresh off the tap, the beer is quite cold and I don’t expect it to be pouring forth with aroma. But I only get a bit of light caramel, oranges, touches of mangoes. With warming, it does develop nicely, allowing juicy fruits to emerge and very dry citrics. No alcohol, flaws or resin, however.
The flavor caught me very off-guard, however. Incredibly light on the palate with plentiful hop flavor and quite light on the bitterness. Stunning execution on the attenuation; it’s taken as far as it can go without getting tannic/astringent. Juicy fruits, wintergreen, varied citrus fruits all collect on the palate, but the carbonation is surprisingly ample (despite what the appearance and aroma would suggest) and the palate is easily cleared on the finish, leaving lightly bready malts and touches of biscuit character. Spent the greater part of both glasses I had wondering how this stuff could be 8.2%. Drinks much lighter yet still deliciously flavorful. Crisp, dry, not over-bittered. I was skeptical at first, but I’m a full believer now. 7/3/8/5/19
Rerate fresh can drunk 6/21/17 at Ginger Man Boston.
So the Overstable and Tejas Marron that I had from Fiddlehead earlier tonight on draught were both heavily ridden with and ruined by a dominant off note that was somewhat plasticy/popcorny and was either from heavily overworked yeast, yeast that needed changing out, or very, very stale/old/off hops. Whatever the case, I wanted to try a canned beer from them to see if it was present there as well and indeed it was, in full force. It was dry, scratchy and heavily plasticy exposing sharpness and booze and plentiful bitter hop acids. Lots of alcohol shows through, as well. Lowering the score to reflect this batch until whatever the F this is, is corrected.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Draught at Lord Hobo, 5/27/15
Huge white head is very well-retained, topping a very hazy tangerine-colored beer.
As with most brett pale ales, it smells absolutely lovely when cold; lime, band-aid, lilac...really nice and quite aromatic even when cold off the tap. With warming, a bit of doughiness emerges, as well as biscuity malts, pineapple and light lychee sweetness. Quite dry, overall, with floral and lightly citric hops but very low on acidity/resin, thankfully. No alcohol in the nose either.
Limes, oranges and sweet white bread dough in the flavor are whisked about the palate by a brisk carbonation. The finish is dry, biscuity and filled with moderate fruitiness from both hop and brett. A bit chewy on account of all the sediment in suspension and as with nearly all brett pale ales, the doughiness mounts with warming. Not sure what this is a biproduct of (is it just the lack of yeast floccing?). I don’t know, but it always dampens an otherwise very crisp and enjoyable pale ale. Light pine and more bitterness emerge with warming, as well.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Poured from a can dated 03/01/2015 courtesy of popery. Aroma is rather hoppy with a lot of tropical fruit including mango guava and melon. Some light citrus and moderate hop resin. Moderate stone fruit as well with some light cracker malt notes and a hint of caramel. Pours a slightly cloudy, but fairly clear golden copper with a large, moderately thick, slightly off white head that exhibits decent retention as it recedes. Moderate lacing and small legs. Flavor is slightly sweet with light cracker and biscuit notes as well as faint caramel and light toasted bread. Quite a bit of hop flavor including tropical fruit, citrus, stone fruit and lighter pine resin. Really nice, balanced fruity hop flavor with moderate bitterness. Light alcohol spice in the finish. Lots of tangerine, mango and peach. Mouthfeel is medium light bodied with medium carbonation. Low astringency and low alcohol warmth. Overall, this is a pretty delicious IPA that rides under the radar of other East Coast IPAs. Lots of nice fruit notes and citrus with some resin to balance it. The toasted bread malt notes work well with the hop profile.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Can - Pours gold white head. Nose/taste of citrus, pine, cracker malt - medium body.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
The beer is a bright and fairly pale orangey amber color. Fairly hazy liquid. The head is off white and sudsy. Very good retention with some lacing. The aroma is peaches and grapes with tangerine and pineapple. Lots of sweet fruitiness. Mild pine in the background. Light caramel, pretty mild malt character. Taste follows the aroma. It’s quite low on bitterness for the abv and general hoppiness of the beer. Lots of sweet hop fruitiness. Probably a bit low on bitterness for my taste. Finishes mildly dry. Light and smooth feel. Solid DIPA.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 10
Fresh can from the brewery showing three fingers of foam and extremely cloudy amber. A lot of yeast still in the beer. The nose shows a lot of pine, pineapple, mango, and guava with some notes of mint. The palate is very evenly carbonated and thin bodied. Flavors of pine and pineapple. Some small hints of guava & pear also. Fruit flavor is fresh and resinous. A slight refreshing background something akin to coconut in sensation (but not flavor). Very balanced flavors; nothing overwhelming. Smooth, balanced & moderate bitterness on the finish. Flavors are clean, refreshing, and really smooth. Easily one of the best beers out there.