Fidens Brewing Company — Restaurant in City of Albany

TLDR; Visiting is worth the drive. Good food, great atmosphere, family friendly, amazing staff, FANTASTIC BEER. Put this on your list if you’re in the area. Aspiring beer snobs and aficionados take note- If you're familiar with Treehouse and how many of their locations are designed, organized, and set up, you will be incredibly impressed by how well-run the operation is at Fidens’ new taproom and beer-to-go spot on Broadway in Albany. I got my chance to stop by last week to check the place out and see if my former 8-minute drive to get beer-to-go is now worth the 20+ minute drive, and I can say with absolute certainty that it is. They have the space well thought-out to keep patrons satiated and it runs extremely efficiently for literally just opening a couple weeks ago (soft-opening aside, they have read Treehouse's book and executed it perfectly). The entrance is airy and welcoming, with a reception desk there to help guide you where to go based on what you’re there for. To-Go offerings are also available to peruse should you be so inclined. To-Go sales and merchandise will be the doorway to the right of the garden area past the desk, and the dining/bar area will be the doorway directly ahead of you (the left side of the garden space). The Taproom – WOW. My first impression entering the taproom was somewhat overwhelming. The space is impressive and LARGE! The coffin-shaped bar is in the center of the space and the tables and chairs are kept spotless by some of the friendliest and attentive staff I have ever encountered. The lighting is warm, the woods in the tables, counters, and décor are inviting, and the general layout is well-spaced, so no two tables are too close to interfere with others visiting. There’s actually some seating ABOVE THE BAR! Food & Drink - There’s something for everyone and it’s fast! The beer offered by Fidens is some of the absolute best in the area, and while they’re widely known for their Pale Ales, IPAs, and Stouts, they’re also making the foray into a variety of other styles to offer everyone a fantastic beverage to drink. Their beer list is posted on digital screens around the bar and is also printed so you can look it over at your seat. There is a designated register on the left side of the bar (towards the back) for taproom alcohol sales and with several bartenders working the bar, you’ll get your order quickly. If you’re seated at the bar, you can order from your seat, so if you plan on having a few (responsibly of course), it might be in your best interest to sit here. The food was fantastic. Food is only ordered at a register right in front of the kitchen, which will be found on your left as you enter the taproom and before you get to the register to order your drinks at the bar. The selection ranges from a spin on routine to deliciously unique and it’s executed well. The kitchen and serving staff/runners were amazing too. They were keen to make sure you weren’t waiting long and the buzzers/placement on the table made it super easy for them to find where the food was going. Fantastically organized. To-Go Sales & Merchandise – Treehouse Efficient. Foot traffic for to-go only and merch sales is directed outside of the main dining areas so you can efficiently get what you want and go without much involvement with those who are staying. The to-go and merch sales are only done at the register on the back right side of the bar with a list of available libations on a large, easy-to-read digital screen on the wall beside the merchandise area that includes more details to the offerings in the list. Once you’ve paid for your to-go order, you’ll walk along the back of the taproom and head to the pickup area at the back left, near the hall for the restrooms. To-go is handled just as efficiently and amicably as it has been at the Colonie location. My order was ready within a couple minutes of paying. You can’t really complain about any of this at all. To put it simply, I’ll be back. It’s a winning combination with fantastic staff, relaxed atmosphere, great food, and amazing...

This review is based solely on the "soft opening" that I was able to attend. I will amend this once I visit the taproom after its official opening. First impression - the space itself is massive and looks really good. Plenty of seating and room to get a beer at the bar without being squished.

The Beer - Let's face it, 98% of the people are coming here for the hazy unfiltered hops, which have garnered near-legendary status in the beer world. 24 taps of mostly hazy IPAs, pales, and DIPAs, with about 1/3 of the lines pouring pilsners, a few stouts, and a fruited kettle sour.

The Food - limited menu at launch was standard upscale brewpub fare, with a few vegan options, several burgers, a handful of different sandwiches, poutine, salads, and - very importantly - a small kids menu. Food was tasty - I had the "hottie burger" which was a nice level of spice without being overwhelming. I would probably add a 2nd 4oz patty to the burger though next time.

Service was excellent - everyone was very friendly, the owners were walking around talking to people and pouring them beer (I doubt this will last past soft launch but hey - you never know), and the process of ordering beer was easy with minimal wait thanks to a well-designed bar.

My only complaint is the prices were a tad high, even for the warehouse district. Specifically, the price of the beer on draught was higher than most bars that serve Fidens usually charge. Maybe they could remedy this with a daily happy hour, or just knocking a buck or 2 off the taps at official launch. Parking was easy, as there is a 40 or 50 car lot next door that customers can use after 3pm on weekdays, and all day on weekends.

Would also love to see some more "games" in the back space next to the shuffleboard tables.

Overall - I will definitely recommend this new taproom to friends - especially given that its kid-friendly, has a great atmosphere, friendly service, good food, and great beer. Let's call this...

I hate to write this review as someone who has been supporting Fidens since 2019 back when they were in Colonie. My husband and I have enjoyed their beer for a long time and were excited when they opened in the Warehouse District. We became even bigger fans when the taproom opened because we finally had a brewery that not only had amazing beer but also amazing food. However, we visited Fidens last night and it was incredibly disappointing. The menu has changed with many items that made Fidens unique removed. Specifically the pretzel cheese curds and birria tacos… it’s criminal that they’re gone. What’s left for options are basic items you can get anywhere like burgers, chicken fingers and salads. While I was bummed to see the removal of some of my favorite menu items, one was left.. the Philly cheesesteak. However, the Philly cheesesteak I knew and loved is no more. What was served was the chewiest overcooked meat with no seasoning, way too much beer cheese sauce and on the saddest looking hoagie roll. The fries (that are now $3 extra) were cold and they don’t give you nearly as many as before. The burger my husband got was much smaller than they used to be. Everything was bad down to the house made pickles being different. While this next part isn’t a complaint per se, some other unexpected changes are that you now order your food at the bar. No biggie except that there are no signs anywhere telling you that. We stood at the usual ordering counter confused as did several others throughout the night until everyone went to order beer and asked about how to do the food. Your food and condiments are no longer brought to you and tables are not bussed. It’s cafeteria style where you pick up your food at the old ordering station and put your own trays away. The whole vibe was off our entire visit and it left us feeling disappointed. Why change something that wasn’t broken? Having good beer AND food set you guys apart in my opinion....