★ Review: More Delicious Hill Farmstead Beers

I’m lucky to be in a tasting group who has been buying Hill Farmstead beers since the opening celebration 2 years ago. Therefore, when we do a tasting with Shaun’s beers, some very classy items show up. This also includes some beer reviews from this weekend. There are some I haven’t entered yet but I’ll get around to it this week. 

Tasting Lineup

Hill Farmstead Life Without Principle #1

Hill Farmstead Life Without Principle #1

3.6

   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20

adamjackson (522) – Canaan, New Hampshire, USA – AUG 12, 2012

From a growler fill yesterday. Enjoyed in HFS stem-ware. 

A – Light clear light orange beer. Light golden. 

S – Simcoe and Citra hops scent. citrus and some pear as well. Plenty of orange zest. 

T – Nice up front oranges. Plenty of chewy simcoe hops. Nice pineapple and pear finish. Very light and very drinkable! Forgetting to add the bitter finish. 

M – 10% carbonation. Light body. 

O – Wow. It’s incredibly drinkable. 

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Hill Farmstead James
Enjoying HIll Farmstead James at Skinny Pancake
3.9

   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 2/5   OVERALL 18/20

adamjackson (522) – Canaan, New Hampshire, USA – AUG 11, 2012

On tap at skinny pancake Poured dark brown to black. In the glass, three finger coffee head with tight bubbles. Faded slowly. Lots of head lacing. Brown edges. Pretty black. Roasted and smoked malts. Hint of campfire and some cocoa tastes. Simcoe and other piney hops. Some tropical fruit tastes. Overall, a pine dominated IPA. Very soft, drinkable, medium body. Fine bitterness at the finish that sticks around.
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Hill Farmstead Phenomenology of Spirit
Hill Farmstead Phenomenology of Spirit
3.8

   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20

adamjackson (522) – Canaan, New Hampshire, USA – AUG 12, 2012

Enjoyed in the 750ML bottle. Thanks Wally! 

A – Sort of a darker nut brown color. Light 1 finger head that fades to a small level of carbonation on the edge of the glass. Decent head lacing. 

S – Amazong scent. Really solid funk. Excellent grape skin taste and this musky grape juice scent as well. Dry as well. 

T – Wow. Yeah, it’s a super dry up front wine taste. Sauvignon Blanc. Nice bretty dryness and really bitter orange finish. 

M – 80% carbonation on the mouth swish. Medium body. 

O – Wow. You can taste the age on this beer. It’s super bretty and light funk. Almost a flanders taste as well. Solid and far bigger than any saison I’ve ever had.

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Hill Farmstead Biere de Norma
4.7

   AROMA 9/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 19/20

adamjackson (522) – Canaan, New Hampshire, USA – AUG 12, 2012

Bottle #269. Enjoyed in a Hill Farmstead Glass. 

A – Dark golden orange. No lacing. Minimal head. 

S – Wow. Smells nice. Lots of citrus, some funky yeast and some vanilla. 

T – Up front with honey taste. Almost a mead up front taste. Mild bitterness but not too much. Floral notes, roses and hibiscus. Some sweetened candi sugars. Finish is this dry champagne like belgian yeast. 

M – 20% carbonation. Light body. Grape-skin finish. 

O – This was a very special beer. It has an exceptional taste. Truly a phenomenal world-class beer. 

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Hill Farmstead Barrel Aged Earl
Hill Farmstead Barrel Aged Earl

3.3

   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 12/20

adamjackson (522) – Canaan, New Hampshire, USA – AUG 12, 2012

Thanks Wally for sharing this with us. Enjoyed in Hill Farmstead stemware. Served at room temperature. 

A – Dark brown pour but black in the glass. 1-finger head subsides to a thin line of head pretty fast. 

S – Solid up-front charred oak and vanilla with a boozy hot bourbon barrel notes. Very small level of espresso beans that aren’t so fresh any more but smell once pretty great. 

T – Wow. Okay, so the bourbon dominates the first taste. Smoked malts follow with hints of vanilla at the finish. There’s this slight grassy taste as well. 

M – 40% carbonation. Heavy body. boozy finish with this grassy vanilla taste. 

O – This is a beer I would have preferred to have fresh. Even still, it’s delicious and tasty and very enjoyable.

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Hill Farmstead Fear and Trembling (French Oak Cabernet) 
aHill Farmstead Fear and Trembling (French Oak Cabernet)
4.4

   AROMA 9/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 18/20

adamjackson (522) – Canaan, New Hampshire, USA – AUG 12, 2012

UPDATED: AUG 13, 2012 A friend shared this with me. It’s a year old now and still tasting great. Enjoyed in a Hill Farmstead Glass. (Reviewed on my iPhone) 

A one finger coffee head , oily slick black. Pitch black. Lacing some alcohol legs 

S cocoa nibs. Coffee. Cream espresso , maple syrup, sugar 

T wood smoked wood and malt. Red wine (Cabernet) 

M – 50% mouth feel. Heavy bodied. Wood and oak linger 

O – Pretty good. Definitely an A grade

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Hill Farmstead Fear and Trembling (Cabernet/Bourbon Blend)
Hill Farmstead Fear and Trembling (Cabernet/Bourbon Blend)

4

   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 16/20

adamjackson (522) – Canaan, New Hampshire, USA – AUG 12, 2012

Shared with some friends on a beautiful day in August. Enjoyed in Hill Farmstead stemware. 

A – Pours a very dark brown to black. Small head that faded immediately. Decent lacing that fades pretty fast. Almost black in the bottle. 

S – Mild bourbon scent, lots of coffee and mild smokiness. Hints of cocoa. 

T – Mocha coffee taste. There’s a slight bit of boozy bourbon heat but it’s very mild at this point. The tannins of the cabernet blend nicely with the smoky baltic porter. I get some vanilla and charred oak. 

M – 10% carbonation. Heavy body. Very soft red wine finish. 

O – Wow. This is very nice.

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I had some other ones this weekend such as Clara, Civil Disobedience #3 and more. I also tried Walden and picked up a growler to take home so that’ll be opened tonight. Shaun continues to make incredible beers that are great shared with friends.
Hill Farmstead 2012 Festival of Farmhouse Ales


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