Double Citra®
Hill Farmstead Brewery

Double Citra®Double Citra®
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From:
Hill Farmstead Brewery
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
Ranked #6
ABV:
8%
Score:
100
Ranked #63
Avg:
4.6 | pDev: 6.09%
Reviews:
264
Ratings:
2,121
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 24, 2024
Added:
May 29, 2011
Wants:
  1,191
Gots:
  228
American imperial India pale ale bittered, flavored, and dry-hopped exclusively with Citra® hops selected from last season's harvest in Washington State's Yakima Valley.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Hendry:
Photo of Hendry
Reviewed by Hendry from Vermont

4.79/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Okay, this is Vermont, and the level of quality craftsmanship and legend is drawing folks from all over the United States that are touring "Beer Country" as if it were a serious California Wine Country tour, and WHY NOT?!

Meeting Shuan Hill was a pleasure, and no different than meeting any other down to earth rural Vermonter that knows how to do their job and do it well. We arrived first on a Friday afternoon and it was the better part of two hours driving from NorthWest Vermont to get there.

Double Citra is one of the more recent offerings from the distinguished Hill Farmstead Brewery and it was poured into a 750 ml bottle for take home enjoyment. Tastings are served at the brewery, but I neglected the four tastings for $5 offer as I was the driver.

Pours a cloudy off yellow with an elegant cotton head reaching 1 finger and lacing brilliantly in the glassware. Playfully effervescent without being overly carbonated and an exceptional nose consisting of pineapple, kiwi, clementines, and ruby red grapefruit with a smidgeon of mango, yet the aromas are more subdued and subtle than their Vermont counterpart that is also an all citra hops concoction (to be named later in this review).

Initial taste is tropical fruits, juicy sweetness, followed by resinous piney herbal hoppiness that is simply top shelf, leaving a bitter aftertaste that lingers pleasantly, inviting another sip.
Quaffing Double Citra cold does this IIPA a disservice: letting it breathe in proper glassware for no less than 15 minutes brings about the complex qualities that are accentuated with some warming (same observation with Lawson's Double Sunshine). Whatever malt used to balance the double citra whammy is strictly a platform to showcase the rock star hops under the spotlight taking an awesome solo all over your palate!

Mouthfeel is medium, slightly oily, and the overall impression is that this is a highly refined IIPA that shows no signs of booziness, and is made with quality and care.

I can understand how letting it breathe while enjoying appetizers/entrees at one of the fine Vermont eateries that serve it could be challenging: the tendency is to drink it down and order another one, but I can tell you from my perspective, it misses the point of the total enjoyment experience consuming it cold.

My BA buddy PlinyMafia that took the pilgrimage to HFS with me did take the tastings offered, and spoke "sacrilegiously " when asked if Lawson's Double Sunshine was better than HFS Double Citra, but that comparison will be covered thoroughly in a soon upcoming beer forum thread to be titled "Hill Farmstead Double Citra goes head to head with Lawson's Double Sunshine: the Battle Royale!"
May 05, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of TheBigBoy
Reviewed by TheBigBoy from Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -33%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Can't say i was a fan of this one, too much punch without comfortable hop flavor, given the high rank, most think otherwise, but Hill Farmstead has many other more enjoyable for me than this blend.
Feb 24, 2024
 
Rated: 4.25 by Gobzilla from California

Feb 19, 2024
 
Rated: 4.74 by gardner254 from Ohio

Nov 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by akopczyk from Ohio

Oct 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4.78 by emptyglassagain from Massachusetts

Sep 22, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by cryptichead from Illinois

Sep 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by IanX from New York

Aug 05, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by FLBeerGuy from Florida

Jul 31, 2023
 
Rated: 4.23 by Affinity from Missouri

Jun 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by Iski100 from Massachusetts

Jun 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.68 by moltch from Massachusetts

Jun 20, 2023
 
Rated: 4.79 by Hallertau from Wisconsin

Jun 13, 2023
 
Rated: 4.74 by Hawkfish from Washington

Jun 12, 2023
Photo of Treyliff
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.59/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A textbook citra showcase; aroma is orange marmalade, grapefruit zest, juicy tangerine and a hint of grass. Taste gives juicy tangerine and pulpy & zesty grapefruit, slightly grassy and just a hint of malty sweetness on the finish. Medium body with moderate carbonation, foamy mouthfeel turns into a creamy finish, high drinkability
Jun 09, 2023
Photo of lucius10
Reviewed by lucius10 from California

4.28/5  rDev -7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Slightly malty, tropical hoppy, and a subtle orange citrus nose on this one! Taste follows with some sweet and floral orange citrus, malty-sweetness, a kiss of briny, minerality, and a subdued hoppy bitter finish. As this was canned on 4/18/23 (consumed on 6/7/23), I had this while it was a little long in the tooth...but, you can tell that this was absolutely fantastic when fresh. This is still well-made and delicious!
Jun 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4.6 by heysuz from Indiana

Jun 04, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Jun 04, 2023
 
Rated: 4.71 by cd34 from Illinois

May 26, 2023
Double Citra® from Hill Farmstead Brewery
Beer rating: 100 out of 100 with 2121 ratings