Prolegomena
Hill Farmstead Brewery

ProlegomenaProlegomena
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From:
Hill Farmstead Brewery
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
Flanders Red Ale
Ranked #7
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
96
Ranked #1,229
Avg:
4.32 | pDev: 8.1%
Reviews:
30
Ratings:
226
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 10, 2023
Added:
Apr 25, 2013
Wants:
  159
Gots:
  49
First envisioned and created over a decade ago in partnership with longtime friend Will Meyers of Cambridge Brewing Co., Prolegomena is our interpretation of the Flanders red ale—the Burgundy of Belgium. The base of this, only the second edition, was brewed on December 24th, 2013, and May 8, 2014. This beer conditioned, slowly, in wood for between 32 months and three years, slowly developing acidity and harmonized layers of complexity from the introduction of wild yeast. With an extended bottle-conditioning of more than five years prior to release, this beer has seen a journey of more than 8 years from brew day to release.

During the 2017 season, we selected a number of beers, observing certain characteristics amongst them that indicated significant benefit from extended conditioning in bottle. Prolegomena was one of those chosen and now makes its debut. Significantly, this represents and highlights our unwavering commitment to shepherding each beer along its appropriate journey towards achievement—regardless of the time frame necessitated by the whim and whimsy of the natural process.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by davewlfpckfan29:
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Rated by davewlfpckfan29 from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -7.4%

Feb 05, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.5 by bigred89 from Maryland

Aug 10, 2023
 
Rated: 4.35 by npolachek from New York

Feb 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by paulish from New York

Nov 04, 2022
 
Rated: 4.5 by Gkruszewski from New York

Sep 30, 2022
 
Rated: 4.67 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Sep 26, 2022
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

4.72/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Batch 2, 2017 vintage.

This one pours a reddish brown color, with a small white head, and lots of lacing.

This smells of toasted oak, pear, caramel apple, clove, red wine, and toasted breadiness.

This batch of beer was a long time in the making, and it shows – it’s one of the best Hill Farmstead beers I’ve had in a while now. It was aged for nearly 3 years in wood, and bottle conditioned for over five years – more than 8 years from brew date to this beer getting poured into my glass. There’s such a soft and velvety malt character, with breadiness, some bittersweet caramel, and spice, along with some pear skin, a bit of red juicy apple, spicy oak, and some clove.

This is medium bodied, creamy, and very softly sour, pleasant and refreshing almost, with a tremendous drinkability.

This is perhaps the best Flanders Red that I’ve ever had. It’s just so wonderful, and one of the best Hill Farmstead beers I’ve had in a while now recently, up there with Sankt and Samuel B3.
Jul 05, 2022
 
Rated: 4.65 by MJSFS from Florida

Jun 26, 2022
Photo of edthehead
Reviewed by edthehead from Maryland

4.4/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Batch 1. Brown appearance with shadows of amber and a loose light beige head that dissipates quickly, no lacing. Caramel, Granny Smith apple, pear, plum, bread. Medium body, medium to light carbonation.
Dec 24, 2020
 
Rated: 4.18 by rjp217 from Massachusetts

Mar 03, 2017
 
Rated: 4.33 by 7Sport from Massachusetts

Jul 23, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by dfhhead25 from Pennsylvania

Mar 30, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by BMart from Pennsylvania

Mar 23, 2016
 
Rated: 4.46 by yasky from Canada (ON)

Feb 20, 2016
 
Rated: 4.31 by Segnem5 from Michigan

Nov 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.66 by Guzzle_McBrew from Connecticut

Oct 20, 2015
 
Rated: 4.34 by reebtaerG from Maryland

Sep 24, 2015
 
Rated: 4.06 by amano_h from Oregon

Sep 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4.59 by Kramerbarthomer from Colorado

Sep 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.75 by mre0683 from Massachusetts

Jun 24, 2015
Prolegomena from Hill Farmstead Brewery
Beer rating: 96 out of 100 with 226 ratings