Phenomenology Of Spirit
Hill Farmstead Brewery

Phenomenology Of SpiritPhenomenology Of Spirit
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From:
Hill Farmstead Brewery
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
Saison
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
96
Avg:
4.33 | pDev: 8.08%
Reviews:
28
Ratings:
256
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 29, 2021
Added:
Sep 18, 2013
Wants:
  102
Gots:
  38
Second release was sent through our coolship and 100% spontaneously fermented with Greensboro/Hill Farmstead airborne yeast.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by sfr26:
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Rated by sfr26 from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -7.6%

Feb 14, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sabtos
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

4.14/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pouring cola black but filling to a weathered mahogany, its short but soft khaki head settles to a thin film and bubbly ring.

So, I don't know what I was expecting, but this is basically an oud bruin, and that's not quite the space my mind imagined it would fill. Although here, it's softer, less acidic, and uniquely oaky with a dry, tanniny merlot-like chew. At the same time, it does feature that cherry-cranberry tartness accented by a light char on the nose, albeit with less acid than you might get in actual oud bruins, which is a relief. While the uniquely dry red wine qualities persist, it also develops a little smoke as it warms, particularly when paired with a light snack.

The medium-light body has a light, bubbly carbonation and finishes just dry. It's almost crisp at times.

2021 vintage
Nov 29, 2021
Photo of nelsonracite
Rated by nelsonracite from New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Looks dark and rich when poured. Smells of small tart. Taste almost like an ale with a taste of a stout mixed in. This is a great feel overall.
Nov 17, 2021
 
Rated: 5 by TallGuyCM from California

Jun 28, 2020
 
Rated: 4.19 by Uconnelmo from Connecticut

Mar 23, 2019
Photo of cbutova
Reviewed by cbutova from Massachusetts

4.36/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2014/2016 release.

A- Pour from the 750ml into a chalice with a deep ruby grape hue and a small, foamy light pink head. The cap is a finger high with pretty good retention and lacing forms with plentiful webs.

S- The wine barrel still shines quite a bit and the beer has definitely found some balance and has aged very, very well. Lactic sourness of the top with a ton of different fruits. Dark wine grapes come in big time, grape stems, slightly tannic wine oak, lemon, a bit of funk, sour apple and must.

T- Big time wine grapes again with a massive, massive amount of flavor coming out of the barrel. Juicy and slightly sweet dark wine grapes, sour lemon, pure lactic acid, slight oak tannins, slight apple, grape stems and seeds, pear and musty funk.

MF- Light bodied with a very high level of carbonation even after these years. Texture is both foamy and frothy and it ends sour after half of the glass.

Huge wine barrel and a great sour as always from Hill Farmstead. Just a massive amount of wine that has balanced out after some aging.
Mar 07, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by Nichols33 from Massachusetts

Dec 10, 2018
 
Rated: 4.31 by Hallertau from Wisconsin

Oct 03, 2018
 
Rated: 3.99 by hopkrid from Florida

Sep 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4.08 by Samact from Vermont

Aug 31, 2018
 
Rated: 4.28 by kjkinsey from Texas

Apr 22, 2018
 
Rated: 4.51 by xtonytx from Connecticut

Apr 15, 2018
Photo of cosmicevan
Reviewed by cosmicevan from New York

4.38/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Swapped $4$ HF shelfies with a local for this one a while back. Not usually a fan of anything noir, but if anyone is gonna do it right, it's gonna be hill farmstead and this is really well done. Subtle and easy drinking. Dark fruit that almost has a red wine vibe on the taste. Really nice.
Mar 18, 2018
 
Rated: 4.5 by smartassboiler from Illinois

Jan 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4.44 by AnitaBrewski from Massachusetts

Dec 25, 2017
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

4.18/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This one pours a slightly murky dark brown, with a small head, and not much lacing.

This smells like chocolate, coca-cola, lemon, white wine, and dark fruit.

This has a pretty cool mix of dark malts and funk. There's slight chocolate, and some roast, with a sweet cola-like flavor, with some lemon and white wine, nuttiness, dark fruits, and that general HF funk.

This is light bodied, slightly creamy, with a good level of carbonation.

This has a lot of really interesting and complex flavors.
Nov 15, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by t2grogan from Arizona

Nov 13, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by Philcassella from North Carolina

Oct 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4.13 by cp45 from New Jersey

Aug 25, 2017
 
Rated: 4.09 by Run4theRoses from South Carolina

Jul 29, 2017
Phenomenology Of Spirit from Hill Farmstead Brewery
Beer rating: 96 out of 100 with 256 ratings