Daybreak (Orange Liqueur Barrel Aged)
Hill Farmstead Brewery

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From:
Hill Farmstead Brewery
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
10.3%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.14 | pDev: 8.7%
Reviews:
30
Ratings:
225
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 22, 2021
Added:
Feb 05, 2014
Wants:
  33
Gots:
  18
Daybreak aged in Grand Marnier barrels.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mjord23:
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Rated by mjord23 from Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

Jun 02, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.8/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Shared 375 ml bottle at local tasting. Pitch black colour, low tan head. Nice roasty aroma, notes of molasses, coffee and liquorice, also plenty of oak and orange liqueur The flavour is not too sweet, roasty coffee notes, discrete hints of orange in the background.
Mar 22, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Jul 06, 2019
 
Rated: 4.1 by ScottP from New Hampshire

Dec 02, 2018
Photo of SABERG
Reviewed by SABERG from Massachusetts

4.36/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 375 ml bottle dated 1/2014 into the test glass
A - the color of shaved bakers chocolate, a very thin mocha colored cap can be coaxed, Carbonation is hiding, delivers a rising patterns on the surface.
S - Initial touch is of sweet orange with vanilla. Add a few minutes and a few degrees in temperature, roasted malts, Madagascar chocolate, all ride on a subtle oak carpet, there is a bit of char, with more refined citrus reduction.
T - Complex, the base stout is robust, lots of dark cocoa, some oak, a bit of cigar wrap tobacco, then the citrus cordial element adds a superb aspect. Dark chocolate drizzled with spritzed with orange liquor
M - Slick feel never lets up, hefty body, carbonation has a fighting chance and loses in the end. The finish dries out a bit, the linger is luxurious.
O - A treat for sure, this offering pushes several bounds, sweet citrus touch, roasty, refined, all on display. exceptionally well crafted and something to rejoice in if the chance arises.
Well done indeed
Jun 17, 2018
 
Rated: 4.49 by Samact from Vermont

Sep 02, 2017
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Reviewed by GuitarIPA from Connecticut

4.57/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
wow - on tap at Hill Farmstead - rich, chocolatey- but not overly sweet despite orange liqueur barrels (I find things like Drambue cloyingly sweet) - thick, chocolatey milk shake feel. Would love to try this at room temp.
Aug 03, 2017
 
Rated: 4.67 by tylerk88 from New York

Jul 25, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by rodmanfor3 from Vermont

Jun 16, 2017
 
Rated: 4.8 by whitenads from Michigan

Mar 17, 2017
 
Rated: 4.64 by MakeBeerGreatAgain from North Carolina

Mar 09, 2017
 
Rated: 4.15 by Sammy from Canada (ON)

Feb 20, 2017
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Reviewed by BoldRulerVT from Vermont

4.54/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from the bottle into stemmed wine glass at the Hill Farmstead tasting room on 12/15/16.
Pours near jet black with a very thin layer of deep caramel colored bubbly head.
Aromas are deep roasted malt with hints of liquor and citrus.
Flavors are wonderful a perfect mix of deep roasted malt and light bitterness mixed with the sweetness of mellow orange and liquor.
Mouthfeel was excellent and perfectly drinkable.
I feel very lucky to have been able to enjoy this yesterday.
Dec 16, 2016
 
Rated: 4.66 by edthehead from Maryland

Dec 10, 2016
 
Rated: 4.5 by t2grogan from Arizona

Oct 02, 2016
 
Rated: 4.29 by AMCimpi from New York

Sep 13, 2016
 
Rated: 3.99 by jason3125 from Vermont

May 26, 2016
 
Rated: 3.43 by thatoneguymike from Georgia

Apr 24, 2016
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Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
huge thanks to claystation for procuring this special rarity. it easily lived up to the hype and anticipation, and then some. this is an imperial stout with citrus, aged in grand marnier barrels, collaboration between hill farmstead and mikkeller, two of the very very best. its got more life to it than expected for its age, thick and dense and shiny black, regal and scary looking at the same time, with some patchy mocha colored bubbles along the edges of the glass and a thin film the same color resting patiently on top. it smells like orange peel, but sort of burnt or something, like a charred orange dessert. the base stout smells huge, boozy and sweet with layers of black barley and coffee and molasses. maybe a hint of the grand marnier sweetness, but its not over the top in the aroma by any means. in the taste, the layers of the stout present themselves one after the next. espresso bitterness is there, accentuated by the citrus peel. raisin and molasses sweetness in the middle. shoe polish black intensity in the finish, with some integration brought on by the oak, but still a nice striation of layers here. coffee notes for sure later on. the barrel treatment is unique, it adds a nice cordial sort of feel to this, short of gelatinous, but moving in that direction. rich but not too sweet in the end, bitter, and finally pulpy and fresh like the flesh of a navel orange. mild acidity flatters it i think, and enough carbonation hangs on to keep it alive. there is a yeast flavor in here that might go unnoticed by many, but i really like the flavor of it, and it keeps the base beer tasting authentic and rustic to me, which being such an innovative beer. nothing like this one the market, an exquisite treat. one of my favorite beers of the year so far!
Apr 16, 2016
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Reviewed by notchucknorris from California

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
01/2014 Bottle

A: Pours pitch black with a thin mocha colored head that settles down to a fine ring pretty quickly.

S: When it's cold, you get pretty much nothing but dark, delicious stout notes in the aroma. Char, wet earth, tons of dark chocolate and dark chocolate covered cherry, roasted malt and molasses. As it warms though, you start to pick up more of the spicy, fruity liquor barrel notes. Marzipan, some light orange zest and a little touch of booze. I never had the chance to try this fresh, so I'm guessing the Grand Marnier stood out a lot more when this was fresh. Still smells awesome now.

T: Just a huge barrage of dark chocolate, dark fruit, pomegranate, molasses, chocolate covered cherry, raisin and cranberry and some light charred barrel and just a hint of chocolate orange on the finish. Leaves a lingering heavy dryness with the taste of bittersweet chocolate on your tongue. The mouthfeel is lighter than I was expecting, but lush and silky. Leaves you wanting a lot more with each sip. Again, would love to see what this was like fresh because I didn't pick up a ton of citrus, but this was still amazing.
Jul 15, 2015
Daybreak (Orange Liqueur Barrel Aged) from Hill Farmstead Brewery
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 225 ratings