Gin Clara
Hill Farmstead Brewery

 

On tap at the Juniper Bar in Hotel Vermont in Burlington, VT. I guess there’s a been a few draft only batches of this beer recently made for this bar. I’ve never tried, and might never try, the originally bottled batch of this beer, so it’s really cool to have this chance.

This one pours a slightly hazy golden orange color, with a small fluffy head, and lots of lacing.

There’s a soft peachy and citrusy aroma to this, with a touch of oak, grape skin, honey, juniper, and soft pine.

I’m so stoked to have finally tried this one. The gin doesn’t dominate here – it’s still definitively Clara, and the wonderfully citrusy, dry, and floral aspects of that beer really lends themselves well to the added flavors of vanilla, lemon, honey, and grape that the gin barreling provides. My bank account wouldn’t love it, but I could drink so, so many glasses of this.

This is light bodied, slightly creamy, very soft, and extremely drinkable.

This is quite tasty, and I hope they keep making these little draft only batches of it!

 

 

 

 

Gin Clara just might be the ghost whale of Hill Farmstead.

I cellared my bottle for two years until a special occasion popped up, and when the time came to celebrate, I shared a 375ml bottle with what now seems like far too many people.

From the healthy pour that I enjoyed, I found myself in awe as I discovered how good this beer truly was. The gin barrels had integrated seamlessly into the subtle flavors of the base beer to create a near masterpiece that finished clean and dry. This one was special.

 

 

375ml bottle poured into Merlot glass bottled in 2015.

A: Crystal clear yellow honey colored body with a generous white soapy head on top.

S: Lots of juniper, slight mint, honey, light Crackery malts.

T: The gin intertwined and layers through this beer without being overwhelming. It has a very soft honey juniper and fruit taste then a nice light malt and softer honey taste then finish with a nice gin dryness.

M: Soft feel no harshness

O: This beer is damn near perfect, I am not a fan of gin at all and this beer is remarkable. The way the gin doesn't dominate the beer but elevates it is extrodinary.

 

 

 

 

 

Like every Barrel Aged Hill Farmstead beer, the barrel time adds a great complexity. This one takes the slightly tart, wheaty Clara and adds a soft floral gin undertone which complements it so nicely