Three Magic Letters
Hill Farmstead Brewery

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- From:
- Hill Farmstead Brewery
- Vermont, United States
- Style:
- IPA - American
Ranked #43 - ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 95
Ranked #1,631 - Avg:
- 4.3 | pDev: 6.05%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 13, 2022
- Added:
- Apr 11, 2017
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 8
SCORE
95
World-Class
95
World-Class

Notes:
American IPA Brewed with Nelson Sauvin®, Riwaka™, and Simcoe®
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
4.24 by timmy2b from New York on Apr 13, 2022
4.43 by Bhubbard34 from Pennsylvania on Jan 11, 2022
4.37 by Ristaccia from Nebraska on May 10, 2021
5 by drewmuni from California on Jan 18, 2021
4.35 by mattmarka1 from Minnesota on Nov 26, 2020
4.11 by StoutSnob40 from California on Nov 25, 2020
4.01/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by 2beerdogs from California
Thanks to Roy_Hobbs for this HF gem.
Turbid gold, fluffy head. Pretty solid retention with scattered lacing.
Aromas of grapefruit, orange zest, pine, and a subtle pissy Nelson note (often a turnoff for me, but subtle here), herbal pepper, and a dash of dank.
Flavor definitely starts assertively with a one, two punch of Citrus and Nelson. Then a dank resiny note chimes in followed by a mix of pepper, mango, wet grass, and some indistinct earthy tropical notes. There's also a very pleasing grain note that hints at oats in both flavor and feel.
Mouthfeel is lovely. Somewhat soft and fluffy yet not light. Carbonation is spot on. A drying bitterness brings it home.
Nov 23, 2020
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by 2beerdogs from California
Thanks to Roy_Hobbs for this HF gem.
Turbid gold, fluffy head. Pretty solid retention with scattered lacing.
Aromas of grapefruit, orange zest, pine, and a subtle pissy Nelson note (often a turnoff for me, but subtle here), herbal pepper, and a dash of dank.
Flavor definitely starts assertively with a one, two punch of Citrus and Nelson. Then a dank resiny note chimes in followed by a mix of pepper, mango, wet grass, and some indistinct earthy tropical notes. There's also a very pleasing grain note that hints at oats in both flavor and feel.
Mouthfeel is lovely. Somewhat soft and fluffy yet not light. Carbonation is spot on. A drying bitterness brings it home.
Nov 23, 2020
4.06/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Roy_Hobbs from Connecticut
Canned 10/27/20 and poured into a tulip. Appearance is nice, although it doesn't stand out in any particular way. Bright, glowing hazy yellow wiht not a ton of head / head retention. Lacing is solid. Aroma is really nice, although it's not exactly jumping out of the glass. Grapefruit, and I hate to say it, but a bit of cat pee on the nose (is it possible to say "but not in a bad way"?)
Taste is medium bitterness with maybe some mango / grapefruit notes? I'm not a big IPA guy, and find the taste good, but not great. Fairly pillowy feel.
Nov 15, 2020
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Roy_Hobbs from Connecticut
Canned 10/27/20 and poured into a tulip. Appearance is nice, although it doesn't stand out in any particular way. Bright, glowing hazy yellow wiht not a ton of head / head retention. Lacing is solid. Aroma is really nice, although it's not exactly jumping out of the glass. Grapefruit, and I hate to say it, but a bit of cat pee on the nose (is it possible to say "but not in a bad way"?)
Taste is medium bitterness with maybe some mango / grapefruit notes? I'm not a big IPA guy, and find the taste good, but not great. Fairly pillowy feel.
Nov 15, 2020
4.25 by kevindp9 from Arizona on Nov 14, 2020
4.54 by Pinz412 from Pennsylvania on Nov 09, 2020
4.66/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
by Sabtos from Ohio
Hazy straw yellow with a moderate off-white foam that dies to an airy froth leaving thin but spongy arms of lace.
Lovely lovely nelson aromas explode from the can immediately after the *pop* sound. On the palate, peppery nelson, which I do so love, pairs perfectly with the toasty crackery malt chosen for this brew. Riwaka provides dichotomously juicy and bitter mango skin and citrus rind, while simcoe gives a hint of that accenting stank. Despite being bitter overall, as it comes closer to room temp and the bottom of the pour, it all shockingly comes together in an expression of Spree candies.
The medium-light body has an airy froth that firms up before finishing paper dry.
Absolutely delicious.
Nov 03, 2020
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
by Sabtos from Ohio
Hazy straw yellow with a moderate off-white foam that dies to an airy froth leaving thin but spongy arms of lace.
Lovely lovely nelson aromas explode from the can immediately after the *pop* sound. On the palate, peppery nelson, which I do so love, pairs perfectly with the toasty crackery malt chosen for this brew. Riwaka provides dichotomously juicy and bitter mango skin and citrus rind, while simcoe gives a hint of that accenting stank. Despite being bitter overall, as it comes closer to room temp and the bottom of the pour, it all shockingly comes together in an expression of Spree candies.
The medium-light body has an airy froth that firms up before finishing paper dry.
Absolutely delicious.
Nov 03, 2020
4.25/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by BEERMILER12 from Maine
On tap at Mule Bar
Nov 01, 2020
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by BEERMILER12 from Maine
On tap at Mule Bar
Nov 01, 2020
4.3/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by cbutova from Massachusetts
A- The 12oz can pours into an 8oz becher glass with a golden yellow hue and a one finger white cap. There is a fairly thick and foamy, creamy texture to the head and it has good retention. Large webs of lacing form regularly on the glass.
S- Strong hops make up most of the aroma with a hop profile that is primarily stone/tropical fruits, citrus and dank with some floral, herbal and pine hints. Peach, ruby red grapefruit, orange, berries, dank weed, slight onion, mango and melon specifically. Light touch of cracker, honey and pale grains.
T- For me much of what was found in the aroma carries over to the taste and the Nelson gets a bit of a boost in the flavor profile with a pretty distinct spicy, dank, grape and citrus zest hop profile. Rounding that bouquet out are pine, floral, herbal, orange, mango and peach hops. Overall balanced between the zesty and juicy. Whole wheat bread, oats, honey and crackery malt notes.
MF- Light-medium bodied but smooth and soft on the taste buds with a creamy and foamy texture. The carbonation is on at a medium-high level and it ends with solid herbal, citrus zesty bitterness.
Juicy stone and tropical fruits lead quickly into bitter grapefruit, spicy, dank and herbal hops and all in all it finds a nice balance. No surprise and another six pack that won't last all that long.
Jul 15, 2020
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by cbutova from Massachusetts
A- The 12oz can pours into an 8oz becher glass with a golden yellow hue and a one finger white cap. There is a fairly thick and foamy, creamy texture to the head and it has good retention. Large webs of lacing form regularly on the glass.
S- Strong hops make up most of the aroma with a hop profile that is primarily stone/tropical fruits, citrus and dank with some floral, herbal and pine hints. Peach, ruby red grapefruit, orange, berries, dank weed, slight onion, mango and melon specifically. Light touch of cracker, honey and pale grains.
T- For me much of what was found in the aroma carries over to the taste and the Nelson gets a bit of a boost in the flavor profile with a pretty distinct spicy, dank, grape and citrus zest hop profile. Rounding that bouquet out are pine, floral, herbal, orange, mango and peach hops. Overall balanced between the zesty and juicy. Whole wheat bread, oats, honey and crackery malt notes.
MF- Light-medium bodied but smooth and soft on the taste buds with a creamy and foamy texture. The carbonation is on at a medium-high level and it ends with solid herbal, citrus zesty bitterness.
Juicy stone and tropical fruits lead quickly into bitter grapefruit, spicy, dank and herbal hops and all in all it finds a nice balance. No surprise and another six pack that won't last all that long.
Jul 15, 2020
3 by TallGuyCM from California on Jul 13, 2020
4.15/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by Holderness from Massachusetts
Canned a week ago
L — Amber orange haze with 1.5 fingers of off-white head produced with moderate pour. Great retention and lacing, as usual
S — Yellow peach, white grape, blueberry, fresh pine, honeydew melon, spearmint
T — Vibrantly grassy and earthy upfront, followed by some creamy pale malt sweetness and a bit of rindy citrus character
F — Medium mouthfeel, medium carb. Somewhat fluffy and definitely more bitter than many of the other HF IPAs
83/100
Jul 09, 2020
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by Holderness from Massachusetts
Canned a week ago
L — Amber orange haze with 1.5 fingers of off-white head produced with moderate pour. Great retention and lacing, as usual
S — Yellow peach, white grape, blueberry, fresh pine, honeydew melon, spearmint
T — Vibrantly grassy and earthy upfront, followed by some creamy pale malt sweetness and a bit of rindy citrus character
F — Medium mouthfeel, medium carb. Somewhat fluffy and definitely more bitter than many of the other HF IPAs
83/100
Jul 09, 2020
4.23 by jvillefan from California on Feb 25, 2020
4.35 by dudd from New York on Feb 24, 2020
4.4 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois on Feb 17, 2020
4.25 by cp45 from New Jersey on Feb 17, 2020
4.29 by eddiefl from New York on Feb 12, 2020
4.27 by metter98 from New York on Feb 11, 2020
4.75 by jkrug5 from Maryland on Feb 10, 2020
4.49/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by ovaltine from Indiana
This hazy straw-colored beer props up a foamy off-white head that draws your nose to the citrus aromas that literally explode from this beer. Mandarin oranges, pineapple, passion fruit, mango - just a hop lover’s “spicy citrus” extravaganza.
The oranges and pineapple are the initial flavors on the taste, but the mango is what sets this hazy IPA apart from the proliferation of examples of this style of beer, and the way that flavor is subtly combined with the other flavors to yield this world-class beer.
It has all the juicy flavor, in balance, so you don’t get that “juicy burn” on the palate that leads to “premature palate fatigue” (Registered Trademark). A magnificent beer from an exceptional brewery, IMHO.
Feb 09, 2020
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by ovaltine from Indiana
This hazy straw-colored beer props up a foamy off-white head that draws your nose to the citrus aromas that literally explode from this beer. Mandarin oranges, pineapple, passion fruit, mango - just a hop lover’s “spicy citrus” extravaganza.
The oranges and pineapple are the initial flavors on the taste, but the mango is what sets this hazy IPA apart from the proliferation of examples of this style of beer, and the way that flavor is subtly combined with the other flavors to yield this world-class beer.
It has all the juicy flavor, in balance, so you don’t get that “juicy burn” on the palate that leads to “premature palate fatigue” (Registered Trademark). A magnificent beer from an exceptional brewery, IMHO.
Feb 09, 2020
4.39/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by DefenCorps from Oregon
Canned 28 Oct 2019, received in trade with rodmanfor3. Thanks, Rick!
A hazy orange with a dense, off-white head with excellent retention and lacing, this looks great. The nose is juicy, creamy, fruity with honey, fresh orange juice, a little mango nectar, a touch of grapefruit juice, a little passionfruit, a little peach. Particularly clean, with no real grass notes. A mild oat like delicately doughy sweetness is present. The palate opens with a juicy sweetness, a blend of OJ, pineapple, passionfruit and a little mango. The sweetness brings to mind ripe clementines, and the light oat flavor also adds a little soft body to the beer. Sweet orange lingers on in the finish, mildly drying and particularly creamy. Delicious, lovely mouthfeel.
Dec 28, 2019
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by DefenCorps from Oregon
Canned 28 Oct 2019, received in trade with rodmanfor3. Thanks, Rick!
A hazy orange with a dense, off-white head with excellent retention and lacing, this looks great. The nose is juicy, creamy, fruity with honey, fresh orange juice, a little mango nectar, a touch of grapefruit juice, a little passionfruit, a little peach. Particularly clean, with no real grass notes. A mild oat like delicately doughy sweetness is present. The palate opens with a juicy sweetness, a blend of OJ, pineapple, passionfruit and a little mango. The sweetness brings to mind ripe clementines, and the light oat flavor also adds a little soft body to the beer. Sweet orange lingers on in the finish, mildly drying and particularly creamy. Delicious, lovely mouthfeel.
Dec 28, 2019
4.19 by Jstuart23 from North Carolina on Nov 07, 2019
4.34 by hozersr from Pennsylvania on Oct 30, 2019
4.25 by paulish from New York on Sep 15, 2019
4.16 by RRB328 from Massachusetts on Sep 14, 2019
3.81 by q33jeff from New Jersey on Sep 14, 2019
4.98/5 rDev +15.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
by DaveMaciolek21 from New Jersey
This New England IPA is subtle, even elegant. The taste transfer between New Zealand and Simcoe hops evolves on your palette slowly, luxuriously. Just when you think the flavor jam is over, Three Magic Letters strikes up the band again. Simcoe prevails with tropical fruit overruling NZ hop bitterness.
Sep 10, 2019
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
by DaveMaciolek21 from New Jersey
This New England IPA is subtle, even elegant. The taste transfer between New Zealand and Simcoe hops evolves on your palette slowly, luxuriously. Just when you think the flavor jam is over, Three Magic Letters strikes up the band again. Simcoe prevails with tropical fruit overruling NZ hop bitterness.
Sep 10, 2019
4.6 by Vicirus from Massachusetts on Sep 05, 2019
4.06 by CreightonSM from New York on Aug 19, 2019
4.25 by rodmanfor3 from Vermont on Aug 12, 2019
4 by DaMacAndCheese from Massachusetts on Jul 20, 2019
4.27/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by rudzud from Massachusetts
Enjoyed on tap at the Dive Bar.
A - Poured into a tulip a nice pale golden hue with a thick white head that fades to leave sticky lacing and a thick blanket.
S - Aromas of light malts, almost sweet honey, little citrus, tons of dank hops, loads of bright candied citrus peel. Almost marmalade like.
T - Taste is similar to the nose with loads of sweeter citrus peel and orange marmalade. Nice musty hops and passion fruit. Excellent flashes of tropical notes.
M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, good clean finish.
O - Overall this was a solid enough ipa, nice use of southern hemisphere hops.
Serving Type: on tap
Jul 19, 2019
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by rudzud from Massachusetts
Enjoyed on tap at the Dive Bar.
A - Poured into a tulip a nice pale golden hue with a thick white head that fades to leave sticky lacing and a thick blanket.
S - Aromas of light malts, almost sweet honey, little citrus, tons of dank hops, loads of bright candied citrus peel. Almost marmalade like.
T - Taste is similar to the nose with loads of sweeter citrus peel and orange marmalade. Nice musty hops and passion fruit. Excellent flashes of tropical notes.
M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, good clean finish.
O - Overall this was a solid enough ipa, nice use of southern hemisphere hops.
Serving Type: on tap
Jul 19, 2019
3.94 by curlybird from Pennsylvania on Jun 29, 2019
4.09 by M_chav from New Mexico on Jun 29, 2019
3.63 by vfgccp from New York on Jun 27, 2019
4.28 by Stevedore from Oregon on Jun 21, 2019
4.41 by SkiBum22 from New York on Jun 17, 2019
Three Magic Letters from Hill Farmstead Brewery
Beer rating:
95 out of
100 with
127 ratings