Birth of Tragedy: Cinnamon & Cacao Nibs
Hill Farmstead Brewery
- From:
- Hill Farmstead Brewery
- Vermont, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Porter
- ABV:
- Not listed
- Score:
- 97
- Avg:
- 4.53 | pDev: 4.86%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Aug 26, 2023
- Added:
- May 14, 2018
- Wants:
- 5
- Gots:
- 3
SCORE
97
World-Class
97
World-Class
For this 2018 release, we brewed a stronger, richer version of the base beer and aged it for more than 2 years in bourbon barrels from our favorite distilleries. We also added organic cacao nibs, organic cinnamon, Vermont honey, and coffee roasted by our friends in Copenhagen.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by edthehead from Maryland
4.5/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Black oily appearance, minimal head, little to no lacing. Flavor bomb … dark chocolate, spicy cinnamon, coffee, vanilla extract, licorice, oak. Thick body, mild carbonation, smooth mouthfeel.
Jan 25, 2020
Reviewed by kevanb from Illinois
4.71/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.71/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
500ml bottle, poured into a Hill Farmstead stemmed tasting glass. Enjoyed on 8.19.18, reviewed from Tasting Journal.
The beer pours a jet black color, thick and opaque, viscous as it fills the glass with a thick tan head that has very good retention and yields a few spots of lacing. The aroma is amazing, tons of cinnamon, bakers chocolate, smooth bourbon barrel, lots of rich coffee, hearty roasted grain, a bit of toffee and caramel lingers with a light vanilla note as well. The flavors are decadent, rich dark chocolate with an incredible cinnamon character, like a mexican hot chocolate, soft and smooth coffee, chewy oak, warm bourbon that has a nice caramel and vanilla quality, the honey is a bit more present flavorwise, combining to add some sweetness and earthiness to the beer while the finish is dominated by a smooth and hearty dark grain expression. The mouthfeel is great, thick, coating, creamy, rich and heavy that finishes easily with nice legs and a warming sensation.
Verdict: A stunning stout from Hill Farmstead. The addition of the cacao and cinnamon really takes this beer to new heights. Impeccable balance, decadent from start to finish, everything in harmony with a really tremendous barrel character that keeps the complex flavors coming. One of the best stouts from Hill Farmstead.
Jan 01, 2019The beer pours a jet black color, thick and opaque, viscous as it fills the glass with a thick tan head that has very good retention and yields a few spots of lacing. The aroma is amazing, tons of cinnamon, bakers chocolate, smooth bourbon barrel, lots of rich coffee, hearty roasted grain, a bit of toffee and caramel lingers with a light vanilla note as well. The flavors are decadent, rich dark chocolate with an incredible cinnamon character, like a mexican hot chocolate, soft and smooth coffee, chewy oak, warm bourbon that has a nice caramel and vanilla quality, the honey is a bit more present flavorwise, combining to add some sweetness and earthiness to the beer while the finish is dominated by a smooth and hearty dark grain expression. The mouthfeel is great, thick, coating, creamy, rich and heavy that finishes easily with nice legs and a warming sensation.
Verdict: A stunning stout from Hill Farmstead. The addition of the cacao and cinnamon really takes this beer to new heights. Impeccable balance, decadent from start to finish, everything in harmony with a really tremendous barrel character that keeps the complex flavors coming. One of the best stouts from Hill Farmstead.
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York
4.83/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.83/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
This one pours a fairly dark black color, with a small head, and not much lacing.
This smells like fudgy chocolate malt, rich roasted coffee, a touch of cinnamon and vanilla, with light barrel.
The barrel is stronger in the taste here, with rich bourbon and warming oak playing well with the bittersweet chocolatey porter base. The coffee is integrated well, doesn’t overwhelm. The cinnamon is similarly adeptly added, with a nice sweet creamy vanilla finish.
This is medium bodied, and very silky smooth on the palate, with a surprising level of drinkability.
This is absolutely excellent and definitely a step up from the usual BoT.
Oct 29, 2018This smells like fudgy chocolate malt, rich roasted coffee, a touch of cinnamon and vanilla, with light barrel.
The barrel is stronger in the taste here, with rich bourbon and warming oak playing well with the bittersweet chocolatey porter base. The coffee is integrated well, doesn’t overwhelm. The cinnamon is similarly adeptly added, with a nice sweet creamy vanilla finish.
This is medium bodied, and very silky smooth on the palate, with a surprising level of drinkability.
This is absolutely excellent and definitely a step up from the usual BoT.
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