Residency 2
Hill Farmstead Brewery

 

 

 

Brewed in 2016 by Shaun and Tim Clifford this Farmstead ale was brewed with six row malted barley in the brewhouse and fermented in wine barrels.

Bottle pour from Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro, VT.

This one pours a bright, mostly clear orange color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

The bright and vibrant aroma just leaps out of the glass here – there’s orange, white wine, grapefruit, lime, oak, and lemon.

This beer came out a while ago, but it still tastes so fresh and vibrant – it’s kind of crazy. I had this side by side with Ann, the big cheese of rare Hill Farmstead saisons, and this beer honestly surpassed it. There is just a burst of wine barrel and citrusy character here – so fresh tasting, with some honey, a touch of funky doughiness, some grape, and oak. I really love this – it’s really up my alley for this style.

This is light bodied, crisp, clean, and with a perfect level of sourness.

This is maybe in the top 3 of Hill Farmstead beers that I’ve ever had – it’s a stunning beer, and a great representation of perhaps the two best saison producers in America.

 

 

 

 

 

 

750ml bottle, 2018 release, poured into a Hill Farmstead etched Rona wine glass. Enjoyed on 10.28.18, reviewed from Tasting Journal.

The beer pours a bright orange color, super cloudy and hazy with a foamy white head that rises about two fingers tall with moderate retention and lacing. The aroma is excellent, a beautiful expression of citrus, tons of funk, oak, lightly vinous, grapefruit peel, tangerine juice, almost a yuzu like quality with pale dough and mineral water. The flavors echo the nose nicely, lots of citrus, wonderful grapefruit, tart and juicy with some sweeter orange and tangy lemony lime even comes across the palate, lots of oak, white wine qualities come forth offering white grape, light acidity, modest tartness with a nice funky character that is floral and fruity with some candied green hop leaf and pale dough. The mouthfeel is good, coating, lively and crisp with a medium body and a creamy but tart finish.

Verdict: A very good saison from Hill Farmstead and Tim Clifford. An incredible burst of citrus and wine barrel but while remaining balanced and complex. The barrel character is delightful and the funk really takes this beer to the next level offering some earthiness, fruitiness and a floral bouquet that softens the beer nicely.