Sankt
Hill Farmstead Brewery

2015 Batch - awesome!

750ml bottle purchased October 2025 and in the cellar since, poured into a Treehouse Teku glass.

Look - Dark amber, almost rusty water colored with pretty decent carbonation. 1/4" head rings the glass. Lots of bubbles also sticking to the sidewall of the glass. Copper color isn't all that appealing looking, but well, this is a barrel aged amber so I guess it looks as it should. The second, more aggressive pour yielded a 3/4" off-white head that reduced quickly to a 1/4" memory.

Aroma - I just got shot back in time! This very pungent, sour bacteria laden smell is reminiscent of better days. There's definitely Sankt Hans there in the background, covered by the aging in wood with micro bacteria. Light wood notes. Very solid. Faint caramel notes on the second pour. Almost faint tootsie-roll aroma coming from this.

Taste - Delectable. The sour notes shine through instantly, then give way to the underlying base beer, then finishes with another hit of sour. Muted saison notes, oak rounds out and balances this beer nicely. Refined, complex. I just want to keep drinking it, almost too quickly. This may sound weird, but it's almost too balanced.

Mouthfeel - Okay. Better than okay. Not thin. On the light side. I almost want to say 'prickly' but I am having a hard time trying to put into words why I feel that way. There's a very weird mouth situation that I can't narrow down. The first few sips were great, but the more I drink, the more I feel like I'm either having a weird reaction to something in this, or that my taste buds are being burned. That's actually a reasonable way to explain it. I was thinking about reviewing a few beers this evening but I may have to take a break after this first one and try to cleanse my palate more than I normally would.

Overall - I'm having a hard time with this. On the one hand, I really enjoy this. On the other, as much as I like it, it's sort of meh. It's bold and delicious, yet also...there's either something missing or something going on that I can't put my finger on. I sort of want to crush this, yet I also want to sip it. I can't figure it out. There's definitely something going on that is burning my taste buds, some reaction that isn't exactly pleasant. I like this beer, I really do. I'd definitely drink it again and almost definitely would buy another bottle just to see if I would have the same odd reaction. If I had to choose between this or simply Sankt Hans, I think I would probably just stick with the latter. Either way, I'm glad that I purchased this and got to experience it.

 

 

 

Sankt 2019 bottle conditioning since January 4, 2021.

Poured into Black Logo Hill Farmstead Durobar Charente glass.

I don't think that I have had an Amber Saison. It's tasty though. Lighter side of moderate tartness. Wine barrel notes are easily recognized, but aren't the main show for this beer. Earl gray tea, earthy and funky oak, as well as a malty richness to balance this beer quite nicely.

Tried blind side-by-side Sankt Hans. This one was less visually appealing with barely any head to speak of, and also had the same strange aroma of raw ground chicken. Flavors were slightly preferable to Sankt Hans in terms of complexity, largely imparted by the higher amount of beer-to-oak contact thanks to the smaller wine barrels used. Slightly more lemony tartness as well. Feel was less fluffy due to less robust carbonation. Overall pretty good, but given the $30/375ml price tag I would almost definitely pick Sankt Hans over this

73/100

2019 vintage, bottle conditioning since Jan 4, 2021
Pours a small fizzy head with fair retention, spotty lacing, clear amber to orange color

Nose juicy funk, bacteria sourness and some mild barkyard funky tartness, a bit of juicy peach and stone fruit, buttery chardonnay like oak character, fruity white wine and a bit of grape skin,

Taste brings more funk, some souring bacteria, a bit of acidity, barnyard funk, grassy hay, tart lemony fruit, with more peachy stone fruit as well, fleshy, more mild bitter musty grape skin and fruity white wine, more of the buttery oak that brings some Chardonnay characters again, a bit tangy late, star fruit citrus, drier finish, a touch flemmy with fair acidity and tartness lingering

Mouth is med bod, slightly higher small bubble carb, fair acidity

Overall quite nice, great wine barrel sour with some nice age

Decent beer - a bit tart for my own personal taste.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this, but i can see its short comings

Pours an amber color with nice head. Nose and palate are amber ale with delicate wine barrel intermingled. Body is a bit thin for what is presented on the palate.

Agree that it is very drinkable. Maybe it doesnt pack enough punch for a 30$ bottle for some, but i bought 2

750 mL bottle. Clear amber body. Smells of wine, toasted bread, mineral notes, a little oak. Tastes a little of lemon tartness, wine, toasted malt, mineral notes verging on metallic. Lingering wine flavor. Medium body. Nice.