Holger Danske
Hill Farmstead Brewery

 

 

On tap @ Monks Cafe in Philadelphia 2/2/25

Creamy and so well balanced, smoke flavor so well integrated. Can see why it’s #1 in its style. My first smoked brown ale and the bar has been set high

Growler filled on 1/3/2025; consumed on 1/7/2025

Pours a deep yet clear jet-brown body sporting ruby accents and a plentiful, creamy beige foam; good head retention leaves a slim layer of cap, large, frothy collar, and myriad soapy lacing strewn across the walls of the glass.

Aroma brings clean wafts of subtle beechwood smoke immediately apparent upfront, with accents of coffee and nutty depth easing into underlying cola interspersion across the bouquet.

Taste presents a milk chocolate foundation and nutty accent upfront, soon delving into soft black toast undertones as a steady beechwood smoke infusion takes hold over the mid-palate; minerality trails into the back end and a light cherry cola exhale lingers.

Mouthfeel shows a medium-light body and a rounded fluff of moderate carbonation, leaving clean, somewhat glossy roast grazing the palate to a delicately invigorating char.

Semi-sweetness doused in savory smoke and a deftly roasty malt interplay; a beautifully coherent amalgam captured in an oft-underappreciated style.

On tap at Blackback Pub, Waterbury, VT

 

 

 

 

 

 

On-tap at Armsby in Worcester. Can’t remember the last time I had a HF beer. This is incredible. Subtle smokiness on top of all that makes a brown ale delicious. Heavily roasted malt, chocolate, coffee, wood, earth, sweet sugary syrup. This is killer stuff.

 

This one pours a very dark brown color- it's very rich looking. There's a small foamy white head, and a little bit of lacing.

This smells like warm and toasty smoke, with caramel, rustic bread, rye, chocolate, and coffee.

There's a lot going on here. The malt is perfectly smoked- there's absolutely none of the off-flavors often associated with smoked beers- no plastic, no bandaid, no nothing. It's just warm and toasty and like a great campfire. The base brown ale is so rich. It feels richer than George- there's some definite dark roast coffee, lots of chocolate, a dark and spicy breadiness, and some very light caramel. This is so good.

This is creamy and rich, with a medium sized body, and a great level of drinkability. I could drink this all day, and I couldn't say that about most smoked beers.

Hill Farmstead has turned probably the least sexy style into an amazing beer. This is absolutely wonderful.

 

 

 

Solid robust smoked brown ale. Taste of dark chocolate and smokiness. Clear color and smooth for a beer of it style. Definitely drinkable at 7% ABV.

 

This is a collaborative beer with Danish brewer Kissmeyer.

Near black in color but light shines through the very edge of the glass stem. Large beige head which leaves a many, many spots. It settles with a dome.

The smell reminds me of a Porter with only a hint of the advertised smoke.

The flavor starts dry with black patent malt notes like black coffee and burnt toast. From there the taste becomes drier and more like ash. The smoke is more pronounced but definitely not the major flavor. Moderate body with a higher carbonation than most stouts. This was advertised as a "smoked brown ale". It is far stronger in flavor than that style and is much closer to a robust Porter or dry stout.