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Riwaka Pale Ale
Hill Farmstead Brewery


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Hill Farmstead Brewery
- Vermont, United States
- Style:
- American Pale Ale
Ranked #26 - ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 95
Ranked #1,477 - Avg:
- 4.3 | pDev: 9.3%
- Reviews:
- 44
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 26, 2023
- Added:
- Dec 31, 2010
- Wants:
- 52
- Gots:
- 3
SCORE
95
World-Class
95
World-Class


Notes:
An American Pale Ale bittered, flavored, and dry hopped exclusively with one of our favorite hop varieties: New Zealand's rare and difficult to obtain Riwaka!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by brewme from Massachusetts
4.25/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Picked-up a four-pack of cans at Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, Vermont for eighteen dollars. My thirteenth brew from these guys. I really liked this, very unique, maybe a bit overpriced.
Sep 01, 2022Reviewed by Siriusfisherman from Vermont
4.16/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
4.16/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
L: Hazy yellow/orange with a thick Rocky head and good lacing.
S: Green bell pepper, white whine grape, orange. Very clean malt presence, stonefruit esters.
T: Mild bitterness, pithy citrus, some spice, peach. Light bready malt flavor.
F: Full bodied, somewhat sweet finish. Not in a bad way though.
Overall: A very tasty pale ale with a unique hop character. Great single hop showcase.
Sep 23, 2020S: Green bell pepper, white whine grape, orange. Very clean malt presence, stonefruit esters.
T: Mild bitterness, pithy citrus, some spice, peach. Light bready malt flavor.
F: Full bodied, somewhat sweet finish. Not in a bad way though.
Overall: A very tasty pale ale with a unique hop character. Great single hop showcase.
Rated by BEERMILER12 from Maine
4.34/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.34/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap at Mule Bar
Sep 23, 2020Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon
3.99/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Canned Oct 29, received in trade with rodman3. Thanks, Rick!
A mildly hazy orange with a dense, off-white head with excellent retention and gorgeous lacing, this looks great. The nose is soft, fruity, with plenty of passionfruit to go along with a melony blend of honeydew and watermelon, a mildly spicy, peppery, minty note, an undercurrent of citrus, particularly fresh squeezed OJ and alongside everything, a mild allium note, kind of like fresh ramps. The palate opens mildly spicy with a peppery, arugula like sharpness (but clearly not vegetal) coupled with a strong passionfruit note. Clean, juicy hops, with a little melon, peach and a good amount of OJ. The mid-palate is a little thin, resulting a slightly watery feel that seems strange coupled with the potently juicy passionfruit that lingers on in the finish. The spicy note from the hops are really tasty, and the flavors are tasty, but the watery flavors do bother me a little.
Dec 27, 2019A mildly hazy orange with a dense, off-white head with excellent retention and gorgeous lacing, this looks great. The nose is soft, fruity, with plenty of passionfruit to go along with a melony blend of honeydew and watermelon, a mildly spicy, peppery, minty note, an undercurrent of citrus, particularly fresh squeezed OJ and alongside everything, a mild allium note, kind of like fresh ramps. The palate opens mildly spicy with a peppery, arugula like sharpness (but clearly not vegetal) coupled with a strong passionfruit note. Clean, juicy hops, with a little melon, peach and a good amount of OJ. The mid-palate is a little thin, resulting a slightly watery feel that seems strange coupled with the potently juicy passionfruit that lingers on in the finish. The spicy note from the hops are really tasty, and the flavors are tasty, but the watery flavors do bother me a little.
Reviewed by bobv from Vermont
4.46/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
12 oz. can.
Canned 10/29/19.
I had this the day it was canned, then about a week later, then two weeks later, and finally this evening at 25 days old. Delicious! Moderate to vigorous pour yields a one inch white head over a hazy light golden body with sticky lacing. Earthy, floral, and herbal nose with slight tropical fruit. Taste mirrors nose somewhat with tropical fruit flavors coming forward. Very nice finish of melon with slight lemon. Nice, soft feel and overall, a very unique hop provides a very unique experience. Cheers to Shaun!
Nov 23, 2019Canned 10/29/19.
I had this the day it was canned, then about a week later, then two weeks later, and finally this evening at 25 days old. Delicious! Moderate to vigorous pour yields a one inch white head over a hazy light golden body with sticky lacing. Earthy, floral, and herbal nose with slight tropical fruit. Taste mirrors nose somewhat with tropical fruit flavors coming forward. Very nice finish of melon with slight lemon. Nice, soft feel and overall, a very unique hop provides a very unique experience. Cheers to Shaun!
Reviewed by Franziskaner from Missouri
4.22/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.22/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Straw yellow in color with a pronounced haziness in the body. There a quarter inch of creamy dishwater white on top. The aroma is of pungent vegetal to earthy hops, palm leaves, and unripe melon. I’m tasting palm leaves, unripe melon, green vegetables, and earthy hops. The mouth is very smooth and delicate.
Nov 16, 2019Reviewed by SABERG from Massachusetts
4.19/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.19/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz can packaged 12 days ago, into the test glass
A - Textbook HFB backdrop, golden, glowing, loose knit white frothy cap. Carbonation hides in the haze and provides constant support.
S - Earthy and tropical, ripe melon, and cut grass, a very nice spice thread is buried in there, touches of white pepper, grapefruit peel, and peach flesh.
T - Flavors are in that melon, pineapple, and earthy category, malts add a balanced sweet element. Fresh ripe peach is a thread that adds some balance.
M - So soft on the palate, wanders across the experience, semi sweet start, followed by a full tropical wave, chased by some gentle spice reminders. Finish is complete in a flash.
O - A wonderful single expression of this hop. The base is a delight, add the hop treatment and you have a treat. Time is needed to pull this one apart, The reward is worth the effort
Nov 10, 2019A - Textbook HFB backdrop, golden, glowing, loose knit white frothy cap. Carbonation hides in the haze and provides constant support.
S - Earthy and tropical, ripe melon, and cut grass, a very nice spice thread is buried in there, touches of white pepper, grapefruit peel, and peach flesh.
T - Flavors are in that melon, pineapple, and earthy category, malts add a balanced sweet element. Fresh ripe peach is a thread that adds some balance.
M - So soft on the palate, wanders across the experience, semi sweet start, followed by a full tropical wave, chased by some gentle spice reminders. Finish is complete in a flash.
O - A wonderful single expression of this hop. The base is a delight, add the hop treatment and you have a treat. Time is needed to pull this one apart, The reward is worth the effort
Reviewed by Jwale73 from Rhode Island
3.86/5 rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.86/5 rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Served in a willibecker. Pours a dull, hazy orange with a frothy, half inch, bright white head. Nose is interesting - very earthy with just a hint of citrus in the background. Taste reveals green cantaloupe; earthy character in the nose is very much diminished in the flavor profile. Mouthfeel is light-medium in body (closer to light) with a soft, even carbonation. Overall, my first experience with this hop. It's very interesting; however, I'm not quite sure how I feel about it.
Sep 02, 2019Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.34/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
"Best consumed by 8/26/16"; drank 8/26/16 (!) @ Harvest Hop Haus.
Opaque dull yellow appearance.
Small bright white head; frothy lace.
Lemon, melon & fresh bread notes in the nose.
Medium mouthfeel.
Melon, fresh bread & mild fresh earth flavors up front; lemon spritz notes on the finish.
Unique, challenging & rewarding; a grower!
Sep 01, 2019Opaque dull yellow appearance.
Small bright white head; frothy lace.
Lemon, melon & fresh bread notes in the nose.
Medium mouthfeel.
Melon, fresh bread & mild fresh earth flavors up front; lemon spritz notes on the finish.
Unique, challenging & rewarding; a grower!
Rated by brutalfarce from Connecticut
3.19/5 rDev -25.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
3.19/5 rDev -25.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Looks great smells of oily popcorn to me just didnt land
Aug 21, 2019Rated by GuitarIPA from Connecticut
4.37/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.37/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Refreshing, great feel, pungent smell, dry finish, delicious beer. Hazy appearance.
Aug 05, 2019Rated by Hyptochrons from Massachusetts
4.29/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
sharp slightly tart lemon, cirtus pith, grapefruit rind, floral, herbal and plant matter, meyer lemon sweetness, cereal malt, grainy throughout.
Aug 02, 2019
Riwaka Pale Ale from Hill Farmstead Brewery
Beer rating:
95 out of
100 with
221 ratings
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