E.
Hill Farmstead Brewery
Beer Geek Stats:
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- Farmhouse Ale - Saison
Ranked #51 - ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 95
Ranked #963 - Avg:
- 4.3 | pDev: 7.44%
- Reviews:
- 92
- Ratings:
- From:
- Hill Farmstead Brewery
- Vermont, United States
- Avail:
- Rotating/Seasonal
- Wants
- 321
- Gots
- 77
SCORE
95
World-Class
95
World-Class
Notes:
E is definitely not a Belgian IPA - it's a funky version of Edward (american pale ale) - fermented with brettanomyces, dry hopped with galaxy, and aged on stainless for four months. Basically, we refer to it as a farmhouse pale ale - a cross between a saison and an american pale.
2012 Release: Aged in Mimosa barrels.
2014 Release: Aged in wine barrels with resident yeast and microfloa for 1.5 years.
2018 Release: Aged in oak barrels, fermented with Farmstead yeast, dry-hopped with Galaxy hops.
2019 Release: Fermented with our Farmstead yeast; aged in oak barrels; dry-hopped with Amarillo, Simcoe and Galaxy hops; and botttle conditioned.
2012 Release: Aged in Mimosa barrels.
2014 Release: Aged in wine barrels with resident yeast and microfloa for 1.5 years.
2018 Release: Aged in oak barrels, fermented with Farmstead yeast, dry-hopped with Galaxy hops.
2019 Release: Fermented with our Farmstead yeast; aged in oak barrels; dry-hopped with Amarillo, Simcoe and Galaxy hops; and botttle conditioned.
Reviews: 92
| Ratings: 601
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Reviews by djgustafson:
djgustafson from North Carolina
4.25/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Apr 18, 2017
4.25/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Apr 18, 2017
More User Reviews:
Kurmaraja from California
4.53/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
One of the most under rated Hill Farmstead beers I've had. No idea what it was like fresher, but with years of age on it this is a citrusy, juicy, bretty beauty with a nearly perfect creamy farmhouse body. Ample carb but almost meringue like while maintaining some rusticity.
Dec 02, 2015
4.53/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
One of the most under rated Hill Farmstead beers I've had. No idea what it was like fresher, but with years of age on it this is a citrusy, juicy, bretty beauty with a nearly perfect creamy farmhouse body. Ample carb but almost meringue like while maintaining some rusticity.
Dec 02, 2015
cfrances33 from Illinois
4.72/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Bottle shared with bstyle, poured into a Hill Farmstead tulip (10/2012)
Pour: Hazy golden orange, with a massive three finger white, soapy head. Head is super thick, and hangs around to a long time. This heavy lacing.
Smell: Starts with an earthy funk, followed by some bready yeast, pepper, and citrus. Some lemon zest and clove in there.
Taste: E. has really started to brett out. Earthy funk right off the bat, followed by some citrus zests. Biscuity sweetness mingles with peppers and spices. Clean and bitter on the finish, with a substantial amount of earthiness.
Mouthfeel: Juicy, yet dry. The funk own the mouthfeel as well. Really quite refreshing, and the best part of this beer.
---
Bottle poured into a Hill Farmstead stem (4/5/13) - score based on this review!
Pour: Hazy, bright pale orange with a giant three plus finger white, foamy head. This bottle was an excessive gusher right away. Some sticky lacing, and the head hangs around the entire glass.
Smell: Big, bright, tropical brett. Lots of pineapple, mango, grapefruit, and papaya. A touch of earthiness, and a very light funk. Some saison like qualities.
Taste: Really tropical fruits up front, with more pineapple and mango, and some grapefruit. A nice bready sweetness. Not much in the way of funk, but a definite mild earthiness. Finishes juicy with the tropical fruits from the start.
Mouthfeel: Slightly tart, but only just. Really crisp, and despite the excessive gushing, not overly carbonated.
Overall: This beer really evolved in the 6 month span between the times I had it. I definitely enjoyed it with more age.
Nov 22, 2012
4.72/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Bottle shared with bstyle, poured into a Hill Farmstead tulip (10/2012)
Pour: Hazy golden orange, with a massive three finger white, soapy head. Head is super thick, and hangs around to a long time. This heavy lacing.
Smell: Starts with an earthy funk, followed by some bready yeast, pepper, and citrus. Some lemon zest and clove in there.
Taste: E. has really started to brett out. Earthy funk right off the bat, followed by some citrus zests. Biscuity sweetness mingles with peppers and spices. Clean and bitter on the finish, with a substantial amount of earthiness.
Mouthfeel: Juicy, yet dry. The funk own the mouthfeel as well. Really quite refreshing, and the best part of this beer.
---
Bottle poured into a Hill Farmstead stem (4/5/13) - score based on this review!
Pour: Hazy, bright pale orange with a giant three plus finger white, foamy head. This bottle was an excessive gusher right away. Some sticky lacing, and the head hangs around the entire glass.
Smell: Big, bright, tropical brett. Lots of pineapple, mango, grapefruit, and papaya. A touch of earthiness, and a very light funk. Some saison like qualities.
Taste: Really tropical fruits up front, with more pineapple and mango, and some grapefruit. A nice bready sweetness. Not much in the way of funk, but a definite mild earthiness. Finishes juicy with the tropical fruits from the start.
Mouthfeel: Slightly tart, but only just. Really crisp, and despite the excessive gushing, not overly carbonated.
Overall: This beer really evolved in the 6 month span between the times I had it. I definitely enjoyed it with more age.
Nov 22, 2012
cavedave from New York
4.53/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
2014 Bottling, cellar temp.
Cloudy gold pour with a finger of white foam that relaxes to a thick and lasting skim and leaves bubbly lace legs on glass.
Full aroma with lemon limey funk, vinous notes, and bright tart leading the way. Some real tasty bread crust and light doughy sweet round it out. Delectable.
Sightest hints of hormonal funk join a panoply of vinous flavor, overripe peach and pear notes, bright citrus notes, lemon-limey funk, lightest bready sweet, and a finish that gains some righteous citrus pith. Lightly tannic, delicious oak flavors join the party at sip end. Very complex and satisfying, perfectly balanced, simply superb.
Full bodied, yet refreshing, highly viscous, just enough spritzy carb., but with a finish that is this clean and bright the more resiny the better!
Just a delightful beer it is a pleasure well worth the four year wait. Can't imagine it is gonna get better than this so pop em if you got em or talk a friend into it if you don't.
May 13, 2018
4.53/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
2014 Bottling, cellar temp.
Cloudy gold pour with a finger of white foam that relaxes to a thick and lasting skim and leaves bubbly lace legs on glass.
Full aroma with lemon limey funk, vinous notes, and bright tart leading the way. Some real tasty bread crust and light doughy sweet round it out. Delectable.
Sightest hints of hormonal funk join a panoply of vinous flavor, overripe peach and pear notes, bright citrus notes, lemon-limey funk, lightest bready sweet, and a finish that gains some righteous citrus pith. Lightly tannic, delicious oak flavors join the party at sip end. Very complex and satisfying, perfectly balanced, simply superb.
Full bodied, yet refreshing, highly viscous, just enough spritzy carb., but with a finish that is this clean and bright the more resiny the better!
Just a delightful beer it is a pleasure well worth the four year wait. Can't imagine it is gonna get better than this so pop em if you got em or talk a friend into it if you don't.
May 13, 2018
CTJman from Connecticut
3.98/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
May 27, 2014
3.98/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
May 27, 2014
PHBoiler from Illinois
4.21/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Beautiful golden color and huge pillowy head. Nice carb. Fairly funky nose. Lots of brett. Some lemon/lime tartness. A grassy bitterness. Stored cold since release. Wish I got more from the galaxy hops. Cleaner Brett flavors as it warms. Mostly funky with some grassy hop bitterness.
Jul 17, 2017
4.21/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Beautiful golden color and huge pillowy head. Nice carb. Fairly funky nose. Lots of brett. Some lemon/lime tartness. A grassy bitterness. Stored cold since release. Wish I got more from the galaxy hops. Cleaner Brett flavors as it warms. Mostly funky with some grassy hop bitterness.
Jul 17, 2017
masterofsparks from Ohio
4.25/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Mar 27, 2016
4.25/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Mar 27, 2016
wip998001 from Massachusetts
4.49/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Aug 07, 2020
4.49/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Aug 07, 2020
orangesol from Pennsylvania
4.22/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Batch #2 bottle shared by Shaun Hill during Philly Beer Week.
A - Pours slightly hazed golden yellow with a nice one finger tall white head leaving spotty trails of lace down most of the glass.
S - Smells of damp earth, musty funk, spicy belgian yeast, and a nice strong fruit aroma - mainly apples and oranges. The hops are there but the other aromas drown them out a bit.
T - Starts off with the musty funk and wet earth from the aroma combining with the bready yeast and light spice to form the saison base. The fruit and hops come through toward the end of each sip, leaving the palate dried after each sip.
M - Light, smooth body with moderate carbonation. Nice crisp feel with a dry finish.
O - I only got a sample of batch one but I thought it was pretty good. Now that I got to try a proper pour I can really really see what this one is all about. The flavors work very well together and make a really awesome beer.
Jul 23, 2012
4.22/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Batch #2 bottle shared by Shaun Hill during Philly Beer Week.
A - Pours slightly hazed golden yellow with a nice one finger tall white head leaving spotty trails of lace down most of the glass.
S - Smells of damp earth, musty funk, spicy belgian yeast, and a nice strong fruit aroma - mainly apples and oranges. The hops are there but the other aromas drown them out a bit.
T - Starts off with the musty funk and wet earth from the aroma combining with the bready yeast and light spice to form the saison base. The fruit and hops come through toward the end of each sip, leaving the palate dried after each sip.
M - Light, smooth body with moderate carbonation. Nice crisp feel with a dry finish.
O - I only got a sample of batch one but I thought it was pretty good. Now that I got to try a proper pour I can really really see what this one is all about. The flavors work very well together and make a really awesome beer.
Jul 23, 2012
Rion from North Carolina
4.34/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Mar 01, 2015
4.34/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Mar 01, 2015
E. from Hill Farmstead Brewery
Beer rating:
95 out of
100 with
601 ratings
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