Vera Mae
Hill Farmstead Brewery


- From:
- Hill Farmstead Brewery
- Vermont, United States
- Style:
- Saison
Ranked #44 - ABV:
- 6.5%
- Score:
- 96
Ranked #739 - Avg:
- 4.34 | pDev: 7.6%
- Reviews:
- 129
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 28, 2024
- Added:
- Jul 25, 2011
- Wants:
- 328
- Gots:
- 104
Farmstead® Ale with Spring Blossoms Aged in Oak Barrels
Vera Mae (1886-1976) was our grandfather’s eldest sister; Hill Farmstead Brewery rests upon the land that was once home to her and her 13 siblings. In her honor, this Farmstead® ale is crafted from Vermont organic spelt, American hops, Vermont wildflower honey, dandelion flowers from our fields, our farmhouse yeast and water from our well. Aged in French oak wine barrels and bottled conditioned, the result is an elegant, luminescent representation of spring in Vermont: lightly tart, bright, effervescent and delicate—passing quickly while leaving just the slightest, most pleasing memory of sunshine, warmth and the promise of more.
Vera Mae (1886-1976) was our grandfather’s eldest sister; Hill Farmstead Brewery rests upon the land that was once home to her and her 13 siblings. In her honor, this Farmstead® ale is crafted from Vermont organic spelt, American hops, Vermont wildflower honey, dandelion flowers from our fields, our farmhouse yeast and water from our well. Aged in French oak wine barrels and bottled conditioned, the result is an elegant, luminescent representation of spring in Vermont: lightly tart, bright, effervescent and delicate—passing quickly while leaving just the slightest, most pleasing memory of sunshine, warmth and the promise of more.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Jack_14 from Italy
4.24/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
EurHop 2024 (October 18-20, 2024) - "USA BOTTLE CORNER" - 6 Tokens a half glass became a whole thanks to the kindness of the person pouring.
Farmhouse "spring" with organic buckwheat and malted organic farm-grown wheat from (Maine Grains - Maine, USA) with the addition of common dandelion flowers from their farm in Vermont (in Greensboro Bend) and Vermont wildflower honey from Northwoods Apiaries (in Westfield).
75 cl bottle - VINTAGE 2022, uncorked under my nose.
As soon as it was uncorked, rustic aromas (straw, hay, wheat, wet wood), herbaceous with a sweeter halo at the end (at first it reminded me of yellow-fleshed fruit).
In the glass it appears Straw yellow with the classic little foam of a Farmhouse, only slightly cloudy.
On the nose the aromas of hay mixed with yellow-fleshed fruit expand: an elegant rustic.
In the mouth you find the taste of a balanced Farmhouse Ale that on a medium body brings out thirst-quenching flavors of grass (freshly cut, straw), wild flowers, hay, hints of wheat and cereals followed by a pungent, but rapid acidic/sour note of lemon grass. The tongue also remains slightly dehydrated, but the sourness, as mentioned, does not last long and leaves a pleasant taste of durum wheat and flower petals on the palate.
Honestly, I have not identified the actual taste of honey but it probably falls within all those floral nuances that characterize that rustic and peasant taste that is the basis of the beer.
Thirst-quenching, rich in flavors and aftertastes and above all a commendable balance: elegant and refined.
Oct 31, 2024Farmhouse "spring" with organic buckwheat and malted organic farm-grown wheat from (Maine Grains - Maine, USA) with the addition of common dandelion flowers from their farm in Vermont (in Greensboro Bend) and Vermont wildflower honey from Northwoods Apiaries (in Westfield).
75 cl bottle - VINTAGE 2022, uncorked under my nose.
As soon as it was uncorked, rustic aromas (straw, hay, wheat, wet wood), herbaceous with a sweeter halo at the end (at first it reminded me of yellow-fleshed fruit).
In the glass it appears Straw yellow with the classic little foam of a Farmhouse, only slightly cloudy.
On the nose the aromas of hay mixed with yellow-fleshed fruit expand: an elegant rustic.
In the mouth you find the taste of a balanced Farmhouse Ale that on a medium body brings out thirst-quenching flavors of grass (freshly cut, straw), wild flowers, hay, hints of wheat and cereals followed by a pungent, but rapid acidic/sour note of lemon grass. The tongue also remains slightly dehydrated, but the sourness, as mentioned, does not last long and leaves a pleasant taste of durum wheat and flower petals on the palate.
Honestly, I have not identified the actual taste of honey but it probably falls within all those floral nuances that characterize that rustic and peasant taste that is the basis of the beer.
Thirst-quenching, rich in flavors and aftertastes and above all a commendable balance: elegant and refined.
Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington
4.24/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2024-08-02
750ml bottle served in a tulip. "Bottle conditioning since October 5, 2023." Handed to me by @Roguer.
Pours clear light yellow, big head on the pour, thin dense head after settling, moderately amount of moderately slow carbonation at rest. Smell is bright lemon and floral, some spicy funk, sweet honey and bread, something vaguely fruity and a background earthiness.
Taste is on the tart side, lemon is stronger and deeper, more on the rind side than the lemonade side. Tartness doesn't quite mask the honey, but it does cover up a lot of it. Floral stuff comes through, now something sort of chardonnay like comes through, I wonder if that was the vague fruitiness in the aroma. Earthiness comes across more clearly and woody/bitter.
Mouthfeel is very light, very dry, very airy. Overall, this is a very nice beer.
Aug 03, 2024750ml bottle served in a tulip. "Bottle conditioning since October 5, 2023." Handed to me by @Roguer.
Pours clear light yellow, big head on the pour, thin dense head after settling, moderately amount of moderately slow carbonation at rest. Smell is bright lemon and floral, some spicy funk, sweet honey and bread, something vaguely fruity and a background earthiness.
Taste is on the tart side, lemon is stronger and deeper, more on the rind side than the lemonade side. Tartness doesn't quite mask the honey, but it does cover up a lot of it. Floral stuff comes through, now something sort of chardonnay like comes through, I wonder if that was the vague fruitiness in the aroma. Earthiness comes across more clearly and woody/bitter.
Mouthfeel is very light, very dry, very airy. Overall, this is a very nice beer.
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut
4.62/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.75
4.62/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.75
Fantastic. Sublime. Wonderful. Phenomenal.
That pretty much wraps it up, doesn't it? Oh, you wanted more? Fine.
Sour, but not pure vinegar. Funky, but not cheesy. Flowery, but not earthy.
This beer takes basically every element of a sour, wild saison to 70-80%: huge, but never pushing the envelope. It's on par with damn near any funky/sour saison as you'll find - American or otherwise.
My only detraction is the bright, spritzy mouthfeel is a touch bubbly and champagne-like, and not what I've come to expect from a Hill Farmstead saison or sour.
May 25, 2024That pretty much wraps it up, doesn't it? Oh, you wanted more? Fine.
Sour, but not pure vinegar. Funky, but not cheesy. Flowery, but not earthy.
This beer takes basically every element of a sour, wild saison to 70-80%: huge, but never pushing the envelope. It's on par with damn near any funky/sour saison as you'll find - American or otherwise.
My only detraction is the bright, spritzy mouthfeel is a touch bubbly and champagne-like, and not what I've come to expect from a Hill Farmstead saison or sour.
Reviewed by Holderness from Massachusetts
4.57/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.57/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Seemed fitting to crack open this 2021 vintage for my 50th Hill Farmstead review. For me this beer represents the epitome of what they make -- it has the classic farmhouse character of Arthur/Anna with that wonderful balance between bretty funk and a hint of pedio/lacto acidity, has the additional complexity brought on by wine barrel aging, and has a nice dose of community spirit thrown in with the dandelion flowers that are harvested annually from their fields in a celebration day of sorts that is open to the public. Plus the usual fine effervescence from the natural carbonation and extended bottle conditioning prior to release. Emblematic.
91/100
Nov 12, 202291/100
Reviewed by WickedBeer from Alabama
4.59/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.59/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
2021 Release.
Straw golden yellow pour. Soft white carbonation.
Sweet, floral notes on the nose. Damp earth. Slight vinous funk; musty white wine. Rounded sweetness from the honey, with a touch of malted grain on the finish.
Mouthfeel with an amazing delicacy. Soft, mineral water-type carbonation, with a touch of acid and lemon zest to round out a predominately organic, earthen profile.
I really wasn’t sure what to expect from the dandelions, but that slight tang and leafy quality really worked when complimenting the citrusy undertones.
Sep 27, 2022Straw golden yellow pour. Soft white carbonation.
Sweet, floral notes on the nose. Damp earth. Slight vinous funk; musty white wine. Rounded sweetness from the honey, with a touch of malted grain on the finish.
Mouthfeel with an amazing delicacy. Soft, mineral water-type carbonation, with a touch of acid and lemon zest to round out a predominately organic, earthen profile.
I really wasn’t sure what to expect from the dandelions, but that slight tang and leafy quality really worked when complimenting the citrusy undertones.
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!