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Vera Mae
Hill Farmstead Brewery
- From:
- Hill Farmstead Brewery
- Vermont, United States
- Style:
- Saison
Ranked #57 - ABV:
- 6.5%
- Score:
- 96
Ranked #889 - Avg:
- 4.34 | pDev: 7.6%
- Reviews:
- 126
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 03, 2023
- Added:
- Jul 25, 2011
- Wants:
- 330
- Gots:
- 103
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 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.
Rated by npolachek from New York
4.5/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Solid - good farmhouse.
Jun 29, 2022Reviewed by Roy_Hobbs from Connecticut
4.56/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.56/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2019 vintage poured into a HF stem glass. Bright vibrant golden color with plenty of medium density white head that receded to a permanent cap / ring. Aroma is a really nice mix of flowers, lemon, honey, and grassy funk. Definitely multi-layered.
Taste is an explosion of flavor. Lovely balance of honey, grass, funk, yeast, dandelion and more. Can't do it justice with words, Just wonderfully complex. It's sweet, it's tart, it's earthy, and there's a little bit of bite. Crisp, light and well carbonated. Delicious beer.
Jun 25, 2022Taste is an explosion of flavor. Lovely balance of honey, grass, funk, yeast, dandelion and more. Can't do it justice with words, Just wonderfully complex. It's sweet, it's tart, it's earthy, and there's a little bit of bite. Crisp, light and well carbonated. Delicious beer.
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York
4.8/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.8/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
2014 batch, onsite pour at Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, VT. I've had the newer wine barrel versions of this beer, but I'm happy to be able to try one of the older versions.
This one pours a slightly hazy golden yellow color, with a small head, and a little bit of lacing.
This smells like honey, grape skin, citrus, floral funk, white pepper, and lemon.
This beer is just about 8 years old when I'm trying it, and obviously cellared well at Hill Farmstead, but it's still striking how well this one has aged. There's a deep wine like character, with a funky honeylike character, with lemon, grassines, citrusy funk, white grape, a light pepperiness, and some hay.
This is light bodied, and still vibrant and vivid all these years later, with a light sourness.
This is extremely enjoyable, and maybe the best pour of Vera Mae that I've ever had.
Mar 01, 2022This one pours a slightly hazy golden yellow color, with a small head, and a little bit of lacing.
This smells like honey, grape skin, citrus, floral funk, white pepper, and lemon.
This beer is just about 8 years old when I'm trying it, and obviously cellared well at Hill Farmstead, but it's still striking how well this one has aged. There's a deep wine like character, with a funky honeylike character, with lemon, grassines, citrusy funk, white grape, a light pepperiness, and some hay.
This is light bodied, and still vibrant and vivid all these years later, with a light sourness.
This is extremely enjoyable, and maybe the best pour of Vera Mae that I've ever had.
Vera Mae from Hill Farmstead Brewery
Beer rating:
96 out of
100 with
728 ratings
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