Society & Solitude #5 | Hill Farmstead Brewery

4.3/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

4.04/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

4.56/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

One of the prettiest beers I have seen in a while, this pours a hazy orange juice color with a nice two fingers of head. Head lasts a while before breaking leaving generous lacing.

Smell is really quite tropical and fruity. I'm getting a sweet citrus and melon dominance with a touch of a pith or pine in there too.

Taste is a follow-through of the nose, with the sweet juicy tropicals coming through strong. It seems kind of a hoppy fruit juice. Bitterness of pith and pine on the back end.

Feel is creamy and smooth as all get out. Carbonation is spot on, and the finish brings a dry earthy bitterness that lasts and lasts.

I am going to say that I am lucky to have had this beer. And to be honest, it's a couple of months old and still fantastic. I know if I had regular access to this, I'd have a fridge full.

 824 characters

4.56/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

4.56/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

drank from 12 oz can poured into tulip glass, a little over 4 weeks old--- no sign of weedy old hops, still very fresh tasting....delicious brew---nice balance of upfront fruitiness, pineapple mostly w a little grapefruit, followed by balancing mellow bitterness...Nice!

 270 characters

4.24/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

4.48/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

12/2013 - Big pineapple and orange nose, with some grapefruit lingering; large hop body with resinous notes dominating, and fruity grapefruit in the back; tangy bitterness on finish.

 182 characters

4.48/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

4.39/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Serving: Can
Canned: Aug-27-2018


A:
Pours a hazy chamomile tea-color with a finger or so of white head that drops to a film. Ok retention; moderate lacing. (4)

S:
Sugary tropical fruits and underbrush. Mango, candied orange peel, a little lacquery alcohol. (4.25)

T:
Really interesting balance between fruity and earthy hop flavors. Almost tropical sweet, almost piney, almost minty/herbal, riding a crest of biscuity malt. (4.5)

M:
Bright, creamy body with active carbonation and smooth finish that still lingers a bit. (4.25)

O:
A very nice beer from HF.
It is a nice little hop showcase that manages to be multiple things at once, all in harmony. I have a hard time describing it but the aroma and flavors are balanced along the border of the classic IPA flavors (old and new). Different facets of different hop characters holding each other up. Drinkable and generally enjoyable. I'd like to try it with a little smoother alcohol presence maybe, though admittedly I feel like that does add to it a little bit. As usual, a well put-together beer that is a lot of things at once without any sticking out like a sore thumb. I'd gladly have it again and am thrilled that I have one more in my fridge. (4.5)

 1,214 characters

4.4/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

4.08/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4.27/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

4.23/5  rDev -7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Almost fully opaque yellow-orange with a thick, convex white steamed milk-like froth settling in lumps with some spotty leopard lace.

Smell is dank, spicy and peppery with tropical notes of pineapple, passion fruit and peaches, ending with light biscuit.

Taste is apricot, green mango, kiwi and pineapple with spicy eucalyptus and pine, as well as a bit of toasty cracker on the swallow.

A light, soft yet crisp fizz runs through the tingly light body that finishes chalk dry.

 479 characters

5/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

4.84/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

4.52/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

4.28/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

4.68/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

4.3/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

4.52/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

4.5/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

4.31/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

4.5/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

4.63/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

4.62/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured into a tulip glass to a hazy bright yellow topped by a finger of dense white head which retains well and leaves excellent lacing as it recedes
S: Smells of huge juicy citrus and grapefruit to the point of smelling like grapefruit juice
T: Taste is smooth and malty before the grapefruit comes in with full force. Very juicy but also slightly pithy with a touch of sweetness. Swallow is more juicy grapefruit and citrus with some lingering citrus zest on the finish.
M: This beer has a medium body with carbonation that is just slightly prickly while the beer finishes on the oily and refreshing side due to all the hops along with a little sweet malt.
O: Overall this is a top notch DIPA. Great flavors and some decent complexity though the grapefruit note is definitely the star of the show. A very clean and balanced DIPA as well. One to try if you like citrusy DIPAs and can get your hands on it.

 919 characters