Fear & Trembling
Hill Farmstead Brewery

Had on tap. Black body with a large brown head, bits of lacing here and there. Smell has the smoked maple wood atop the malts, dried plum, raisin, licorice, char, and big bittersweet chocolate. Taste melds it all together beautifully, with additions of molasses, forest floor and a kiss of vanilla. Feel is dark and smoky, lighter than most baltics I've had recently, but not thin at all, very full and rustic

 

 

2013 vintage, an absurd gift from a close friend, totally unexpected, and awesome to be able to open this one with my brother during his visit here, way cool! what an interesting beer that time has been kind to, like yeah it smells old, but its by no means degenerated into not great, it still rules, surprisingly in tact actually for its age. deep shiny brown color with less viscosity than expected and still a little carbonation collecting in a short quarter inch of patchy tan bubbles. the aroma is still very smoke forward, lager yeast apparent too, not astringent or acrid for being as smoke driven as it is, campfire in the fall, charred wood, a sweetness to that aspect, hints of cherry and raisin, cola, vanilla, dry cocoa, and natural process coffee, dry driftwood, a hint of that maple maybe, complex but also subtle. the flavor is similar, its recognizable as a lager, the oxidation is surprisingly slight for a beer this old, and the alcohol is not a factor at all, the drink overall is actually lighter than anticipated with the body perhaps broken down some over time. the smoke is persistent but not too heavy, distinctive, as woody really as it is smokey, like the fire itself is actually part of it, wrinkles of licorice and hazelnut, dark chocolate, and brown sugar. its slightly bready, some soy-like umami is here, and its very minimally carbonated. pleasant to sip and savor, let warm up, and be patient with. curious what this would be like new, but its awesome still, fermenty in a cool way, unique on the smoke too, and overall something i have to imagine is quite rare, and it felt special to be drinking it. its good to have friends and family to share the most exciting beers with, what a life.

December 2024 Vintage

Poured into goblet: color is solid black, light tan head, head dissipates to thin ring and spotty lacing.

Smell is light neutral smoke, roasted malt, chocolate, hint of booziness.

Taste is roast forward, feint smoke, chocolate, light base malt, drying finish with moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel is moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, moderate bitterness and drying note.

Overall a very good smoked baltic porter - smoke is near perfect level with subtle aroma and flavor that enhances the base malt profile; strength is notable but not distracting; lager yeast smooths this out.

 

 

6/26/2024, enjoying on a perfectly cool and sunny day at the brewery!

L - opaque blackness, thick dark tan head, light lacing on the glass

A - floral sweetness, molasses, stone, iron

T - smokey! Mineral, molasses, yet not overly sweet, cocoa, licorice.

Unfortunately no Everett available in bottle or on draft... But glad to have tried this smoked Baltic!

#92 of different HIll Farmstead beers that I have sampled; getting close to #100.

500ml bottle poured into Hill Farmstead white logo Durobar Charente.

Canned on the date of 12/09/22.

Appearance: Black bodied porter with khaki colored head that pours 3 fingers tall. Dense & creamy looking head with incredible staying power. Thick lacing absolutely coating the glass. Visually Stunning Beer.

Smell: Big meaty smoke notes. Hints of milk chocolate & roasted malt. Earthy hop notes.

Taste: Nice balance of roasted malts and meaty smoke. Earthy. I taste campfire as well. Lightly bitter lingering finish of an ashen char type flavor.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied stout with low end of moderate carbonation levels. Creamy and silky textured body. No detectable abv to find here.

Overall: Nice smoked Porter here by Hill Farmstead which ties with Alaskan Smoked Porter for the #1 Smoked Porter in the craft beer market.

 

 

 

 

Polished dark brown nearing mahogany with a tall tan head that retains thick and puffy while leaving coral lacing all over the glass.

Silky smooth and softly frothy, the smoke is mild, but the formidable roast level of the malt amplifies and accentuates the effect as it comes to a slightly sharp and woody yet nutty swallow. With time, it becomes chocolatey and even acidic like espresso.

Though it starts off somewhat viscous, it thins out in the paper dry finish.

From a 500ml bottle, ‘bottle conditioning since December 9, 2022.’ Served in a tulip.

Pours an unhighlighted mahogany-black with two fingers of sturdy, foam insulation-like, beige head. Retention is exceptional, leaving a bubbly cap and a solid blanket of sudsy lacing.

Nose is roasty and earthy. Smoke character is subtle to the point of having to have read it on the label to be certain it was there. Aromas of crackly bread crust and perked coffee.

Taste makes up for the nose by putting the smoked malt front and center. Tasting burnt whole wheat toast, creamed burnt coffee and dates. A little toasted marshmallow, not a sweetness per se, just sort of that quality of… caramelized smoke? campfire and vanilla.

Feel is smooth and creamy, medium bodied and brightly carbonated. Very smooth and easy drinking.

Overall, almost entirely quite excellent. My only reservation is that, by the very end of the bottle, the smokiness had taken on something of the character of last night’s damp campfire and was becoming mildly tedious. A problem that would easily have been solved by sharing the bottle and not hogging it all to myself, I mean, right?

Wow. Precision. Expertise. Manifested perfection.

 

 

Poured from a 500 mL bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip

L: Dark, dark mahogany brown pour. Nearly black with a finger of mocha colored head. Solid retention/lacing.

S: Bourbon and booze. Rich roasted malts... a hint of smoke and vanilla.

T.F: Semi-sweet and rich. Smooth and creamy. Bourbon, vanilla, and oak. Not picking up as much of the wine barrel (red I'm assuming)... a bit of tanins as it warms with some dark fruit. A very pleasant hint of smoke... not overdone in any way. Dark chocolate, leather, and a bit of char.

O: Absolutely fantastic Baltic porter. It picks up the best of the base style, the smoke, and the barrels. This was a wonderful slow sipper.... complex and delicious.

Poured into a willi becher, Fear & Trembling poured a dark mahogany that allowed little to no light to penetrate the glass. An inch and a half tan creamy tan reached reached for the rim of the glass and lingered for some time. The aroma was beautifully toasted malt while sitting next to a smoldering campfire. The smoke didn't hit you with every inhale, but the occasional shift in wind carried the scent to you. As it warmed, the smoke became more prevalent. It was not hard to give it that time to develop as this was clearly a beer that demanded your patience and attention from the first sip. That first taste revealed a remarkably rich and robust porter with just enough smoke. Dark chocolate malt, toasted grain, and a bitter and dry finish defined the opening notes. The longer I sipped, the more smoke made it's way closer to the top of the flavor profile. Everything was in perfect balance. The mouthfeel was silky smooth with a body that was well past medium, but not quite full. Fear & Trembling was an absolute stunner.