Flora - Satsuma Mandarin | Hill Farmstead Brewery
Brewed by:
Hill Farmstead Brewery
Vermont, United States
hillfarmstead.com
Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.00%
Availability: Limited (brewed once)
Notes / Commercial Description:
Farmstead wheat ale aged in oak barrels with satsuma mandarins. Flora is the wine barrel aged version of Florence (1915-1967), our grandfather’s sister as well as the name of our wheat farmhouse ale. In her honor, amidst the fleeting days of summer, we chose to fill French oak wine barrels with Florence and store it away. After many months, a Biere de Table emerged.
Added by Rochefort10nh on 08-14-2013
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 229 | Reviews: 28
Reviews by unclejazz:
More User Reviews:
4.34/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Served from a 375ml bottle into HF stemmed Tulip.
Pours a very clear gold with quick finger of bubbly white head that leaves no lacing. Smell is straight up funky brett and citrus. Some mild Tangerine and orange is present. Don't know about Mandarins though. Taste is beautiful. Definantly some Citrus, but I still get tangerine and orange. Barrel flavors are vanilla and oak with light grape and green apple notes. Quite sour. Mouthfeel is intensely carbonated and quite sour with a lingering dryness akin to a nice Champagne.
Overall an absolutely beautiful beer that reminds me of a Geueze. Should have drank this last October when I got it, but never the less, it's still pretty awesome.
695 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Served from a 375ml bottle into HF stemmed Tulip.
Pours a very clear gold with quick finger of bubbly white head that leaves no lacing. Smell is straight up funky brett and citrus. Some mild Tangerine and orange is present. Don't know about Mandarins though. Taste is beautiful. Definantly some Citrus, but I still get tangerine and orange. Barrel flavors are vanilla and oak with light grape and green apple notes. Quite sour. Mouthfeel is intensely carbonated and quite sour with a lingering dryness akin to a nice Champagne.
Overall an absolutely beautiful beer that reminds me of a Geueze. Should have drank this last October when I got it, but never the less, it's still pretty awesome.
695 characters
4.62/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
My 1000 review. I couldn't find a more worthy brew than a version of one of my highest rated beers. 375ml bottle into Hill Farmstead stemware. Shared with schen9303.
Pours a thin wisp of a white head that dissipates quickly. Beer is a clear pale yellow. Lacing is spotty and minimal. Pretty average.
Nose is citrus, lemon and a prominent sweet mandarin. Light yeast, spice, and a soft woodiness linger in the background. Subtle but very solid.
Opens sweet and sour orange. Very fresh and zesty. Citrus, lemon zest and fresh mandarin sweetness in the middle. Fruit is subtle but prominent at the same time. Tart and dry hay with a subtle yeasty backdrop. Dry in the end with hints of oak, spice, and yeast. Tart and puckering aftertaste. Perfection in a glass.
Light bodied with ample carbonation. Prickly and lively in the mouth and puckering and dry going down. Bone dry finish with a filmy, lingering aftertaste. Outstanding.
Is this better than Flora? I can't tell without having them side-by-side. Suffice to say though, my mind is blown by how good this is. Drink it fresh people. That subtle mandarin fruit flavor isn't going to last forever. But while its there, this is one of the best beers of the year.
1,218 characters
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
My 1000 review. I couldn't find a more worthy brew than a version of one of my highest rated beers. 375ml bottle into Hill Farmstead stemware. Shared with schen9303.
Pours a thin wisp of a white head that dissipates quickly. Beer is a clear pale yellow. Lacing is spotty and minimal. Pretty average.
Nose is citrus, lemon and a prominent sweet mandarin. Light yeast, spice, and a soft woodiness linger in the background. Subtle but very solid.
Opens sweet and sour orange. Very fresh and zesty. Citrus, lemon zest and fresh mandarin sweetness in the middle. Fruit is subtle but prominent at the same time. Tart and dry hay with a subtle yeasty backdrop. Dry in the end with hints of oak, spice, and yeast. Tart and puckering aftertaste. Perfection in a glass.
Light bodied with ample carbonation. Prickly and lively in the mouth and puckering and dry going down. Bone dry finish with a filmy, lingering aftertaste. Outstanding.
Is this better than Flora? I can't tell without having them side-by-side. Suffice to say though, my mind is blown by how good this is. Drink it fresh people. That subtle mandarin fruit flavor isn't going to last forever. But while its there, this is one of the best beers of the year.
1,218 characters
4.07/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
375 mL bottle poured into a snifter.
Appearance - Pale yellow with a slight haze. Small white head.
Smell - Lemony. White wine. Citrus. Mild citrus, but its there. A little acidic.
Taste - Lemony tartness. White white follows. Some oak. Minimal grain. Citrus takes over. It's not super strong, but it's enough to dominate the finish.
Mouthfeel - Light and crisp. Nice tartness. Medium carbonation.
Overall - The citrus masks some of Flora's complexity. Still a very tasty beer.
484 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
375 mL bottle poured into a snifter.
Appearance - Pale yellow with a slight haze. Small white head.
Smell - Lemony. White wine. Citrus. Mild citrus, but its there. A little acidic.
Taste - Lemony tartness. White white follows. Some oak. Minimal grain. Citrus takes over. It's not super strong, but it's enough to dominate the finish.
Mouthfeel - Light and crisp. Nice tartness. Medium carbonation.
Overall - The citrus masks some of Flora's complexity. Still a very tasty beer.
484 characters
4.5/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.94/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
4.21/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Thanks to Jeff for this bottle. Bottled 07/2013. Poured in to HF stemmed tulip.
A - Translucent bright yellow colour with a very thin layer of cream coloured head.
S - Funk and oak up front with a bready malt profile. Not getting any of the mandarin at all in the nose.
T - Tart with a nice funk presence at first that give way to a bready malt sweetness and some yeast esters. A hint of mandarin orange flavour and a touch of bitterness in the finish that is not nearly as prevalent as I had hoped or expected. Still a solid oak aged saison.
M - Medium body and somewhat creamy. Moderate carbonation.
606 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Thanks to Jeff for this bottle. Bottled 07/2013. Poured in to HF stemmed tulip.
A - Translucent bright yellow colour with a very thin layer of cream coloured head.
S - Funk and oak up front with a bready malt profile. Not getting any of the mandarin at all in the nose.
T - Tart with a nice funk presence at first that give way to a bready malt sweetness and some yeast esters. A hint of mandarin orange flavour and a touch of bitterness in the finish that is not nearly as prevalent as I had hoped or expected. Still a solid oak aged saison.
M - Medium body and somewhat creamy. Moderate carbonation.
606 characters
4.47/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Reviewing the Flora Satsuma Mandarin, a barrel aged saison aged on Satsuma mandarins from the Hill Farmstead Brewery out of Greensboro, Vermont.
Score: 94
2013 vintage bottle served in a stemmed Hill Farmstead bulb glass and enjoyed on 02/22/14.
Appearance: Pours a transparent/clean golden mead color. Not effervescent in appearance at all. Pours a ring around the glass of white head off the pour. 4/5
Smell: Mandarin oranges, mineral water, white wine, and a touch of spice. Wheat and citrus too. Smells a lot like a slightly funky/earthy white wine mixed with sweet oranges and peppercorn. The wine character grows in prominences as the beer warms and breathes. 4.5/5
Taste: Sweet citrus and orange with a little wheat grain. There is a very mild, crisp tartness upfront. Tannic, white wine towards the finish with a kiss of oak and grape. Nice, tasty mix. 4.5/5
Mouthfeel: Light-plus bodied, and surprisingly spritzy carbonation that is appropriate for the flavor profile. Very dry finish, with a nice sweetness. 4.5/5
Overall: Superior to Blueberry Flora, and a nice orange-forward, not too funky saison.
Cost: $15 for a 375 ml bottle.
1,150 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Reviewing the Flora Satsuma Mandarin, a barrel aged saison aged on Satsuma mandarins from the Hill Farmstead Brewery out of Greensboro, Vermont.
Score: 94
2013 vintage bottle served in a stemmed Hill Farmstead bulb glass and enjoyed on 02/22/14.
Appearance: Pours a transparent/clean golden mead color. Not effervescent in appearance at all. Pours a ring around the glass of white head off the pour. 4/5
Smell: Mandarin oranges, mineral water, white wine, and a touch of spice. Wheat and citrus too. Smells a lot like a slightly funky/earthy white wine mixed with sweet oranges and peppercorn. The wine character grows in prominences as the beer warms and breathes. 4.5/5
Taste: Sweet citrus and orange with a little wheat grain. There is a very mild, crisp tartness upfront. Tannic, white wine towards the finish with a kiss of oak and grape. Nice, tasty mix. 4.5/5
Mouthfeel: Light-plus bodied, and surprisingly spritzy carbonation that is appropriate for the flavor profile. Very dry finish, with a nice sweetness. 4.5/5
Overall: Superior to Blueberry Flora, and a nice orange-forward, not too funky saison.
Cost: $15 for a 375 ml bottle.
1,150 characters
Flora - Satsuma Mandarin from Hill Farmstead Brewery
Beer rating:
4.55 out of
5 with
229 ratings
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