Hopemont Farmhouse Ale
West Sixth Brewing Company

Booooooring. West Sixth, you're better than this. Almost transparent pour with basically no flavor. Hmmm. Disappointing.

Pours clear light gold with a white head. Aroma offers nice spice and funk from the belgian yeast, cracker and grains from pilsner and other type of malt (dont remember what it was identified as, only that it was a special malt from North Caroline), and some tropical fruits, grapes, and grass from the hops. A thinner medium bodied smooth mouthfeel. Like most West Sixth beers, mouthfeel is the weak spot for the beer. Overall, I thought this was a great beer, though I am biased as I LOVE nelson sauvin hops and they were showcased here well alongside the mosaic hops. If they canned this, I'd drink it all the time.

Orange peel dominates the aroma, and there's not much else there.

Flavor reveals more funk at the forefront, with barnyard notes and a touch of phenol leading to tart lemon and orange. The finish is fairly dry.

More character than expected from the aroma. Sulfur emerges as it warms.

 

 

As a taste of the Belgian farmland arises in central Kentucky, the West Sixth brewers pull the yeast spices forward and retaliate with dry citrusy balance in order to capture the essence of the rustic European roots, but with an "Americanized" demeanor.

Faintly hazed with shadows of straw and gold, the ale simmers with a dainty froth and subtle fruit notes that swirl just above. Dried orange, apple and lemon lead the way while the bready and barley sweetness remain supple but stern.

With the bread turning to wafer-thin dryness, the earthy and husky character of grain stew into a medley of straw, grass and hay; especially once the spicy hops join the fray. Its middle palate trends spicy as the session lingers, bringing out the taste of freshly grated white pepper, fennel and flat-leaf parsley and gives a spicy tilt over the lingering citrus and orchard fruit.

Its zesty and dry taste stems from the beer's abundance of bubbling action against the tongue, allowing a high rate of refreshment and drinkability. With hops, straw and pepper lingering, an herbal aftertaste lays gently on the late palate. Perhaps timid in the beer's earthy and peppery rusticity than that of more Belgianized versions, but its kinder brewing hands makes for the perfect introduction into the style by the uninitiated.