Things I Learned at Hill Farmstead This Week

Great info, thanks for provinding it! All good stuff to know, as I got a box just yesterday with one of each of the releases plus an Anna. Pumped.

 

Great information, starrdogg! I can't wait to make it back up someday.

According to the person I traded with, the uncorked version [batch 1.5? 1(b)? 2?] spent an extra 2–2.5 months in the barrels (i.e., the uncorked version was brewed and barreled at the same time, but released later).

I'd love to land one of the new Floras, but trading for Mimosa seemed easier with the two bottle limit. It had less to do with hype for me and more to do with hedging my bets. Plus, I've already ticked Flora

 

To clarify slightly, these are Flora 2 and 3 (on the bottle there's a white space under the UPC where the batch number is sharpied -- the just-released bottles are marked "3"). Batch 1 was released at the "winter beer gathering" in Feb 2011 and this is what Shaun had to say about it at the time: "Flora (Batch #1 - with Cork - barrel aged Florence). Batch #2 was on draft at the brewery and will be released without corks. "

We tried 2 & 3 side-by-side shortly after the release and they're quite different beers. I liked the 2, but it's got a bretty mustiness that some of the other folks didn't enjoy. Batch 3 is stellar, bright lactic/citric tartness that marries perfectly with the grainy saison. If it's indicative of the direction their spontaneous beers will take... well, I'm excited.

 

This batch of Flora is Batch#3 and it indeed is more sour than previous batches. Damn fine beer!

 

Great news all around. Thanks for hooking up DC! I can't wait to get back there. As far as I'm concerned, Hill Farmstead is by far the best American brewery.

 

Thank you so much for the info, Hill Farmstead really is the greatest and I can't wait to pop Anna and Arthur! And I just thought I'd add my voice to the many showing love for this batch of Flora. So sour but didn't overwhelm the wheaty flavor, I wish it weren't so limited because it really is a dream beer.

 

I thought they pull Mimosa down to a 1 per person? Did they move it back up on the day of the event?[/quote]



Yup, changed it to 2 per person the day of the release.

 

Keep the info coming. Really excited about the Oud Bruin!

 

Just a quick correction to Starrdogg... (Thanks for the visit and the post, by the way!). We are definitely *not* going to bottle Edward and Abner. Ever. Ever ever. Hill Farmstead pale hoppy beers will remain draft only/growlers. However, that being said, I do have a "sister" brand, Grassroots, and am intending to begin bottling/brewing a few of these beers in house. In fact, look for a Mikkeller/Grassroots collab in the next few weeks called "Wheat is the new hops". Imperial Jim (ie. Society #2) is in new Cabernet barrels - first fill with beer. Not the same barrels that held Jim. And expect more Flora. Lots more Flora. In the coming years...
Corked Flora: Bottling #1: Original batch in barrels with Lacto and Brett. We refer to this as Blend 1.
Uncorked Flora: Botting #2: Second blending. Several months later.
#3: Inoculated with mother culture from last winter's (January 2011) spontaneous fermentation. Divine and the direction in which we will take our barrel aged saisons...

We are brewing a new batch of Arthur next week in order to blend and release the next batch of Art. Imagine Flora #3 with hoppier, earthier tones, blended with fresh, hoppy saison...

That's it for now...(ps. expect a "baby" Mimosa in the Fall. 5 to 6% abv and a much, much larger release.)

 

Ha, damn, awesome rumor started and squashed within a few hours. I would drink the fuck out of Edward bottles but if your only gonna bottle some stuff then definitely stick to the special offerings.

 

I'm fine with no Edward and Abner bottles since the 750 growlers are so incredibly convenient. I'm more excited to hear about the direction of the saison program and the success on the spontaneous cultures. I can't wait to try Flora 3 and Mimosa, and am quite excited about the prospect of "mini-Mimosa" later this year.

 

My jaw hit the floor when I read bottled Abner. Shit... I know better.

 

Wowzers, good info. I'm excited to try Edward for the first time on tap here in DC, next week. Next time you make a HF trip, let me know and I'll ask you to supply the rest of DC ;-)

 

Heading there tomorrow. Just wondering what is available at the store in bottles. If I pick up a growler how long will it last?

 

We'll just have to keep draining the kegs

 

Amen to that.

 

Awesome... I think hoppy beers need to stay in kegs more often. Way too many IPAs rotting on shelves right now. Keep them nice and fresh, not that Abner would ever sit on a shelf for more than a day anyways. I was surprised when the OP said bottled Abner, now it all makes sense.

 

Agree. Hill Farmstead has the perfect model right now -- bottles of things that can last for a least a few months and then draft and growler only for hoppy beers. I wish more breweries would follow this model, particularly if they aren't going to bottle date their beers.

 

The one or two I've had from them were pretty awesome.

Cheers!