Hill Farmstead Barrel Aged Everett

Formerly brewed at Hill Farmstead Brewery
Style: Porter
Greensboro, Vermont USA

Serve in English pint, Shaker

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500 ml bought at the brewery. Over an opaque blackness, a stupendous tan one-inch foam climbs inches and inches on the sides of the glass. Complex, rich aroma with integrated, never too corny bourbon, woody, soul-warming, smoky where delicious leafy tobacco/cigar overtones marry with the soft molasses and roasty, earthy coffee. Lots of things going on and they keep on in mouth where the beer is surprisingly warming, even hot for an 8% ABV ale, a trait I appreciate a little less. At the same time, a certain acidity grows up from the roast and is less integrated with the bourbon in mouth than in the aroma. Thick, almost chewy palate with an expanding foamy texture of smooth large bubbles that never bite. Spectacular mouthfeel, really. A sure hit, this one, purely professional craftmanship in a bottle.

Opaque black color with a medium sized tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of roasted malts, burnt wood, vanilla bean, and dark chocolate. Taste of roasted malt, some smoke, vanilla, wood, chocolate malts, maple, and light, dry alcohol in the finish.

Pours a deep black with a creamy tan head. Aroma of vanilla, chocolate, light bourbon, dark fruits and wood. Flavor of dark chocolate, wood, vanilla, light bourbon and some alcohol that lingers a bit. Rather aggressive bitterness.

500ml bottle into the new Lost Abbey tulip. March 17, 2011. Thanks to an unnamed RB for this.

The color reminds me of Hume’s problem of the missing shade of blue. It’s that missing shade of almost, so-close-to-being-black brown-black; I’m perceiving a color for the first time, even though I’ve already formed the idea. A two to three finger mocha head sits still atop the beer. The lacing leaves terrifying images on the side of the glass.

Fairly sweet nose of chocolate, anise, roasted malt, soft bourbon, and some spicy, wood character.

Amalgam of bittersweet chocolate, chocolate covered coffee beans, and licorice; then, sweet bourbon, butterscotch, and vanilla mid-palate; finally, a tiny bit of smoke, strong spicy woodiness, caramel, and a kick of a finish (featuring some boozy heat, anonymous earthy bitterness, and bittersweet chocolate). As with all of his beers, Shaun’s barrel-aging is nicely integrated and really makes this a complex offering that differs from most bourbon bombs.

Medium-bodied, with typical low HF carbonation, making this porter light on the tongue, but creamy. It slides down the throat.

Another winner. I can’t believe this was barrel-aged for seven months. The base beer must be peculiarly complex.

500ml bottle, Was no label from bought at HF.
Appearance : Pitch black big foamy and creamy brown expresso-like head. Light lacing but very long head retention.
Aroma : Lots of woody barrel with notes of bourbon. Some roasted malt, chocolate and coffee underneath. Light hops too. This is mainly barrel though. Notes of raisins and vanilla.
Taste : Very complex and rich. At first there is a lot of barrel. Notes of bourbon and lots of wood. Then the roasted malt and chocolate comes along with the coffee while still having that lingering "liquoreux" woody bourbon. Finish is very lengthy. Barrel comes again in the finish but there is more place for the awesome chocolate and roasted malt. Light smoke on finish. Lots of barrel on finish.
Overall : Wow this is very complex. I think the barrel is a tiny bit too intense. I would have liked to see a bit more of the base beer. Still, the barrel gives it a lot of complexity and depth. Finish is just so good. A bit too warm maybe especially for the low abv. Another gem by Shaun !

Enjoyed at Dasilky’s pad. Black/brown with dark brown head. Mid thickness in glass. Funky sourness in nose, on top of alcohol high and clear. Cherries. Taste has big sweetness, dark fruit in front of aspirin and alcohol. Medicine and turpentine.

holy smoke! thanks riversideak! soft creamy coffee nose, warm gentle barrel character. black, small tan head. very hot, some raspberry fruit, strong biting heat, charred oaky barrel, offensively hot

500ml waxed bottle, thanks Alex. Chocolate, patent malt, hints of coffee, hazelnut, vanilla, bits of oak. Smooth silky body feel. Balanced barrel with vanilla, cola, hints of dark fruit, roasted nut and light coffee. Balanced and very tasty.

Patent, roast dark malts, light barrel, nice nose. Pours black, nice creamy bubbly tan head. Nice looking. Charred flavors, bourbon underneatj, dark sugary sweet, light though, roasty black malts. Nice underlying barrel. Earthy bitterness. A nice berr with balance, welld done barrel. Good.

. Pours a dark black hue with a thin to medium sized beige head. Big bourbon, char, toast, roast, and nice coffee notes on the nose. Roast and chocolate, smoke and wood. Dry bourbony finish.