4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
In short: A uber-hoppy porter with a complex malt bill. Great brew.
How: Tap at Hill Farmstead Winter Gathering 2011
The look: Black body topped by a persistent small tan head
In long: Hoppy and roasted nose with green resinous hops over a burnt chocolate cake, almost black-ipa-ish aroma. Taste has a nice malt complexity, medium roasted, creamy chocolate cake, caramel, raisins, molasses. Then comes a truckload of leafy resinous hops. Full and lively body. I could drink gallons of this. Holy crap this was good. I’ve heard it is based on the Ølfabrikken Porter (brewery with whom Hill Farmstead brewer worked) except that Everett is cranked-up the American way. The first time I visited that brewery I was blown away. Hill Farmstead is truly the absolute best new American brewery, and certainly one of the top best brewery on the planet. I’m positive about that. The only thing that could make me more positive would be a smoking hot horny hot chick with HIV.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Growler from the brewery. Very Interesting nose with strong nutty/toasty notes. Mouthfeel is good - soft carbonatation - with a hint of smoke. Could be a little more hops in there but still a very good robust porter.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Tap at Blind Tiger. Pours a deep brown. Nice earthy and smoky qualities in the aroma; notes of wet coffee grounds and licorice. Flavor has plenty of coffee and a slight meaty quality. Some slight hop sting to go with rich chocolate malt. Roasty goodness.
3.7 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
tap @ Blind Tiger - nice roasted chocolate malts, earthy smokiness, hint of anise, bitter hops, with some floral citrus notes. Dark fruits, touch of prunes and raisins. Dry finish with a hoppy kick. Very nice.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Very rich molasses and dark roasted coffee nose. Taste is moderately sweet, moderately bitter, lots of chocolate, lots of espresso, light caramel, and a citrus hop finish. Damn I love this brewery.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
UPDATED: DEC 31, 2011 Draught from B-tiger. Poured a dark with mild white smallish head, aroma choc coffee and malts, very good.
Re rate from Brouwerij Lane in Dec 2011 - inky black consistency, actuall way better this time.
3.9 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
A: The pour is a very dark brown with some definite red notes when held to the light. A thin layer of tan foam.
S: There’s a slight smoke to the aroma as well as some peat. Roasted malts, dark and bitter chocolate, and quite a bit coffee. There are some sort of surprising dark fruits, but a lot of licorice.
T: A lot of coffee and roasted malt flavor with some bitter dark chocolate. It’s sort of bitter and astringent, however, with some definite ash and char. There’s a good bit of smoke notes to it. Also, a lot of oak/wood flavor to this, which was sort of surprising.
M: Medium in body with a smooth and full carbonation.
D: A bit too ashy to be super drinkable, but still a solid beer. Glad to have tried this.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
UPDATED: DEC 16, 2011 Nose is alcohol, port, rotten fruit, sweet tobacco, feel is mediumthin, carb is quite low, taste is port, alcohol, hazel, weak mint, then bitter hops
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
On tap. Pours an opaque deep black with a creamy light brown head. A pleasant rostiness in the nose, fairly chocolatey. Medium body, very soft almost creamy mouthfeel, sweet hard roasted malts, vanilla and licorice. Discreet bitterness. Extremely smooth and drinkable. 190211
4.4 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 16/20
UPDATED: JUN 3, 2011 On tap at Hill Farmstead Winter Gathering 2010..
Appearance : Black with a small head. Light lacing.
Aroma : Nice roasted malt with light coffee and light hops. Nice chocolate.
Taste : Nice hops with light wood. Nice chocolate. Finish roasted malt, chocolate and hops. Light long bitterness. Hops are a bit floral and taste fresh. Nice soft carbonation, great palate. Light spices also.
Overall : Wow this is good. Really well balanced and really complex. Not too strong. Rather drinkable. Awesome soft carbonation. Nice sweetness mixed with coffee and chocolate flavours. Very deep. Nice surprise there. I can’t wait to try the Oak Aged version. 110218 9,3,9,4,17;4.2 Update 110603 from 500ml bottle. Amazing beer. Perfect fluffy but soft carbonation. Lots of lacing and very long foam retention. Perfectly balanced with great coffee, hops, chocolate and light smoked malt all along. Insanely drinkable. Appearance 3 to 5. Palate 4 to 5. Over 17 to 16. Score 4.2 to 4.4
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