Hill Farmstead Mary

Brewed by Hill Farmstead Brewery
Style: Pilsener
Greensboro, Vermont USA

Serve in Flute, Footed Pilsner

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In short: An exemplary hoppy blond lager, german pilsner for the American palate.
How: Tap at Blackback Pub, Waterbury VT. (later a few growlers home).
The look: Cloudy yellow-blond body topped by a medium white head that quickly recedes to a persistent small layer of foam leaving lots of lacings on the glass.
In long: Nose is fresh cereals, noble-ish hops that emanates dry yellowed grass, lemons and even some grapefruits. Not the usual aromatic bomb that are Hill Farmstead draught beers, this is nonetheless an very inviting aroma with an overall great freshness sensation. Taste has the signature Hill Farmstead malt/water/mouthfeel signature similar to most of their single hop IPAs, fresh cereals (bakery bread and crackers), chewy but not doughy, low sweetness, plenty of very soft bubbles creating a voluptuous super-comfortable monthfeel. Also a light boiled egg-white sensation which is something I somehow often get from lager yeast. A generous hopping that is very soft on the palate, some lemongrass, sundried yellowed grass, bitter grapefruits, lemon juice. Since Mary is a pils by the hops-obsessed Hill Farmstead I expected a denaturized hop-bomb of a pilsner, not the case here, although certainly americanized over-hopped by german pils standards I find that a fresh Prima Pils has a more assertive hop bitterness than Mary. A superb session beer that I would like to see become a regular next to Edward in HF lineup. I ordered my beer by telling the waitress at Blackback “please MARY me!” and I laughed and laughed and it truly scares me how often I’d punch myself in the face if I wasn’t me.

Une autre dégustation dans la ligne d’attente. Je dois dire que les gens qui y travaillent sont fort courtois et sympathiques ce qui rend l’attente moins pénible et que dire de la bière. Cette Mary se présente sous un liquide dorée jaune avec une mousse blanche. Le nez est classique avec des grains continentaux, des houblons nobles et ce qui semble être des notes de levure weizen, de la banane. La bouche est trop facile à boire, des grains, céréales, houblons de tout acabit.

Growler shared by Drew. Awesome. Pours a slightly hazed gold with a stiff white head. Nose is spicy and herbal, distinctly noble character. Some sweet pils malt in the nose as well. Super clean. At first, seems a touch too much hop flavor but the bitterness grows to support it. Drying finish, not astringent. Super clean and balanced. Great malt flavor for just 2-row. Fuckin’ a this is superb.

Growler thanks to briandot!! Just a fantastic pilsener. Slightly cloudy beautiful golden pour with the classic, full HF fluffy white head. Nose and flavor bring crisp, clean noble hop bite, bready dough and luscious yeasty balance. Balanced, effervescent, Outstanding.

750 ml growler from the HFS. Tall pils glass shows a lightly hazy straw color with ample carbonation. Sticky spider web lacing down the side. Nose is light malt and grain. A mild hoppiness is upfront with a grassy, hay flavor and a moderate level of sweetness. Lemon and honey notes. Mild lingering bitterness. Very light body and very refreshing. I got to say this is the best American pilsner I have ever sampled. The only other American pilsner I remember being this good was Cigar City Patio Pils. Well done Mr. Hill.

Growler @ Rachel’s place, shared by Steve_0. Thanks so much- I’ve been wanting to try this one for a while! Pours a hazy, light yellow orange appearance with an off white head. Sweet fruity yeasty, lemon, light tropical fruity, sweet toasted malty, cracker, lightly herbal aroma. A bit more on the sweeter/fruity side than some Pilseners, but still very enticing. Very refreshing flavor that again is a bit more on the sweet side, but I think that makes it a great session beer during a hot summer day. Lemon, light fruit cocktail, a bit grassy, somewhat herbal, light mango, quite yeasty flavor with a bit of acidity on the finish. Soft carbonation. Not what I was expecting, but fuck it (butt fuck it?), it’s a damn nice beer and probably would be fun as fuck to beer bong (or use for beer pong). Can you imagine filling your solo cups with this during beer pong? Holy hell, that would be an experience. Thanks again, Stephen!

Growler, pours hazed yellow with foamy white head. Aroma hay, florals, grainy. Flavors florals, sweet corn and grain, bit peppery, clean and crisp, firm. Great pils.

750 mL, swing-top at home, courtesy of Frank. Thanks again man! Pour is slightly hazy straw-colored with a big fluffy white head and great lacing. Snappy, crackery, somewhat spicy aroma - with lighter notes of grass, lemon zest, straw and biscuit. Taste is much the same - biscuity, bready, grainy, almost chewy - grass, earthy/spicy hops, lemon peel, a touch of flowers, and honey with a lightly bitter finish. Full, yet airy mouthfeel with high carbonation. I am not a huge fan of Pilseners, but this one was super-easy drinking and tasted extremely fresh. It makes me want to go to Germany and experience what a real lager is like.

750mL growler, sent from Glougloburp (thanks a lot, Dany), pours a clear straw yellow with a medium white head. Aroma is full of grassy hops, straw, a little corn and biscuity malt. Flavour is uber-dry, with loads of puckeringly dry grassy hops, German lager yeast quite highly pronounced, and some citric notes. Extremely dry with quite a harsh astringency. Super-refreshing with high drinkability. Excellent stuff.

28th February 2013
Growler courtesy of my Hill Farmstead pusher - Leighton! Cheers Ears! Light haze on this pale gold beer, little white head. Light palate, a little crisp. Mild minerals. No real lagerish malt but there are pleasant citric hops - mellow grapefruit and orange peel. Semi dry crispy finish. Very light and suppable.