Hill Farmstead Society & Solitude #2

Nearly a black pour with a nice sized, sticky beige head. Toasted malts, citrus hops, some earthy kerosine notes. Flavor is hoppy but well balanced, citrus, earthy and light grassy notes. I love the integration of roasted malt and hops in this brew. Special stuff. Man I love HFS.

On tap at Hill Farmstead. Almost black with a small persistent beige head and beautiful lacing. Aroma of roasted malt, grapefruit, pine, chocolate and herbal notes. Taste is about the same and alcohol is present. Medium body. Quite complex. A very good black IPA!

On tap at Teresa’s. Dark brown with bone froth. Nose is orange, caramel, grass, pine and pink grapefruit. Creamy medium body with a soft but vibrant tingle. Taste is bitter chocolate, orange peel and juniper. Finishing with dark roast coffee. Best black IPA i’ve tasted.

On tap at Boiler Maker. Poured a dark brown/black espresso with a medium tan head, and noticeable lacing. Aroma is big roasted malts, grapefruit, clementine, and grassy notes. Complex flavor profile includes roasted coffee beans, palatable espresso bittereness, piney hops, and hints of citrus. Extremely well balanced and drinkable despite complexity and ABV.

Growler Sample and on tap at Boilermaker for Hill Farm event. Pours a light black color with medium beige head and great lacing. Aromas of chocolate malts, pungent citrus hopping, caramel, grapefruit. Taste is a nice mixture of citrus fuel and pine from the Simcoe and some light toffee. Soft mouth for a black ipa. Another great beer from the HF dudes.

Smells sticky and hoppy. Citrus, apricot and caramel. Pours black with clean head. Tastes amazing! Bravo.

swing top from ernesto!. pours crisp black with perfect white head. aroma of citrus, pine, grass and everything nice. taste was so nice and hoppy with a little roast coming through best black ipa i have yet to try

Black pour from a hill farmstead growler. Good head and lacing. Big roasty/hoppy aroma - Black coffee balanced out with grapefruit and pine. The flavor is every bit as big - Roasted malt and black coffee balanced with Pine, Grapefruit, some dark toffee. Medium body. A big beer - fair to call it a double Black IPA and a good one.

Their self-capping bottle, re: half a growler. Very floral.A big roast, and also big citrus hops. The two are too much. Less hop kick may have been better and improved drinkability. Looks great at black body.Fuller mouthfeel.

In short: A decadent black malt orgy balanced by a truckload of citrusy/piney hops. Fantastic monster beer that is way too easy to drink
How: Fresh growler consumed the day of purchase
The look: Near black body topped by a medium tan head with good retention
In long: Nose is bursting with citrusy hops with some piney notes. You can smell the rich maltiness despite the intensity of the aromatic hops. This beer smells decadent and it is. Body cannot be full with a luscious tick creamy blackened malts, like a not-too-sweet black cake. Medium roast sensation, fudge chocolate, light coffee beans sensation. Very nourishing body and absolutely decadent mouthfeel. That fantastic malt backbone is complemented by the assertive hops bitterness that has a citrusy and pine needles signature. Not very resinous, the hopping is all about making this monster beer more refreshing. This Imperial Black IPA is extremely as decadent as it is easy to drink. This is the blueprint of what an extreme Imperial Black IPA should be, the execution is flawless. Maybe the best hoppy malt orgy I’ve ever had. When I drink a beer like this I feel like hugging Shaun Hill for so long that the state of Kansas would have no choice but to consider us legally married.