Hill Farmstead Brewery - Abner

Regarding Abner, Hill Farmstead says: "Abner (1867-1953) is our great grandfather; Hill Farmstead Brewery rests upon the land that was once home to him and his fourteen children.  In his honor, this Double IPA is dutifully crafted from American malted barley, a plethora of American hops, our ale yeast and water from Abner’s well.  It is unfiltered, naturally carbonated, and double dry hopped.  Aromatic and flowery, bursting with notes of citrus and pine, this is the ale that I dream to have shared with Abner.  8.2%, 18.5º P, 170 Theoretical ibus. Ingredients: Pale and Caramel Malt; Dextrose; Centennial, Chinook, Columbus, Simcoe, and Warrior hops; Ale Yeast, and our Well Water."
 
This is a rotating release from Hill Farmstead which, as with any other HF I discuss here, was kindly sent to me by a friend who is able to take trips to the brewery.

Appearance: Most of the HF beers I've tried look very similar -- a kind of dull, muted goldenrod/straw color that is fairly opaque, with a smallish head that's a maximum of 1 finger in height. They aren't always the most inviting beers, visually, but once you taste them the appearance matters very little.

Smell: Ripe tropical aromas -- mango and pineapple -- bolstered by pine and woody resin. A hint of alcohol as the beer warms.

Taste: On the palate, this reminds me a lot of Heady Topper. There is an abundance of different flavors, ranging from the tropical and citrus fruits to spiciness and earthy wood and pine. Not a lot of sweetness from the malt, which I love, but it doesn't come across as harsh due to the perceived sweetness from some of the fruity notes.

Mouthfeel: This almost feels medium to full bodied, and a bit slick, but the finish is moderately dry, which keeps it from feeling too cloying and heavy. Overall, nice.

Overall: This is another knockout from Hill Farmstead. All of their beers are so high quality, that I feel like a broken record talking about how great they are. This one instantly become one of my favorites I've tried from them, due to the balance and complexity of flavors. As someone who loves IPAs and hoppy beers, I try a lot, and truthfully, there isn't a huge difference among a lot of them: hops tend to produce similar flavor profiles and categories of aromas and tastes. What makes the difference is sometimes a preference for certain notes and aromas, or else it's seemingly differences in craftsmanship: is the beer balanced? What varieties of hops were used, and when were they added to the boil? What kind of dry hopping? etc. Things like the order of hops added, or length of dry hopping, will make a huge difference in the flavor and aroma, and at Hill Farmstead it's plain that care is taken to maximize the potential of the hop varietals, since they're frequently using similar varietals as other brewers but producing much better beer.

5/5

Hill Farmstead Brewery - Society and Solitude #5

Hill Farmstead's concise description is:

"Our experimental Double IPA series continues.

Imperial IPA. American and New Zealand hops.  Think Grapefruit.  7.8% abv"

This was a fall 2012 brew for HF, continuing their "philosophical series" of beers. As per usual, this was a draft-only beer and I was fortunate to receive a growler from a generous friend back east.

Appearance: Society and Solitude 5 (SS5 for short) is a cloudy, dull cork color with a short head that's about 1 finger maximum in height.

Smell: There are strong aromas of mango and especially grapefruit, with a background hint of grass and biscuit.

Taste: Much like on the nose, the taste is rich in tropical fruits and grapefruit. The tropical notes are primarily pineapple and mango again. There is also a bit of green grape in the background that seems to assist the grapefruit in lending a bit of acidity to the sweet fruit flavors.

Mouthfeel: Pretty standard for a D/IPA -- medium bodied, juicy, with prickly carbonation.

Overall: This is a good double IPA (all of HF's DIPAs are,) but actually not my favorite from them. I'm not sure what it is about this one in particular, but it didn't blow me away as some of their others have; for instance, SS4 is a standout beer, and I also deeply enjoyed both SS3 and Double Citra. Perhaps they really shine when they use local hops, and some of the hops used here were imported? I don't know. I'll give them this, though -- if this is an "average" beer for HF, they still outperform most other breweries around the country.

4/5

Arcadia Ales - Barrel Aged Shipwreck Porter (2011)

Arcadia says: "The Baltic-style porter has a robust malt character and a slight herbal hop bitterness. Aged for 12 months in 10-year-old Kentucky bourbon oak barrels, this alluring dark liquid features appealing undertones of vanilla, oak, cocoa and coffee. The aging occurs in abandoned mines in Michigan, at a constant temperature of 45F."

Acadia is a brewery out of Michigan. I don't have much information on the release schedule of Shipwreck Porter, but I am drinking the 2011 vintage, which is 12% ABV and saw distribution to Arcadia's usual distribution states in the midwest and New England. I acquired this bottle through trade -- thank you!

Appearance: This is a very dark brown beer with a tan colored head that pours to about 1.5 fingers in height and is actually retained fairly well as I drink, remaining at about.5 fingers in height.

Smell: There are huge notes obviously from the barrel treatment here -- oak, vanilla, and bourbon --, with additional notes of cherry, molasses, and a hint of juniper.

Taste: The biggest notes are those of roast and chocolate, and then additional flavors of vanilla, coffee, dark fruit, and molasses come in. There is noticeable alcohol in the finish.

Mouthfeel: It's smooth, creamy, and lightly carbonated.

Overall: I thought this was a really tasty and complex porter. I read some other reviews where it was noted that the barrel treatment was overpowering; I disagree. Perhaps it's because I've sat on this for some time, but I thought the notes from the barrel added an interesting complexity that elevated what may have otherwise been a good but standard porter. I'd happily drink this again.

4/5

Midnight Sun Brewing - Arctic Devil (2011)

Midnight Sun has a lot to say about this one, so I'll let them take it away:

"Arctic Devil Barley Wine, aptly named after the ferocious wolverine of the north, is an English-style (meaning malt-inclined) barley wine. Though the recipe and process for Arctic Devil have evolved over the years, it is brewed once a year then aged in oak barrels for several months before the entire batch is blended, bottled and released[...] In its youth, Arctic Devil gnarls and snarls its way across the palate. Containing this beast of a beer for long periods in oak barrels--some having previously aged port, wine or whiskey--tames the unleashed malt and fierce hop flavors, melding and mellowing this powerful liquid into an incredible elixir worthy of a brewer's table. 

Each annual batch of Arctic Devil Barley Wine represents the brewers' resolve to create an intriguing and sought-after barley wine by precisely brewing to well-designed specifications, carefully selecting the type and combination of barrels to use for aging, and meticulously checking the beer as it ages. Distinct nuance and complexity are contributed by the wood's previous tenants, resulting in unique flavor profiles in each batch that continue to change over time. We invite you to savor Arctic Devil Barley Wine upon its release then cellar some for future enjoyment."

Arctic Devil is an annual winter release from Midnight Sun, an Alaska-based brewery. AD hits the west coast only from my understanding and usually gets snatched up within hours, so it's not easy to come by. I'm drinking the 2011 vintage, which is listed around 13.4% ABV.

Appearance: Rich chestnut brown with a reddish-copper tint, and a very thin head that recedes quickly and doesn't leave much residual lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell: The smell is rich and complex, with notes of caramel, brown sugar, sour cherry, toffee, and vanilla.

Taste: Red wine comes through on the palate in a major way, along with notes of vanilla and cherry like on the nose. There is also a great sweet maple flavor.

Mouthfeel: It's medium bodied, but that's actually a surprisingly thin finish for the style. It's not oily or chewy and finishes relatively clean.

Overall: A year ago, I may have called this my favorite barleywine. Since then, I've tried King Henry, which is now in the top spot; still, this is a worthy and delicious second. It's rich and complex, and though it surely is malt-accented, it's actually not too overbearingly sweet, since there are perceptible sour-like or acid characteristics from the port or red wine notes. Some wish the mouthfeel had more body, but I'm actually okay with it being a little thinner, in this case. Generally it is kind of discombobulating to drink such a big beer with a thinner mouthfeel, but here, given the complexity of flavors including the aforementioned acidity, I found that the lighter body improves its drinkability. Overall, this is a solid, wonderful beer and a great choice for the colder months.

5/5