Abner - Hill Farmstead Brewery

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.83/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

So interesting. Received both Abner and Ephraim in a recent trade with mtardiff. (Thanks Marc!)
While Ephraim gets the top overall score of A+ vs. this beer, I clearly enjoy this beer more. No disrespect to Ephraim, but this is a superior beer in my opinion. (notice I didn’t say fact)
Pours with a thin finger of foamy head that does settle to a film of foam. Very slight haze in the golden/amber colored beer. Some splotchy lace clings to the glass.

Aroma is fantastic. Bright, bold, floral and perfume like. You can smell the fresh hop cones in your hand as if you just squeezed out all the essential oils.

Flavor matches and compliments the aroma perfectly. While this is a hop juice special, there is also a wonderful balance here. The light cracker malt notes are toasty and provide a wonderful base to the hop bitterness. There is also a fruit explosion here that is so juicy. Mango, Tangerine come to mind. Fantastic. 8.2%?? No way. This is so well hidden it’s scary. A dangerously delicious beer!!!

Body is refreshing and bright. Carbonation is just right and brings the flavor to life without getting in the way.

One of my favorite Hill Farmstead items. Wow, I have to get more of this one! (if possible)

Serving type: growler

10-12-2011 22:25:01 | More by Reagan1984

scoot64

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-21-2013 21:57:14 | More by scoot64

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

4.21/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml Swing Top - Thanks to pushkinwow!

Appearance - Slightly hazy amber colour with a large size frothy white coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation and there is some good lacing. The head lasted for 4-5 minutes.

Smell - Malts, caramel, hops, grapefruit, lemons

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and the taste is made up of caramel and malts and hops. It also has apricots, lemons, grapefruits, and a bit of a grassiness. I can also pick up on some dry floral/woody notes and some lemon zest. It ends with a dry very hoppy aftertaste.

Overall - Another winner from these guys. Not as good as some of their other beers that I have tried but still a way above average brew. If you like more of a floral/dry (but still with some fruitiness) DIPA, you will love this stuff.

Serving type: growler

05-21-2013 15:50:37 | More by spinrsx

jbeervt

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-20-2013 21:38:36 | More by jbeervt

andant

New York

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-20-2013 19:34:07 | More by andant

drebrew

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-20-2013 01:15:42 | More by drebrew

goldenM13

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-20-2013 00:56:34 | More by goldenM13

scotv

New York

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-19-2013 00:17:53 | More by scotv

eyeenjoybeer

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev -7.6%

05-18-2013 16:47:34 | More by eyeenjoybeer

Lledd

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-18-2013 16:06:02 | More by Lledd

Thomas_Picton

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-17-2013 00:03:13 | More by Thomas_Picton

thegoon55

South Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-16-2013 23:47:37 | More by thegoon55

stanowsf

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-16-2013 03:03:32 | More by stanowsf

wizmasta

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -7.6%

05-14-2013 01:58:57 | More by wizmasta

thezoobrew

New York

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-13-2013 18:29:25 | More by thezoobrew

Bonko_the_sane

North Carolina

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-13-2013 05:43:53 | More by Bonko_the_sane

lpayette

Vermont

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-12-2013 19:50:10 | More by lpayette

JamesGWittel

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-12-2013 19:32:49 | More by JamesGWittel

akukucka

New York

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-12-2013 18:27:13 | More by akukucka

Hopbully

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-12-2013 05:50:41 | More by Hopbully

Lorianneb

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -7.6%

05-11-2013 00:52:21 | More by Lorianneb

Caudalie

Quebec (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-10-2013 20:33:51 | More by Caudalie

justforrazors

Missouri

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-10-2013 01:26:00 | More by justforrazors

woodchopper

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -7.6%

05-09-2013 19:39:39 | More by woodchopper

JMScowcroft

Vermont

4.94/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Hill Farmstead Brewery - Abner - On-tap

Finally, my first from what was at the time of this writing regarded as the #1 brewery in the USA.

Look - Hazy amber orange with a a nice soapy head that dissipates slowly and leaves sticky lacing all over.

Smell - Aroma is resiny hearty and juicy hops with smooth malty caramel. Super smooth but there is a hint of the bite that is in store.

Taste - So rich and smooth first comes in those super juicy almost orange or melon hops, then a wave of resin hops with a snappy bite at the end. Woo piney resin hops! Superb!

Mouthfeel - Perfect drinkability, alcohol is hidden completely, and the bitter hop linger fades quite gracefully. It doesn't get better than this. Carbonation is perfect here, the kind of brew that makes you thirsty for more.

Overall - Wow. This is one of the absolute best brews I have ever had. This has no comparison but if there is a lineup and that lineup has Pliny (Snappy crisp west coast), Heady (Floral as hell), and Dubs (Juiciest DIPA you can get), this is the higher quality version of Sixpoint Resin that further enhances what they were trying to do with that brew. A true king among brews.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2013 02:48:29 | More by JMScowcroft