Abner - Hill Farmstead Brewery

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to Steve, fbm, for sending this out.

Trying to work through a growler alone. I don't know if that is going to happen.

Poured into my new Hill Farmstead flute (thanks Steve, the glass is sic).

Pours 1/2 finger of off-white head. Decent retention leaving some nice lacing down the side. Color is a hazy burnt golden orange. A really nice hue of orange.

Aroma: Very fruity and hoppy. It has a nice mango and pineapple profile up front with a bit of grapefruit in the background. It is also very hoppy. I get a lot of pine with some floral notes as well. No malts... Oh yea!

Taste: The east coast is finally starting to pump out some good DIPAs. This has west coast flavors written all over it. All hops, no malts. Very bitter. Floral and piney. Pineapple, mangoes, and oranges all show with a touch of grapefruit citrus. Nice.

Mouthfeel: Bitter and bitter. This dipa is more bitter than a lot, but the fruits provided some sweetness to help it out. Medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation. Ends dry and sticky.

Overall, this is a great dipa. I am really enjoying all the hops and fruits and I love that it isn't malty. I thought I might be able to get through the entire growler, but I can feel the alcohol hit as I look and realize I am barely at the half way point. Still, I really like it and a couple pints is pretty easy to take down.

Thanks Steve!

Serving type: growler

02-04-2011 03:59:53 | More by mothman

gibby

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at my favorite local spot, TJ's in Paoli, PA

Arrived in a snifter glass glass with no visible head. Nice bright peach color when I held it up to the light. A big blast of grapefruit, lemony citrus hops hits you instantly when smelling the beer, very nice. Taste has a lot of the grapefruit, lemon, orange again with a slight bit of pine. No hint of alcohol at all. Very tasty dipa. Great silky smooth mouth feel and perfect for the style in my opinion. I had 2 glasses and I would of had another couple if I had a DD with me. Very glad to finally try this beer and highly recommended. One of the best east coast ipa's for sure in my book.

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2011 22:18:31 | More by gibby

Bendurgin

Maine

4.65/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to Andrewinski1 for bringing this gem back from his Vermont trip. Four days old when we drank it! Can't beat that with a stick! The beer pours a hazy deep straw color with about a finger of creamy white head. The aroma is simply divine. Deep blood orange and tropical fruit in the aroma with a great bitter grassy hop aroma to round out the nose. Really a nice balance of bitter and sweet on both the nose and the pallet. The flavor is a lot what the nose would lead it to be. Sweet candied grapefruit zest and orange juice to the front and it finishes nicely with a complex hop flavor. Kind of a sweet caramel finish to this one. The feel is a nice medium body with good carbonation. I'm impressed at how well this held up in the growler. Overall, it's tough to get better than this one for me. I wish this was as available as Pepsi.

Serving type: growler

02-02-2011 22:16:29 | More by Bendurgin

CliffBrake

New Hampshire

4.65/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Hazy medium orange color with a modest bone white head that leaves a light sticky lacing on the glass.

A big aroma, bursting with grapefruit, a bit of lemon and lots of pine. Even the empty growler smells good.

Big citrusy hops taste, blending with resiny hops leading to a very pleasant bitter finish. Malt sweetness is present just to the extent of balancing but not detracting from the hops.

Juicy, smooth and round mouthfeel with good carbonation. A bit of mild peppery character, but not at all detracting from the flavors.

This beer has very well integrated flavors that seem to take turns vying for attention. It is one of the most drinkable beers at this abv I have ever experienced.

Serving type: growler

02-01-2011 01:52:44 | More by CliffBrake

mikey711

New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A: Cloudy gold color with a very nice head. lots of tightly packed carbonation bubbles taht hold really well and leave very nice lacing behind.

S: A mixture of pine and tropical fruit with some grapefruit bitterness. he citra hops come through, but this is not as aromatic as other IPAs

T: Grapefruit and pine notes to start that transition to tangy apricot and lemon notes. The pine notes linger as as does a touch of caramel sweetness.

M: Incredibly smooth and creamy. No sign of heat and no harsh tones either. Couldnt ask for much more

D: another great offering from HFS with no hops left behind

Serving type: growler

01-27-2011 22:42:05 | More by mikey711

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On Tap at Capone's in a tulip three times. 39 ounces minus foam. Review#950

Abner looks like juice with carbonation. A bright white head about 3/4 an inch up a bright white suds, semi condensed, down to a cap and leaving some stick on the side. The color is a mix of orange juice and tangerine look.

This smells incredible. It's so tropical. It's really bold. Citrus blasting out the ying yang with pineapple, mango, grapefruit, the regular cast of characters. A small malt base is detected with some warming but the alcohol isn't, lovely.

Abner is a mighty fine beer. This is certainly the best DIPA i've had from the east coast, this hits the marks. All the scents come together in the taste making way for a fruity, tropical, bitter, DIPA with class. A true winner. Im guessing a few of the c-hop varieties are in here, this is dry hopped apparently.

A bitter DIPA from the East, never in a million years did I think something on this level would be produced over here. Feel is bitter, medium, with enough malt to keep things in check, no problem on the carb, Im yearning for more. There are no coasts anymore, Abner is the one, go get it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2011 04:18:40 | More by onix1agr

andrewinski1

Maine

4.65/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tapered glass. Hazy straw color with a thin layer of white head. Great sticky lacing.

Loads of tropical fruit aroma, particularly mango. A bit of orange is evident. Good sweet aroma.

The flavor starts sweet and is followed by sharp pine. The finish is juicy and sweet with tropical fruit. This has a unique finish; not really crisp but juicy.

The carbonation held up well (the growler was filled three days ago). The body is light to medium. This is syper drinkable. Hope I can make the trek back to Vermont soon.

Serving type: growler

01-26-2011 04:24:55 | More by andrewinski1

oglmcdgl

Pennsylvania

4.93/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at capones.

A- comes to me with a nice finger or so of bright white head that settles after a few to leave a nice smattering of lace around the glass and just the faintest of rings. Hazy sunset orange yellow in color with a glow that makes ya feel warm inside.

S- wow wow we wow. This smells amazing. Mash a mango in your face then take a bite out of a tangerine, that's what were working with here. A touch of the super dank doobs for a second then a smooth roll into a floral honey like sweetness.

T- loads of citrus and tropical fruits with mango, oranges, pineapple, finishing out with a good bite of grapefruit rind. Just about the fruitiest dipa I've had. Light touches of cut grass and a bit of a floral twist. Malts do just enough to keep things in check but never put a dent in the fruit. Dry biscuits and a bit o honey.

M- just about perfectly mid level in the body department, like the perfect lady, just enough to hold on to but nothing more then you need. Carb is great with the bubbles hitting all the right spots but never going to far and blowing the body out of the water.

D- that's a god damn good beer. I'd go to say its up there with the best and I've had the best. Baller as hell and so fucking drinkable. I'm in awe of this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2011 02:27:34 | More by oglmcdgl

GatheringBrews

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy orange with a fluffy white head that lingers at about two fingers for quite a while out of the growler. It laces beautifully down the glass through the entire session.

Aroma is citrus and a hint of resin. It's a bright aroma, but not sharp. Not overbearing, but assertive.

Taste is a nice balance of citrusy hops and malt backbone with a bit of hop oil that lends a good mouthfeel. it ultimately finishes a little dry and tart with a tail end of the hop bitterness.

Overall, a very drinkable, tasty IIPA.

Serving type: growler

01-25-2011 23:47:46 | More by GatheringBrews

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Hill Farmstead on November 4, 2010. Served in a Hill Farmstead wine glass. Thanks to Shaun for his incredible generosity for spending a good deal of time with us.

Pours a nice orange color with a bit of copper overtones. White head and some lacing. The nose is really nice with a good dose of citrus, orange, and some light pine. A touch of light grain in the background.

The flavor is nice with orange juice and a bit of rind. Some very light grapefruit as well. A touch of pine and spruce in the finish, which is nice and dry. Good carbonation levels and a nice bitterness. A really tasty brew. Thanks again, Shaun.

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2010 14:09:00 | More by Thorpe429

NoLiberty

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a Hill Farmstead swing top growler two days after acquisition at the Harvest Festival. Drank with a great dinner of roasted beets and Cabot cheddar alfredo Abner gave the meal complexity, refreshment, balance and completeness.

The color is clear orange color with light gold tones. A thick white, decadent head plumes up to the top of the Hill Farmstead Euro glass and slowly resides into a sticky meringue cap. Yum. Lacing clings to the edges and pulls down throughout the rest of the drink as it follows the slowly descending cap of white foam.

The aroma is on-the-one-hand luscious, sweet, and dank and on the other piney, ripe and citrus fresh. The smell is all about fresh, ripe hops with a warming balance of malt.

The taste follows right behind the smell and improves on the hop party with a quenching citrus bite that moves to ripe tangerine and finishes with a piney bitterness twang. Oh Damn! That's good.

Really nice mouthfeel. Light with just enough body to carry the weight of those hops. Super soft, smooth but very well developed carbonation.

Not since 90 Min came onto the scene has the East Coast seen such an upping-of-the-ante in hopped beers.

Thank you.

Serving type: growler

10-05-2010 03:43:39 | More by NoLiberty

DrDogbeer

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Growler brought back from autumn fest- thanks Scott!!! Pours a bright, clear orange with a thin white head. Smells like HOPS!!! Tons of citrus. Good god, like a west coast gem, but from the VT!!!! Taste is similar - a nice citrusy start but with a fairly bitter finish. Just wonderful! Thin, light mouthfeel. Can't wait to get more of this, along with the other HF beers!

Serving type: growler

10-05-2010 03:10:28 | More by DrDogbeer

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2 liter "genie" shaped swing-top growler into an oversized tulip glass.

Pours a crystal clear copper right out of the gate, with 2 rich fingers of bright-white head. This shrinks down considerably but hangs tough with a solid ½ finger that leaves a robust cascade of spotty and foamy lacing all over the sides of the glass. The aroma is leafy and herbal smelling, punctuated with sharp pangs of pine and spice that are then layered on top of notes of grapefruit, earth, and citrus peel. Toasted bread and sugars hang on the edges, helping even things out the nose. This is all about the hop flavors though, with a bold freshness to them that are fantastic. Great DIPA aroma here.

The bitterness of the taste starts out with a big juicy base of grapefruit but much of the sharper aspects of this are coming from some STRONG pine resins, spice, and aggressive citrus rind grittiness. More herbal tones add some soft mellowness to this, while notes of light toast and honeyed sweetness provide an awesome balance here that is right in tune with those bright hoppy flavors. Bitterness rocks the finish of this with pine and spice in particular really lying on the palate thick. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, maybe a touch fuller in the mouth, with a crispness up front that prickles the tip of the tongue before melding into a smooth slickness that rolls across the mouth. The oily slickness here really compliments that fresh hop character here. Very, very, light warmth overall for an 8% beer, basically just adding a larger presence to the body that matches those full flavors, and dishing up absolutely zero alcohol flavors of any kind.

Wow, just another fantastic hopped-up offering here from Hill Farmstead, with bold hop flavors, impeccable balance, and a ridiculous drinkibility for the size. This took a little bit to work its magic on me but once I got into that second glass, I was a believer. I hate to sound like a full-blown mark for this new brewery, but man, I really do think that these beers are that good.

Serving type: growler

09-30-2010 17:16:36 | More by Kegatron

Pentastar

New York

4.38/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Orange amber, small head, not much lacing on the glass.

Aroma: The aroma is subtle, with overtones of apricot, some cantelope scent is also present.

Taste: The flavor starts with bitterness, followed with grass and herbs. Some malt in the background.

Mouthfeel: Mild carbonation, smooth.

Drinkability: Easy drinker.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2010 21:35:57 | More by Pentastar

abuliarose

New Hampshire

4.35/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Acquired yesterday fresh and poured into the Hill Farmstead tasting glass, revealing a clear deep gold body under a tall white head. Pretty colors, some lacing. Smells like serious hops with a good floral, grassy-cool citrus presence and a little honey.

Tastes appropriately bitter with a nice grassy character and a little grapefruit rind. The flavor has a nice peppery bite to it. Otherwise, a little meatiness and a slight floral nectar-type sweetness fold out at the end. The taste is overall very clean and very distinct with no unappealing anything. Mouthfeel is a little dry from the bitterness, a little smooth from the malt backbone. On the lighter side of medium-bodied. decently drinkable.

Overall I really like it. I'll try this one again.

Serving type: growler

09-18-2010 21:36:29 | More by abuliarose

sisuspeed

New Hampshire

4.43/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Hill Farmstead tasting glass. Beautiful, slightly hazy orange body with a thin white head on top. Suds cling to the glass leaving some delicate lacing behind. Looks pretty good for a DIPA.

Swirling the glass reveals sweet citrus notes, orange wedge, a touch of pine and sweet maltiness.

Pine bitterness on the tongue with orange. Grassy hops mixed with a good bready malt backbone. Nicely balanced between the malts and hops with some good lingering bitterness after the finish. Its got everything one would look for in the style.

Mouthfeel is smooth and crisp with adequate carbonation. Lots of tasty hop bitterness in this DIPA. Slightly chewy, but still refreshing. ABV is unnoticeable.

Drinkability is great. This is one tasty DIPA. Lots of hops, some citrus notes and a good malt backbone to hold it all together without taking away from the hops. Shaun has done a great job with this beer and Vermont is really stepping up their game in the DIPA department. With Head Topper from the Alchemist, Hopzilla from Lawson's and now Abner, I think California has some good competition. Definitely grab a growler of this if you can. Highly recommended.

Serving type: growler

09-18-2010 21:32:55 | More by sisuspeed

SFLpunk

Vermont

4.35/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz tulip at Farmhouse Tap & Grill, Burlington.

Crystal clear with thin off-white head that leaves major spotting. Aroma is dominated by pine and earthy leaf notes. West-Coast in smell. Some faint caramel peaks through.

Palate is medium-bodied and tight with killer bitterness and some residual sugar. Leafy, pine-y, citrus bomb on top of some medium caramel maltiness. It's East-Coast in style but not as much residual sugar as Dogfish 60 Minute or Southern Tier UnEarthly.

Super clean and wonderfully bitter, but balanced. The 8.2 is hidden like a Westy 12 in a carry-on bag. Dank and delightful. Well done, Shaun!

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2010 02:20:07 | More by SFLpunk

Brad007

Vermont

4.33/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a beautiful golden color with a thin head into my glass.

Aroma is full of a bouquet of grassy, citrusy hops that don't overpower but rather hint at the taste within.

Taste is full of crisp, grapefruit-like hops with a hint of grassiness and dryness to it. They proceed to envelope the taste buds.

Mouthfeel is dry with a nice lingering of grassy hops. Nothing harsh.

Well-balanced and subtle. It takes skill to make this style enjoyable from the tap and nothing is spared in the end result. Rivals the Alchemist.

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2010 01:37:19 | More by Brad007

skivtjerry

Vermont

4.53/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Time to revisit this beer; my review from the first batch appears below.

Enjoyed (a couple) on tap at Frida's in Stowe.

A: Hazy light orange color with a medium size sticky head.

S: Wonderful citrusy hops with floral and dank notes in the background. Like sniffing fresh hop cones. Malt is also perceptible. A hint of alcohol, but tough to pick out from hop aroma. Very clean.

T: More of the same; powerful citrus/herbal hops held up by fairly substantial malt backbone. Clean finish with sweet malt and hop bitterness coming together. Alcohol is fairly hidden but blends well with hops when noticed.

M: Wonderful. Starts full bodied and finishes pleasantly dry. Everything blends perfectly. Could drink this all night, or at least until I lost consciousness.

O: Another world class HF beer. Shaun obviously worked on this beer and improved it substantially from its initial form (not that it wasn't pretty damn good 2 years ago...).

(OLD REVIEW, MAY 2010):
On tap at the grand opening. Pours a dark golden color with hints of orange, slightly hazy. Piney hops in the nose with a hint of malt. High hop bitterness backed up by some body and high hop flavor; slight grassy/vegetal notes. Alcohol is somewhat hidden but detectable. Finishes well and hops linger on the tongue. Tasty and enjoyable, but not quite as complex as Edward, IMO.

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2010 18:15:38 | More by skivtjerry

koopa

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Growler received in a trade with the ever generous MtGoat thanks!

Appearance: Pours a hazy goldfish orange with honey folds and a 1 finger white crown that shows little retention or lace.

Smell: A touch of sweet malt over floral hops and citrus hops. I but more subdued than I was expecting considering how blown away I was by Edward IPA.

Taste: Grassy and herbal introduction with moderate bitterness, followed by a touch of malt sweetness, and ending with a decently bitter finish. There really isn't much citrus hop presence...just a touch of grapefruit and a dash of tangelo orange presence.

Mouthfeel: A bit undercarbonated but this growler was filled about 10 days ago so that might have played a role.

Drinkability: No real problem getting this one down.

I think this one is worth another sample (mainly to see if the age of my growler played a part in my tasting experience) but I'm not even close to liking this as much as the Edward IPA.

Serving type: growler

06-08-2010 22:43:09 | More by koopa