Citra Pale Ale - Hill Farmstead Brewery

AleWatcher

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Cool 750 ml flip-top growler from baconsausage-- thanks Tucker!
Served in a pint.

Kinda hazy, golden orange. One finger white head, despite an aggressive pour. Weak lacing and retention. Looks nice, and I'm a sucker for this color, but missing the head, retention, and carbonation to be anything better than average.

Smells of no malt: this is all hops. Grapefruit and light orange peels. Unfortunately, this beer doesn't seem vibrant and fresh... It actually seems muted and earthy.
Tastes pretty dry, some light bready malt hits first with the citrus hop notes on the back.
Crisp and clean finish. Where's the bitterness? A lingering citrus flavor holds a little bitterness, but not nearly as much as I had hoped for. The body is great-- lots of carbonation helps this feel prickly and palate-scrubbing.

Overall-- this is a dry ipa with a citrus hop flavor and light, accessible bitterness. This is a decent beer, but not a "every BA needs to seek this thing out" beer... It's more of a "I like trying new beers, so I'll give this a go" beer.

Serving type: growler

06-05-2011 02:52:08 | More by AleWatcher

Rhettroactive

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

From 750mL swingtop growler to Portsmouth glass on 5/24/12
*From notes

-- Thanks, Irish --

A: It looks quite a bit like a rustic Farmhouse Ale. Hazy lemon in hue. A good pour yields a one finger white head that fades to a killer and thick white collar. Healthy lacing follows.

S: Magical. If you're a citra hop fanatic like I am, this just about the most wonderful bouquet you could ask for. Pure, fresh citra. I almost buckled at the knees from the nose, as it's just jaw droppingly out of bounds.

T: God damnit. How does a beer that smells this good taste so bland? Watered down citra hop oil. That's it. Thin, one note, lacking complexity. To call the flavor profile a letdown is being kind.

M: Thin, fizzy. Like a bottle of club soda that got left on the counter without it's cap. Yet again, this disappoints.

O: The only saving grace here is one of the most memorable bouquets I've come across. Otherwise, this is a pretty big miss from the formidable folks at HF. This lacks flavor, body, complexity and more then anything, a reason to return to my glass for more. Overall, this is an average APA, maybe one notch above at best.

Serving type: growler

05-25-2012 15:38:14 | More by Rhettroactive

Soonami

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I tasted Hill Farmstead Citra IPA from Pinnochio's in Media, PA that now has it on-tap and available for growler fills. This is a nice beer that showcases Citra hops, but it feels a little too diminutive to be called an IPA. It's not just that the alcohol content is low, but that the hop flavor, malt character, body and impact of the beer feels a bit underwhelming. Maybe it would be better categorized as an APA because then it would really impress people--as an IPA it leaves me wanting. The Citra hops added a nice tropical fruit component to the beer, but I wanted way more.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2010 06:36:01 | More by Soonami

billab914

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Irishcolonial for sharing this the other night. Poured from a 750ml growler. It poured cloudy and golden amber in color with a frothy white head to it.

The aroma shows off the Citra hops perfectly. Extremely juicy with lots tropical fruit flavors. Pineapple, mango and peach all jump out in it. Fantastic Citra hop aroma, so juicy, fruity and delicious.

Unfortunately, the taste doesn't really follow through on the amazing hoppiness front. I get a modest amount of pineapple and mango mixing with some grapefruit and citrus rind, but it's actually pretty light overall. It seems to show the bitter, citrus rind flavors more than the tropical fruit notes the aroma had. It just felt a little light and almost watery

Mouthfeel is lighter with moderate carbonation. Again, it feels a little light and watery. Overall, it was pretty good APA. I loved the aroma but the taste couldn't live up to the hoppiness the nose suggested.

Serving type: growler

06-01-2012 18:10:37 | More by billab914

Hophead717

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750ml growler into a HF tulip.

A: Hazy, golden straw with a thin head that quickly fizzes away.

S: Juicy tropical fruits all the way on this one. Mango, pineapple, generally sweet.

T: Surprisingly light on the palate and not in an outstanding way. Tropical and citrusy upfront, but very light in flavor. A little bitterness mid-sip to the end, with hints of grassiness. What is here is nice, but it's just too light in flavor.

M: Body is also light, with medium-high carbonation. Fairly easy drinking, though the higher carbonation isn't great.

O: A good beer to be sure, but not what I hoped for from the elite Hill Farmstead. Not one I'd hunt down again.

Serving type: growler

06-03-2012 03:10:27 | More by Hophead717

brydeen

Minnesota

3.88/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to chippo33 for sending this one. 750ml growler poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a very hazy golden-orange color, with a paper thin white head. Carbonation looks to be lacking a bit.

S: Wonderful juicy, tropical aroma I've come to expect with Citra hops. Loads of citrus fruits, pineapple, and mangos. Sweet sweet nectar.

T: Much subtler than the aroma. Still tropical and citrusy, with a slight bitterness, but it just seems to be slightly lacking. Fruity and refreshing.

M: Very light, with minimal carbonation.

O: Tasty and refreshing, but I had higher hopes. Not sure if the lack of carbonation is due to the growler seal, but it seemed to somewhat flat. The aroma was top notch, but I would have liked more bitterness or a dry finish to go with the juicy fruity flavor. Still a really good refreshing APA, but not the awesomeness I've come to expect from HF brews.

Serving type: growler

06-02-2012 01:38:22 | More by brydeen

brystmar

New York

3.9/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Josh for sharing this growler!

Beautiful pour, tons of lace and head. Hazy and effervescent. Fantastic aroma of fresh Citra hops; pungent, citric, inviting.

Taste is disappointing, however. Citra hops fade into a bland middle before finishing with biting, earthy bitterness. Aroma rivals Zombie Dust, taste does not :)

Serving type: growler

06-08-2012 23:58:14 | More by brystmar

Sean9689

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Kan for providing this growler. I'm going to be up front and say this growler isn't all too fresh, so I'll adjust once I can score another growler.

A - Pours a yellow/orange color, kinda hazy, white frothy head, some spotty lacing here and there and some random bubbles on top.

S - Nice bouquet of citra hops that hits you right from the start. Some citrus notes such as oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit as well. Nice floral notes in there as well. Very solid.

T - Similar to the nose and pretty straight forward sweet citrus, nice bitter/hoppy notes.

M - Light to medium, a little too light on the carbonation, oily finish.

D - Another very solid offering from Hill Farmstead. Shaun continues to make some great beers, and this one is right up there. Hopefully, I'll get a fresh growler next time it's released and I'll revise this.

Serving type: growler

12-29-2010 05:53:06 | More by Sean9689

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.1/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Growler shared three ways.

Pours a murky golden orange color with a bubbly off white head and average streaks of lacing. Aroma is powerfully dank and resiny, overwhelmed by the citra hops and unsurprisingly not much else. Flavor is mildly sweet with a strong malt body hiding behind abundant citra hops, bitter and citric. Crisp medium bodied with moderate carbonation, this is a very drinkable single hop APA/IPA. Lacking any complexity or depth of an exceptional IPA to get too excited about, but for what it is, very enjoyable.

Serving type: growler

12-02-2010 05:05:57 | More by yourefragile

koopa

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Growler filled today at DeCicco's in Ardsley NY (get it while ya can!)

Appearance: Pours a cloudy murky slightly burnt golden orange with a 1 finger off white (slightly buttery) crown that displays a nice hop sheen, good lace, and decent retention.

Smell: Very nice amounts of citrus and very diverse notes....LIKE 5 ALIVE!!!! Orange, lemon, tangerine, grapefruit, pineapple, etc.

Taste: Same as nose with grapefruit pith taking center stage. I was hoping for more tropical and less grapefruit but not the end of the world.

Mouthfeel: A bit watery and lacking in carbonation for my liking.

Drinkability: Fairly sessionable but the mouthfeel holds me back.

Serving type: growler

12-10-2010 20:49:58 | More by koopa

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

pour is hazy dark orange with light sediment floating around and a white head with some loose bubbles on top. The hops are quite strong, it gives it a tropical fruit aroma with grapefruit and pineapple notes. There is an accompanying dough malt playing around underneath but subtle. The flavor is more balanced, the Malta are grainy with a light doughiness. The hops are assertively tropical, grapefruit and pineapple, with an assertive bitterness, dry finish, and clean light to medium body. Overall, another good beer from hill farmstead. Good balance, different malt components, interesting focus on the citra hop, extremely bright for a lower abv beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 13:47:27 | More by cpetrone84

andrewinski1

Maine

4.13/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass. The color is light hazy straw. There is a solid half inch foamy head.

The aroma is stong and has sweet melon with a hint of orange zest.

The taste has a mild malt flavor; just enough to add a touch of sweetness to lie beneath the itter hoppy finish. Zesty orange peel leads to a dank hoppy finish.

This is light and refreshing. MOAR!

Serving type: growler

06-09-2012 03:40:40 | More by andrewinski1

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very dark, golden burnt orange color with golden yellowish-orange hues when held to a light source. Very hazy and almost completely opaque with a one finger foamy off-white head that slowly fades into a lasting ring. Sporadic chunks of soapy lacing left behind.

Sweet citrus hop aroma with lots of citrus and tropical fruit notes. Hints of pineapple, lemon peel and grapefruit are accompanied by some dank earthy pine needle notes. Caramel malt presence in the nose as well with hints of biscuit and graham cracker. The hops smell uber fresh but the malt presence cuts this down a bit. It kind of smells like a tamer cousin of a WCIPA.

Chewy full body for the style with lots of dank, fresh hop bitterness up front that lingers throughout over the sweet citrus/tropical fruit notes and malt backbone into a crisp, dry finish. Although the flavor is dominated by hops, the hop flavors are very well balanced. The palate starts off with very dry earthy piny bitterness which is quickly countered by an excellent sweet citrus flavor. Hints of mango and pineapple as well as some grapefruit and citrus peel. All of this is also nicely balanced by the caramel/graham cracker/biscuit malt backbone. A bit too malty compared to some other beers in the WCIPA style but still plenty hoppy and extremely quaffable. Recommended!

Serving type: growler

12-24-2010 04:36:59 | More by corby112

drabmuh

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I love growlers and side by sides and this was an awesome thing to do, served out of a growler side by side with Cenotaph from Three Floyds. Citra FIGHT!

Beer is lighter than the Cenotaph, yellow and mildly hazy with a soft white head of medium and small bubbles that leaves a lot of lacing on the glass. Carbonation moderate to low in appearance.

Aroma is tropical and sweet, like a fruit salad but not as in my face as I hoped it would be.

Beer is light to medium in body. There is some minimal sweetness in the lead off ingredient but overall it is mostly bitter with a decent midpalate hop presence. A good beer for sure but overall I think the hops may have been on their way out. I would have this again for sure, it is a solid beer but when using such a vibrant hop like Citra, you do it a dis-service by not showcasing it properly.

Serving type: growler

01-06-2011 21:18:56 | More by drabmuh

AgentZero

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Hazy, golden yellow beer with two fingers of white head that left some nice lacing behind. Good looking stuff.

S - Smell that citra! Really great combination of tropical fruits and citrus. Really isn't a whole lot else to it, although there doesn't need to be.

T - Citra hops, and a nice take on it. It's very good for what it is, but I actually wish they had something to fill this one out a bit, needs a little bit heavier taste and something to compliment the citra, like a slightly heavier malt profile. Good, though.

M - Crisp, lighter side of medium, nice carbonation.

O - Very good beer, the growler, provided by Kan, was a little old, but I think it was a pretty good representation of this beer. Citra makes a good single-hopped beer, although not my favorite variety, and this is definitely worth trying.

Serving type: growler

04-28-2011 04:50:46 | More by AgentZero

raveskdr

District of Columbia

4.15/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to yourefragile for hauling growlers back for me from the HF anny party. Poured into my FFF Teku glass.

A - Golden murky yellow color with light foam lacing.

S - Wow. This is Zombie Dusk-esque. Ever so slightly dank with massive pineapple and tons of mango.

T - Very slight caramelly malt is engulfed by fresh cut pineapple and slight mango flavor. Could have used some more malt back so there could have been more hops to round out the flavor. IBU's not high enough on this one.

M - Unfortunately, the malt backbone just isn't there, which really makes this too light on the front and middle of the mouth. Back end lingers just enough but isn't bitter enough.

O - A really solid beer overall, if you are comparing this to the spectrum of all beer. This is on the lower end of HF beers that I have tried. I expect big things from Shaun and he has almost always delivered. I look forward to trying the double citra, because I feel that resolves the issues that are in this beer.

Serving type: growler

06-05-2012 00:51:47 | More by raveskdr

jrallen34

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Kan for this growler. I'll echo Sean's comments that according to Alex who had a growler a week earlier this batch of Citra was on its way down, would love to get some fresh...Pours a dark orange, notes of brown, light tan head, decent head and lacing...The aroma is malt forward, especially for a citra, lots of caramel. Good strategy for this style. The citra hops are still there, just not in your face, tons of citrus fruits, oranges and grapefruits...The taste is right on the nose, a malty citra beer, caramel mixed with citrus. Makes this more drinkable for me as I am not a fan of the in your face citras. Would like to try it fresher, hopefully it doesn't become a citra bomb.

Serving type: growler

12-30-2010 19:41:46 | More by jrallen34

jmarsh123

Indiana

4.23/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours cloudy yellow with a creamy white head with decent retention and good lacing.

All the smells I associate with Citra are present. Lush tropical fruits loads of citrus and grapefruit and a lot of dankness.

Tastes comes up a bit short after the smell. Good citrus flavors up front, but the back end is a little harsh in the bitterness.

Good creamy mouthfeel although carbonation is a tad high which is odd for HF.

Still a good beer, but somewhat below expectations based on both how awesome other HF beers are and the awesomness of Citra.

Serving type: growler

05-25-2012 19:26:07 | More by jmarsh123

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Teresa's, Wayne, PA

Poured a hazy golden orange with a nicely sized and nicely lasting foamy white head that dots the glass with lacing. Nose full of hops as expected, citrus zest, tropical fruits, floral notes. Taste starts out juicy with pineapple and dries out considerably mid- to end-palate with freshly peeled orange and grapefruit zest, biscuity malt base distantly noticeable. This drinks almost like an IPA rather than an APA, though the hops, while clearly in charge, are perhaps not quite as intense as they would be in an actual IPA. Medium body, crisp, bitter aftertaste, a nice drink overall.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2012 07:11:47 | More by Rifugium

oglmcdgl

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at capones.

A- comes to me with a finger or so of loose egg shell white head that settles rather quickly to leave a simple sudsy ring and a few patches on top. Hazy slightly dark sunset orange in color.

S- wow! That's one hell of a great nose. To say it smells like citrus fruits doesn't do it justice. Loads of ripe lemons, limes, tart oranges, tangerines. Its the whole fucking fruit section here. Malts are light and slightly honey like. Floral at times.

T-like biting into a grapefruit and chewing the rind up. Bitter and fruity. Lots of lemon zest and tart oranges. Malts are understated but do just enough to balance out the insane hop bill.

M-on the lighter side of medium bodied and simple yet crisp carb, just right for the body.

D- I can't say enough about how drinkable this beer is. I tossed back my glass in what seemed like a few minutes but in reality was a lot longer. One of the tastiest ipa's I've ever had.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2011 00:09:30 | More by oglmcdgl

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On Tap at Teresa's Next Door and some pours from some growlers at Capone's

Off the spout, this looks mighty tempting. A new golden penny look with some burnt orange seeping through. The inch of firm white head leaving notches is strong and lasting. Great looking beer. Smell is all citra hops leaving some mango and papaya, slight grapefruit. The smallest amount of pale malt in the distance, biscuit like. Oh boy, a light beer with mad flavor. Big on the citrus and light on the pine, lighter on the malt and no alcohol. Some light grassy flavor with warming. The feel is light bodied with moderate carb that fizzles out with some swirls leaving for some clean unadulterated hop flavor going down the gullet with ease. If I could procure a growler of this, it would be taken down in two hours. It's all in the well water, and people who care about their product, Hill is that and more.

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2012 04:24:24 | More by onix1agr

321jeff

Maryland

4.3/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy dark amber with a thin white head. Sticky lacing is left on the glass with every swirl.

Aroma is all citra hops, lots of citrus but a fair amount of pine as well. Hints of caramel malts in the background, but they definitely take a backseat in this brew.

Taste features grapefruit and orange but has a solid caramel malt backbone. Finishes with some sticky resin flavor.

Mouthfeel is just a bit watery and carbonation seems low, but I suspect this is caused by the growler. Very drinkable IPA that's a nice platform to put the Citra hop on display. I wish something like this was readily available near my house.

Serving type: growler

12-02-2010 02:43:23 | More by 321jeff

Kadonny

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from tap at Capones in Norristown during Philly Beer Week. Poured into a 9 ounce snifter glass. The menu said 8%, but 5.4% seems more like it.

A: A super cloudy murky lighter golden color that has hints of brown. This is actually a tan color if I had to describe it correctly. Minimal head and glass lacing that was huge, sticky and lasting.

S: Juicy fruit and citrus are abound. Tropical fruit, pineapple, lemon, citrus and some slight sweetness.

T: Juicy citrus and tropical hop flavors just pour out. Pineapple, mango, lemon, tangerine, passion fruit and some grassy notes are melded with the subtle caramel sweetness. Finish is slightly bitter and super dry but smooth. Nice beer.

M: Medium to even a bit light. Easy drinking, not overly bitter, good carbonation and no alcohol.

O: A great pale ale that I just couldn't believe was so damn murky. Still, a real winner with this one.

Another great beer by HF. i wish I could drink their stiff all the time. Nice.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2012 19:39:07 | More by Kadonny

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on 2012-06-09 in Wayne, PA at Teresa's Next Door during Philly Beer Week.

A - Excellent. Hop oils, hop floral, citrus. Almost in Heady Topper league.

S - Like Zombie Dust but less astringent. Fresh tasting. Plenty of citrus and hop bitterness.

T - Fruity and hop floral. Light malt backbone. Some pineapple. Nice dry and balanced bitter finish.

M - Light body and medium carbonation. Oily and lightly resinous.

O - If you want to know what this beer is like, crush a hop bud, put it in your mouth and wash it down with some fresh squeezed orange/grapefruit juice. Good stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2012 17:24:11 | More by Tucquan

starrdogg

District of Columbia

4.33/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks Michael for bringing this one back from Vermont!

Beer pours a cloudy golden color with a medium white head. I'm not sure why exactly, but I really like the color. The smell on this beer is absolutely phenomenal - it's bursting with citrus and I just can't get enough of it. Unfortunately the flavor doesn't quite live up to the incredible aroma, it's still quite good, but it's a bit one-dimensional as I find a lot of the single hop beers to be. It's got a very nice citrus hop blast on the front end, but there's not a whole lot else to this flavor and it falls off rather quickly to a slightly bitter finish. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied with good carbonation. Overall, this is another very high quality hoppy beer from Hill Farmstead, but I just tend to like more hop complexity than a single hop beer can offer.

Serving type: growler

06-05-2012 01:17:16 | More by starrdogg