Ephraim - Hill Farmstead Brewery

Gushue3

Massachusetts

4.68/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into Kate bulb

A modest 1 finger white head with good retention is above murky light orange body. some lace is lace is left after the head goes down and a thin layer of foam is above the body. Beer is very lively in the glass.

S Big time tropcial fruits. Tangerine , grapefruit, and a hint of grass. Sweet.

T Bitter upfront with bitter tropical and citrus. Pink grapefruit, lemon, tangerine, some pineapple and grassy hops Sweetness opens up in the middle thats all fruit followed by a piney finish. There's alot going on for a DIPA, serious stuff.

M medium feel that ends a little somewhat sticky. Carbonation feel nice and prickly on the tongue but not too much.

O Great balance between bitterness and the citrus sweets. As my friend described it "Boner milk of Zeus"

Serving type: growler

10-01-2012 23:29:50 | More by Gushue3

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | 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 over 5 minutes before it was gone and there are some floaties.

Smell - Malts, caramel, hops, grapefruit, lemons, tangerines

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and the taste is made up of caramel and malts mixed with lots of hops. It also has apricots, pineapples, lemons, grapefruits, tangerines and a little bit of a candied fruit sugary sweetness. It ends with a pungent citrusy bitter hop aftertaste.

Overall - It reminded me of a sweeter Heady Topper. Definitely one of the better beers I've had to date. I'd like a touch less sweetness but it is an imperial IPA afterall I guess. Happy I had the chance to try this, truly world class.

Serving type: growler

05-21-2013 15:43:32 | More by spinrsx

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-21-2013 04:16:03 | More by CosmoHopHead

bigaltemple

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks tubbnik for the hook up!

Bright golden straw color. Four finger rocky pillow of white sits atop. This dies down to a one finger width that isn't going anywhere. Thick, sticky patches of lace hang onto the glass after every sip.

Big tropical notes of mango and peach. Some grapefruit and rind mix in with spicy and grassy notes. Can't wait to get a drink.

Follows the nose extremely well. Juicy fruits flow across the tongue. Finishes just slightly resinous with a little bite of spice. Simply delicious. This 750 doesn't stand a chance. Full bodied and prickly. Not overpowering at all, with barely any lingering bitterness. Mouthfeel is perfect!

I was completely ready to be underwhelmed by the hype of my first HF. That didn't happen. Can't wait to try some other offerings.

Serving type: growler

05-21-2013 03:54:34 | More by bigaltemple

huskermike12

Iowa

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-21-2013 01:35:47 | More by huskermike12

andant

New York

4.25/5  rDev -7.6%

05-20-2013 19:33:33 | More by andant

benz08

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-20-2013 07:54:15 | More by benz08

kscaldef

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev -7.6%

05-20-2013 01:34:20 | More by kscaldef

drebrew

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-20-2013 01:12:35 | More by drebrew

goldenM13

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-20-2013 00:57:28 | More by goldenM13

JMScowcroft

Vermont

4.95/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Hill Farmstead Brewery - Ephraim - 750ml growler

Spend the weekend up in Greensboro at a friend's camp and naturally we had to brave a Saturday trip to Hill since it is only five minutes away. We walked up at Noon on a Saturday and were able to walk directly up to the counter with no wait and no line! The guy said it was luck at first try haha!

Look - Pours a slightly hazy honey golden with a luxurious soapy head that dissipates quickly. Fresh, sticky lacing. Minimal carbonation.

Smell - Yeasty and bready sweet honey malts with a rich hop overlay. Pine and resiny hops. Also some spices in the nose. Unique smell and very inviting!

Taste - Rich and thick, a full flavored citrus and pine hops wave of complicated flavor that is one of those ones that transforms as the brew warms. Nice bitter finish.

Mouthfeel - Sticky and hop bitter. Drinkable but formidable. Somewhat boozy but at 9% it is not a surprise at all. Warming to the face and neck but quite pleasant.

Overall - Hill Farmstead continues to delight. This deceptive "golden delicious" kicks some serious ass. This one is my favorite of their offerings.

Serving type: growler

05-19-2013 20:41:28 | More by JMScowcroft

jbeervt

Vermont

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-19-2013 16:46:50 | More by jbeervt

scotv

New York

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-19-2013 00:18:37 | More by scotv

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-18-2013 06:08:48 | More by Deuane

omniscientcause

Massachusetts

4.84/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A - Beautiful color. Really rich nice light golden tinge.

S - Huge citrusy/honey fruit with lots of pine and resin Very very similar to heady in its sweet spot of 2-3 weeks out from being canned.

T - Piney and big flavor, but without being super syrupy and malty. The malt is delicate and really just supports the hopping, which is perfect for a Diipa

M - Again, not thick but is very drinkable. I could drink a lot of these because they go down easy.

O - I have 2 more 750s to try this week to get a better grasp. This is very very good and on par if not surpassing heady. I found that it creeps up on you 20 mins or so after you finish drinking it...I dont experience this with most beers it usually takes less time.

Serving type: growler

Serving type: growler

05-18-2013 03:53:42 | More by omniscientcause

bpfrush

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-17-2013 01:43:10 | More by bpfrush

thegoon55

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-17-2013 00:53:31 | More by thegoon55

Thomas_Picton

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-17-2013 00:01:28 | More by Thomas_Picton

stanowsf

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-16-2013 02:52:01 | More by stanowsf

Skrip

South Carolina

4.51/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml growler poured into a Hill Farmstead oversized wine glass.

A~ hazy golden, glowing copper, nice white head, a little lacing and a good amount of sediment! mmm...! the pieces!

S~ lots of citrus, grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, tiny bit of mango. lots of piney earthyness from the hops, and a tad hint of booze on the finish.

T~ extremely complex! with every sip something different comes out, but still very well balanced! follows the nose with all the citrus, plus a ton more pine notes, and different "funk" with every sip. a little white grape funk up in there. it kind of has an Abner thing going on without the saison aspects and minus the slightly boozy smell that you get the whole time as you go for it but its ohh so smooth on the palet.

M~ super nice carbonation, not as dry as i would aspect from all the hops. very refreshing, i could sip on this all day and be very messed up haha and once again sooo smoooth.

O~ yup! amazing! this will some how be added to my top 5 hoppy brews... yeah i don't know how thats gonna happen haha better make it a top 10 or 20 =] but i seriously love it. definitely try it out if you have the chance, highly recommended for sure. its all about the hop funk!

Serving type: growler

05-16-2013 02:47:51 | More by Skrip

Heavy-G

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-13-2013 19:32:45 | More by Heavy-G

flipdog0

North Carolina

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-13-2013 18:43:40 | More by flipdog0

thezoobrew

New York

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-13-2013 18:32:43 | More by thezoobrew

MrVonzipper

California

4.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-12-2013 20:30:40 | More by MrVonzipper

ThreeFishes

Florida

5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-12-2013 20:01:15 | More by ThreeFishes