Ephraim - Hill Farmstead Brewery

airohead2001

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to glazeman for this one. Winter is breaking in Chicago's western burbs. Bring on the sun. This beer is poured into a snifter from a bigass crazy looking growler.

The appearance is nothing too special - light yellow with a one finger head; pretty clear; reminds me of Sculpin.

Smell is fruity and boozy - mango, grapefruit, and some nutty maltiness in the finish.

Taste is good, but there is a lack of a fresh hop bite. Too sweet and too fruity.

Mouthfeel is sort of chalky and syrupy. Nice, but maybe a little too thick for a DIPA.

Overall, this is a good beer. But no, it does not live up to the hype.

Serving type: growler

03-19-2011 23:32:36 | More by airohead2001

joebres

Texas

5/5  rDev +8.5%

05-24-2013 05:02:42 | More by joebres

SkiBum22

New York

4.5/5  rDev -2.4%

05-24-2013 02:39:02 | More by SkiBum22

justforrazors

Missouri

5/5  rDev +8.5%

05-23-2013 23:30:37 | More by justforrazors

John11486

California

5/5  rDev +8.5%

05-22-2013 02:22:18 | More by John11486

stereosforgeeks

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev -2.4%

05-21-2013 23:15:21 | More by stereosforgeeks

Dirtinabottle

New York

4.75/5  rDev +3%

05-21-2013 19:57:31 | More by Dirtinabottle

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev -3.9%
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%

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

bigaltemple

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev -2.4%
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 -2.4%

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

andant

New York

4.25/5  rDev -7.8%

05-20-2013 19:33:33 | More by andant

benz08

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +8.5%

05-20-2013 07:54:15 | More by benz08

kscaldef

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev -7.8%

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

drebrew

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev -2.4%

05-20-2013 01:12:35 | More by drebrew

goldenM13

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +3%

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

JMScowcroft

Vermont

4.95/5  rDev +7.4%
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%

05-19-2013 16:46:50 | More by jbeervt

scotv

New York

4.75/5  rDev +3%

05-19-2013 00:18:37 | More by scotv

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +3%

05-18-2013 06:08:48 | More by Deuane

omniscientcause

Massachusetts

4.84/5  rDev +5%
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%

05-17-2013 01:43:10 | More by bpfrush

thegoon55

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev -2.4%

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

Thomas_Picton

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev -2.4%

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

stanowsf

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +8.5%

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