Ephraim - Hill Farmstead Brewery

aasher

Indiana

4.46/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Growler courtesy of Adam Jackson. Thanks for hitting this want Adam.

Ephraim pours a relatively clear bright yellow gold in color with a one finger, soapy white head. The nose is very fresh and aromatic with plenty of tangerine and pineapple. Right off the bat it reminds me of Dreadnaught with just a touch more malty sweetness. The flavors are very bright and clean tangerine, pineapple, and grassy hop character with a moderate level of pale malt sweetness and a touch of alcohol. The best part of all of this is how well rounded the flavors are. It drinks pretty light in body and for the style isnt bitter at all, increasing drinkability. Overall this is an excellent beer worthy of high praise. To this Midwesterner, Ephraim is a slightly sweeter, fruiter Dreadnaught.

Serving type: growler

05-25-2013 04:03:10 | More by aasher

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

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

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

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

thegoon55

South Carolina

4.74/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

growler.

A- orange, golden color white fluffy head

S- citrus, pine, orange peel, and grapefruit

T- following the nose, really nice hoppyness followed by orange and a nice bitter ness. not syrupy at all. perfectly balanced.

M- medium carb, medium mouth feel.

O- fucking fantastic, another wonderful ipa from hill farmstead

Serving type: growler

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

Skrip

South Carolina

4.51/5  rDev -2.2%
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

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

4.31/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Growler from the brewery filled May 3, Chugged down May 7. From notes.

A - Poured a dark orange colour and cloudy. Two finger pillowy and thick head of an off white persuasion. Great thick rings of lace and a half finger of retention.

S - Similar to other HF pales and IPAs. Tons of citrus and passionfruit. Melon is a nice additions. Grapefruit and mango too. There is a distinct element I can't pin down that I really enjoyed. Sweet fruits, mango, canteloupe, some alcohol. Gorgeous.

T - Much of the same with more grapefruit. Grapefruit pith and pineapple. Less sweet fruit. Some orange. Bit rougher than the aroma leads on. More darker, sweet tropical fruits, and more grapefruit-esque citrus. Less bright citrus in the flavour. Some good maltiness is there. A little alcohol is present. Complex.

M - Gripping bitterness, fairly strong carbonation, medium to full body that seems a bit oily.

O/D - Flavour is weaker than the aroma. But seriously, this is quality. Complex, tasty, and fairly balanced for what it is. Malt shows, but doesn't play too big a role. Well done and easy to drink for what it is.

Serving type: growler

05-08-2013 04:47:43 | More by tbeckett

jegross2

Illinois

4.95/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Reviewing Ephraim from the Hill Farmstead Brewery out of Greensboro Bend, Vermont. This imperial pale ale is one of Hill Farmstead's most sought after non-bottled release. Major thanks to Fitz for helping me acquire this gem!

Score: 99

Exactly one week old 750 ml growler served in a Perennial snifter and enjoyed on 05/21/13.

Appearance: Pours a hazy golden straw color with two-plus fingers of white head that settle to a thin layer atop the glass. A layer of lacing coats the side of the glass and lingers forever. Excellent appearance for the style. My second glass (not pictured) was laden with floaties, however, which is why the appearance only gets a four out of five. 4/5

Smell: Dank, resinously piney hops and grapefruit smack you upfront. Pine sap, peach, mango, lemon, pineapple, caramel and a little bit of what can only be described as "fresh potting soil" (in a good way). Some spice and "dirty hops" too. This beer smells like a raw and hoppy tropical citrus bomb that is aggressively rough around the edges -- I could smell this beer all day. 5/5

Taste: Super bitter and juicy tropical citrus and piney hops. The bitter pine flavor really lingers on the palate. A lovely medley of grapefruit, pineapple juice, lemon zest, bitter orange rind and tangerine soak the palate. A little spicy caramel malt kick of flavor towards the finish that blends nicely with the piney bitterness. I absolutely love the aggressive hoppiness of this brew! 5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied with spot on carbonation to both give the hops life and let the bitterness linger on the tongue. Super oily, juicy and mouthwatering. If you let this elixir sit on the tongue for a few seconds, the bitter factor really kicks in. 5/5

Overall: A near perfect hoppy beer, which perfectly hit the spot after a long day of work on a perfect spring afternoon. This is much better than I recall it being back when I first had it at Darkness Day this year. Ephraim has all the juiciness and aggressively bitter hoppiness one desires in an IPA (er, imperial pale ale). Easily one of my top 10, possibly even top 5, pale ale/IPA consumed to date. If you have not had a chance to try this yet, I highly recommend you seek out a growler pour while it is still in season and available at the brewery!

Cost: $10 for a 750 ml growler (no 2L fills available this time around).

Serving type: growler

02-08-2013 04:25:14 | More by jegross2

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.98/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a vibrant orange glow, slightly over one inch of head on it. Nose just erupts with the juiciest aromas of tropical and citrus fruits this side of Pliny, maybe even moreso. Its magnificent and owes nothing to nobody. Sliding in with the varied fruits are plenty of pine and soft lemon. Pineapple, pine, apricot, mango, you name it, its there. Yum.

Everything that shows up in the aroma takes on a respectful assault on the palate, again, waves of tropical fruit, citrus fruit and pine envelope the tongue. There's tons of bitterness, but it comes off so smooth, and for being ten and a half percent abv, there sure is no sign on of it, this beer really tastes phenomenal and drinks effortlessly, you don't have to feel like you're getting your big boy drinking jeans on, this one just rocks so easily. The malt is so much a distant memory, but somehow manages to carry the gigantic double dry hopped triple ipa. Really one of the natural wonders of the world I says. Finishes very dry, while keeping the fruitiness and green vegetal hop mouthfeel persistently dominating the mouth. The hops are just so herbal, so tasty per bitterness unit. The best hops in massive quantity, making some great teamwork and love.

What more could a guy want? An ipa that is just bursting with hop flavors reeking of tangerine, orange, pine, lemon, melon, mint, apricot, pineapple, green apple, mango, papaya, you could go on forever.

This is what triple ipas are all about. There's really only one other in its class.

Serving type: growler

12-24-2012 06:23:29 | More by Beerandraiderfan

tewaris

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Mista brought it all to Darkness Day, thanks! My only "tick" from the said event.

Hazy, amber color. Duh. Looks like any and every Hill Farmstead hoppy beer and I am pleased just by the looks! Grainy and piney aroma. Very clean bitterness but well supported by a clean malt base, if that doesn't seem oxymoron-ic. A good hop flavor heavy on pine sap and citrus rind. Glad to have had it. Thank you again!

Serving type: growler

11-07-2012 09:16:29 | More by tewaris

iadler

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Another growler pour courtesy of Mista during Darkness Day. This has been a longtime want of mine.

A- Pours a slightly hazy orange with a thin head that leaves minimal lacing.

S- Tropical fruit upfront with mango, passion fruit and pineapple followed by citrus zest, floral notes, fresh herbs, peppery spice, caramel malt, pine and a touch of heat.

T- An abundant amount of tropical and citrus fruit mixed with pine needles, peppery spice, herbs, floral hops, caramel malt and some heat.

M- Low carbonation with a creamy mouthfeel and a slightly boozy finish.

O- This is one big DIPA. Plenty of dank tropical and citrus hops similar to other HF IPAS. I preferred Abner a bit more, but that doesn't really say much since both are fantastic.

Serving type: growler

10-27-2012 19:04:32 | More by iadler

kevanb

Illinois

4.65/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

750ml growler poured into a Hill Farmstead stemmed glass.

The beer pours a lovely hazy copper color, reminiscent of orange rinds or peach skins. There is a really nice finger of stark white head, good retention, moderate lacing with a light film on top once the head recedes. A fantastic aroma, huge citrus presence, oranges, grapefruit, light floral notes, and a great tropical fruit presence, mangos, pineapples and a touch of alcohol at the end. The flavors are almost as perfect, lovely citrus burst right away, oranges, grapefruits, light lemon zest followed by a tremendous fruit presence, passionfruit, sweet pineapple juice and faint mango. There is a backing of strong bitter earthy hops that bring out a really nice resinous presence that helps counterbalance the bright and vibrant citrus and fruit flavors. A touch of alcohol wraps up an exceptionally complex and balance flavor profile. The body is perfection, smooth, juicy, spot on dry finish, perfect for an IPA.

Verdict: Simply sensational IPA, between this and Abner, there is no clear winner, only incredible beer. My hats off to Hill Farmstead for this, it is just sublime, great complexity on the tongue, awesome dry finish, everything I want in an IPA.

Serving type: growler

10-27-2012 01:06:26 | More by kevanb

FosterJM

California

4/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1579th Review on BA
Growler to HF Stem
750ml

Thanks to Rudzud for this one

App- A bit lighter in the glass than Abner was. This was more yellow tinged in color. A smaller one finger head. This was still a bit hazy but less dense in the glass than Abner was. A couple dots of cling and lace. Falls quickly vs. the fluffy Abner.

Smell- A nice nose for a DIPA. Doesnt blow me away but its solid. A couple notches below Abner but yet better than 90% of other DIPAs. A small bit of creamy hops and a bit of citrus. Not sure what fruit combo this one is. More of a dense/dank aroma.

Taste- This was a good DIPA, not a great one. Better than 90-95% of whats out there. It was a nice creamy flavor with some good hoppy bitter behind it. This one on the others from HF was more dank/and dense on the zest behind it. A bit more grapefruit and peach flavors.

Mouth- A nice body similar to Abner with a bit of creamy hops and some creaminess remaining. A nice amount of bitter zest and fruits remain. Call this a solid medium body DIPA with a nice wet carbonation behind it.

Drink- Well the fearsome twosome from HF have been taken down. I liked Abner more but wont say no to this again.

Serving type: growler

10-22-2012 20:59:01 | More by FosterJM

silentjay

Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

pours like all HF pale hoppy beers, hazy golden straw colored with a HUGE off-white head that sticks around forever and leaves chunks of lacing on the glass when it finally recedes.

lots of tropical fruit on the nose, with some dank hops, tons of citrus, a bit earthy with some powdered sugar hiding behind that.

Pineapple, mango, grapefruit, dank and earthy hops just fill your palate. overtake it, one could say. not bitter overly bitter, but jam packed with hop flavor. gets more dank and earthy as it warms and your palate adjusts. wonderfully balanced blend of hops to make this way too drinkable for a beer of this magnitude.

medium bodied and with a pleasant carbonation with a tropical/bitter hoppiness that lingers for a while. a long while.

the first beer from HF that "wowed" me two years ago at the Extreme Beer Fest. probably the only time I've gone up for multiples of one beer at a festival like that. just tremendously balanced, in your face, yet nuanced. genius.

Serving type: growler

10-12-2012 04:15:47 | More by silentjay

Pinknuggets

Vermont

4.43/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 750ml picked up at the brewery last weekend

A: Pours Golden orange honey, super hazy, and completely opaque.

S: THe aroma is strong of peaches or apricots and other tropical fruits. Very citrusy.

T: The taste follows the smell with lots of peaches and fruity citrus up front but then the hops take over and come through with the goodness that comes with a good Imperial pale ale. The high abv is almost unnoticeable as a caught myself drinking it a little too fast. The finish has just the right amount of hoppy bitterness for my liking,

M: THe mouth feel is smooth, oily, and very drinkable

Overall there isn't much more to say another fantastic offering from Hill Farmstead get this if you get the chance, I love Vermont Beers!

Serving type: growler

10-10-2012 01:17:02 | More by Pinknuggets

cbutova

Massachusetts

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

750ml growler shared with good friends again. Notes from just a day ago. Great way to sum up a VT weekend.

A- Cloudy as can be, like a murky glass of orange colored swamp juice. Creamy white head forms with a few fingers in size, decent retention. Lace forms immediately and continues down the glass nicely.

S- Big hops lead the way in the aroma. Orange and lemon zest are big along with notes of tropical fruit, pine resin and citrus juice. Slight grains and malts.

T- Hops big here too with lots of fruity things going on. Mango, huge orange juice/zest, citrus bonanza, grapefruit is big, pineapple and some peppery herbal hints. Definitely a bit of sweetness, caramel and alcohol to back those hops up.

MF- Creamy and moderately thick, oily body with a crisp carbonation. Big bitterness and some alcohol warmth.

Big hop blast with tons of nice citrus fruit notes. Really nice use of hops.

Serving type: growler

10-10-2012 00:54:47 | More by cbutova

Chico1985

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750ml growler straight from the source provided by who else but cbutova. Enjoyed whilst running around changing a car battery.

Pours a super hazy orange, full-a floaties. Small white head retains decently.

Super citrus/orange juice up-front in the scent, lots of earthy fruitiness, a touch of alcohol. Big scent that fades a bit with time.

Taste is where it's at, huge beer. Lots of danky oranges, pine, bright juicy tropical fruit, grapefruit, with big caramel malts and breadiness there too. It is definitely on the sweeter side for an IPA but hops are huge as well.

Good full mouthfeel. High bitterness is balanced nicely by the malts, drinks pretty easy for the ABV - it feels big but there's not much alcohol heat.

I think the sweetness+alcohol could get to be a little much after time, I think as far as DIPA's go I prefer something more like Abner or Heady Topper. But this is without a doubt a crazy good beer.

Serving type: growler

10-09-2012 17:56:21 | More by Chico1985

scottfrie

California

4.48/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 release. 750ml swing-top growler generously sent by SneezyAchew as part of a wedding present. You are too kind, sir.

A: Pours a very hazy dark mango color with a couple fingers of dense white head. Head faded into a thin film that lasted the whole beer through. Great sheets of thick lace were left down the glass.
S: A sweet smelling hop bomb full of citrus and tropical fruits. Sweet notes of passion fruit, kiwi, mint, orange juice, mango and grapefruit peel.
T: Follows the nose with sweet hop flavors of tropical fruits and mild citrus. A citrus rind bitterness shows up in the finish, but overall sweet juicy mango, passion fruit and fruit nectar's dominate. I get a touch of mint in the finish as well, and the aftertaste is full of the lingering citrus rind. I get a touch of peach in there as well.
M: Thick for the style with a sweet but not cloying mouthfeel. Carbonation is fine, fluffy, and smooth. Alcohol is completely hidden, although judging by hope good I’m starting to feel, I’d say it’s in the double digits.
O: Better than I expected, although I’m not sure why as all the hoppy beers I've had from Shaun are amazing. I would drink this on the regular if available. The only thing I can even remotely knock is the sweetness; personal preference is geared toward a dryer bitterer feel. This drinks just fine though, and the alcohol is hidden so ridiculously well. Thanks again, Michael; you’re the man!

Serving type: growler

10-09-2012 02:51:16 | More by scottfrie

Kinsman

New Hampshire

4.43/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Grapefruit, lemon zest, pine resins... what more could you want in an IPA? Fills the glass with a nice hazy orange body and a creamy white head. Citrus fruits dominate the initial aroma before the pine notes come through. A hint of alcohol comes through as well as it warms.

On the palate it's more bitter than some other HF IPAs I've had. Still, the citrus punch makes for an incredibly refreshing beverage. Slightly spicy as well and the 10.5% ABV is well noted after the first sip or two.

Overall, truly a top-notch IPA as expected but not quite on the same level as Abner or Heady in my book. The slightly higher ABV is the most notable difference on my tastebuds and I guess I prefer the lower ones.

Serving type: growler

10-08-2012 23:02:18 | More by Kinsman

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 2L growler opened the same day it was filled at the brewery. Served chilled into a pint glass. I drank about 2/3 of this myself and split a little with a friend.

Appearance: Bright orange / yellow in color with a nice two finge, creamy thich head with good retention. A bit cloudy throughout but very nice.

Aroma: Tons of tropical fruit and pine notes upfront. The hop aromas are really big and hit hard. Mango, pineapple, grapefruit, lychee and pine notes are all present. Really nice balance of sweetness and bitterness.

Taste: Nice balance of sweet and bitterness here although there is a touch more bitterness than the aroma. Big mango and grapefruit notes countered with honey sweetness. The alcohol is really well hidden. Definitely plays a bit bigger and sweeter than other HF IPA's I have had, but it doesn't get anywhere near cloying. Bitter pine finish. Surprisingly drinkable and really refreshing.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied, but the carbonation adds a crisp character. A bit creamy as well.

Overall, a top notch DIPA and certainly one of the best in this ABV range I've had. I think I prefer Abner and some other HF IPA's to this one just because of the ABV. The hop character is bright, vibrant and complex though and it drinks really easy considering. I definitely will seek this one out again.

Serving type: growler

10-07-2012 16:13:48 | More by Gosox8787

cfrances33

Illinois

4.78/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

750ml growler thanks to ILOVESTOUTS. Thank you so much for hooking me up with my white whale of Double IPAs. Poured into a Hill Farmstead tulip.

Pour: Completely hazy orange with a finger and a half of white, fluffy head. Leaves decent lacing. I love the way Hill Farmstead's unfiltered beers look, and this might just take the cake.

Smell: This beer incorporates all the amazing aspects of a DIPA. All of them. Bursts of grapefruit and orange juice up front, followed by a light lemon zest an white peppercorn. Follows with a clean resinous pine, and light caramel sweetness. I can already tell this beer is going to be big.

Taste: I'm speechless. This beer incorporates so much flavor. Follows the nose to a T, but increases the intensty on everything. Grapefruit and OJ are the overriding flavors that call the shots, with a really, really nice peppercorn spiciness. A light resin lingers around, and the caramel sweetness is pretty substantial, at least for a Hill Farmstead beer. Ephraim needs it - the hop intensity here is not to be trifled with.

Mouthfeel: So incredibly juicy, and so incredibly bitter. This is probably the first Hill Farmstead beer that I am not able to guzzle down should I please. Definitely requires time to enjoy, and that is fine by me, because I don't want the glass to end.

Overall: Wow. I honestly never thought I would get a chance to try this beer, and it did not disappoint. Easily the best "big" DIPA I've ever had, and certainly in my top 5 ever. Hopefully one day at HF, I encounter this beer again.

Serving type: growler

10-05-2012 03:23:40 | More by cfrances33

Gfunk720

Connecticut

4.58/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2L growler picked up at the brewery. Out of my HFS Stemware.

A- Bright glowing mango/straw color. Very nice slightly off white head with tons of lacing. The beer is definitely pretty murky looking. It almost seems to glow a bit.

S- Lots of tropical fruit, mango/grapefruit/tangerine. There are some nice fresh hoppy scents in here as well, but it is somewhat overwhelmed by the citrus. A hint of sweet malt, and even a touch of booziness.

T- Hints of tangerine and grapefruit immediately enter my mouth. The hoppiness comes through next, with a nice balance of malt and resin. The aftertaste is a slightly dry piney hop flavor, but still with plenty of citrus.

M- Perfect for the style. Nice carbonation and the body is spot on. What more could you ask for.

O- I've been waiting 2 years to try this again, and I just happened to be headed to the brewery on the right weekend. I can't really say enough about this beer. It is up there with the best of the best. Not the dries, hoppiest IPA, but just some balanced and flavorful. If you can get your hands on this, buy as much as you can.

-GFunk

Serving type: growler

10-02-2012 22:20:48 | More by Gfunk720

Gushue3

Massachusetts

4.68/5  rDev +1.5%
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

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.73/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml growler (Harvest Fest)
HF glass

A: Still carbonated! Pours a really pretty bright light orange color. Big fluffy finger plus of white head. Leaving some lacing. More spotting when drinking. Some ABV feet.

S: Tropical fruit bomb! Great nose of mango, papaya, overripe peach, dank reisinous hops. Low malt character.

T: Really nice hop bite right on the tip of the tongue. You get that fruit and pine all at once. Really fruity. Getting that mango and peach character. Malt bill is really mild and you can tell that from the color. The ABV is so well hidden. Drinks like 6%! Nice dry bitter hop finish.

M: A very light medium. Awesome!

Serving type: growler

10-01-2012 18:21:25 | More by inlimbo77