Arthur - Hill Farmstead Brewery

largadeer

California

3.3/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Thanks, Arne. 32 oz growler into a tulip.

The brilliantly clear golden body is topped by two fingers of white suds. Head retention isn't great for the style, but I'll cut it some slack for coming from a growler.

Grainy and fruity on the nose, the yeast contributes a lot of bubblegum, green apple and white pepper. A whiff of citrusy, grassy hops are noticeable beneath the strong yeast profile.

The palate opens with a rough grainy character, along with bubblegum, unripe pear and citrus. The body is thin, and the beer feels too refined for a saison. Hop flavors show up mid-palate, lemony and herbal, leading into a grainy and dry finish that ends with notes of banana and fresh herbs.

There's plenty of complexity here, but the flavors don't seem entirely harmonious to me. I'm also not crazy about the yeast, which brings too much cloying bubblegum flavor.

Serving type: growler

01-07-2011 00:30:34 | More by largadeer

auroracrisis

Kentucky

3.33/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

750ml into a Russian River tulip. This is the latest batch with the new yeast.

Pale yellow with a dense head that dissipates after a few minutes. A decent amount of spritzy bubbles dance to the top of the beer.

Soft pilsner like grains and a touch of breadyness make up the initial aroma. As the beer warms, more lemon like and farmhouse yeast qualities become apparent but still remain subtle.

Crisp lemon and soft sour dough bread like flavors, and a touch of earthy hops. Crisp and clean, with no frills to it.

Thin-medium in the body, crisp and bubbly on the palate.

Clean lemon and Belgian yeast flavors in this, and that's about it. Not a bad beer per se, but I was expecting more.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 07:41:12 | More by auroracrisis

orangesol

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on-tap at Capone's into a sampler glass.

A - Pours pale yellow with a strong one finger head, dissipating to a light film of head, leaving thin sheets of lacing down the glass

S - Tons of breadyness up front with a bit of funk. A bit dry with some hints of citric hops and fruits. The bready mix of malt and yeast really dominated the other flavors a bit too much.

T - Starts off with plenty of bready yeast up front giving way quickly to a mix of muted grassy hops and citric fruits. Finish is quite chewy, thanks to all that bready yeast and malt, and it lingers on the pallet for quite a bit of time. I wanted to like this one more but I just do not like how chewy it was.

M - Medium body and flavor with moderate carbonation. Fairly heavy, chewy, feel with plenty of it lingering long after consumption.

D - Good not great. I liked it but I prefer my saison's to be a little cleaner and funkier. I just don't seem to like these bready saison's very much I guess.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2011 21:21:55 | More by orangesol

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.53/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by starrdogg. Thanks Matt.

Served along side Hill Farmstead Art, Flora, Civil Disobedience, and McKenzie Irma Extra.

The beer is hazy and yellow hued with a thick, white head that leaves ample lacing on the snifter. The aroma brings floral, citrus, malt, yeast. The flavor is decent. Overly yeasty, with some fruit notes, perhaps apricots. The feel is very dry, with lingering yeast. Overall, a decent saison that could stand a few improvements.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 15:19:27 | More by Huhzubendah

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Sent to me in the Secret Halloween BIF from Carl, thanks! 750 ml bottle poured into two tulip glasses, split between my girlfriend and I.

A: Soft, light golden yellow body with a big fluffy and bubbly white head. Lots of active carbonation. The head does settle somewhat but leaves a fairly thick retention cap across the surface, along with huge sticky lacing on the walls. Killer looking beer, especially for the style.

S: Lemon, grains, hay, barnyard "funk," soft citrus and white pepper. It's an extremely faint aroma and nothing seems to stand out over the rest. It's a nice blending of flavors but it's certainly not as aromatic as I hoped it would be.

T: Soft earthy grains and hay are up front. Lemon and orange citrus undertones come forward mid-palate. The finish is quite dry and has a distinct funky note that's not tart or sour, just straight up barnyard funk. The overall flavor profile is very soft, but to me it's not really flavorful. I'm not looking for something overly aggressive, mind you; but something other than weak, grainy flavors would be nice.

M: Lots of tiny bubbles all over the palate, seems on the lighter end of the spectrum in terms of body. Not too bad, but again, very dry in the finish.

This was just okay for me. It started out really promising with the first few sips as they were refreshing and crisp. But after awhile, the beer started to seem to lose any flavor that was there. It seems watered down, very grain-centric and the funk could have helped break it up a bit more, but it didn't. Not bad, not the greatest Farmhouse/Saison I've tried.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2011 15:04:38 | More by ShanePB

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Arthur pours a cloudy, straw yellow color with a big, frothy white head on top. The foam dissolves slowly to a blanket on the surface coating the sides of the glass with lace.

The aroma is spicy with notes of clove, pepper, wheat/bread, lemon and bubblegum.

Each sip of this medium bodied beer is watery on the palate with a firm carbonated fizz. The flavor is spice balanced out by wheat malt. Flavors of clove, pepper and lemon citrus are followed by wheat/bread and a hint of bubblegum. It finishes dry and once gone the clove and pepper lingers on the palate.

A very tasty and spicy beer. A great example of the Saison style.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 19:25:03 | More by WanderingFool

DenverLogan

Colorado

3.63/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Straw yellow with a lingering head. Big aroma of tart fruit and funkiness. Moderate carbonation. Flavors of horse blanket, fruit rind, herbs, funky yeast. grass, lemon, earthy flavors. Drinkable in modest amounts...not something I'd dream about but flavorful and tasty!!

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 22:05:57 | More by DenverLogan

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at Capone's.

Pours a hazy golden yellowish orange color with pale golden yellow hues when held to a light source and a 1.5 fingerfrothy white head that slowly fades into a lastig ring. Decent amount of lacing left behind.

Slightly floral aroma with lots of bready yeast notes as well as some estery light fruit, zesty spice and citrus peel. Hints of pepper, coriander, orange peel and pear in the nose.

Chewy medium body with a lot of bready yeast which contributes to the moutfeel. There is also a lot of zesty peppery spice up front with more coriander and lemon zest. Hints of sweet citrus and crisp light fuir, especially orange peel, apple and pear. Not a bery high ABV but the alcohol presence is still felt. A bit overly spicy and hit but the nice mouthfeel helps the drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2011 01:16:32 | More by corby112

tewaris

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750 ml poured into a tulip. Final in my Hill Farmstead sampler!

Golden and bubbly with good clarity, head and retention. Euro hops, mild malts and a sunny day describe the aroma pretty well, IMO. Slightly bitter, slightly lemony without the tartness and some spice in taste. I need to let this warm up which wouldn't be a problem, plenty left.

A really well made, very clean, super easy drinking beer. Light body, good carbonation, refreshing and crisp. However, it lacks both, the sharpness of Dupont and certainly the complexity of Fantome. Having tried their IPAs and a couple other styles, I am totally bowled over by the hoppy stuff but I am not overly impressed with the porter or the saison or the wild ale, Mimosa.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 05:55:39 | More by tewaris

yourefragile

District of Columbia

3.78/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From notes, a sampler on draft at Capones in January.

Pour is a hazed golden orange with a frothy white head that fades to a thick ring and decent lacing.

Aroma is more floral and bready than expected with a Belgian yeast body; mild citrus, orange peel and peppery spice.

Flavor is a little overly spicy and honey/yeasty sweet. Has a strong grassy and peppery typical farmhouse base but the tart fruit and stronger hops hurts the drinkability and subtlety.

Soft and lighter bodied with mild carbonation.

A good saison, but not great. Drinks much larger than the 5% ABV and could use a little more crispness and/or earthy funk.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2011 21:09:01 | More by yourefragile

merc7186

New York

3.78/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this beer poured from a bomber into a tulip glass.

A: Hazy Golden Straw Hue, Passes Some Light, White Head, Decent Lacing

S: Yeasty, Peppercorn, Lemons

T: Lemons, Yeasty, White Pepper

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Semi Bitter

Overall, a nice mildly bitter saison, good spicy blend.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 00:51:14 | More by merc7186

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.83/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL champagne style bomber poured into a tulip

Pours a golden yellow with a huge, thick, fluffy paper white cap. Loads of active carbonation with some chunky lacing.

The nose is of spicy phenols, white pepper, herbs, lemons, fresh wheat, and some bubble gum. Pretty standard saison aroma.

Spicy phenols and clove hit first then an herbal/medicinal funk through the middle. Pepper and lemons in the finish with damp hay, bubble gum, and an earthy bitterness. The spices lay a little low and let the funk and bitterness carry the load, which is a welcome switch.

Medium body with high carbonation, very good for the style. The lingering flavors are white pepper, earthy bitterness and some band aid funk.

This is a solid saison, but lacking in the wow factor some of the other HF saisons bring to the table.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 03:11:32 | More by ColForbinBC

LSUPT

California

3.85/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml, thanks to the extremely generous DearthVader, split two way reviewed from a Fantome tulip.

Pours a medium golden color. Cloudiness varies between pours. First pour is almost clear but from the middle of the bottle on it becomes a very cloudy honey color. Huge light fluffy head close to 4" but the retention is inconsistent as well. Lacing is amazing. Thick in places thin in others but covers most of the glass. Carbonation is very active.

The nose is fairly ordinary but very full and a bit more floral, quite nice. Lemon, flowers, grass, bread and yeast. Taste is similar. No off flavors but again pretty ordinary. Ideal level of carbonation and medium bodied but a bit too much bitterness.

Quite a nice beer. To be honest I expected more but this is a very enjoyable beer that fits all the criteria to be a very solid saison.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 04:24:51 | More by LSUPT

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.85/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle, Purchased in Winter 2012.
Central Waters globe

A: Holy carbonation! Loud hiss on the cap pop. Tons of small bubbles streaming off the bottom of the glass. Pours a bright yellow color. Hazy as hell. Two fingers of full bright white fluffy head. Seems to be sticking around a while. Leaving some lacing trails.

S: Pepper. Citrus. Some wet hay funky notes. Smells like some grassy hops are in there as well. Smells light and airy. You do smell those Euro noble hops in there.

T: Right at the tip of the tongue you get those nice light citrusy hops. Then you get some of that peppery hints that you smelled. Light spice if you will, common of saisons. Dare I say that it has similar flavors to a Saison DuPont Saison. No where near the quality but it's solid. You get a nice touch of maybe white grape in there. On the close it's nice and crisp and dry like a summer white wine would be. Refreshing for sure.

M: Light bodied. Dry. Crisp.

O: B+

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 14:07:28 | More by inlimbo77

jbertsch

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance:
Straw gold in color. Lively bubbles, a little fizzy. Nice lacing,

Aroma:
Farmhouse funk with notes of lemon and apple. A little yeasty.

Taste:
Slightly tart lemon, cider-like sour apple. Horse blanket funk. None of its characteristics overpower the flavor profile, yet all are prominently noticeable.

Mouthfeel:
Lively carbonation. Fizzy.

Overall:
A well made rustic farmhouse ale, bright, sharp, a bit tart... Drinks more like a cider. I would like a bit more depth as its a bit linear, but its still a nice farmhouse ale worth getting if you're into the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 19:05:37 | More by jbertsch

Bendurgin

Maine

3.88/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip. This one pours a hazy golden straw colow with a huge pillowy white head with thick soapy lace. Real nice retention on this.

Nice funky barnyard aroma here with a good floral hop aroma. Little bit of lemon zest and some must round this out. White grape skin on the pallet with some good notes of lemon grass and musty barnyard flavors. A little bit of sourdough flavor to it.

The body is light with expansive carbonation. Overall a sound saison. Real tasty stuff, which is what I've come to expect from hill farmstead.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 04:05:09 | More by Bendurgin

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.89/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks goes out to 67couple for sharing this one at a recent Random Sunday Tasting! Served from bottle into a Mikkeller flute. Poured a hazy pale yellow with a one finger white head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, fruit, earth, fruit hop, and spice. The flavor was of sweet malt, fruit, fruit hop, spice, earth, and fruity spice. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a fairly good brew. There was quite a bit of fruitiness going on in this one that definitely balanced quite well with the Saison aspect going on in it. The spicy and earthiness from the style definitely shined through and was quite well incorporated with the rest of the brew and managed to compliment the other aspects well. I just wish there would have been a little more complexity going on to take it to a new level. Glad I got the chance to try this one, but not the best Saison I have ever had to this day.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 13:42:04 | More by thagr81us

grittybrews

Washington

3.9/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a thick gold with a finger of bright white head. Slightly floral aroma of grass, lemon, and light spice.

Full, creamy mouthfeel with ample carbonation. Wheat/biscuit up front with lemon-dominated citrus, peppery spice, and slight musk.

Very refreshing and nicely balanced.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 14:43:30 | More by grittybrews

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cheers and thanks are owed to BA baconsausage for gifting me with a bottle of this as a generous extra in our last trade. Big thanks man! Poured from a 750 into an oversized wine glass. The brew appears a hazed golden yellow color with bit patchy white head that fades leaving some sticky froth coating on the glass. The cap maintains throughout the duration with an uneven cratered surface atop. A light swirl effortlessly revives a finger of off-white meringue back to the surface.

The aroma is very pleasant with a fresh citrus and zesty component of fruity hop character. Orange, lemon and lime couple with almost a lactic inclusion with yogurt and faint wheat-like grain inclusion. There is an overall mild spicy yeast aspects with an earthen and grassy feel that emerges as the brew warms.

The taste has a bit of wheat inclusion that imparts flavors mildly like straw. Some hop character comes forward with a biter rindy feel that is zesty and bright. Grapefruit comes to mind mixing with a hint of sulfur and carbonic qualities. On the backend there is a touch of yogurt sort of aspect that reminds me of lacto but the hop inclusion sort of drowns all of that out before it draws too much focus in the flavor.

This is a light bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. It is light and easy drinking with a sort of hybrid saison/ipa feel about it. The nose far and away is the best aspect of this brew with the flavor profile falling a bit short. Overall though, it is without fault and is a beer I would revisit if given the opportunity. Prior to drinking this, I commented on Vera mae being one of the better saisons by Hill Farmstead that I have had. I stand corrected, Arthur is even better. Nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 20:55:43 | More by stakem

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.93/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml poured into a Duvel Tulip glass.

A - Pours a very pale, light orange with a large white head. Great retention and lacing.

S - Belgian yeast, spices, bread.

T - Light wheat, lemons, and licorice.

D - Light body, lots of carbonation.

O - Light and smooth, very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 07:43:11 | More by HuskyinPDX

davey101

Connecticut

3.94/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle purchased during the Norma release. Poured into a tulip glass. Opens with a slight gush over.

A - Pours a hazy dark yellow body. Tons of white soapy foam that fills the rest of the glass. It eventually settles down into a half finger cap. Excellent lacing and retention.

S - Pretty much exactly what I want out of a saison. Lots of lemons, wheat, grass, and a pleasant and soft earthiness. Smell is just super inviting.

T - Tart lemons and big blast of wheat and grain. Kind of bready. A bit of a funky earthiness and cheese to balance it out. Some bitterness and spicy black peppercorn on the finish which I'm not a huge fan of. It is very drinkable and the pepper is not at all overpowering, I just don't enjoy any pepper like flavors in a beer. Mouth feel is medium bodied and well carbonated with a clean finish.

O - A damn solid saison, but I much prefer Anna or Florence over this. It is rustic and a bit spicy and bready. I just prefer fruitier and sweeter saisons.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 04:47:54 | More by davey101

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip. Big thanks to CharlieMurphy for this.

5.0 A: First pour gave me a ton of head, so an additional pour was necessary. Hazed straw color. Three fingers of creamy white head. Retention is very good and the lacing covers the entire glass.

3.5 S: Super dry and super herbal. Grassy hops and hay. Light lemon with apple orchard funk.

4.0 T: Again, plenty of herbalness in this. Not nearly as dry as the nose and doubly earthy. Lemongrass, hay, grassy hop flavor, earthy wild apple, and lightly spicy with a moderate bitterness. Just touches of barnyard and apple orchard funk.

4.0 M: Lighter medium body. Active, spritzy carbonation, but not as creamy as I'd like. Still, goes down easy.

4.0 D: Solid, no frills saison. Plenty of earth and herb with good complexity in the taste.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 01:07:18 | More by DavoleBomb

andrewinski1

Maine

3.95/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass. The color is light straw with a giant white head. There is a bit of haze.

The aroma has mild sweet malt with some fruit and citrus.

The taste has the same citrus flavor with a little bit of spice from the yeast.

This is light to medium in body with lots of smooth carbonation.

I'm a big fan of Hill Farmstead saisons. This is really great as a basic no frills version.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 21:31:18 | More by andrewinski1

koopa

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I got the end of the keg at DeCicco's today....

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy yellow to nectarine color with a 1 finger white crown that shows some retention and lace.

Smell: Muted notes of fresh grass, bubble gum, nectarines, and some soft brett.

Taste: Same as nose.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied with softened carbonation which lowered the creaminess I experienced with fresher on tap samples in VT.

Drinkability: So sessionable but this sample is past peak.

Serving type: growler

12-10-2010 20:38:15 | More by koopa

LaCoursiere

Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to mtardiff for this one in trade. No bottled or best by date. Poured from a 750mL bottle into a snifter.

A - Pours a brilliant straw yellow with a slight haze and a thin white head. A thin head and a nice collar remain throughout. Active yet gentle carbonation is visible.

S - A very delicate aroma with muted barley malt, yeast and lemon notes.

T - Slightly sweet lemons up front with bread and biscuit in the middle. Peppery herbal notes come in and fade to a pleasant bitter finish. There is a subtle fruit sweetness that reminds me of pear in the finish.

M - Medium body that is slick and smooth on the way in, coats well, then breaks up nicely on the tongue. A bit of chalkiness lingers after the sip. No alcohol presence.

O/D - Second beer I have tried from Hill Farmstead and the second one that I would drink again. I am not a seasoned Saison connoisseur, but this is nice and light, yet spicy and full of flavor. I wish it were easier to get!

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 19:06:42 | More by LaCoursiere