Arthur - Hill Farmstead Brewery

oline73

Maryland

4.47/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this at the bottle share during Jackie O's bottle release this weekend. Poured into a sample glass.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy golden color with a layer of fluffy white head. This one had some good retention.

Smell: A bit sweet with an herbal quality to it. Mild citrus notes with some hop bitterness showing up as well.

Taste: Quite crisp with some sweet malt and an herbal note from the yeast. Mild citrus tartness combines with the sweetness and is quite refreshing. Really nice.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with very smooth carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: This is a very well crafted beer. Great balance. Lots of flavor but still light and easy to drink. I'd love to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 03:57:54 | More by oline73

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

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

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Nice creamy 1 finger head fades at a med pace with lots of lacing, very hazy golden creamy yellow color.

Nose a bit yeasty, light lemony zest, light citrusy, dry rustic malts and wheat, farmhouse earthy aroma, touch of spices

Taste is very saison, dry rustic earthy farmhouse, light creamy malts, little yeasty, light lemony citrus fruit and zest, dry bready malts, light wheat like, lots of carbonation, little creamy and light spices, bit of bitterness and hint of tannins. Finishes even more bitter, light floral grassy hops, pretty dry, more farmhouse rustic malt flavors.

Mouth is med bodied, good carb.

Overall nice, great flavors, right on for saison, nice hops that come late, dry finish, good carb, nice farmhouse flavors, very light spices, and a nice lemony citrus flavor.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 04:19:23 | More by jlindros

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.13/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle, batch 2, received from starrdogg. Thank you, Matt.

In my Duvel tulip, this beer is a shimmering straw yellow, clear as crystal and capped with an enormous white head with excellent retention and gorgeous lacework. Plenty of carbonation is visible as well. Perfect for a saison. The nose is gorgeous. Moderately rustic pilsner malt with a brilliant brightness with honeydew melons, moderately sharp phenols, some grass and a mild pale honey character. The honey has a delicateness that I associate a very pale honey (such as the Chilean Tiaca honey). There's also a dollop of hop character, moderately earthy, a little lemony and with some grass. The yeast character is excellent as well, with the phenols being wonderful.

The palate opens crisp with a firm hop bite, with earth, lemon, orange peel and a mild resin character. Bitterness is moderate, and allows the malt and yeast flavors to come through. Moderate grass and pilsner malt along with a grainy flavor, the malt character is mellow and refined. The yeast mostly adds flavors of clove and phenols, especially on the finish. Drying on the finish with a crisp, clean, hoppy bitterness and the aforementioned flavors, this tastes very good. I'm not picking up much of the fruit or honey character that I got on the nose, though. The mouthfeel is surprising. Both, the body (light) and carbonation (medium-high) are spot on, but there's a mild wateriness on the mid-palate that's a little disappointing. Apart from that, this is an excellent saison, one I'm glad to have gotten the chance to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 00:24:31 | More by DefenCorps

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

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

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

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

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

barleywinefiend

Washington

4/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured a clear lightly golden yellow color with a mice white cap

S: Grass, hay, horseblanket and pepper

T: Fruity; lemon and pear, grassy, very light kick of lght pepper, yeasty and funky with light booze sting

M: Light body, nice feel on the palate

O: Good for the style

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 15:11:52 | More by barleywinefiend

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 750 mL bottle purchased for the brewery a couple weeks ago. Poured into a Dogfish Head snifter and served at cellar temperature.

Appearance: A bright, golden yellow color with a large, three finger, piloowy white head. A bit hazy throughout. Really nice retention on the head.

Aroma: Light banana, some nice earthy and herbal tones, and a slight dry barnyard funk. Slightly peppery and flowery as well. Pleasant.

Taste: Dry, herbal and earthy notes upfront. Some slightly sweet malt counters this and gives mostly banana and just a touch of green apple. Not overly funky, but there is certainly funk present. A nicely balanced saison overall.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, but the carbonation helps it feel light throughout. Really drinkable.

Overall, a really enjoyable and easy to drink saison. A really sloid example of the style and another really good brew from Hill Farmstead. I would definitely get this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 13:06:06 | More by Gosox8787

Sean9689

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle poured into my Bruery tulip.

A - Pours a hazy golden yellow color, huge frothy white head, sticky lacing, big thick cap on top.

S - Sweet & spicy funk, nice floral bouquet, banana, grass. The sweetness hit me right up front with a nice kick of floral and grass on the end.

T - Sweet bready yeast funk right up front, hay, and some medicinal and floral notes in there as well. The initial sweetness is quickly overtaken by the hay/grass/floral notes that finish with a grassy citrus slight funky/bitter finish.

M - Light body, good carbonation, dry funky finish.

O - Yet another excellent saison from Shaun and Dan. Not my favorite...I'm more of an Anna lover...but still very enjoyable. I'll revisit in a couple of months and see how it tastes...already looking forward to it! Recommend!

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2011 23:27:53 | More by Sean9689

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

SFLpunk

Vermont

4.33/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750mL brown glass pry-top champagne bottle. Released today, purchased at the brewery.

Pours a hazy super bright lemon/hay yellow with a couple fingers of bone-white head that falls down leaving some good lacing, gripping the edges of the glass. A very pretty beer.

Nose just smells like summer! Wild flowers, hay, corn husks, and straight-up sunshine! Orange zest comes to mind after a minute. Palate is crisp and light bodied with low-level carbonation. Orange zest, corn husk, yellow grapefruit rind, flowers and sea salt flavors all intermingle.

A very light and crisp saison. No skunky hops here (see ya, Dupont!). All about refreshing after a long, hot day's work. Cheers Shaun and crew!

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2011 06:08:28 | More by SFLpunk

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Three Penny Taproom, Montpelier, VT on 6/12/11.

A - Slightly hazy golden liquid with a rocky crown of bright white pouf on top that produced lots of thick, sticky lacing all over the glass.

S - Floral bouquet with some fresh cut grass and citrusy lemon notes create a complex nose overall. Overall, the aroma is rather earthy.

T - Sharp herbal and grassy hop notes as well as citrus rind give Arthur a well-rounded bitterness and a lemony flair. A hint of wildflowers and barnyard notes round out the initial flavor, adding depth and a touch of tartness, which lasts into the finish, accompanied by more semi-dry bitterness.

M - Medium bodied with mild carbonation and light prickle, resulting in a soft mouthfeel overall. Finishes rather bitter on the palate with an herbal, slightly medicinal bite.

D - Arthur is a fantastic Saison with plenty of herbal hop bite, a pleasant lemony character and nice dose of tartness. Keep racking up the great beers, Shaun!

Serving type: on-tap

06-21-2011 17:56:10 | More by ffejherb

ElGallo

New Hampshire

4.22/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler pour into a Hill Farmstead longstem snifter - cool glass. Big thanks to Chowdahead for bringing this one down to share with the wives at a recent tasting.

Straw color, decent head for a growler pour, and good lacing. Smells of orange & lemon, grass, some pepper. Taste has some subtle citrus, grass, light bready malts, and low doses of spice, which I loved. Mouthfeel was crisp and fresh without the annoyance of spices that frequently sink saisons. Overall this was a great, fresh example of the style. Very refreshing.

Then Chowdahead tells me this has been in the growler for a week and a half. Say what cupcake?! Tasted like it was filled that day. I am once again very impressed by Hill Farmstead. Seeking more. Cheers!

Serving type: growler

05-12-2011 02:23:18 | More by ElGallo

rtepiak

Poland

4.28/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

i must say that every review that i could give this brewery is one of praise. i really like what they're doing i like their joke for the art.

pour is golden straw with about 2 finger on a cloudy body of dark yellow. nose is initially husk pop corn which quickly fades into the straw muskiness of a proper saison... some grassy subtlies and lemon zest. palate feels wonderful. great and creamy with a brisk drop and a subtle sweetness. this has all the subtleties of a beligan saison and no loose ends.

had it again in bottle about 6 months later. as it ages the lemon grassy qualities becomes a bit more pronounced. not my favorite saison by them but as particular as that sounds still as american saison stable. that only one i could say is ranging in similarities with the saison dupont.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2011 04:24:29 | More by rtepiak

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

sholland119

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Station Taproom, 2/6/11.

A-Pours a hazy golden with a thin, frothy white head. No real lacing.

S-Bready malts with an undertone of Belgian yeast and a mild medicinal note.

T-A simple, classic saison. Grainy and yeasty with a medicinal, phenolic undertone that is noticeable but rather light. Lemony hops character and white pepper in the finish.

M-Medium bodied and quite dry.

D-A really easy drinking, approachable saison. Sessionable and delicious.

HV

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2011 19:03:34 | More by sholland119

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

Axic10

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Capone's during their Hill Farmstead event.

Appearance: Hazy golden yellow with no head.

Smell: Funky aroma, honey, lemon spices and some yeasty aromas.

Taste: Honey, yeast and a tart funk mixed with a nice amount of hoppy bite.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied and tart.

Drinkability: I enjoyed this beer. I preferred the Citra to this, but this was a very enjoyable saison and I'm continually impressed by Hill Farmstead.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 04:43:51 | More by Axic10

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

ON TAP IN PA!!!

Arthur came out looking like a saison, golden straw colored in appearance with a bright white head up above leaving nice patterns. Smell is a semi-big Belgian yeast profile with earthy grass ridden hops. Some citrus and spice. They work together well, nothing too overpowering the other. My first Saison from the farm is a good one. Arthur starts with the earth, the grass, the yeast (bread), semi tropical fruits very muted but noted with pear slices. It's a simple saison with a american twist that's not to outragous or out there. Good for a whirl. Feel is kinda lower than medium, with a small carb bite as well, a yeasty aftertaste with some bitter hops at the end. I could probably drink more of this stuff. Another good one from the boys at the farm.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2011 17:56:45 | More by onix1agr

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

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