Phenomenology Of Spirit - Hill Farmstead Brewery

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

pour is dark brown with red edges and a tan tight head. Nose has a touch of roasted malt, fair bit of Saison note, touches of lemon. Taste is heavier roasted malt, very different, Saison and sweet in back. Some citrus and lemon. The malt is very strong, assertive carbonation, maybe a hint of dryness but not really.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 19:53:32 | More by cpetrone84

Luk13

Quebec (Canada)

4.83/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at Hill Farmstead Gathering. Wonderful mix of bretts, oak, vanilla and dark fruits. The wine barrel seems totally appropriate here. Rustic flavors from the bretts blends nicely with the oak sweetness and the wine barrel sourness. This is definitly my favourite black saison.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2012 00:44:35 | More by Luk13

Florida9

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: clear dark reddish brown. Forms a thin light tan head. Leaves moderate lacing.

S: A very nice aroma with a blend of bubblegum, dark malt, dark fruit, and just a touch of smoke. Slightly sour.

T: unfortunately the taste is thin and falls flat. Taste is of dark malts, raisin, light toffee, but then turns watery and slightly bitter.

M: on the heavier side of light with moderate carbonation. Moderate astringent bitterness.

O: a decent beer though taste really falls flat.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 01:39:28 | More by Florida9

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.45/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Capped and corked 750 mL bottle shared recently with who cares. Collaborative dark saison with McKenzie and Tired Hands.

Pours a cola dark brown with a few fingers of khaki, creamy head that leaves behind webs of lacing. Excellent, rich dark saison aroma, blending roast malt and burnt sugar with ripe, dark fruit and an oak presence which is starting to blend over time with the other flavors. Strong roast and burnt flavors throughout the palate with ripe fruit at the start and a dry, oaky finish. Spicy yeast lingers throughout adding a nice balance to the dry roast and oak. Medium light body with active carbonation. Becoming a little more balanced and less harsh as it ages, looking forward to whatever form this is revisited in (CD 5?)

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 00:25:11 | More by yourefragile

starrdogg

District of Columbia

4.15/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Michael for sharing this one.

Pours a light brown with a pretty solid white head. Smells somewhat oak-y and vinous with a bit of maltiness in there. Taste is pretty heavily malty (brown ale malty) with some wine and oak notes in there. Mouthfeel is light-medium bodied with pretty significant carbonation. This is a pretty nice dark saison, oddly it kinda tastes like a vinous brown ale, which actually works as a nice experiment, but isn't my favorite beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 00:58:52 | More by starrdogg

vfgccp

New York

4.8/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A – Beautiful, especially in direct sunlight. Bright black/brown body with cola highlights. Bone-white, creamy head sticks with nice lace and solid retention.

S - This is everything I’m looking for in dark saison – darker notes of toffee and burnt caramel are held in balance by bright orange zest and bridged by a field of chamomile, honey and hay. A little more intensity and this is a 5.

T – Stellar. Bright acidity and tart white peach clear your palate for a gentle, sweet, burnt caramel. A memory of roast laces in and out of the profile, and a kiss of floral chamomile and lavender soften the on the backend. Stunningly balanced.

M – Super smooth with a nice carbonation.

O – Simply fantastic. One of the best saisons I’ve ever had.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2011 00:08:34 | More by vfgccp

womencantsail

California

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The pour is dark brown in color with a tall off-white/khaki colored head.

S: The oak really dominates the aroma. There's a mild roastiness as well some hints of pepper. Fruit notes of apple and pear, maybe some lemon peel, too. A touch of tartness along with bready malts.

T: Pretty oaky flavor, too. Pepper, banana, and citrus peel make for an interesting flavor. There's a decent level of roast and some of the same fruit flavors that were present on the aroma. Just a touch of tart lemon.

M: Medium bodied with medium to high carbonation.

O: This was good, but it was pretty much just as good as the regular version and that was easier to get.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 02:59:12 | More by womencantsail

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

dark amber with minimal head and side lacing leads to a ruddy, lightly hazed look.

deep notes of oak and fig, light sourness, but not over the top in any way, really just nice and mellow. warming brings more balance to the profile with caramel malts and lots of dark fruit notes. very nice. clean with light aftertaste and nice touches of oak that seem to pop up at just the right time. a very well done beer here.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2011 02:01:27 | More by mikesgroove

Verecund

North Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Opened on August 15, 2011. Held six months, per the brewer's instructions. Consumed in celebration of PEH's life, since he will likely pass tonight.

Pours a tar near-black with a pillowy three-finger head. Bubbles stream upwards toward the surface, revealing rust-red hues.

The appearance of Phenomenology of Spirit is quite at odds with the nose, which is prototypical of Shaun's saisons in many respects. Somewhat floral, with a beautiful grassy and earthy brett presence. So clean and "fresh' on the nose, even after these six months the bottle has spent waiting. There's a light caramelized sugar note that plays alongside a hint of chardonnay/white grape vinousness. Brett's the main motivating force here though.

Anonymous saison-like floral and earthy attributes on the front of the palate giving way to the "dark" elements of the beer: toasted wheat; dry, chalky chocolate; burnt sugar; subtle roast/pepper; and lightly-vinous dark fruit that lingers on the tongue. Quite different - while the transition doesn't work perfectly for me, the brett has dried out this beer to a great enough degree that the nontraditional elements actually work quite well with the saison base.

Medium, medium-light bodied with good carbonation. Fairly dry; a hint of acidity on the long finish.

I'm far from a Hegelian, but I can appreciate the synthesis here. This is, unsurprisingly, a very nice saison. Once again, Shaun's saisons tell stories.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 23:28:30 | More by Verecund

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Massive thanks goes out to cmrillo who shared this one with the group at the "Evening Wood" tasting graciously hosted by cmrillo as well! Served from bottle into a Mikkeller flute. Poured a deep red brown with a half finger off-white head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, wood, tart, and funk. The flavor was of sweet malt, wood, and funk. It had a light feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a good brew. I never would have guessed that this was a saison without looking it up or knowing it. I would have guessed more along the lines of a Wild Ale due to the funkiness I got in this one. If there were any saison spices present, the funk aspect of this one definitely covered them up. With that said, this was still a good tasting brew despite its lack of complexity. Really glad I got the chance to try this one at an awesome tasting with some good friends.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 12:59:19 | More by thagr81us

renegadeburger

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

only beer from the hill i got to try from the bottle so far all others from the brewery or on draft or in growlers from local area ok here we go

pours nice big hazy straw color and a big ole white fluffy head i like this so far

smell intense spice here some black pepper but some crazy nutmeg too

taste is in the same route here except some banana in the end too finishing with some nice herbal hops and grassy bitterness

nice mouthfeel definitley more pop and feel here than the other saisons i had from them

this is the best saison i had from the hill i still think their ipas are the best but this was pretty good

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 19:03:34 | More by renegadeburger

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from notes taken on my phone back in March. This brew appears a clouded dark brown color. A fingers worth of thick head forms across the top and leaves a webby pattern of lace across the glassware.

The aroma has hints lemon zest and some spicy Belgian yeast notes before turning a bit funky. Across the back there are notes of sulfur mixed with a lightly fruity sweet character. Not bad.

The taste unfortunately falls apart, initial flavors of plastic are a bit off-putting. More sips reveal a musty character, lightly earthy with lactic indications of sourness coming across with lemon zest. The plastic flavoring is constant exaggerated with a big fusel alcohol flavor and warmth through the back of the throat. The aftertaste is lightly smoked and roasty which starts to make things interesting,

This brew is a bit puzzling and disjointed. It didnt really meld well. It is a light bodied brew with a high amount of carbonation that gives it a fizzy and bubbly feel yet at times seemed watery as well. It was not an issue finishing my glass but I don't think I'd care to pay the cost of admission on this offering again.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 14:56:57 | More by stakem

abuliarose

New Hampshire

4.22/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a rich red-brown with thick and lightly tanned head. Smells sweet and slightly roasty with earthy undertones. Hints of molasses.

Tastes as it smells: barely sweet with a pleasant and refreshing roastiness and light molasses qualities. Carbonation is quick and small-nucleating on the light body. Some savory edges to the flavor, dry and tannic. Totally quaffable. An awesome table beer.

Overall I really like this offering. Would love to serve it up with just about anything, even a rich smoke.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2011 23:19:09 | More by abuliarose

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served from the bottle at the Night of the Funk 2011 forum. Reviewed from notes.

Pours a very dark brown -- bordering on black -- with a good, thick tan head that lasts a bit before leaving some spotty lacing and falling to a collar. The nose is really complex and the wine-aging really comes through. Some red wine and moderate saison funk. A bit of roast there as well. The flavor melds wine, oak, and roast really well, taking it up a notch with the saison yeast. The finish is where the yeast really shines, combining with the roast for a spectacular finish. Really well done. A highlight for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2011 10:57:18 | More by Thorpe429

JAXSON

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown with deep red edges and a billowing off white head. Nose is a fairly robust collage of grass, yeast, baker's chocolate, and some kind of fruits. Very fresh and interesting, well-melded. Mouth is grassy, lightly oaky, some faint wild yeast, bitter chocolate, hops. Seems immature in the mouth, as the flavors are not quite there yet. Reminds me of some recent Jolly Pumpkin bottlings. Still, pretty interesting, soft stuff, balanced despite being too young.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 16:26:42 | More by JAXSON

youbrewidrink

Vermont

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep brown color with a khaki head

The aroma was of dried fruit figs & raisin with a little straw. The his is where the barnyard showed the most.

The yeast funk was right up front with some yeasts more distinctive than others. The malt was present but not over powering.

This beer was a little to hot in the alcohol department for me to give it a fair review. The brewer indicated that this really should be put away for 6 months or so. So to be fair I will revist this beer after an aged bottle has been consumed.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2011 11:51:42 | More by youbrewidrink

AgentZero

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Jason for the hookup.

A - A surpringly almost black beer that poured with a frothy white head that had great retention. Nice lacing throughout the drink, really a superb looking beer.

S - Caramel, good funk, some nice floral and grass notes. It smells like a nice saison with a pretty present malt backbone (for the style).

T - Tastes better than average, a solid saison with good grass and floral notes surrounding a stronger than normal malt backbone. There is a bit of belgian funk to it. Not bad.

M - Approriate dry finish on a light and moderately carbonated beer.

D - Very solid drinker and pretty easy for the ABV. Not mindblowing, but this is a good beer I could drink again.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 22:36:07 | More by AgentZero

BearsOnAcid

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark brown, khaki head

Great mixture of brett strains in the nose. It's a pleasant, earthy, and smooth brett aroma. All-around wonderful farmhouse aroma with maybe a slightly lower than normal pH level.

Dried hay and wheat flavor on the front of the palate. Slight burnt sugar or roasted malt on the back. Dry and minor acidity on the finish. There's also a vinous oak character throughout the taste. It's not strong. Brett seems to drive this beer the most.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2011 00:41:25 | More by BearsOnAcid

jrallen34

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

750ml corked bottle poured into my Hill Farmstead glass... The body is a dark brown, that can look much darker in certain light. Nice contrasting head that is a bright tope that is very carbonated. The cap is awesome, just doesn't go away, thick and nice lacing as well... The aroma is a touch light for me, but shows off some nice caramel to start. A little floral on the back, not enough, a little boring... The taste is equally as boring. A dead front with a peppery floral oak finish.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 02:27:14 | More by jrallen34

Sean9689

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle courtesy of Jason, thank you sir.

A - Pours black, white frothy head, lots of lacing, big bubbles on top, and a thin cap. Really cool looking, black and white.

S - Nice Belgian funk, malty, slight burnt sugars.

T - Tastes pretty much like a Saison but has an added malt character, some burnt sugars, and hints of dark fruits. Slight oak barrel finish.

M - Light, smooth, refreshing, dry finish.

D - I like this beer and would recommend this to anyone who likes Saisons and wants a little twist. Would have this again, for sure.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 02:24:23 | More by Sean9689

Brad007

Vermont

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This dark saison is a collaboration brew between the Hill Farmstead, Grassroots Iron Hill and McKenzies breweries.

It pours a darkish-brown/black color with a decent head.

The aroma is chock full of raisin and clove in the nose. Simple and yet, appealing.

Clove and raisin greet the tongue followed by a slight tang in the middle.

The mouthfeel is a bit dry with lingering hints of clove in the mouth.

Very nice collaboration brew. I always enjoy a drinkable, high-quality saison.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2010 22:32:34 | More by Brad007

kingcrowing

Vermont

4.2/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Fall harvest festival poured into a wine glass.

Pours a very dark stout-like color with a really nice huge fluffy light brown head that sticks around for a while, it looks awesome. Nose is a bit funky and malty, but the yeast is the main thing you're getting here and it's nice.

Very cool combination of both the brett/funk from a saison with the darker flavors from a Belgian Dark ale, it's the first "dark saison" I've ever had and I've got to say I was thoroughly impressed. There was a nice hop presence that kicked it up a notch. I'm hoping we see more of this beer in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2010 21:17:25 | More by kingcrowing

SFLpunk

Vermont

3.78/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

"Autumn Saison" collaboration with Iron Hill/Grassroots/McKenzie's. Dark Saison.

Tried at the brewery's "Autumn Festival" today in the HF wine glass.

Notes from my phone:
Deep dark brown, almost opaque with some thin cream-colored head. Nose is subtle with some faint forest floor aromas and faint red wine berry notes.

Palate is crisp with brett acidity. Some nice dark bitter chocolate and dark wheat fluffiness. Brett dominates the finish.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2010 03:35:08 | More by SFLpunk