Fear And Trembling (Cabernet/Bourbon Blend) - Hill Farmstead Brewery

Etan

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500ml into a Zwanze taster glass. Shared generously by Sean9689.

A: Black body, no head.

S: Smoked meat, caramel, some vinous tannins, light vanilla. The smoked malt is the focus here, as it should be.

T: More bacon, light breadiness, wood smoke, vanilla, caramel, light maple. The bourbon is more assertive than the cabernet but there is a bit of a dry vinous note to it.

M. Medium-bodied, light carbonation.

O. A great smoked beer. It's good to see brewers besides the traditional Germans getting balance in smoked beers right, and I suppose it helps that HF sourced very high quality malt.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 06:03:21 | More by Etan

IpeeA

Missouri

2.75/5  rDev -36.3%

05-17-2013 05:16:33 | More by IpeeA

cadaugherty

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7.4%

05-07-2013 23:27:21 | More by cadaugherty

arash1000

California

4/5  rDev -7.4%

05-03-2013 16:59:53 | More by arash1000

Quackus

New York

3.75/5  rDev -13.2%

04-01-2013 19:46:56 | More by Quackus

Takeanotherswing

New York

4.75/5  rDev +10%

03-06-2013 03:11:36 | More by Takeanotherswing

halo913

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

03-02-2013 15:30:07 | More by halo913

acurtis

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -13.2%

02-23-2013 02:57:17 | More by acurtis

jbuddle

New York

4/5  rDev -7.4%

01-22-2013 21:29:30 | More by jbuddle

djrn2

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -13.2%

01-13-2013 02:33:24 | More by djrn2

CypherEnigma

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +10%

12-12-2012 01:04:18 | More by CypherEnigma

klipper

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

12-02-2012 21:41:35 | More by klipper

girlmeetsbeer16

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

11-29-2012 01:54:40 | More by girlmeetsbeer16

bierdabbler

New York

5/5  rDev +15.7%

10-23-2012 23:13:18 | More by bierdabbler

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev -7.4%

10-14-2012 14:24:23 | More by t0rin0

xenjoiii

New York

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

10-08-2012 02:46:10 | More by xenjoiii

DonFrap

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

09-26-2012 01:19:21 | More by DonFrap

juliusseizure

New York

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

09-25-2012 20:35:33 | More by juliusseizure

HopsHopenstein

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

09-24-2012 21:57:56 | More by HopsHopenstein

Psychmusic

Rhode Island

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

09-23-2012 22:39:11 | More by Psychmusic

oldp0rt

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

09-23-2012 15:22:24 | More by oldp0rt

polishkaz

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

09-22-2012 20:46:53 | More by polishkaz

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Many thanks go to Kegatron for sharing all 3 Fear and Trembling variations during our recent gathering. Awesome experience to have these all back to back. 500ml bottle poured into some snifters. We drank this blended version last in the set of 3. The brew appears dark brown to black with brown clarity noticed around the edges. Some spotty to patchy lace sticks to the glass and swirl revives a finger back to the surface.

The smell is beefy with smoke but significantly more mild than the individual parts that this blend is comprised of. A mild hint of coconut and toffee is noted from the barrel aging. Some raw oak mixes with tangy alcohol inclusion that is quite reminescent of the cabernet version while the coconut and toffee is what I expected from the bourbon version. The way these two blend together is quite enjoyable.

The taste includes some tangy alcohol upfront with a flavor of raisin or plum that blends into some raw oakiness. Mid palate there is the expected smoke character but it is significantly more mild than the individual parts that comprise the blend. More sips reveal notes of earth, ash, roast and mild vanilla as it warms up.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. The alcohol inclusion is much more forward and pronounced in this blend than the other versions. It displays a bit of crisp quality to the finish. I was really surprised at how unique each of these fear and tremblings were in their own subtle way. Having them all side by side or back to back is the way to do it, else you might not really get the nuances (especially between the bourbon and cabernet versions.) My favorite was this one which which has the least focus on smoke and let more of the barrel quality come forward. Thanks again for sharing Heath!

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 14:01:20 | More by stakem

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500 ml bottle into a couple of glasses.

Pours a black/dark brown in the glass, with a finger of dark mocha. This looks just like the first two in the series, with good retention and lacing. The aroma smells of light smoke, dark fruit, cocoa, caramel and toffee. A touch of sticky charred bourbon hangs on the edges.

The taste is tart dark fruit, sticky chocolate and toffee, vanilla, moderate citrus notes and then some heavier roast towards the backend. Some light smokiness hangs in the finish, where it lingers with some leftover dry oak character. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and feels just like the other two beers, with a solid combo of crisp and creamy with a surprisingly well hid ABV.

I think this one definitely hit the sweet spot of the three beers in this series. You get a little bit of everything here from both the French Oak and Bourbon barrels plus just the right amount of smoke as well. This was definitely the winner of the bunch for me but they were all interesting in their own way.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 19:13:06 | More by Kegatron

hoppymcgee

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +10%

04-06-2012 02:48:14 | More by hoppymcgee