Fear And Trembling (Bourbon)
Hill Farmstead Brewery

Fear And Trembling (Bourbon)Fear And Trembling (Bourbon)
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From:
Hill Farmstead Brewery
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
Baltic Porter
ABV:
9.3%
Score:
93
Avg:
4.19 | pDev: 9.07%
Reviews:
41
Ratings:
96
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 24, 2020
Added:
Oct 19, 2010
Wants:
  161
Gots:
  8
Fear and Trembling is Hill Farmstead’s first collaboration – a Baltic Porter brewed with malt that was hand smoked over maple wood by our Danish friend, and former colleague, Anders Kissmeyer. This bottled version was aged in Bourbon barrels. As a student of philosophy and former resident of Copenhagen, it is fitting that our brewer named our first collaboration after Denmark’s great thinker: Søren Kierkegaard. All three contemplated absurdity, faith, and salvation while wandering the shores of the Baltic Sea…

“…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling…”

Aged in used Sam Adams Utopias barrels.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.63 by Nichols33 from Massachusetts

Feb 24, 2020
 
Rated: 4.19 by CTJman from Connecticut

Aug 21, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by jschott75 from Illinois

May 24, 2018
Photo of jzeilinger
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Dark brown pour with thin creme lacing ring, no carbonation.

S - Toasted cocoa, chocolate, a little eartginess, delicate bourbon.

T - Oak, bourbon, some delicate chocolate, and alcohol forward.

M - Full bodied and silky.

O - impressive beer and held up well for seven years old.
Dec 03, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by DaveHack from Pennsylvania

Dec 03, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

Dec 03, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Dec 03, 2017
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.98/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Have had this 2 times now, each time, very good. Hit those at dark brown as you can get notes without being black kind of situation. Still brown head, 1/3". Aroma dropped smoke, bourbon, oak, black malts, plenty of char from both the smoke and the barrel.

Taste brought the smoke, booze and bourbon in that order. A strong f'n beer. Nice in small doses. Any sweetness from the Utopias barrels is lost on me.
Mar 28, 2016
 
Rated: 4.34 by Kelp from New Hampshire

Jun 21, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Dicers from California

Jun 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.41 by canadianghetto from Texas

Jun 09, 2015
Photo of corby112
Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a dark chestnut brown color with dark plum edges and a one finger beige head that quickly settles into a lasting ring. Spotty lacing left behind.

Spicy bourbon barrel aroma with an earthy green pepper presence, dry charred oak, sweet vanilla beam and toasted coconut. Subtle phenols but kind of tame with subtle hints of smoke, charcoal and bbqed meat. Some band aid and off notes but the nose on this beer has some nice bourbon character. Not as pleasant of an aroma as the French oak variant but still good.

On the fuller end of medium body with a spicy bourbon and damp oak/toothpick character. Spicy green peppers along with boozy bourbon and toasted oak followed by subtle phenols, barbecued meat and charcoal. Smoke is a bit overpowering for my preference and the green chili flavor is too strong but it has nice bourbon barrel flavors integrated into the smokier elements.
May 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by duceswild from Heard & McDonald Islands

Jan 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4.04 by mendvicdog from Maryland

Jan 13, 2015
Photo of BarrytheBear
Rated by BarrytheBear from Wisconsin

4.21/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Far and away my favorite of the three variants...a huge thank you to Mike for the opportunity
Jan 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4.08 by oline73 from Maryland

Jan 11, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Nov 13, 2014
Photo of Alieniloquium
Reviewed by Alieniloquium from Florida

3.89/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
500 mL bottle poured into a snifter.

Appearance - Dark brown body. Small off-white head. A bit of a collar.

Smell - Smoke is much more prominent than it is in the Blended version. Oak. Some dark chocolate.

Taste - Smoke is still pretty rich. Lightly sweet up front. Some light bourbon, but not a lot. Oak. Very slight red wine acidity. Oxidation is light, but creeping up.

Mouthfeel - Medium carbonation. Medium body, maybe lacking a little bit.

Overall - This one aged much better than the Cab/Bourbon blend. Less oxidized and the smoke is still very nice.
Oct 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by goldspire from California

Aug 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by zestar from California

Jul 03, 2014
Fear And Trembling (Bourbon) from Hill Farmstead Brewery
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 96 ratings