Twilight Of The Idols - Hill Farmstead Brewery

SpeedwayJim

New York

4.1/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Couldn't wait any longer! 500ml bottle into a Cigar City snifter. Shared with schen9303.

Pours pitch black with a 1.5 finger mocha head with average retention. Lacing is stringy and thick with good cling. Oily legs coat the glass. Solid, but not great given a comparison to Everett.

Nose is burnt coffee beans, roasted malt, a very mellow vanilla presence and some cocoa powder. Aromatic. Decent but I wish this was a bit sweeter.

Opens big coffee notes upfront. Some bitter chocolate, roasted malt, and sweet liquorice in the back. A slight tartness from the coffee and roasted malt towards the back. Finishes sweet with a touch of vanilla and fudge. Cocoa and just a touch of booze on the aftertaste. Really good balance.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Some bubbles in the mouth but smooth, warm, and silky going down. Messy finish with a pleasant, lingering aftertaste that leaves my lips sticky. Perfect.

I much prefer Everett over Twilight but that's not to say this isn't one of the better porters out there. Exhibits great balance in flavor and as always, a perfectly crafted feel. Worth a try but if you're into sweet porters, the vanilla is very subtle in this beer and you'll likely prefer Everett over this.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 23:34:07 | More by SpeedwayJim

drabmuh

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

At the time of this review, this beer is #8 on the "Top Beers - American Porter" list on beeradvocate.com. Impressive, at least to me for sure. Served in a stemmed tulip from Hlil Farmstead. This has been a long time want and brings me slightly closer to finishing the BA top 250 list. So that's pretty sweet (four to go).

Beer is black with a thin tan head of small bubbles, head needs coaxing to come out but once it does it is made up of tiny bubbles, some lacing, moderate retention, low carbonation.

Aroma is sweet, mild chocolate, no cinnamon unfortunately.

Beer is medium in body and fairly sweet, the finish isn't bitter or spicy at all, it is super drinkable and makes me happy. I really enjoy this beer and hope to have it again in the future, perhaps on draft or fresher when the spices are still dominant.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 13:56:05 | More by drabmuh

Jeffo

Netherlands

4.1/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this from jbeatty and hotpipes a while back. Cheers for the bottles gents!

From a 500ml bottle into a snifter
Fall/Winter 2012

APPEARANCE: A clear, dark pour yields a two finger, medium looking, fluffy, light tan head with great retention. Black body with lower amounts of carbonation evident. Head fades to a full foamy cap and sticks to the sides of the glass. A half, swirly wisp remains leaving some good lacing down the sides of the glass.

SMELL: Dark malts, caramel notes, coffee and hints of vanilla as well. Quite a bit of vanilla with some lactose and milk chocolate as well. Pretty big nose for sure.

TASTE: Dark and roasted notes with coffee flavors, espresso and sweet cream. Lots of flavor here. A big finish with vanilla, sweet cream, milk chocolate and roasted espresso bitterness as well. Flavorful and enjoyable.

PALATE: Medium body and medium levels of carbonation. Very velvety and creamy smooth on the palate, goes down smooth and finishes a touch sticky. Nice stuff.

OVERALL: Surprising that this is the base beer to Birth of Tragedy actually, as the abv difference is quite large. Nevertheless, this is an excellent beer and quite drinkable for it's size. Perhaps a little more bitterness at the finish would make this perfect, but it is a really tasty and enjoyable treat as it is. Another great porter/stout from Hill Farmstead. Cheers again for the bottles guys!

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 12:17:24 | More by Jeffo

Chico1985

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

On-tap at Stoutfest 2013, Armsby Abbey. Served in a tulip glass.

Pour is black with about a half-finger of tan head. It retains as a mostly full cap leaving some good lace behind.

Solid, well-rounded scent with decent potency. Just about even distribution of chocolate, coffee, roasted malts, with a good amount of spices and vanilla.

Taste follows suit nicely. The cinnamon is noticeable but nicely restrained and unique, definitely gives it a 'winter' feel. Cocoa and coffee are just about equal, with vanilla and roasted malts there as well.

Nice, full mouthfeel with highish carbonation. No alcohol, fitting for a highish-ABV porter.

This was quite good, a very stellar porter with a wintery twist - loved the amount of cinnamon used here, just the right amount - though one glass would be enough for me I think. More well-rounded and solid than the bourbon-barrel aged treatment (birth of Tragedy).

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2013 18:01:25 | More by Chico1985

Alieniloquium

Florida

4.06/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500 mL bottle poured into a snifter. Fall/Winter 2012 bottle.

Appearance - Black with a khaki head. Chunky bubbles unbalanced around the edge. Slightly transparent at the edges.

Smell - Lots of vanilla. Coffee, but not the most interesting or intense coffee flavor. Sweet malt and some roast.

Taste - Still lots of vanilla. Chocolate and coffee. Lacking the roast I'd like from it. Bitter chocolate and a slight herbal character. Tastes like spices in the finish.

Mouthfeel - Slick and chewy for its size. Medium carbonation.

Overall - Lots of vanilla. Needs more roast. Good without being Hill Farmstead's best beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 01:37:28 | More by Alieniloquium

kingcrowing

Vermont

4.05/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2L growler poured into a Tumbler.

Pours a very dark brown that's near black, slowly a small deep dark brown head arises and slowly fades into some very fine lacing. Nose is all coffee, quite impressive. There are some light sweet spicy & vanilla notes as well.

Taste is again strongly coffee. It's a bit dry and bitter with a lot of coffee characteristics as well. The cinnamon comes in on the finish very faintly and subtly that's super well done. A great holiday beer that's flavorful and drinkable.

Serving type: growler

11-25-2010 18:52:14 | More by kingcrowing

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap, served in a HF stemmed tulip

Pours a near black with a thin dark khaki cap. Bit of a creamy cap as it clings to the sides and leaves faint sip marks.

The aroma is of roast, dark chocolate, vanilla beans, fresh coffee and a faint hint of cinnamon lays low. There is a fresh citrus hop presence that pokes through all of the other aromas.

Up front, the roast, dark chocolate, and fresh coffee take the lead before a rush of citrus and a finish of roast, vanilla, and cinnamon. Some citrus lingers, but the lingering flavors are mainly roast and cinnamon.

Full bodied porter, rich and creamy. The feel is really the best part of this beer. So smooth for how big it is.

This is a fine porter that I would seek out again. Rich, bold flavors, a nice hop profile and the added touch of cinnamon for a little flair.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2012 16:25:14 | More by ColForbinBC

DaveHack

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a growler into a HF tulip.

Pours pretty typical for the style. Very dark, virtually black. Mocha colored head rests nicely on top.

Smell is very roasty. I can catch a hint of bitter chocoalte as well.

Taste is in line with the smell. It's very roasty up front along with a little bitterness.

Considering the smell and color, I would've expected this to be much heavier and thick. It isn't a light beer, but it's certainly not heavy. It's really a smooth beer.

Not my favorite of styles, but I enjoyed this.

Serving type: growler

11-05-2012 22:48:48 | More by DaveHack

Teleweizen2

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Hill farmstead twilight

A - pours a deep velvety black color with a hint of chocolate brown. A fingers worth off white foam caps the liquid which dissipates slowly to just a thin film and ring around the glass.

S - roasty notes of oily espresso beans, burnt grains and a wisp of charcoal at first. As it warms more notes of sweet melted chocolate, mocha and a dusting of cocoa powder. Maybe a hint of smoke and vanilla as it warms further.

T - big flavors of roasted grains and smooth city roast coffee up front. Mid palate the chocolate comes through bringing out a mocha note. Slight hint of smoke and iron on the backend. Bright spice character on the finish. Finish is long with a lingering chocolate flavor.

M - a round and supple medium body. Texture is like freshly spun silk. Medium carbonation.

O - I love how it really changes and opens up when consumed over a long period of time. A great beer to sip and savor.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 03:32:55 | More by Teleweizen2

05Harley

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Purchased @ Hill Farmstead Brewery, Greensboro VT

Price - $16/growler

A Winter Porter brewed with Coffee and Cinnamon…Aged on Vanilla Beans.

This is one dark beauty with a thin red edge noticeable only under the light near the top. A delicious looking beer with a half inch creamy tan head and patches of lacing.

Aroma is perfect for winter with vanilla, caramel, gingerbread, fresh roasted coffee and cinnamon spices.

The flavor mirrors the nose with the addition of dark chocolate but the spicey cinnamon steals the attention and takes center stage. A definite sweetness is noted from start to finish.

Mouthfeel is silky smooth with a medium body and slightly sticky. The bitter/dryness is held in check keeping it very much a dessert beer. Very low in carbonation, pretty much nonexistent.

Overall this is a good example of the style and a perfect fit for the holiday season. An easy drinking porter and a candidate for a Christmas after dinner menu.

Serving type: growler

12-06-2011 01:15:58 | More by 05Harley

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Twilight of the Idols pours dark brown/black into the glass with a small, creamy brown head on top. The foam dissolves quickly to a ring around the surface leaving behind only a couple spots of lace on the glass.

The aroma is malty with notes of chocolate, coffee and roasted malt.

Each sip of this medium to full bodied beer is creamy on the palate, somewhat dry with moderate carbonation. The flavor is roasty with tastes of chocolate and coffee blended in. Hints of vanilla and a touch of spice at the end are also present. An earthy nuttiness is also present. Once gone the chocolate and spice lingers on the palate.

This is a very tasty, easy drinking beer. The flavor really improves as the beer warms.

Serving type: growler

12-11-2011 21:38:53 | More by WanderingFool

Kinsman

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Yup, it's black alright. Bit of tan head sits on top but fades kind of quickly. Quite a strong vanilla note to start things off, some cinnamon and a nice solid porter to back it all up. Some chocolate aromas and a healthy dose of coffee roasting going on.

Really digging what the vanilla bean and cinnamon have done with this porter. The vanilla is more prominent here than I expected given other vanilla bean aged porters I've had. Cinnamon naturally pairs really well with these flavors and it's a shame you don't see more spiced beers go as dark as this (too many generic winter warmers seem to be boring amber ales with spices added). Anyone that's had Everett knows that HF makes a mean porter so naturally the base beer in this holds up really well. Not as roasty and robust as Everett but I think that gives the other flavors a better chance to shine.

Full-bodied and creamy mouthfeel. Really, this might just be the perfect winter beer.

Serving type: growler

10-29-2012 01:17:55 | More by Kinsman

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks go to BA Deuane for sharing this growler over the weekend. I got to have several pours into a snifter. The brew appears black in color with thick mocha colored head. The cap fades slowly producing a full wall of lace. A light swirl revives a finger back to the surface.

The smell is pretty strong with vanilla beans. Almost a sticky feeling to the nostrils before the onset of roasty coffee, charred grain, earthen elements and then citrus hops. Across the back as this brew warms up, it is somewhat reminescent of an oyster stout with its mineral inclusion and roasty elements.

The flavor is super roasty with dark kilned grain and an accenting bitterness of citrus bitter coffee coupled with herbal hops. A pronounced sticky vanilla bean flavor and sweetness persists though the middle of this brews flavor profile. The finish goes back to a bit of that previous mentioned oyster stout feel with plenty of mineral character somewhat earthen and reminescent of cinnamon bark.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. It is smooth and easy drinking with lots of pleasant roasty stout quality contrasted by sticky sweet vanilla bean addition. I had no problems finishing my glass and reaching for more. My only complaint is the mineral aspect thy seemed a bit out of place.

Serving type: growler

11-13-2012 15:19:49 | More by stakem

JizackFH

New York

4/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on-tap at Sunswick 35/35 in Astoria, NY on 11/27/11.
Review taken from notes.

This beer pours a really dark brown color. There is a small finger of light tan head on top of it. The head sticks around for a bit, and it leaves behind a few specs of lace behind as it recedes. The nose is roasty and there are aromas of coffee, chocolate, and a bit of dark fruit. There is also a bit of vanilla and molasses that comes out. The taste starts off with a strong roasted malt presence. There are some good flavors of milk chocolate and coffee that stand out. Also, there are flavors of vanilla, dark fruit, molasses, and a bit of cinnamon. The finish leaves some lingering roasted malt, coffee, and chocolate behind on the palate. This has a medium body and good carbonation. It goes down easy and has a rich velvety feel to it. There a good amount of roasted malt bitterness here, as well a nice dose of sweetness. It coats the mouth nicely and really lets you taste all of it. The roasted bitterness and sweetness sticks to the palate and lingers for a bit. This has good drinkability. It is a really tasty beer, and I could easily have a few glasses of it in an evening. Overall, I think this is a good beer and a good example of the style. This is a solid beer, and I recommend trying it out. I would buy it again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2011 11:44:25 | More by JizackFH

AlexFields

Tennessee

4/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a rich dark brown, not much of a head, just islands of creamy foam on top of the beer.

Smells of lots of sweet vanilla, espresso/latte style coffee, chocolate and other rich malt.

Basically the same--delicious vanilla, creamy coffee without much bitterness, sweet milk chocolate. HF definitely lean toward the sweet and malty end of the spectrum with their porters/stouts.

Very good porter, but again am slightly disappointed in that I expected something really special and got something merely very good. I like Victory at Sea a lot better than this.

8.1/10

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 13:18:03 | More by AlexFields

illidurit

California

4/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle shared at the Santa Cruz tasting in January. Chocolate and fresh coffee aromas, some vanilla and honey as well. Big coffee notes in the flavor, firm roastiness balanced by sweet dark malts. Smooth vanilla bean finish. A really nice rich mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 23:49:25 | More by illidurit

claspada

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Fall/Winter 2012 bottle sampled 4/20/13.

Pours a dark hazy black colored body with a smallish khaki head that settles to a whisp of khaki foam.

Aromas begin with dark roasted malt, cocoa, medium roasted coffee beans and vanilla. Not getting much cinnamon and as much vanilla as I would have expected/hoped.

The tastes follow the aroma with some rich, darker cocoa, medium roasted coffee and light vanilla flavor which emerges more as it warms. Roasted malt asserts itself more and the cocoa dissipates over time.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. The finish is lightly roasted and balanced overall.

Overall this was a very good beer but not exceptional. I wonder if the age or storage prior to me acquiring it was a contributing factor but I will never know. Solid but not up to the elevated expectations I have come to expect from HF.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 23:31:31 | More by claspada

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pour is black and opaque, tons of tight caramel brown head. Nose is roasted coffee, assertive vanilla and rich chocolate, light char, fair spice to it. Taste is similar in comparison to the nose. Same aspects, coffee is light with the roast slightly stronger. Very rich chocolate and vanilla, light peppery tang to it. Balanced sweetness subtly behind showing a deep malt presence. Body is lighter, carb is assertive with a juicy texture and semi dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 18:23:34 | More by cpetrone84

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.99/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Thank you, Eric. Fall 2012 release.

A very dark brown that ends up being black in my Duvel glass, this beer is capped with a dense, light brown head with excellent retention and moderate lacing. The nose is pretty solid. Coffee and vanilla bean are immediately noticeable, along with an undercurrent of roast, caramel and unsweetened chocolate. Hop character is minimal here. The vanilla is surprisingly potent, lending sweetness as well as flavor to the nose. The coffee character is interesting. Unlike many coffee beers, this isn't loaded with dark roast. Instead, it's closer to a medium roast, with the fruity notes pairing well with the chocolate and vanilla.

The palate is a step up from the nose. Creamy and gently carbonated, this beer opens with a blend of vanilla, caramel, coffee and chocolate. Not as roasty as my favorite porters, though there is a pleasant grainy bitterness towards the finish. Vanilla characteristics dominate, with the unsweetened chocolate and coffee coming in second and third. The combination is quite enjoyable, though. The finish is creamy, almost with a touch of lactose, with chocolate and vanilla dominating. The medium body on this beer is just wonderful, a sentiment that is heightened by the fantastic level of carbonation. A very good beer, though pricey for what it is IMO.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 06:06:46 | More by DefenCorps

billab914

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a growler into a tasting glass. Black in color with a huge frothy head to it. Nice head retention and great lacing. Great looking porter overall.

Aroma has very nice notes of both chocolate and vanilla. There is a herbal almost piny presence to it as well. Vanilla is pretty good, but the aroma doesn't seem to quite come together as well as the taste does.

The taste has some really nice roasted malt, chocolate, and vanilla flavors to it. The vanilla lingers into the finish. There is a little coffee to it as well. Very smooth and drinkable and the vanilla compliments it perfectly.

Mouthfeel is creamy and somewhat thick with carbonation being moderate. Great mouthfeel for the style. Overall, it was a very good beer. The aroma was a little off but the taste completely made up for it. Very good beer overall, I especially loved the vanilla component.

Serving type: growler

12-21-2012 17:21:03 | More by billab914

beerdrifter

Germany

3.98/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Picked this up from a great trade with Evan! Nice black pour with two fingers of thick, foamy beige head with great retention and lacing. Complex nose with hints of roasty coffee, cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, and a bit of mocha. The taste follows suit with lots of dark roasty coffee up front along with hints of cinnamon, vanilla, sweet cream, milk chocolate, and some subtle black pepper. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, extremely creamy, and smooth as silk. Overall, this is a really nice Porter with a unique holiday twist. It's a bit too sweet for my taste, but still enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 20:17:57 | More by beerdrifter

Sean9689

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks, Bob! 750ml growler in Narke tulip.

A - Pours black, tan-colored head, thin ring, some wisps on top.

S - Sweet milk chocolate, light roast, caramel, lots of vanilla. All very sweet and rich...smells like dessert.

T - Vanilla is more pronounced here, chocolate, light roasty malts, some coffee and cocoa in there as well. Really digging the vanilla and chocolate sweetness, the roasted notes are light and subtle.

M - Light to medium, good carbonation, rich and smooth, creamy finish.

O - Drinks like a chocolate/vanilla milkshake. An excellent dessert beer and perfect for the winter months to warm you up. Another winner from HF!

Serving type: growler

12-15-2011 18:57:42 | More by Sean9689

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On- tap at Armsby. Reviewed from notes.

A- Black pour into a pint glass. Tan head with good size and retention. A decent amount of lace.

S- Porter base with a pretty big dark fruit, cinnamon and general holiday spice feel. Roast malt, cocoa and coffee in the background.

T- Holiday spiced porter with a nice earthy cinnamon bark and vanilla flavor. The dark fruit flavor is big here once again over cocoa and roast malt.

MF- Silky feel with low but smooth carbonation. Oily and warm feel.

A good porter with very noticeable cinnamon bark, vanilla and spiced feel.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2012 16:44:07 | More by cbutova

brystmar

Texas

3.93/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Mac comes through with the pre-hurricane growler! What better way to ride out Hurricane Sandy than with a fresh growler from Hill Farmstead?

Deep brown body, nearly opaque. Fluffy dark tan head, excellent retention and lace, all of which are par for the course for a Hill Farmstead brew.

Aroma is exceedingly dry, and yields only a hint of cinnamon. Other than that, it smells like a regular robust porter without extra ingredients. Surprisingly minimal roast and spices here; this isn't what I expect from HF.

Fortunately, everything shows up on my palate. Predominantly roasty malt layered with smooth vanilla, leaving a lingering cinnamon flavor in the back of my throat. Coffee is the weakest of the flavors, and I'd like a more coffee-forward profile here.

Pretty sure I prefer Everett to Twilight of the Idols as it stands. I like this combination of flavors moreso in theory than in this particular beer. Perhaps the next batch will be better?

Serving type: growler

10-28-2012 19:14:24 | More by brystmar

Viciousknishs

Virginia

3.93/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- pours black with a thin cap of dark espresso crema colored head. Pour head retention.

S- roasted malt with notes of caramel and chocolate blend with a rich coffee aroma. Nice hint of vanilla on the finish.

T- tastes like an iced vanilla latte. Notes of caramel, oily coffee bean and semi-sweet chocolate play on the palate as well. Lingering vanilla bean and roasted malt on the finish.

MF- slick mouthfeel with a medium body. Mild carbonation with a nice creamy texture.

D- very drinkable and smooth.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 04:01:10 | More by Viciousknishs