Twilight Of The Idols - Hill Farmstead Brewery

rodkin

Missouri

4.21/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a dark black, with a small tan head. Decent lacing.

Smell is mocha coffee, vanilla, honey-like sweetness, slight roasty bitterness, some fruitiness, spice.

Taste is great. Coffee, vanilla, honey, slightly astringent burnt roasted coffee, sweet fruitiness, caramel, cinnamon spice. Very sweet, but the burnt coffee bitterness and bit of spice balances it nicely.

Medium thick, maybe slightly on the thinner side but it doesn't detract too much. Fairly carbonated, maybe slightly more than I'd like. But not much more.

This is a great beer. My first exposure to HF, and I'm definitely a fan.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 05:44:20 | More by rodkin

homebrew311

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance is dark brown with barely any head.
Nose is dark bitter chocolate, earthy hop character in the middle with a little bit of of vanilla at the back. The coffee is present on the nose but much tamer than I would expect for a coffee porter. The taste features a stronger presence of vanilla, chocolate, a touch of cinnamon on the back. Very nice. Overall, tons of flavor and decent balance, coffee is more backseat than I expected.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 00:51:11 | More by homebrew311

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.23/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle opened on 12.14.12

A - Pours a dark brown with a one inch medium brown-tan head with great retention.

S - Coffee mostly, then roasted chocolate malts, some very faint vanilla.

T - Smooth chocolate up-front, then bitter coffee and finishes with nice vanilla.

D - Decent carbonation with a medium body.

O - Nice layers of chocolate, coffee then some vanilla.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 06:50:10 | More by HuskyinPDX

HopHead84

California

4.23/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

12/29/2012

2012 Fall/Winter release 500ml bottle poured into Hill Farmstead stemware.

A: The essence of black, possessing neither brown nor crimson tones when held to light. The khaki head is mousse-like and lingers for a few minutes before settling to a bubbly froth. Sheets of lacing are scattered.

S: Firm roasted malt presence (slightly charred) with soft vanilla notes and earthy coffee. Dark chocolate is pervasive and there's a little licorice in there. I'm not really getting cinnamon in the aroma, despite the site's description of the beer. I'm not sure if this batch has it.

As the beer opens up I detect a nutty quality to the coffee, and now I'm getting some cinnamon. Very nice.

T: Bittersweet dark chocolate blends with roasted grains and a little licorice. Coffee is potent, bringing to mind earth and char. Vanilla is soft up front but a bit stronger on the back end and it tastes quite nice. There's a moderate level of bitterness and a little alcohol in the charred coffee finish. Cinnamon becomes apparent when the beer warms to room temperature, bringing to mind Mexican chocolate.

M: Lower full body with upper medium carbonation. The mouthfeel is chewy, sticky, silky, and viscous. Hill Farmstead nailed this aspect of the beer.

Overall: I'm really enjoying this. The beer has a nice blend of flavors that go well with the base Porter. It really opens up when allowed to breathe.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 02:56:08 | More by HopHead84

davewlfpckfan29

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

WOW. I am lucky enough to have this brewery so close to me. I have had this on tap both at Hill Farmstead, and now at Parker Pie. I have purchased the 750ml bottle as well because I like this beer so much.

Beautiful dark brown color, tan lacing which sits at the top

The smell of the beer is very pleasing.

Vanilla and coffee. Yes. But also much more taste from spices, such a great balance of so much that is going on in this beer.
Delicious.

Smooth mouthfeel, very easy to drink a couple glasses of this.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2011 21:36:08 | More by davewlfpckfan29

pwoods

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Kels bf for picking this up for me.

750ml growler poured into a snifter.

A: Pours pitch black with no light. Moderate head with only some retention. Decent lacing.

S: lots of fresh brewed coffee with a hint of vanilla but with a pepper/chili kind of spice... Though I don't think there's any in this beer. Some light roast.

T/M: Coffee is big but not dominate. Vanilla is mild and not very sweet, as well as the spices. Roast is slightly bigger. Body is medium full to full and creamy with medium to mild carbonation.

D: Pretty drinkable for the weight of the body, but everything is very balanced and pretty tasty.

Serving type: growler

01-03-2012 01:54:49 | More by pwoods

axeman9182

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Cafe D'Alsace, and served in a tall thin glass.

Twilight of the Idols pours a solid black, with about a finger of mocha foam left crowning the beer. Head retention is just average, and there's a little bit of lacing left stuck around the glass. The nose is nice, dominated by milk chocolate with a strong spicy cinnamon presence. The flavor profile takes things to the next level though, starting with a creamy chocolate open. Cinnamon comes in for a short time in the mid palate, before coffee and more chocolate close things off. The finish is like the liquid equivalent of snacking on chocolate covered coffee beans. The mouthfeel is also top notch, very full and creamy for a 7.5% beer, with a subtle and understated carbonation. I'd be shocked if there weren't a healthy dose of oats in the grain bill, because the body is just that silky smooth. Twilight of the Idols was the first non hoppy beer I've had from Hill Farmtead, and it left me just as impressed with them as I was by their outstanding IPAs.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2012 02:51:04 | More by axeman9182

socon67

New York

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Black pour with a cream colored foam

S - Nice scent of chocolate, coffee, and rown sugar.

T - Hearty, robust porter with plenty of flavor. Malt tastes a bit more like an english porter, but the chocolate and coffee flavors are up front and consistent.

M - This one is very smooth for a hearty porter. Feels lighter than you would think.

O - Liked this one alot. Great example of a porter that could pass for a hearty stout.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2012 18:21:35 | More by socon67

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap @prohibition pig in waterbury VT

A: super dark brown, just about black with a nice finger of creamy mocha head, this looks delicious. The head recedes nicley, not much lacing though.

S: I get sweet milk chocolate, with a touch of dark fruit. first off, then coffee with a bit of creamy vanilla, then as the beer warms I begin to notice the cinnamon giving a vague cinnamon teddy graham note.... A touch of alcohol a well. Loving the aroma, particuarly as it warms.

T: milk chocolate coffe and vanill, reminds me of chocolate milk but mocha, the cinnamon comes in a touch on the end.... Sadly I do not get the teddy Graham's I gt in the nose....

M: heavy medium body with lower carbonation... Mouthfeel is slick and velvety with a dry finish. Very full bodied for a 7.5 abv.

O: a really good porter, don't really know what else to say... A touch of sweetness to it for the style and a hint of dark fruit, but overall deffinatly try this if you get the chance.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2012 00:07:42 | More by PeterIngemi

Arbitrator

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Chilled growler into a glass. I think this was shared by nickd717. From long-ago notes.

A: The growler was a bit cold, so the beer (black body) initially poured flat and eventually generated a tan head that lasted briefly before receding into a thin collar. No lace.

S: This is more chocolate-forward than Everett (which to me is primarily roasty). Vanilla, coffee, roasted grain, and some smoke are noted.

T: Again, chocolate-forward, but roasted grain is stronger here than the nose implied it would be. Coffee and vanilla are also weaker than the nose implied. There is a nice spice kick (cinnamon?); that and a nutty molasses flavor give the beer a wintry feel.

M: Medium-bodied, with low-medium carbonation. It has a little lingering stickiness, but it's not oily.

O: An outstanding porter. I think Everett takes the cake for me, but this is a fine entry in Hill Farmstead's recipe book...

EDIT: In retrospect, uploading this review maybe 2 years later, I realized that this must have been the base beer for Birth of Tragedy. Nice. No wonder that beer turned out to be so exceptional.

Serving type: growler

10-17-2012 18:29:41 | More by Arbitrator

dickieb

Rhode Island

4.26/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Pours black with a slightly bigger than average coffee head and average lacing. The smell is quite faint with nothing but grains and chocolate malts coming through. The flavor on the other hand is rich and complex with chocolate vanilla coffee and lingering spice and cinnamon notes finish it off. The mouthfeel is not overpowering and just about right and this is a very drinkable brew. The first "dark" beer I have had from Hill Farmstead and another great beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 23:36:49 | More by dickieb

nickd717

California

4.28/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Growler thanks to grassrootsvt.

Pours a very dark brown color with a one finger tan head that fades to swirls.

Big rich chocolatey aroma, along with vanilla and roasty notes. Some spice evident.

Chocolate - Tootsie Roll or Hershey's bar - is big on the flavor. Behind that is roast, coal, cinnamon, and vanilla. Tasty.

Medium-bodied and fairly dry on the mouthfeel with a good long finish.

Really good porter, impressive and easy to drink.

Serving type: growler

01-05-2011 18:36:03 | More by nickd717

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.28/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750 mL growler served in a HF wine glass.

Pours a rich chocolate black with a quickly dissipating mocha head. Dots of lacing and wet legs line the glass. Aroma starts with mild smoke, bread and burnt malt, and turns mildly sweet with molasses, milk chocolate, vanilla bean and light cream. Flavor has a bready and coffee base, more roasted malt and a baker's chocolate finish that isn't particularly sweet. Vanilla and molasses subtly blend in and out of the body without ever being cloying. Biggest knock on this is the slightly thin body and watery finish. Nowhere as robust as Everett and too thin for the style and ABV for my taste. Regardless, an excellent, unique porter but I'll just stick to Everett.

Serving type: growler

12-03-2011 21:48:31 | More by yourefragile

mdaschaf

Washington

4.28/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Review from notes. Thanks to Paul for sharing!

A: Pours black with a one finger tan colored head on top, great retention which left behind some thin lacing.

S: Some roast with chocolate and a coffee. The vanilla is there, a little lighter than I would have liked, but not a knock at all. The cinnamon is faint as well, but present.

T: The coffee is a bit more forward in the flavor profile and the chocolate takes a back seat. Nice level of roastiness with some vanilla and spice.

M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Extremely smooth and creamy.

O: Another tasty porter from HF. A can see how this would be nice to drink in the winter, but nothing wrong with drinking it on a cloudy May afternoon in Seattle either.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 12:14:37 | More by mdaschaf

AndyAvalanche

Massachusetts

4.29/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

500 ML bottle poured into a grand service glass. Liquid comes out dark brown and is black in the deepest parts of the glass with brown highlights around the edges. The hard pour came out with dark tan cap that leaves better than average lacing.

Smells is very, very good. Lot's of dark roasted, to slightly charred grains. In additions there are hints of a of coffee with a back aroma of vanilla. All of the aromas mesh together nicely and even gives a slight liquorish smell to it as well, overall it's pretty robust.

Taste is also very good, maybe a slight but not as strong as I expected based on the smell. Immediately you can taste the earthy sweet grains. A little bready similar to toast that got left in a little too long with some molasses. Definitely a coffee flavor a darker roast than the smell would indicate. At the end there's a slight hint of the vanilla.

Mouthfeel is very good. It's certainly full with a good carbonation level. It's very smooth, almost silky then leads to a nice dry finish that's pretty clean. Very drinkable, one to slowly enjoy and/or even share, but anybody who likes porters could very easily polish this one off. A well done seasonal brew. Huge props to BBG for sharing this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 01:40:36 | More by AndyAvalanche

Treebs

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

500 ml bottle served in a CBS snifter. Fall/Winter 2012 vintage. Big thanks to Ivoutlawjlh for the extra. Thanks Jeremy!

A: Pours a nice obsidian color, very opaque, with a tan head forming on the pour. It recedes slowly to a thick ring and a small wispy film. Sheets of lace are left down the glass.

S: Roasty malts and cinnamon are present up front. Baker chocolate with a light vanilla bean that lingers around in the background. Some coffee cake sweetness as well.

T: Finely roasted malts, some coffee bean, and light cinnamon all up front. Toffee malts, some sweet crumb cake and with a little nuttiness on the finish.

M: Dry and roasted with a medium plus body. Medium carbonation. Smooth and creamy mouthfeel.

O: This was another excellent porter from HF. While enjoy Everett more, this was still a big winner in my book. Nicely hidden ABV and greatly nuanced flavors. Definitely recommend.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 20:51:01 | More by Treebs

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.31/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to benz08 for picking this up on his visit to VT in December.

A: Pours an opaque jet black in color with some very dark amber highlights and a light to moderate amount of gentle visible carbonation at the surface. The beer has a finger tall dark tan beige that slowly reduces to an extremely thin film covering the majority of the surface of the beer with a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of dark roasted malts with moderate to heavy amounts of chocolate and slightly lesser aromas of vanilla and coffee.

T: Moderate to strong flavors of dark roasted malts with some chocolate notes to it, then there are some moderate flavors of freshly brewed coffee. After that, there is a light amount of vanilla that imparts a touch of sweetness. Moderate amounts of bitterness which fades over a fairly short amount of time.

M: Just shy of medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth and slightly creamy.

O: This is a really enjoyable brew that I was happy to get my hands on, and I would be happy to have a few more of these - it is a really nice brew. Very nice complexity to both the smell and the taste with nice coffee and vanilla notes (one of my favorite combinations).

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 23:27:39 | More by dbrauneis

nkersten

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap, served into a tulip. Pitch black with a one finger tan head that settles to a cap, very creamy with amazing lacing. Smell is bourbon and raw vanilla beans, spiced cinnamon, coffee beans, dark roasty malts, spicy hops. Taste is very sweet malts and some roasted malt bitterness, vanilla, slightly hoppy, a hint of coffee and some cinnamon (a later batch I had was heavy on the cinnamon, i prefer this version). Medium/heavy body with a light carbonation. This beer drinks and feels more like a spiced stout then a porter, but an excellent Christmas beer either way. One of the most drinkable spiced beers I have ever had. Sadly, TSA smashed the growler I was attempting to bring back so I wont get to have any more of this for a while.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2010 20:43:15 | More by nkersten

Beerisheaven

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Growler provided to me by kelp, the undisputed heavyweight champion of trading from the New England area. This guy rolls out great beers in trade after trade like a production line. I am a lucky fellow to have him as a regular trading partner.

A - Pours a rich dark brown or lightish shade of black without much head but with a decent amount of bubbles that go snack, crackle, pop and then they're gone.

S - I get the coffee front and center with a nice compliment of good bakers chocolate. I don't get the cinnomon and the vanilla is in the closet as well.

T - Hill Farmstead is quickly becoming one of my favorite breweries. JUst about everything that kelp has thrown my way from them has been top notch. Great coffee, chocolate, toffee, taste to this one. I think that I poured this one a bit too cold. As it warmed, the profiles increased. I would suggest letting this one warm a bit when you take it from the frig.

M - Very pleasant for a porter. As rich and thick as you would expect from this type of beer category.

O - Really nice beer from a great brewery. Wish I was local and could hit them up on a regular basis. I have to remember to never piss kelp off.

Serving type: growler

12-04-2011 15:42:04 | More by Beerisheaven

cbeer88

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 64oz growler into 20oz imperial pint glass.

Appearance: Color of the body is an extremely dark brown with a thin one fingered cappuccino colored head that doesn't last terribly long. Bit of similar colored lacing dots the glass as the beer goes down.

Smell: Coffee, chocolate, and roasted malts. It's very nice, but not as complex as I expected given what is in this beer.

Taste: The complexity very much is here in the taste though. In addition to the typical roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee flavors expected from a porter, there is also a good touch of vanilla throughout the sips, and a nice sweet and creamy taste as well. Vague winter spices dance around as well. A little something different with every sip, which is always nice to see.

Mouthfeel: Very smooth and silky. It's fairly full bodied, and the carbonation is on the low side.

Drinkability: Very high. The alcohol is almost nonexistent in the taste and even though it's a little high for a session beer at 7.5%, you could certainly throw back a couple of pints of this guy.

Overall: Another standout beer from Hill Farmstead. I think I like Everett better, but this is a very nice porter itself. Don't let the vanilla/spiced/winter angle scare you away - I'm not a huge "winter warmer" or sweet/vanilla fan but these additions are minimal and only add nice complexity in this beer.

Serving type: growler

12-04-2011 18:54:09 | More by cbeer88

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had a glass at the Farmhouse in Burlington VT. Damn, that's a porter. The coffee and vanilla are wonderfully blended into the beer. So many coffee porters and stouts go too heavy on the java, and even get a stale taste. This beer takes a great cup of joe, adds a dash of subtle vanilla, and still brings a great porter. The malt brough a dark, chocolate character with a sharp roasted edge that's balanced by the sweet vanilla. The beer is formidable, but never too heavy. Find this porter.

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2012 03:41:35 | More by tempest

andrewinski1

Maine

4.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Crop. Served in a nonic glass with a small dark tan head. The color is very black.

The aroma is not very strong, but some mildly sweet chocolate.

The taste is excellently rounded with lots of sweet chocolate and vanilla. The finish has a nice coffee emphasis without leaving any harsh bitterness.

The body is medium with a nice soft carbonation; this is a little smooth.

The flavor is unbeleivable here. Hill Farmstead remains one of my all time favorites.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2012 01:54:09 | More by andrewinski1

xenjoiii

New York

4.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap; poured into a tulip at the Good Life.

A: Black body with a small dark khaki head that quickly faded into a thin layer of film around the side of the glass.

S: Roasted coffee and bitter chocolate

T: A combination of strong coffee and roasted malts dominate the front of the palate. Faint notes of vanilla and cinnamon begin to emerge towards the middle of the mouth. The beer has a nice bitter chocolate finish. Excellent porter.

M: Lightly carbonated. Silky mouthfeel.

O: As previously stated this is an excellent porter. Definitely one of the best I have had to date.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2012 20:19:24 | More by xenjoiii

Jdiddy

Rhode Island

4.35/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at La Laiterie. Excellent winter beer. So smooth you could drink them all night. The vanilla/cinnamon combo is just right. Reminds me a bit of Anchor Steam's holiday offerings. My only complaint is that ot feels a little thin and I would love to tase this combo in a heavier stout. Either way, Shaun does it again. Superb!

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2010 02:08:53 | More by Jdiddy

MasterSki

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Growler shared by Sean, to cap off a day of debaucherous drinking. Served in an unknown vessel - probably a Darkness glass.

A - Late-rising tan foam settles to a thin collar, leaving minimal lace. Black body.

S - Huge, rich chocolate cake aroma, with notes of molasses, vanilla, high-end coffee, roasted malts, and a touch of smokiness.

T - The taste is also heavy on the chocolate and roasted malts, with light coffee and vanilla bean notes creeping in from time-to-time. The cinnamon finally makes its presence known in the finish, but it's exceptionally well-integrated. I don't really like cinnamon much (particularly in beer), but it works in this case.

M - Medium body, pleasant medium-low carbonation, chewy and sticky texture, with a viscosity that implies a bigger beer. No perceptible alcohol.

D - Delicious stuff that I would gladly drink again on any occasion. I'd like to get another growler, as I don't think my mental facilities were quite up for the complexity and depth of flavor when we drank this beer. I'm extremely hopeful for Birth of Tragedy.

Serving type: growler

11-27-2011 18:43:37 | More by MasterSki