Holger Danske - Hill Farmstead Brewery

Pahn

New York

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Ginger Man in Manhattan. Reviewed from notes taken in the first week of October.

Appearance: Opaque dark red brown. Half inch tan frothy head that sticks around longer than most.

Smell: Cocoa, roasted malt, smoky highlights. Good but could be more pronounced.

Taste: Subdued roasted malt and cocoa, with a smoked malt finish. All the elements are subtle, but together they form a really full flavored beer--and the amazing body really helps. Delicate hand with the smoke, makes the beer soar.

Mouthfeel: Perfection. What does Hill Farmstead understand about mouthfeel that other people don't? Medium bodied, crisp finish, and smooth as silk.

Overall: Refined but straightforward. Doesn't do much, but what it does is delicious and unique. Provides a great fix for the smoked malt lover, and the mouthfeel is to die for. I'm not a big fan of saying "to die for," but it's something you say about perfect, decadent things with the smoothness of world class chocolate.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2012 07:22:03 | More by Pahn

tom10101

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -15.3%

04-29-2013 22:26:58 | More by tom10101

mklisz

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

04-01-2013 18:46:53 | More by mklisz

BrockettBrewing

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +9%

03-17-2013 20:32:14 | More by BrockettBrewing

Takeanotherswing

New York

4/5  rDev -3.1%

03-06-2013 03:14:03 | More by Takeanotherswing

lovindahops

New York

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

03-03-2013 16:25:24 | More by lovindahops

unclejazz

New York

3.5/5  rDev -15.3%

02-09-2013 00:28:27 | More by unclejazz

largadeer

California

3.5/5  rDev -15.3%

01-29-2013 19:46:10 | More by largadeer

hiphops24

New York

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

01-23-2013 03:19:20 | More by hiphops24

jbuddle

New York

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

01-22-2013 21:30:22 | More by jbuddle

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A-medium to dark brown with a smallish tan head and some lacing

S-dark roasted malt, smoke, coffee, hints of chocolate

T-smoky dark malt, coffee, light chocolate, hint of pine and slight bitter finish

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, smooth and silky, creamy

O-a great beer with barbecue, this had a great smooth feel and good flavor, but not as much smoke as I anticipated

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2013 02:14:33 | More by MDDMD

Quackus

New York

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

01-18-2013 22:44:33 | More by Quackus

Lunch

Maryland

4/5  rDev -3.1%

01-17-2013 06:18:26 | More by Lunch

spycow

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

01-13-2013 21:44:38 | More by spycow

Luk13

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

01-09-2013 03:26:54 | More by Luk13

cfrances33

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Prohibition Pig, served in a half pint.

Pour: Dark brown and mostly clear body with a finger+ of tan frothy head. Leaves some lacing, but not a ton.

Smell: Big roasted smokey malts up front. A bacon-like aspect. It smells like a bbq pit sans the meat.

Taste: Again big roasted smokey malts up front, followed by some really nice caramel and a light coffee. This beer really reminds me of George in every way, except that they just smoked the malts. Some bitter floral hops and a smokiness finish.

Mouthfeel: Really nice medium to light body, but this is a sipper for the full face smokey assault that it is.

Overall: Easily the best smoked beer I've had yet, but my half pour was more than enough.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2013 15:20:41 | More by cfrances33

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

$6.00 for 16oz, served in a pint glass
Sampled 08NOV12

[A] Served with a finger high head, light chocolate milk in color and creamy in texture. Retention is a notch above average. The color of the body is dark chestnut brown, much lighter than your average porter, and a good deal of transparency can be seen through the bottom of the glass. The top two thirds of the glass are hazy - murky even. The film on top lasts long and deposits some drooping strands of lace with each sip.

[S] The nose is milder than expected. Peated malts are the most distinguishing factor, providing a musky, soily, smokey aroma. Damp earth. A bit one-note perhaps.

[T] Starts off with the peaty smoke flavor with faint notes of chocolate malts deeper in the background. Completely manageable heat is displayed on the follow through. Overall the flavor comes across extremely clean. If I didn't know any better, I'd guess that this one approaches Baltic Porter territory, with hefty lager-like smoothness.

[M] Stunning mouthfeel. But that is one of the many consistencies you can expect from Mr. Hill. Thick, smooth, velvety. Just big, round and full-bodied in every way imaginable. You can literally feel the beer being 'pulled' through your mouth on the swallow. Impressive.

[O] For me, the exceptional mouthfeel took this beer from 'good' to 'very good.' More impressive scores on the front end would have elevated Holger Danske to 'great.' And pretty easily. But, as always, the experience is always a pleasure.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2012 15:10:50 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

teddyarrowhead

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

12-16-2012 04:57:31 | More by teddyarrowhead

CypherEnigma

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -3.1%

12-12-2012 00:58:39 | More by CypherEnigma

chippo33

Vermont

2.75/5  rDev -33.4%

11-30-2012 03:31:55 | More by chippo33

comfortablynirm

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +15%

11-28-2012 20:55:19 | More by comfortablynirm

Amalak

New York

3.5/5  rDev -15.3%

11-28-2012 03:34:56 | More by Amalak

ScaryEd

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

11-26-2012 12:56:18 | More by ScaryEd

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Blackback Pub in Waterbury.

A: Clear deep garnet body; 1/2" head of off-white foam. Pretty good retention, spotty lace. Ok.

S: Pure smoke - cherry wood? Really clearn, light, fruity smoke, but nothing but smoke. Nice.

T: Smoke up front, smoke in the middle, and smoke on the finish. Some dark fruity adn malt in the background. BItter, smoky finish. Tasty.

M: Creamy, lively medium body. Good.

O: Quite a nice smoked beer, but honestly not quite as good as a classic Aecht Schlenkerla.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2012 23:08:24 | More by woosterbill

Anonymous1

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.1%

11-16-2012 07:31:09 | More by Anonymous1