Anna - Hill Farmstead Brewery

Damian

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Drank from a 750 ml (1 pt. 9.4 fl. oz.) bottle at Lord Hobo, Cambridge, MA
Served in a cervoise
Thanks to my friend fclfcs for splitting this bottle with me.

The beer poured a hazy, bright straw yellow and was topped by a tight, two-finger crop of bright white, bubbly sea foam. Short-lived rings of lacing coated the glass. The head had fantastic lasting strength and eventually faded to a thick cap of froth.

The aroma was one of the most interesting I have experienced in a beer. Windflower honey notes made this quite a joy to smell. Although the honey was quite subtle, the floral component came through strong. Intense spice notes. Coriander was most noticeable. Lots of grape must. Crisp, powdery, dry yeast notes were apparent. Slight funk. This definitely had some Chardonnay-like characteristics and perhaps even some aged Champagne-like ones as well. The dry, powdery yeastiness really took over as the beer warmed.

The flavor profile was equally as impressive. Strong, crisp, dry yeasty notes led things off. Lots of grape must. Like in the nose, the wildflower honey notes gave this beer an intense floral component, but the honey did not lend much sweetness. Slightly tart in the center. Quite wheaty, lemony and dry. Spicy, with notes of coriander dominating. The tartness was nicely offset by a subtle sweetness. Fantastic overall balance. Some earthy hops appeared in the finish. Overall, remarkably refreshing and so easy drinking.

The mouthfeel was crisp and lively yet pillowy soft. Somewhat Champagne-like, except that this had a finer carbonation. Light and airy on the palate with a lush, tongue blanketing effervescence.

Anna was definitely not the best beer I have ever tried, but it was truly flawless in every regard. Furthermore, it was one of the most unique beers I have come across in a very long time. Hill Farmstead does it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 22:24:35 | More by Damian

beerrock

5/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I must say this is one of the best Saison I have ever tasted. The carb was very creamy, aroma and taste amazing. The hint of honey was ever so light on the finish and the color was yellow as a golden straw. I want more this will be on the top of my list for a long time.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 16:00:20 | More by beerrock

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.96/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

750 ml capped bottle poured into a Bruery tulip.
6.5% ABV, no date.

Thanks for the beer Rochefort10NH!

A - Unfiltered cloudiness creates a warm haze through the pale straw yellow beer while carbonation streams towards the top. A lofty stark white head gently sits atop, covering the tulip in gobs of lace.

S - Fragrant as can be, complex yeast flourishes through Anna giving it a big, open aroma with plenty to discover. Esters of clay, clove, and white pepper toss earthiness into a citrus blend of lemongrass and funky notes of wild fermentation; mild horse blanket. Rustic and farm-like, dry pale malt captures the feeling of freedom as sweet notes of honey add a floral aspect and raw balance to the finish.

T - Yeast driven, Anna continues the complexity from the aroma, really focusing on earthiness. Clay, white pepper, and clove spice emerge through lemongrass citrus and a nice wild-like finish that's got great notes of being in an open barn. The honey additions touch on sweetness but they seem to add more floral notes than anything and are gently pushed aside by citrus hop notes on the beer's back end.

M - Sharp carbonation dances on the tongue through this stellar beer all while feeling lush and smooth yet crisp and light-bodied. Sharp tartness greets the tongue immediate but becomes more harmonious after a few sips, marrying the citrus and yeast finish with herbal and floral dryness and a trace of honey sweetness.

O - I always approach trendy, hyped beers with a bit of caution, but Hill Farmstead is legit. There's a reason they have just exploded; their beers are world-class and completely worth seeking out, Anna being no exception. This bright and aromatic saison is fermented with their strain of exceptional yeast for a total sensory experience that's dangerously drinkable and quick to disappear. Cherish each rustic sip, for this saison is hard to come by and worth it's weight in gold.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 23:56:42 | More by BeerFMAndy

GatheringBrews

Vermont

4.78/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice golden color with a fluffy white head with good lacing and retention.

Aroma is tart, citrus/lemon.

Nice, light taste with a subtle viscosity from the honey, almost a sweet slickness that is great on the palate.

Nice, dry, slightly tart finish.

Serving type: growler

01-06-2011 01:42:30 | More by GatheringBrews

danedelman

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +12%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-very effervescent with a very bright straw yellow color and ge 3 finger head. Hazy and unfiltered.

S-grassy and has a sweetness from the honey. Citrus fruits are strong in the nose with a bready/yeasty finish. A hint of funk rounds out this beer.

T-The barnyard grassiness is right on the front of the tongue followed by a graprefruity hoppiness that lingers and grabs hold of my mouth and coats ever crevice. Perfect balance and very crisp.

M-The mouthfeel is incredible with the carbonation being high with a medium to low body. A perfect exacmple of this style. Will be sad to see this one go when I drink it all.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 04:36:42 | More by danedelman

larryi86

Delaware

4.7/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to Cstromberg57 for sending me this!
750 mL bottle poured into a tulip

A- A hazy golden color with a fluffy three finger white head.

S- Barnyard funk, tart apples, lemons, nice light floral notes, hint of honey.

T- Really nice balance between tartness and funk, finish has a great barnyard funk and up front you get a great tart lemon flavor. Getting some honey and flower in the middle with a great malt backbone. Great complexity and balance.

M- Light, smooth, crisp.

O- A great Saison that is very easy to drink. I really wish I had more than one bottle. I am a big fan of Saisons and this is just jumped up the list to one of the best I have had.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 22:59:55 | More by larryi86

BeerMeFitz

Illinois

4.65/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: golden yellow and amber with a cloudy white head that leaves lacing down the glass.

S: citrus, spices and herbs.

F: nice balanced of bready pale malts, you can taste hints of Belgian yeast.

M: crisp,high carbonation. Perfect.

O: An awesome saison. I will compare ALL others to this.Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 15:32:38 | More by BeerMeFitz

lovindahops

New York

4.58/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Watching the packers and 49ers game and decided to tap into the cellar for some HF this evening. Anna it is!

A- Anna pours a golden yellow body with a glowing haze and snow top head of white foam. Creamy lacing is traced to the sides while carbonation races to the top. Vibrant and gorgeous with the color

S- A yeasty and grassy burst that flows with some sweet honey scents. Very champagne like and full of herbal scents. This is an excellent saison scent profile. It's literally exploding out of the glass!

T- a dry and yeasty sweet flavor of pepper and herbal saison flavors. Well coated with the honey flavors and again, a patented hill farmstead deliciousness. Anna is dry and sweet at the same time. I could drink a gallon of this.

M- Prickly carbonation and painted flavor all over. Excellent with the creamy aspect as well

O- Let's be accurate here.... There is no question that HF knows what they are doing when it comes to the saison style. Anna is a work of art in the saison department. The honey and grassy component makes for a champagne like experience. I'm glad we have more of these!

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 02:33:58 | More by lovindahops

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.51/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Super hazy, bright, golden-yellow with a massive, fizzy, bright white head. Leaves behind a ton of lace and nice lumps of foam on top of this beautiful liquid.

S: This is what Vermont smells like on a warm Spring day. Bright, floral, yeasty, barny, earthy, minerally (?), effervescent. Flowers, honey, and lush meadows are scenes in my mind with every huge whiff I take.

T: Yeasty, barny, earthy. You get some of the honey flavor and texture when the beer warms up. Such a delicious beer from cold to warm, start to finish. Refreshing, bright, and floral. Superb.

M: The feel, the body, and the carbonation are absolutely perfect. No hyperbole there.

O: The essence of the style. Vermont Farmhouse Ale. No other American brewer that I know of can either match or exceed the qualities and characteristics of the finest Belgian Saisons/Farmhouse Ales.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 20:36:17 | More by Gatch

jsvt

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle from fresh batch released this week. Poured int Hill Farmstead Belgian glass.

A beautiful hazy yellow, like yellow beach glass. 2 finger head that quickly dissipates leaving beautiful lace with solid retention.

Coriander, pleasant subtle malt/Honey, banana now and laters (the candy, remember those?) floral aspect from the hops.

You experience all this in the taste...a nice progression from a quick burst of malt and honey to banana, mild pepper, and coriander. The hops add just the right amount of bitterness to round it all off.

Fills the palate with body without being overbearing. The carbonation and acidity are perfectly where they should be to refresh, and this refreshment makes it a great warm weather session beer to share.

All and all, spot on for style and taste! Well done!

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2011 22:07:52 | More by jsvt

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to metalgdog for sharing this bottle...

A: Pours a wonderful light straw/yellow with a good amount of pure white head. The foam fades quickly, and leaves a thin ring along the edges of my glass. There is some, but not much, lacing.

S: This beer smells, funky. It has that classic saison nose (wheat, spice, hops, and earth) but the yeast shines through and dominates. It smells great.

T: The flavors in this beer are spot on for a saison. The funk starts out right off the bat, but it fades in the middle. At this point I'm getting a lot of citrus, spice, and grains.

M: Light bodied beer. It funky to start, but becomes clean and crisp. The finish is a bit drying, but not overly.

O: Wonderful beer. I found myself returning to this bottle for more samples. It has just the right amount of funk and flavor that I love in saisons. Hopefully I'll have another chance to try a bottle of this brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 12:05:36 | More by trxxpaxxs

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

It's rare to find authentic farmhouse flavors outside of the rolling hills of southern Belgium. But every now and then a brewery gets it right. This is one of those times.

Pouring like sparkling white wine, the highly effervescent ale quickly separates the airy and rocky head from the hazy golden beer beneath. Streams of carbonation can be seen beyond the cloud and watch how it builds the egg shell white head in sticky and stubborn retention.

Tremendous aromas first of fruit, next of funk begin with the estery scent of spiced pears, green apples, white grapes- all that's wrapped by the musty aromas of cork-like woods, aged leather, and sandalwood. White pepper, a dash or cumin, and dried orange bitters round out the complex and characterful scent.

Flavors focus on the dry fruit and spice interplay and seem to forego the earthen must character of the aromas. Pears, apples, grapes, apricots, lemons, and oranges carry a dry flavor and low lying wheat sweetness that seems to be carried away by the carbonation. Peppery and herbal, the balance to fruit and malt likes in a well-melded bite of white pepper, cumin, coriander, curacao, tea leaves, juniper, and mint. All this with a mildly minerally brine of yeast and water begs a pairing with mussels or mackerel.

The light bodied texture begins as the beer erupts off the front of the tongue and continues to drive the beer off of the tongue in highly bubbly and prickly fashion. This ushers in a finish of dry malt, dry fruit, spicy pang, and minty alcohol cooling/warming dynamics. A return of fruit, spice, and must are the after flavors that beckon the next sip.

Take the label off of the beer and any aficionado of Belgian ales will undoubtedly declare this as one of the country's finest farmhouse ales.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 18:15:32 | More by BEERchitect

cradke

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Notes from bottle purchased 1 week from the brewery

Appearance: Cloudy, orange and yellow. Super thick, fine, almost fluffy head. A little bit of lacing as the head dies down.

Smell: Subdued bitterness. A little bit of tartness. Lemonpeel notes. Extremely approachable for a saison.

Taste: Very enjoyable. Pleasant bitterness. Very clean aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Foamy and light. Clean. Great mouthfeel.

Overall: As a person who isn't huge on sours, this is wonderfully approachable. The taste is right one in terms of sour notes, fruit profile and fantastic appearance.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 02:25:27 | More by cradke

AgentZero

Illinois

4.47/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Thanks to Spycow for popping this one open at our Strikeforce Grand Prix tasting.

A - Cloudy golden color with a white head that showed good retention and some moderate lace on the sides.

S - I find saisons to be one of the least interesting styles of beer, but this one has some nice character to it. Lemon zest, citrus, herbal and farm notes. Pretty sweet with orange and orange peel making a nice presence without being overpowering.

T - I think this might be my favorite saison ever. Citrus and lemon with touches of honey and floral notes. A nice musk with touches of sweetening banana and some funk, very easy to drink but has enough different things going on to keep it interesting. Could actually drink a lot of this and be happy, not typical for me and this style.

M - Light with great carbonation and an appropriately dry finish.

D - Loved this beer, went back to the bottle a few times on it, and would love to drink it again. It is quite easy to drink and a great brew to boot.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 19:31:39 | More by AgentZero

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750mL bottle purchased at the Hill Farmstead 1st anniversary party, opened while watching a monday night Cowboys/Redskins game. The beer pours a clear pale gold color with an enormous white poofy foam. Lots of fine floaties in the liquid, and vestiges of the foam remain on the glass long after each sip (rocky lacing).

I get a lot of honey in the nose, along with a definitive Belgian saison yeast, peppery and estery. Like every other style I've tried from HF, they nailed the aroma on this.

It tastes exceptional, all of the flavors hinted at from aroma are joined by bubblegum and some malty sweetness. A good dose of bananas too. The honey adds to the exceptional aftertaste, this rivals Saison DuPont for me.

Medium body, maybe a little heavier than usual but not by much, nice coating mouthfeel. Overall another excellent beer from a brewer who uses malts & hops as if they were paint on a canvas. Excellent.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2011 00:45:43 | More by TurdFurgison

Skrip

South Carolina

4.46/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle poured into a snifter

A~glowing with honey, with a nice fluffy head. very pleasing to the eye.

S~vinegar honey funk, peppery, and a little bit citrus. holy saison!

T~delicious honey up front, with everything else you could ask for from a saison. little citrus, lemon/lime mixes with the honey very nicely. then a nice peppery delight on the finish.

M~nice carbonation, creamy and yet oh so smooth.

O~HF saisons are really amazing to me, i could drink this all day! heres to hunting for some of their others. cheers!

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 17:43:28 | More by Skrip

aasher

Indiana

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

This growler was courtesy of the infamous Adam Jackson, growler filled on 4/22.

Anna pours a light bodied beautiful bright honey gold in color with a soapy two finger, bright white head. The nose is full of citrus fruits, an array of spices, dried oatmeal, lemongrass, and bubblegum esque Belgian yeast. A GREAT nose. The flavors feature a floral and citrusy bouquet of deliciousness, more bubblegum yeast, slight hop bitterness, and light funk. It has great and well rounded flavor. The bugle gum and yeast are superb. It drinks light and off dry. It is extremely drinkable and has great appeal all around. This was a great beer and I actually prefer it to the other Saisons I've had from Hill Farmstead, but those were in bottles.

Serving type: growler

05-01-2012 02:52:55 | More by aasher

xenjoiii

New York

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

2010 Anna on tap at the Hill Farmstead Tap-takeover at Positive Pie in Plainfield, VT.

A: Poured a respective honey golden color with about three fingers of really fluffy white head.

S: The aroma had nice yeast components, a touch of funk, citrus and sweet honey.

T: Wow - for being aged for two years there definitely is a decent amount of citrus in here; especially on the back end, as there is a mild orange peel bitterness. Also, in the taste, there is a slight yeast character and a substantial amount of sweetness from the Wildflower honey. Very delicious.

M: light to medium body with soft carbonation

O: I thoroughly enjoyed this saison; very much so that I almost ordered a second glass, despite the fact that there were 14 other Hill Farmstead offering on tap. Very glad that I got to try the base beer for Ann the night before Ann was released.

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2012 12:38:39 | More by xenjoiii

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.45/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle. Big thanks to vonschplieffen for sharing!

A: Hazy pale amber body under a towering head - way overcarbonated, even with a gentle pour. After letting the head recede and topping up with more beer, the creamy tan foam is quite attractive.

S: Lovely, sweet and yeasty. Honey, floral funk, white pepper, and a decent amount of pear.

T: Follows the nose - lots of sweet fruitiness up front, followed closely by rather deep floral funkiness and finished by dryer, slightly bandaid-y phenols. The medicinal character is minor, and really only adds more complexity to a genuinely delicious beer.

M: I thought it might be too prickly given the outrageously foamy pour, but it's silky smooth and eminently creamy. Luxurious.

O: Terrific Saison, plain and simple.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 15:34:03 | More by woosterbill

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.45/5  rDev +5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A beautiful beer. This one is golden colored with a tornado funnel of effervescence rushing to the surface. The head is pure white and just over an inch thick. Excellent retention with ample lacing left behind.

The aroma offers yeast, grass, grand floral notes, lemon, light spice, subtle farm funk.

A touch of honey. Mildly sweet with a healthy floral presence throughout. Every aspect of the beer is so delicate and balanced. Just beautiful. Bready malts with hints of spice. Pronounced floral bitterness. Finishes dry.

It's always a treat to enjoy anything by Hill Farmstead. I thought this was outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 02:53:54 | More by Huhzubendah

dirtylou

Washington

4.45/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle, split 4 ways, many thx @blackie, you mule you

In a word, gorgeous. Hill Farmstead stemware - Glowing hazy straw body, a healthy white snowcap. Earthy and tart - waves of yeast, honey, grape and pear, and earthy wheaty malts collide. Lemon zest, cut flowers, white pepper, grassy hops. A great saison.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 00:06:40 | More by dirtylou

kevanb

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle poured into a Hill Farmstead wine glass.

Anna pours a lovely golden straw color, hues of lemon and light orange with a nice cloudy, hazy texture with a lovely 2 fingers of cloudy, soft white head that has very nice retention and leaves behind a nice touch of lacing. The aroma is really wonderful, lots of nice funky yeast, pale straw, zesty lemon, clove and bits of a banana really shine with some light floral layers that really bring out the nice subtle notes of honey with just a brush of berry fruit that lingers so nicely. The flavors are just as invigorating, tons of bright citrus on the tongue that brings out a great floral presence, nice layers of hibiscus with a great presence of funky pale grain, straw and bits of lightly sweet honey. Just a touch of alcohol is present at the finish that has a very pleasant bit of berry and banana flavor. The body is nice and full, very lively, coats the mouth very well, medium to high carbonation with a prickly yet dry finish.

Verdict: A truly wonderful Honey Saison from Hill Farmstead. Wonderfully complex and delightfully balanced, this really is one of the more remarkable American made Saisons, a must try for anyone who enjoys this style.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 17:24:25 | More by kevanb

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle shared at tasting, big thanks to wowcoolman for bringing this. Poured into Hillfarmstead stemware, split 4-ways.

A- Hazy yellowish golden straw colored, definitely a little bit more hazey toward the bottom of the bottle, nice foamy frothy head with great head retention that left decent lacing.

S- Yeast, honey, citrus lemon, a little bit of brett funk, hay.

T- Honey, light lemony citrus, hay, some light grains, light spices, very light brett funk.

M- Smooth, goes down very easily, average carbonation, light, great to drink during a hot summer day.

O- This was the first bottle we tried during our tasting. Personally I enjoyed it a lot more then E. and Art. I loved the honey flavoring that balanced with the light barnyard funk and made an very drinkable saison. Definitely one of the better saisons I've had.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 04:20:57 | More by jaasen64

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

on tap at devils den - served in tulip

Hazy golden-yellow pour with a frothy white head resting on top. Building retention due to the lively carbonation level, sticky lacing everywhere, wonderful retention.

Crisp and inviting nose with snappy Belgian yeast and faint tartness. Touches of honey sweetness and biscuit with fresh cut grass, lemon peel and cracked pepper.

Soft snap of invigorating floral hops followed by lemon peel and peppered spice. Toasted biscuit backbone, faint sweetness with wildflowers and honey. Crisp tartness towards the back end with light yeasty funk and citrus. Finishes dry and bubbly.

Medium body, higher carbonation, effervescent and refreshing on the tongue. Flat out, this is just ridiculously delicious. Wonderful balance, depth of flavor and an excellent drinking experience. I want more.

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2013 13:50:53 | More by xnicknj

AlexFields

Tennessee

4.41/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours a golden honey yellow with a moderate white head.

Smells of farmhouse yeast, flowers, some lightly tart grapes or pears maybe, some wheaty malt, and not surprisingly a lot of sweet honey.

Taste has most of the same characteristics but is much more tart and zesty. The tartness balances really well with the sweet honey, this is delicious.

This was my favorite of the ten Hill Farmstead beers we opened at this tasting, I liked it better than Juicy or Flora, etc. Really great beer, next time it's released I'm going to have to trade for several bottles.

9.0/10

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 16:11:42 | More by AlexFields