Riwaka Pale Ale - Hill Farmstead Brewery

portia99

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml growler courtesy of jlindros...thanks for picking this one up for me! Poured into a Harpoon 100 Barrel series stemmed glass. Haven't had anything with the Riwaka hops...so anxious to give this one a try.

A - Pours a rather pale and quite hazy golden yellow. A two finger pillow of dense and rocky head lingers for several minutes giving a nice white cap. Tons of webby and sticky lacing nearly completely cover any beerless surface in the glass. Great looking beer.

S - Really interesting hop bouquet on this one. Starts off with the requisite citrusy blast on first sniff. Still grapefruity, but I get much more of an orange presence and a mix of lemon as well. Behind that is a strong piney-ness that hides itself initially, but comes on with great intensity and gives an almost concentrated pine extract aroma. There is also some spiciness that is a bit peppery too. Quite good. Not much malt showing thru, if any - struggling to find some...but honestly - who cares? The hops smell so good, I'm afraid any malt might diminish their effect.

T - More intense pine can be found in the flavor. Tastes almost as I'd imagine pure pine sap to taste. Very intense flavor here. Bitterness level is rather high...very crisp...ends a bit medicinal and/or solventy on the finish and still intensely piney. Again, really not much malt here...only the slightest bit present. A bit different and rather good. I'm liking it.

M - Resiny and bitter, herbal and piney, very fresh. Body is lightish medium with a prickly, fine bubbled medium-high carbonation level. Pine tends to overwhelm and leaves a long lasting impression after the swallow, giving a cool piney feel on each breath.

O - Rather different pale ale which I think can be attributed directly to the Riwaka hop variety. Very intense pine...more than I've ever encountered before. Interesting and really quite good. Not sure this would be a go to hop though for me...mix this in with some intense citrus - Citra maybe? and I think this could really be outstanding. Bump up the malt a bit and this could make a top notch DIPA.

Serving type: growler

09-22-2012 23:45:22 | More by portia99

tom10101

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -19.5%

04-29-2013 22:25:41 | More by tom10101

drummermattie02

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

04-16-2013 14:15:38 | More by drummermattie02

Kelp

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -8%

04-16-2013 10:03:35 | More by Kelp

Seakyden

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -8%

04-03-2013 01:30:07 | More by Seakyden

straightlambic

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

03-29-2013 01:37:20 | More by straightlambic

VaTechHopHead

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

03-21-2013 02:29:26 | More by VaTechHopHead

BrockettBrewing

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

03-17-2013 20:35:08 | More by BrockettBrewing

Takeanotherswing

New York

3.75/5  rDev -13.8%

03-06-2013 03:26:21 | More by Takeanotherswing

claytong

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

02-08-2013 04:45:38 | More by claytong

Retail1LO

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -13.8%

02-02-2013 23:23:49 | More by Retail1LO

Lakemonster

4.75/5  rDev +9.2%

01-27-2013 22:08:07 | More by Lakemonster

lovindahops

New York

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

01-27-2013 02:16:00 | More by lovindahops

jbuddle

New York

4/5  rDev -8%

01-22-2013 21:31:49 | More by jbuddle

NHbeerfishing

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

01-17-2013 14:34:15 | More by NHbeerfishing

jderosia603

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -8%

01-16-2013 14:19:16 | More by jderosia603

spycow

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +9.2%

01-13-2013 21:22:59 | More by spycow

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.78/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

On tap at Prohibition Pig weekend of 2012 Harvest Festival.

Pours a cloudy light golden amber color with a generous white head, great retention and lacing. Aroma and flavor took me by surprise as I wasn't expecting something quite so unique while being exactly what expected. Loads of tropical and juicy citrus hops, but there was a slight tropical leafiness as well that added a slight spice and earthiness that enhanced the juicy and sweet flavor (without distracting). One of my favorite HF I/A PAs.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2013 01:36:58 | More by yourefragile

starrdogg

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

01-10-2013 05:34:27 | More by starrdogg

dunix

Vermont

4/5  rDev -8%

01-09-2013 14:47:45 | More by dunix

benoit917

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +14.9%

01-09-2013 02:34:42 | More by benoit917

Franch

New York

4/5  rDev -8%

01-09-2013 00:25:07 | More by Franch

rowingbrewer

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

01-08-2013 18:50:32 | More by rowingbrewer

BeerCosmonaut

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

01-05-2013 04:59:04 | More by BeerCosmonaut

alliupsidedown

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%

12-29-2012 01:51:27 | More by alliupsidedown