Foster - Hill Farmstead Brewery

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A-dark brown black color with a light tan head and good lacing

S-dark malt, pine, hints of citrus and coffee

T-dark roasted malt, coffee, pine , citrus , nice bitter hoppy finish

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, crisp

O-a solid black ale with good balance, easy drinking

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2013 01:17:02 | More by MDDMD

cfrances33

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Prohibition Pig in Waterbury. Served in a nonic pint.

Pour: Dark black, splashy body, with a finger of khaki brown head. Head hangs around for most of the glass, and leaves some solid lacing.

Smell: Big bitter pine and some citrus up front, followed by a very enjoyable roasted aspect. Almost coffee like. Some light breadyness comes through.

Taste: More bitter pine up front, that gives way to a melding of roasted malts and citrusy hops. A light floral aspect. Some bitter chocolate, and a very nice fresh bready sweetness. Finishes bitter and roasty.

Mouthfeel: A very, very drinkable Black IPA. Goes down easy. Medium bodied.

Overall: Was really looking forward to trying this, and it did not disappoint.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2013 15:15:06 | More by cfrances33

Chico1985

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on-tap at Armsby Abbey 9 days ago, at the Zwanze release.

Black beer, bubbly tan head, retains quite well leaving plenty of thick lace behind.

Smell is hop-forward, lots of grapefruit, tropical, earthy, with some toastiness there as well.

Taste is similar - there is an emphasis on hops rather than any stouty notes. Nice citrus, grapefruit, earthy, and spicy hops present. A light tropical feel. There is some darker malt presence (roast, chocolate) but I found the malt to be more bready and toasty than anything.

Smooth mouthfeel with ample carbonation, easy drinking.

I prefer more stoutiness in my black IPAs usually but there was a fair enough balance. The interplay of toastiness and hops works well here. Hill Farmstead, man.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2012 23:03:48 | More by Chico1985

tobelerone

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Farmhouse Tap and Grille in Burlington.

Such a lovely take on this style. One of my two favorites, along with an example brewed by that other Vermont genius of beer. Black body, sizeable tan head that settles slowly, strong creamy lacing. Aroma balancing roasted malts and vivid hops; floral, pine, citrus, caramel notes.

The flavor is typical of a black IPA, just done with the utmost finesse. The hops, with their piney, floral character, roasted, almost burnt-tasting malt, a distant hint of rye; bittersweet chocolate, coffee, and citrus. Medium length bitter aftertaste, dry finish.

The body is where this one really shines; so smooth and creamy on tap, still with appropriate, medium to slightly low carbonation, and a medium body. Another winner from Hill Farmstead.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2012 05:12:14 | More by tobelerone

mdfb79

New York

4.18/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From 12/03/12 notes. Had 2 8oz. pours of this on tap at Pony Bar on the UES in NYC.

a - Pours a very dark mahogany brown color with one inch of medium tan head and moderate carbonation evident. Looks pretty nice.

s - Smells of pine hops, roasted malts, chocolate, citrus hops, light caramel malts, light floral notes, and light fruity malts. Very nice nose with a lot of things going on. Nice hops and malts mixing together; great nose.

t - Tastes of pine hops, roasted malts, coffee, fruit, bready malts, citrus, and toasted malts. Taste has a little bit of light bitterness but not much, and the roasted and pine dominate a little more than the nose did.

m - Medium body and low to moderate carbonation, with great mouthfeel. Very smooth and easy to drink; like it a lot.

o - Overall another good beer from HF. Nose is great and everything mixes together really well, and there is a great mouthfeel that is easy to dirnk with no bitterness. If you're a fan of the style it's definitely worth seeking out, and would like to have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2012 16:30:05 | More by mdfb79

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Armsby Abbey for Zwanze Day.

Deep black of course with a big, frothy, bubbly head of a light brown color similar to cappuccino but settling into big pillows of foam and bubbles. Tons of lace and good retention. The nose is all roasted malt with faint but bright hops with notes of pine and cedar. Cocoa and charred wood dominate. The flavor is all roasted malts and some wheat with plenty of hop flavor. Citrus and sap show up but most flavors are masked by the heavy roasted character. A charred and bitter finish. Super smooth and crazy easy to drink. So roasty and such great body that this could be a dry hopped stout in a blind tasting. Phenomenal beer but not enough IPA to keep this to the intended style. Dont get much wheat but I know it's contributing in ways other than flavor as this beer is so smooth and sooo creamy! Another beyond well-crafted beer from these guys.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2012 22:27:49 | More by Gatch

Pinknuggets

Vermont

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

on tap into worthy burger sniffer at the bar

A:pretty dark I would describe it as black with a big mocha head like two in

S:looks like a stout smells like a glorious citrus floral hopped ipa

T: wow this is really different it's tastes like a super hoppy wheat ipa with just hint of the dark roasted malt but its definitely there through out the bitter finish

M:smooth clean mouthfeel that makes it much more drinkable the it appears thin and oily but there is lots of flavor too

O:I really like everything about this beer it really is a great black and wheat ipa a little more malt but its excellent hfs kills it again

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2012 14:15:48 | More by Pinknuggets

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.33/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the source.
Pours a solid dark brown, black color with a decent sized off white head that persists forever. Smells of garlic and green onion with a nice hit of caramel and light chocolate along with a nice earthy spicy wheat aroma. The flavor follows the aroma quite well. sweet caramel and bready spicy malt accentuated by hints of chocolate and countered by onion and garlic hops. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a creamy grainy mouthfeel. I normally don't go for a wheat beer, but I enjoyed the hell out of this one.

Serving type: on-tap

11-25-2012 17:19:46 | More by johnnnniee

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Draft at Capones in Norristown, PA.

Pours pitch black with a half finger beige head that quickly settles into a lasting ring. Streaks of lace left behind.

Slightly floral hop aroma countered by slightly roasted malt notes.  Hints of pine and citrus along with chocolate, toffee and toast.  Not much wheat character and the nose is kind of bland.

Medium bodied and fuller than expected with a nice balance of dry, bitter hops and roasted makt.  Could use some sweetness and there's not much wheat character. Dry, bitter, piny hops up front linger over hints of chocolate, coffee, toast and oatmeal. Subtle citrus presence along with some grapefruit and faint orange/lemon zest.  Decent and well balanced but nothing about this reminds me of wheat beer. Also, could use more sweetness.

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2012 18:28:42 | More by corby112

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at the Armsby Abbey during Hill Farmstead tap takeover. Reviewed from notes.

A - A very nice deep black pour with a one finger head that faded to leave a nice cloud and some light side lacing.

S - Wow, this is pretty darn different and enjoyable. Heavy notes of dark rye and pumpernickle bread along with roasty malts.

T - More of that nice bitter roasted malt and rye/bread qualities. Nice fruitiness, sweet malts, and light floral hops.

M - Slightly lower carbonation than I'm used to from Hill Farmstead. Fairly thin.

O - Overall this was a very, very delicious beer. Really love the rye/pumpernickle aspect to this. Wish the mouthfeel was better though.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2012 02:11:21 | More by rudzud

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

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

On Tap at Blue Dog.

Foster looked nice and dark with a brown look, a deep dark brown look with a light browish wallop of foam up above with great retention and stick. Looks good enough.

Smell is packed with a nice smoky quality and some lavender with roasted malts out the sides. A nice earthty semi piney hop presence surrounds all of this. a nice smeller.

not being a dark beer guy I was surprised by this. alot of flavor is packed into this. some roasted malts followed by some smokey quality. Trace amounts of chocolate/cocco, with some piney quality. Not boring.

Feel is a nice medium, maybe a step down from that in body. Some roast sticks with me in the end. Carbed up nice for the style I guess, not too bitey.

All in all a flavorful beer from a brewery that puts out great work. A whole pint might be an issue, 10oz was enough though.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2012 04:41:35 | More by onix1agr

Retail1LO

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on draft at Capone's.

Pours a black shade with a very thin head that produces ample lacing. The nose is roasty with but a very mild presence. There isn't much here, to be honest. The taste is REAL nice, with a nice malty backbone. The hops are present, but take a back seat to the malt. The moutfeel on this is very pleasant. Medium-high carbonation with a slightly bitter finish. Overall, this was surprise. I'm generally not a fan of rye beers, or black IPA's, but a rye IPA...it came together quite nicely. This was good.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2012 18:20:01 | More by Retail1LO

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Farm House in Burlington VT. A rye beer? It looked and smelled like a black IPA to me. There was a huge floral hop character in the aroma and flavor, with milder roasty, dark cocoa malt undertones. I loved the piney hops, but wish the malt could stand up a little more. I didn't notice any rye character, but it didnt matter. This is still a heck of a beer and something for hop heads.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2012 03:17:20 | More by tempest

JAXSON

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Capones. Poured a frothy, dark brown bordering on black with a large creamy beige head. Nose is an attractive manage of fresh hops, pine, cocoa nibs, smoked malt, leather. Mouth is creamy, showing leather, pipe tobacco (per the menu description which was pretty accurate), lightly smoked malt, dry cocoa nibs, and bright fresh hops that sit somewhere in the middle of the palate and aren't too upfront. Creamy, some light vanilla sweetness, the darker roasted/smoked aspects of this marry really well with the fresh hops. Very good.

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2012 20:01:06 | More by JAXSON

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Draft serving into a pint glass for $6.50. BA and HF websites indicate 6.5% ABV while the beer menu I'm looking at says 6.3%. Also, between these 3 references, only BA says Rye Beer. Hill Farmstead's website doesn't mention rye in their description at all. Sampled 1/11/12.

A: Arrives with 1 1/2 fingers of compact foamy head. Light brown in color, great retention and great stick. The body is extremely dark brown and affords little opportunity to see through the glass. Lacing lays down in continuous sheets.

S: Absolutely bursting with dank pine resin goodness. Grass + orange and grapefruit zest supporting. There is a dark roasty underlying character in the background, made up mostly of wholesome and hearty bread aromas.

T: Big hop presence bites the tongue and provides a firm bitterness from the front of the palate through the finish. Bright orange and citrus punch through at the end. The roasted notes are present but they stay out of the way on the palate for the most part. The wheat in the malt bill adds a little spice.

M: Spot on. Fine fizzy bubbles graze the tongue. The crispy finish is elongated through lengthy flavor duration. Medium-dry.

O: Honestly, not a single mis-step here. Each characteristic of the beer is a half point away from being perfect in my mind - and I don't even know where improvements can be made.

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2012 02:39:19 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

on tap at khyber

Pours an opaque black color with a light tanned head sitting on top. Sticky lacing on the glass with a layer of filmy retention.

Complex nose with a mix of rye spice, juicy hops, and dark malt sweetness. Faint roasty tones with a hint of alcohol warmth. Very slight tropical touch.

Hoppy and bitter up front with an explosion of juicy hop flavors. The rye spice is pretty apparent with a soft touch of smoke. Citrus peel and sweetness with some lighter tropical notes. Darker malt backbone with understated chocolate and nuttyness. Finishes bitter, hoppy, and slightly warm.

Medium body, slightly higher carbonation, sticky and chewy on the tongue. Another hit from HF, excellent balance between rye, hops, and malts to create an interesting brew.

Serving type: on-tap

01-08-2012 06:06:59 | More by xnicknj

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Tap at the Armsby Abbey Hill Farmstead takeover.

Big creamy 1 plus finger head fades at a med pace lots of lacing, pretty much pitch black colored beer.

Nose fresh hops, light earthy pine, dark malts, light porter roast, bit of chocolate, creamy dark malts, hint of rye and dark.

Taste bitter hops, light pine and earthy, rye is dominant, earthy dry gritty malts and rye, bready malts, bitter from hops and rye, light choc and roast. Finish is sticky and bitter, rye and earthy biter hops, some darker malts.

Mouth is med bodied, little creamy, decent carb.

Overall nice, I tried a rye black IPA style as homebrew and it was so-so, and this seems to be similar. overall the style just doesn't seem to work as much as it seems it would, although this seems to hit it right on the head. It's a tasty beer with plenty going for it, just not something I could drink a lot of, which I found from my own homebrew.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2011 00:10:12 | More by jlindros

kingcrowing

Vermont

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

On tap poured into a tulip.

Pours a dark black color with a small light lacing of light brown foam. Nose is sharp and hoppy, dark malts and coffee.

Taste is bitter and sharp, earthy hops and a coffee bitterness. Mouthfeel is rich and full with a dry roasty finish. Bright and tasty, works really well with seafood.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2011 23:37:29 | More by kingcrowing

dragonWhale

New York

4.85/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Goddamn, hit after hit from Monsieur Hill. On tap at the Tiger. Black Rye IPA, could easily got into the ABA category and receive these same scores. Dark brown, a beautiful dark chocolate color, like a foamy liquid bar. Sweet jesus this is lovely, tangerines and grapefruits, chocolate, coffee and spicy rye. Chocolate dominates the flavor, bitterness is solid and wonderful and the chocolate and citrus cuddle up with each other and whisper sweet nothings amongst themselves. Darling. Creamy mouthfeel with that chocolate and citrus and sweet rye. Lovely.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2011 15:16:46 | More by dragonWhale

ThirstyBird

Germany

4.13/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

catching up with an old rating from 2010. From a growler thanks jedwards! Appears super dark cola color with a nice tan head than falls to a blanket. Smell is citrus, chocolate and dark malt. The taste is slightly sweet up front, lightly bitter in the middle with a subtle dryness on the aftertaste. Medium body with elegant, smooth fine carbonation.

Serving type: growler

03-11-2013 07:02:51 | More by ThirstyBird

oline73

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from the growler into a goblet.

Pours black with a finger of tan head that sticks around nicely. The smell is a bit strange with the dominant notes being chocolate and roasted malt. There is more roast and bitterness in the flavor than there was in the nose. There is a light bready undertone that backs up the roast. The finish is quite bitter. The carbonation is smooth with a dry finish.

This was a very different beer. The intense and refined flavors worked together, but I'm not sure I got it. Well made but not my favorite.

Serving type: growler

02-19-2013 00:41:14 | More by oline73

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 mL growler paired with original Nintendo and a wife.

The beer is a deep, dark shade of brown nearing black. The head is wet sand hued, standing in at nearly two inches tall and plastering the tulip glass with sticky lacing.

The aroma offers pine, hops, roast, chocolate.

So fresh and flavorful. While I'm not normally a huge fan of black IPAs, this one is delicious. Hop forward, yet well balanced, offering chocolate, bready malts and lingering resinous pine.

Medium bodied and smooth on the palate. Lightly bitter for the style with an elegant roast character.

While Hill Farmstead Jimmy is undoubtedly my favorite black IPA (though barrel aging certainly plays a role in this instance), Foster stands in second. A great example of the style.

Serving type: growler

01-24-2013 02:57:17 | More by Huhzubendah

MasterCraft

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served from a 750ml growler, though I've had this on tap.

Pours black with a nice light brown head

Nose is fruity, tropical hops followed by a little pine, coffee, chocolate, toffee. Very very nice.

Taste is assertively bitter, robust dark malts combine nicely with a hop bite. Coffee, chocolate, orange peel, pine, bread dough. Don't remember the bread dough from having this at bars, but I keep tasting it now.

Mouthfeel is nice, medium bodied, typical of style and nothing to complain about.

By far the best black IPA I've had, and the only one that has made any sense to me. While the flavor profile still looks out of whack on paper, it makes a delicious beer, and one of my favorite semi-regular offerings from HF

Serving type: growler

01-11-2013 05:40:55 | More by MasterCraft

rlee1390

Indiana

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Black, two finger brown/tan head with lacing.

S-Roasted malt, coffee with lots of hops.

T-Roasted malt, some burnt, good though, tad vanilla, ends with a nice bitterness.

M-Medium bodied, some carbonation and a tad creamy.

O-Easily the best Black IPA I've had, great balance, nice bitterness, the flavors mesh well.

Serving type: growler

12-31-2012 17:27:15 | More by rlee1390

UCLABrewN84

California

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

Thanks to JealousChalice for sharing this one at mrbubbler's "end of the world" tasting.

Pours an almost opaque super dark brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy patches of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, and herbal hop aromas. Taste is much the same with a mild roasty and hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with some nice aromas and flavors.

Serving type: growler

12-23-2012 03:27:18 | More by UCLABrewN84