Birth Of Tragedy - Hill Farmstead Brewery

caskstrength

Minnesota

2.3/5  rDev -48.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 2

2nd batch. Pours a flat black. I was hoping holding off for a while would result in some bubbles.

Smells are vanilla, chocolate. Barrel not that strong. Lack of bubbles leads to lack of aromatics.

Heavy and dull on the palate. I'm being harsh here, had a GI BCBS before drinking this, and this paled in comparison in all aspects. Would have had a hard time standing up if carbonated. Without carbonation, this beer fell flat.

Mouthfeel sucked. Needed some bubbles to move things around.

Twilight of the Idols was much better. I'm hoping to try Everett. This batch of beer was a failure.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 00:34:37 | More by caskstrength

eyeenjoybeer

Indiana

3.26/5  rDev -26.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

2012 bottle.

This bottle poured essentially flat and had a good bit of residue in the bottom of the glass.

The nose was nice barrel notes with hints of coconut. Really nice here

The taste was cloyingly sweet. I got nice, light barrel notes and next to no coffee. The sweetness, which tastes like unfermented priming sugar, was quite a distraction.

This beer had next to no carbonation, so the mouthfeel was a drag.

I loved, loved, loved the first batch of this beer, but this one is not nearly as good, imo. Last year's bottles had a nice level of carbonation for the style. Having read other reviews of low carbonation, I can't help but wonder if this was a widespread issue.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 04:39:24 | More by eyeenjoybeer

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 3.5

Brought back from the north by a friend, thanks for the hookup Matt.
Pours a solid black color with about forty bubbles eventually making their way to the surface. Yup this one is flat. Smells of chocolate brownie batter, coconut, light bourbon, coffee, a bit of oak tannin and some sugary sweetness to tie this all together. The flavor is sweet and chocolatey with a bit of coconut, caramel, roast, warming alcohol, tannin, and earthy hop to provide some balance. This tastes like an alcoholic mounds bar really. Medium to thick body with a non existent level of carbonation and a sweet syrupy sugary mouthfeel. This honestly smells wonderful, tastes good, but the lack of bubbles messes with the mouthfeel a bit leaving a syrupy feel to it. I'd love to try this with bubbles.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 02:17:49 | More by johnnnniee

Pinknuggets

Vermont

3.53/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at three penny taproom

A: dark dark brown but not quite black with literally no carbonation

S:reeks of bourbon very strong smell that pretty much over powers everything else

T:lots of bourbon there is some malt there but basically all I can taste is the whiskey which really isn't my thing there is no other porter flavors a little but of dark chocolate that complements well but still over powering

M: thick oily and very heavy definitely a sipper not super drinkable for sure

O: I don't like bourbon so my opinion is skewed but there isn't much porter to this beer not well balanced first hfs beer I didn't love and for that matter I have been less impressed withe their darker beers (accepting Everett) especially in comparison to their hoppy beers and saisons but ill blame it on the style this time.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2012 02:29:55 | More by Pinknuggets

alcstradamus

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours black with a thin cola-like head. Aroma is vanilla, toffee, alcohol, and sweet fudge. Flavor is dominated by the barrel flavor although not overpowering in booziness. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and appropriately carbonated.

My overall feeling about this beer is one of severe disappointment. I feel that Twilight of the Idols is probably the best porter I have ever had, and this barrel aged version is a clear departure from that wonderfully nuanced flavor and it is not a positive change at all. The barrel flavor here is not powerful like..say..a Bourbon County Stout, but it still masks almost all the underlying complexity.

It is a good beer when judged on its own merits, but it is not one I would ever want again.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 00:46:14 | More by alcstradamus

BarrytheBear

Wisconsin

3.68/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle courtesy of GoGriz..thank you Cody! According to my notes I received this bottle in our trade last November. I am tired of looking at beer in my cellar, so here goes.

Dark black pour with an oily sheen across the surface and a few tiny rogue bubbles along the edges. Nary any lacing or head to speak of. Harrrumph!

Bourbon and honey play a prominent role on the nose. Neither are massive, but the bourbon imparts a spicy heat that reaches into my nostrils to fizzle any hair that may dwell within. Underlying dark chocolate is rich along with a drying bark quality I also found in Daybreak. Hops perhaps?

Rich melted dark chocolate truffle and warm butterscotch up front. Middle displays the rough and leafy bark from the nose. The coffee presence is light and mellow, whether from time passed or intention is uncertain. If pressed to hazard a guess, I'd choose the former. The finish is dry, tannic, and shockingly harsh.

The mouthfeel here is a real letdown. I always find myself frustrated when supposed, or actual, world class beers fail spectacularly to support the nuances and effort taken to create their beer. Adequate carbonation would do this a world of good.

This is a meaty stick to your bones porter that shockingly fails to hide any of its 11 percent. A bump in carbonation would certainly help, as the structure for a really nice beer are in place but a few support beams are shaky. It's hot as hell.

Having now dabbled more extensively in the HF portfolio, I'm left with mixed feelings. So far I have enjoyed their hoppy offerings more than their stouts and porters. I would think long and hard before trading away what this beer might command. Please don't sit on this beer any longer if you've got it.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 01:26:49 | More by BarrytheBear

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500ml bottle into a couple of snifters. The brew appears black in color with a line of brown around the edges. Little to no head formation but a few bubbles make their way to the surface. Instead of lacing effect, there are some legs of alcohol noted that droop down the edges of the glass.

The aroma has some hints of cocoa minorly reminescent of brownie batter. A light touch of honey sweetness blends into some roasty grain quality. Some suggestion of coffee, solvent alcohol, vanilla, oak and a spicy hint of cinnamon.

The taste is boozy with a solent alcohol touch that blends into a roasty grain flavor that is akin to strong coffee. A trace of honey flavor without any residual sweetness. Somewhat musty that transitions into more fusel alcohol. The aftertaste is both roasty and nutty.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest to lighter level of carbonation. It is a boozy sipper that is unique. Big alcohol impact and minor barrel influence. I am glad to have tried this but wouldnt go through the trouble to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 17:33:18 | More by stakem

Levich

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 500mL into a goblet.

Birth of Tragedy pours a deep brown with almost no effervescence. Even with a relatively aggressive pour, there is virtually no head. The aroma is sweet caramel and dates. There is a hint of vanilla as well. The flavor follows suit with the aroma. There is caramel and dates with hints of vanilla and coffee. There is almost no pronounced bourbon character with only a lingering booziness at the finish. The mouthfeel is where this beer really lacks. There is virtually no carbonation as foreshadowed by the lack of head, leaving this syrupy and relatively thick.

This beer would rate much higher if it just had a touch more carbonation. The flavor and aroma are there, but a bit of effervescence would really enliven this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 00:07:30 | More by Levich

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by Koopa

A: Dark black with a minimal brownish head. A few stray stands of lacing.

S: Bourbon, caramel, molasses, honey sweetness.

T: Like the nose there is a healthy dose of bourbon and sweet malts. Definitely some caramel, dark fruits, and a little smokey/roasty malts.

M: Medium-full bodied. Light carbonation. A tad too much residual sweetness in the finish.

O: An interesting effort, but a bit too ambitious.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 03:01:14 | More by callmemickey

scottfrie

California

3.85/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

500ml bottle into Block 15 snifter. Thank you for giving me this, Michael.

A: Well, there’s no head. I get a few bubbles, but even those quickly disappeared. The color is a deep dark woody/raisin brown.
S: The nose makes up for this beer’s meager looks. The coffee really shines through and mixed well with spicy scents of bourbon and oak. The coffee is fresh and roasted smelling unlike some stouts that smell like burnt coffee ground. I detect some sweet vanilla as well.
T: Follows the nose with rich notes of roasted coffee and dark roasted malts, vanilla and moderate bourbon. Flavors are smooth and syrupy. Finish is full of dark chocolate, and the aftertaste and a few notes of roasted coconut and caramel.
M: Flat as hell but the thick body helps it out. Man this is flat. The mouthfeel is very slick and greasy, so at least the beer isn’t watery.
O: This beer would kill if it had a few bubbles. Flavors were rich and well integrated. A roasted bal-aged porter all around. The flatness saddens me, and I knocked the score because of it. Thanks again, SneezyAchew.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 00:45:15 | More by scottfrie

afksports

New York

3.85/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Nails the porter side, but the bourbon barrel is very weak. It's messy, the oak doesn't come through as strong as you'd hope, and the final product seems a little thin. Especially for an 11% beer.

Looks great though, and it smells on point. But ultimately it was a little disappointing. Especially when 2010 Olde Hickory Imperial Stout was opened on the same night and absolutely blew it out of the water.

Reviewed from notes, shared with alalvarez75 before Birth of Tragedy hit the hype machine!

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 04:20:08 | More by afksports

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3.86/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

First choice at Stoutfest 2013, Armsby Abbey. ~10 oz. pour into a tulip glass.

Pour is black with a thin bubbly tan ring for a head, sticks around as such.

Smell is good - chocolate and bourbon forward, with roast and vanilla there as well. Not extremely potent, but definitely a nice scent.

Taste is a slight improvement, opens up more with warmth. Chocolate brownie, bourbon oak up front with light vanilla, roasted malts, toasty malts. Just a hint of spices here. Sweet and kinda boozy.

Carbonation is pretty low, feels a bit thin and boozy for 9%. Not bad, but could've used some more heftiness.

Good beer, nothing that blew me away though- felt a little disjointed. I actually wound up enjoying the base beer (Twilight of the Idols) more, the spices here were a little too smothered by bourbon and sweetness.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2013 17:44:19 | More by Chico1985

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From notes. Poured from a 500 mL bottle into a snifter.

Birth of Tragedy pours a mahogany, nearly black color with a small tan mocha cap.

Lots of espresso, somewhat bitter and a bit creamy, dark bitter chocolate, sweet milk chocolate, roasted malt, and a bit of spicy hops in the nose.

The flavor is full of a ton of espresso, a bit of cream, dark, bitter chocolate, deeply roasted malt, and a bit of spice toward the finish. There is a sweetness to some of chocolate notes, but overall it is fairly bitter. There is not very much bourbon character coming through.

The mouthfeel is fairly full, there is a creamy carbonation. It is a bit acrid in its bitterness, with a dryness toward the end. Even without the bourbon flavor coming through, it feels like the dryness from the oak barrel came through fairly strongly.

It was fairly nice, but I really noticed the acrid nature of it, which detracted from the experience.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 03:01:35 | More by KickInTheChalice

Florida9

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

A: Bottle opened with the faintest hiss. Poured into a tulip. Forms a few big bubbles and the slightest hint of a head, but in reality this one just looks flat. No lacing. Very dark brown or black in color.

S: Well the smell is pleasant. Dark roasted malts, oak, vanilla, chocolate. Damn, smells like freshly baked brownies.

T: Didn't think it was possible, but the taste is even better. Sweet, chocolately brownies. Mild oak. Lots of vanilla. A touch of coffee. Some dark fruits, like plum and raisin, but the sweet chocolate flavor dominates.

M: Fucking flat. There's no carbonation here. And thats the problem. Slick, oily, and viscous with a chalky finish.

O: Apparently the carbonation isn't allowed to leave VT. This beer truly has the potential for greatness, but it should be properly carbonated. And it's not. There is nothing there leaving a sweet, chocolatey liquid to swirl around the mouth.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 01:07:45 | More by Florida9

harrymel

Washington

3.98/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.75

2012 vintage

Dark brown, flat appearing beer. Smells decadent: vanilla, oak, nougat, more vanilla, bits of graham, some cocoa, a hint of dark fruits. A really nice nose. Flavor follows suite - really fine dark chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, oak, bits of minced licorice, some leather. The flavor is really nice also. Mouthfeel: this is where the beer falls apart. While full bodied with a silky feel, not even a swish through the teeth makes this bubbly, slightly wet. A real treat - with carbonation this would be hard to beat, honestly.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 06:13:19 | More by harrymel

oline73

Maryland

4/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I was able to try this during Night of the Barrels and during the EBF.

Appearance: Pours a very dark brown, almost black with a layer of tan head that fades quickly to a ring around the cup.

Smell: This one has more roast than I expected. I'm picking up some bourbon, chocolate, and alcohol heat as well.

Taste: As in the smell, quite roasty. I'm picking up the wood from the barrel and a mild peppery flavor. Sweet, but the bitterness from the roast is the dominant flavor. Would have liked it to be a tad smoother.

Mouthfeel: Just on the thick side of medium with a tingle of carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: I would have liked this beer to be a tad thicker. I enjoyed the flavors that the wood added. I would have another.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2012 22:00:20 | More by oline73

TMoney2591

Illinois

4/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Bruery snifter.

Big thanks to cbeer88 for this bottle!

Reviewed blind as part of Blind BIF 7. This stuff pours a straight obsidian topped by a half-finger at best of sienna foam. The nose comprises rich cocoa, dark fruits, and molasses. I didn't really get any barrel character at this point, interestingly.. The taste brings in more of the same, with a seeming fudge component coming in up front. Again, no real barrel character comes through to me, but it doesn't detract from the rest of the experience. The body is a straight medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slightly chewy feel. Overall, a very nice, rich porter. I was a little disappointed to not really get any barrel out of this thing, but it's still pretty damn good. (I initially thought this was a smooth stout, and I will continue to say that it does come close to that kind of experience.)

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 17:50:08 | More by TMoney2591

tewaris

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

After drinking Twilight of Idols, this came as quite a pleasant surprise. For one, the carbonation was spot on. Others said that there was *no* carbonation, but that works extremely well for this fudgy, creamy, chocolaty beer. Roast but with notes of honey?! Very nice. Coffee in the finish completed it for me. Very glad to have had it and will drink it again anytime.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 10:45:35 | More by tewaris

cbutova

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Armsby Abbey. Reviewed from notes.

A- Black pour into a goblet. No head but there is a small dark mocha ring. No lacing at all.

S- Big nose of bourbon, caramel, oak, alcohol, vanilla and cocoa. Like many barrel aged stouts but the wood and whiskey profile is a bit more complex.

T- Like the nose but a few more things are noticed here. I get some spice, cinnamon, dark fruit and earthy bark hints that didn't come into play in the aroma. The cocoa, coffee, oak, vanilla and complex whiskey all stick around. Somehow I get a tiny peppermint feel from all of this combined.

MF- Basically flat here, not sure how bottles were. Oily thick and pretty warm from alcohol.

Good stuff but the lack of carbonation always takes away from these strong barrel aged beers for me. Love the oak and whiskey use but the spices combine in a strange way to me.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2012 16:54:38 | More by cbutova

SpeedwayJim

New York

4.03/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Josh for this one. 500ml bottle poured into a Founders snifter. Shared with schen9303.

Pours pitch black and viscous with no head. Very sparse, spotty lace and oily, thick legs. Average for the style.

Nose is booze, honey, molasses, roasted coffee, and fudge. Pretty subtle. Leaves me wanting a bit more here.

Opens sweet honey and molasses. Fudge, chocolate, and booze with some sweet prunes mixed in. Coffee presence is noticeably missing probably because of the age of this one. More booziness floats around at the end, complementing the robust honey, molasses and fudge flavors. Finishes sweet and bourbon-y. Aftertaste of sweet roasted malt, chocolate, and fudge. Tasty but a bit one-dimensional without the coffee.

Medium bodied and nearly flat. Viscous, slick, and oily in the mouth and warm and smooth going down. Messy finish with a long, lingering aftertaste. This might not be for everyone but I like my heavier beers a bit flat and this fits the bill for me.

Pretty sure this one is past its prime at this point. However, that doesn't mean its not good. Flavor is decidedly a bit one-dimensional but its still everything you could want from a barrel-aged porter. Warming and delicious. I'd love to revisit this fresh if its ever made again.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 18:36:10 | More by SpeedwayJim

kingcrowing

Vermont

4.05/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

500ml bottle poured into a hill farmstead tulip.

Pours a pitch black that's thick as oil. Nose is sweet, malty lots of vanilla and a bit of honey.

Taste is chocolate and roasty, sweet lots of oaky vanilla with a bit of a hot finish. Overall its really creamy and delicious. I don't quite taste it as an imperial twilight but its still very good.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 20:56:34 | More by kingcrowing

Sean9689

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

As of 7/8, this completes the top 100 here on BA and top 50 on RB. Yeah, I'm badass so whatever.

A - Pours black, tan-colored head, thin collar, big bubbles.

S - Chocolate, booze, coconut, oak, caramel. The booze has smoothed out and the sweetness is balanced nicely with the sweetness. The barrel influence is pretty heavy, but it compliments the base porter and adds some complexity.

T - Chocolate, booze, oak, light roast, vanilla. The barrel has added an additional layer of sweetness and booze, but it's also taken away a lot of the base beer. Alcohol is smooth, but pronounced with vanilla and oak. Finish is bitter dark chocolate, light vanilla, and burnt sugars.

M - Medium to full body, super-rich, smooth booze, creamy finish.

O - The 11% has really smooth out, but there's still a bunch of sweetness from the barrel. I really like how the barrels have worked with Twilight, but I think the coffee and spices are long-gone as this point. Maybe some of the light roast I picked up is coffee, but I can't be too sure. A really great brew and something I liked more then Damon...good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 02:19:34 | More by Sean9689

Vonerichs

Illinois

4.06/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pitch black color. There's a gathering of a dozen large bubbles in the center, but otherwise no trace of carbonation whatsoever. I'm a little concerned about the flat appearance.

Ok, aroma takes it up a few levels. Robust scents of vanilla, oak, tobacco, leather, and coffee. I'm more encouraged now.

The flavor is vivid and displays good bourbon qualities of charred oak, vanilla, and leather. Coffee and chocolate, but...

Very flat. The consistency is right where it should be but there's no carbonation.

Wow, what a roller coaster. I guess they got it right in the two most important categories, but the mouthfeel is a bummer. This is a really, really good beer that could be great with just a little carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 01:29:59 | More by Vonerichs

Alieniloquium

Florida

4.08/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

500 mL bottle poured into a snifter. 2011 bottle. Reviewed from notes.

Appearance - Viscous black with brown edges. No head. Big mocha bubbles, though.

Smell - Bourbon and coffee blend nicely. Vanilla. The coffee has a nice earthy character. Not a lot of porter comes through, but it doesn't matter much.

Taste - Nice bourbon and vanilla. Lots of coffee. Reminiscent of KBS in its earthy coffee flavor. Milk chocolate with a slight winey finish.

Mouthfeel - Heavy. Viscous for a porter, although that's arguable. Very low carbonation.

Overall - So it isn't as magical as I had hoped, but it's still damn good. Remarkably good, but the bar that Hill Farmstead has set for itself makes me feel the slightest disappointment when the beer isn't perfection.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 01:26:42 | More by Alieniloquium

CADMixes

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75

Hill Farmstead is great at porters in general, and 2012 BoT follows the template. The barrel effect is really nicely done--very evident on the nose, and a big part of the overall taste without overpowering the base beer, which still tastes as fresh and lively as a nice bottle of Everett.

All this is why it's such a shame that the carbonation isn't there. It's a well-known fact about this beer and despite my respect for what HF does it's not really something I can look past. 500 ml of flat beer, no matter how good it tastes, gets tedious over time.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 03:08:27 | More by CADMixes