Society & Solitude #2 - Hill Farmstead Brewery

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Draft at The Boilermaker in Philadelphia, PA.

Pours pitch black and completely opaque with a half finger light beige head that quickly settles into a lasting ring.  Spotty lacing left behind.

Sweet and roasted malt aroma with some piney, grassy notes.  Malts dominate he nose but hops shine as it warns with subtle citrus, dank buds, pine needle and grass. Roasted dark malt character with hints of chocolate, oatmeal, toffee and coffee bean.

Medium bodied with an explosion of dank, piney hops that linger over the sweet and roasted malt notes into a dry finish.  Finally a black ipa that's hoppy enough.  Dry, dank and bitter with subtle citrus sweetness cutting through.  Underneath, there is some roasted dark malt for balance with sweet and dark chocolate, oatmeal, caramel and toffee.  Really nice beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2012 00:29:45 | More by corby112

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On draft at Hill Farmstead today.

The beer is near black with a thick, brown head. The aroma offers the best balance of pine and roast I have yet encountered in a beer of this ilk. The flavor is fabulous. A beautiful marriage of pine and roast. Additional notes of chocolate and citrus. Lovely malt body. Medium bodied and easy to drink too quickly. Alcohol content gracefully hidden. Typically not my favorite style, hut this one delivered. Another terrific beer from Shaun and Hill Farmstead.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2012 19:31:37 | More by Huhzubendah

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On Tap at Teresa's Next Door.

In the Tulip, Solitude two looks very black, An American Black Ale actually, whatever that is? Im not the biggest fan of the style, I don't see it's purpose, if I wanted a high ABV hoppy porter, i would get one.

Either way this one is black with a nice amount of firm dark tan head gracing the top and leaving some notches on the way down. The nose smells great, rich and fresh with big pine bursting, nice grapefruit notes with some florals poking out with warming. A nice roast lingers in the background, where it's usually the other way around. Society two tastes like it should, hoppy, malty, roasty and flavorful with a nearing ten percent ABV. A nice mix of pine with some grapefruit and other light tropics. The maltiness increases as the temp does so cold is the way to go, if your looking for the hops. Hits of roast with light tootsie roll and cocco. Feel is a strong medium with a big bitter hit followed by some soothing malt. It's big beer, I am not going to lie. A lot going on at once. If you close your eyes, you would think this is an DIPA up front, but that black ale portion comes through just as quick and turns the table. A glass will do for me.

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2012 03:50:05 | More by onix1agr

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on 2012-06-09 in Wayne, PA at Teresa's Next Door during Philly Beer Week.

A - Opaque black with a 1-finger tan head and good lacing.

S - Mild aroma with citrus and chocolate.

T - Dark chocolate, black pepper, dark roasted grain, mild sourness, plenty of hop bitterness. Well-balanced.

M - Medium body and carbonation. Mildly creamy.

O - Not my favorite style but I enjoyed this one,

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2012 17:29:30 | More by Tucquan

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Hill Farmstead, Greensboro, VT

Dark brown pour with a rocky off-white head that receded to a wispy layer of bubbles. Aroma thick with resin and hops, roasty malts and cocoa also detectable. Taste followed the aroma well, with the piney and citrusy hop profile typical of the style, in a great balance with dark chocolaty malts, caramel, charred wood. One of the better balanced CDAs I've had. Oily mouthfeel, can be a bit astringent and bitter in the aftertaste, but nothing too overbearing...a palate-wrecker for sure though, so make sure you do this either at the end of a session, or followed by a good water-cleansing.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2012 02:45:15 | More by Rifugium

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on-tap at Shady McGrady's on St. Patty's day during the charity brunch.

A - Pours deep dark brown, bordering on black, with a nice one finger tall khaki colored head leaving small rings of lace down the glass.

S - Smells of dark roasted malt, fresh cut pine, chocolate, citric hops and a light herbal quality. Good balance of aromas from start to finish.

T - Starts off with a big dose of dark roasted malt and some dulled chocolaty sweetness slowly giving way to a mix of pungent citric hops and some fresh pine needles. Finish is a mix of dark roast and hop bitterness, lingering on the pallet long after consumption.

M - Smooth body and strong flavors with moderate carbonation. Lots of roast and hop bitterness throughout. The balance of dark flavors to hops is very well done, unlike some of the other examples of this style I have tried.

O - I don't really like the style but this is probably the best black ale I have ever had. The huge amount of hops really held up well with all that darkness surrounding it. Awesome stuff yet again from HF.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2012 04:30:50 | More by orangesol

kingcrowing

Vermont

3.93/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap poured into a tulip.

Pours a very dark black with a small one finger dark brown head. Nose is hoppy and rich, really nice.

Taste is well balanced, bitter but it doesn't have that astringency I often find in black IPAs, really rich and it has a nice dry finish. Overall it's really good!

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2012 23:11:58 | More by kingcrowing

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap, served in a stemmed tulip

Pours an opaque black with a small mocha cap. Some sheeting lace covering the inside of the glass. Head never truly recedes, only falls to a thin layer.

The hop aroma pierces the air. A ton of pine and citrus on top of roast, dark fruit and some charcoal.

On the palate, this guy follows the nose, only with some cocoa powder. Pine an citrus rind up front with malt carrying through the middle. The finish is another rush of hops before lifting away, leaving a bitter citrus wake.

Medium body, extremely smooth. Nearly velvety, but the piney hops cut through just a tad.

I have never had James, but I have to say this is delicious. Smooth, fresh hop bite, mild bitterness. The abv is extremely well-hidden. I had no idea this was 9.5%.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2012 20:56:46 | More by ColForbinBC

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tap at abbey
Huuuuge creamy slightly darker smoky colored head of 2+ fingers, fades slowly with a huge layer of lacing, pitch black beer no light.

Nose explodes with earthy spicy hops, centennial, warrior, maybe chinook, etc. a decent kick of pine and light resin even, and just a hint of citrus tangerine like. all those hops blend in the background with a light cocoa and chocolatey creamy dark malt, hint of roast, and a light bready biscuit malt that all adds to a malted milk ball and chocolate covered orange pine candy.

Taste starts with more piney resin, hops again rip in with a decent bitterness but explosive flavor. More earthy spicy hops, chewy hops, and but of citrus. Malts bring more of the cocoa, milk chocolate, and biscuit, for again malted milk ball but with a big earthy pine hop center. A slight hint of booze tickles with warmth. As it finishes it dries a bit but not much, long lingering earthy piney hop and decent bitterness, and a juicy malt with caramel, toffee, and light chocolate fade slowly a the pine keeps steady.

Mouth is full bodied, bit creamy, good carb.

Overall pretty friggen good. I haven't had the earthy piney hops for a while that was done as well as this. the hops, bitterness, piney earthy flavors, malts and chocolate all blend well together, and smoothly for a tasty delicious beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2012 02:37:10 | More by jlindros

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at the abbey.

A - Poured a deep dark black with a creamy one fjnger mocha head that leaves thick side lacing.

S - Lots of amazing pine and chocolate with good earthy qualities.

T - like the nose with super nice pine and chocolate with roasted malts. Deep and pleasant.

M - nice mouthfeel on this. Slightly bitter and nice carbonation.

O - Overall this was a very enjoyable beer. Good ipa notes with like chocolate and roast malts. Super crisp and refreshing.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2012 23:07:52 | More by rudzud

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap @ Lord Hobo (Cambridge, MA) on 2/3/12. Served in a cervoise.

Pours black, with a thin layer rich mocha head. This maintains some frothy edging that flares up to a full ½ finger when swirled, leaving back robust spotty lacing that sticks to the sides of the glass. Grapefruit and pine stand out in the aroma with a zesty assertiveness. Herbal notes, sweet chocolate, and roast sit underneath with a flavorful smoothness in the nose but the overall focus of this is definitely on that robust combo of Simcoe and Columbus hops.

The hops just POP in the taste, with grapefruit and pine, and an underlying danky feel. That herbal character melds well with the acrid smokiness of the roasted malts across the back, while a hefty dose of chocolate and caramel sweetness comes in off the edges and offer up extra flavor and balance to this. Those bright hops sit at the core of this though, finishing things dry and resinous with a bit of extra burnt character that sticks to the tongue. The mouthfeel is fuller bodied, with a slick and creamy feel to the carbonation at first, which then firms up on the middle of the tongue with a tight sharpness where the hops sit. The high alcohol gives this a little headiness on the palate, maybe even adding a little extra sweetness and spice to the profile but never feels stinging in any way.

Wow, this might be the best Black Ale I’ve ever had, Imperial style or not! There is just a ton of robust and intense flavor here from the hops, malt, and alcohol but it’s all in harmony with each other with a finesse that I wasn’t expecting and helps make this super drinkable for the size! This is another stellar effort from Hill Farmstead.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2012 20:30:40 | More by Kegatron

CliffBrake

New Hampshire

4.47/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Lord Hobo during the Hill Farmstead tap take-over. Served in a tulip stem.

Opaque black with a small light brown head that leaves a fine curtain of lacing on the glass.

Big dank hop aromas - pine and citrus share the attention with notes from the malt - roast, charcoal, and stone fruit. The taste continues the impression of the well developed nose.

Big body, mouth-filling but smooth. Considering the flavor and abv, this beer actually shows quite a bit of finesse. Very drinkable for what it is. Hard to believe it is a double version of James, in terms of how it drinks.

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2012 00:06:44 | More by CliffBrake

kevanb

Illinois

4.21/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml growler poured into a Hill Farmstead Wine Glass.

The beer pours a deep black color, hues of dark brown when struck by the light, quite opaque, with a big 2 finger khaki head that has great retention and leaves lots of soapy lacing. The aroma is nice, lots of resinous and piney hops with some lightly roasted coffee and bitter bakers chocolate and faint citrus with some softly toasted grain and alcohol. The flavors are right in line, lots of piney hops, chocolate covered orange that has a nice bitterness and a touch of tang, with some coffee roast and smooth dark grain and a lightly astringent alcohol touch at the finish. The body is nice, coats the mouth well, moderate to low carbonation but just enough lively zip to keep things interesting with a solidly dry finish.

Verdict: Yet another quality brew from Hill Farmstead. While rather tame at times, this beer is quite balanced and showcases the full range of flavors a well made Black IPA has to offer.

Serving type: growler

06-18-2013 01:07:19 | More by kevanb

AdamF625

Massachusetts

4.7/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A- Pours black with a khaki brown head. It has excellent head retention and lacing. Poured from a growler that is 2 days old.
S- Fresh citrus hop aroma and roasted malts.
T- Roasted dark coffee and malts, dark chocolate, and resinous hops.
M- This beer is very smooth with medium carbonation. Sticky hops linger on the palate but not long enough to influence your next beer.
O- This is the framework for a black IPA. Perfect balance between roasted dark malts and sticky citrus hops. Its not going to blow you away with any flavor in particular, but that is what makes it so good.

Serving type: growler

06-16-2013 21:48:46 | More by AdamF625

DaveHack

Pennsylvania

4.26/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a growler into a HF stem

Pours dark, pretty much black. Huge, tan colored head fills the glass, slowly settling but leaving tons of reminders down the sides of the glass

Smells of faint chocolate and coffeesque roast. There is a bit of earthiness and some fresh hops

Taste is similar...slight chocolate and roastiness. There is a bitterness that mixes with the hops at the end

Feels really good in the mouth. Carbonation is about perfect and it is slighty dry, but in the perfect way for this beer.

Black IPAs aren't my thing, but from the ones I've had...this is a stellar example. Certainly worth a try either way, but if you dig on Black IPAs...it's a MUST try

Serving type: growler

06-12-2013 23:15:44 | More by DaveHack

Skrip

South Carolina

4.46/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml growler poured into a Three Floyds Teku.

A~ extremely black, huge tanish head, and lots of beautiful lacing.

S~ dark roasty malts, a good amount of coffee, bitter dark chocolate, earthy pine, and some citrus from the abundance of hops.

T~ pretty straight forward, just like the nose. a little more bitterness here as to be expected. i love how much coffee flavor comes out. theres also a little tart toffee on the finish, which is a really nice surprise.

M~ extremely well carbonated, very smooth and sort of has a stout feel. well rounded and crazy enjoyable on a hot day like today.

O~ i'm very impressed by this black IPA, its one of my favorite styles and not too many brewers do them... right! super well balanced, the coffee aspect seems to push this one over the top for me. definitely one of those must try HF's!

Serving type: growler

06-12-2013 19:14:22 | More by Skrip

cfrances33

Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Growler poured into a Hill Farmstead wine stem.

Pour: Pours a dark, deep brown body. Nearly black. Almost looks more like a stout than a Black DIPA. Two fingers of frothy, khaki head forms and leaves some really nice sticky lacing.

Smell: Lots of roasted malts up front, mixed with a nice resinous pine, bright flora hops, and a touch of citrus hoppiness. Finish is a combination of roast and piney hops.

Taste: Incredible. So roasty, yet balanced perfectly with juicy hops. Slick, and decadent. Hop character is a fusion of pine, citrus, and floral notes. Roast is pronounced and forward throughout the entirety of the sip. Finish is bitter with a linger roasted coffee.

Mouthfeel: For a beer that is so flavor forward and higher in ABV, it is surprisingly drinkable. Roastiness lingers very nicely. Medium bitterness.

Overall: Easily the best Black DIPA I've ever had. Drinks almost like a very hoppy stout, and I really enjoy that. Awesome.

Serving type: growler

06-10-2013 03:54:20 | More by cfrances33

NuclearRich

Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750mL growler purchased at the brewery 6/5/13 and poured into a HF snifter on 6/7.

A. Pitch black with a tan head that is solid and fairly lasting. Leaves subtle lace.

S. Black malt. Roasted aroma, pretty basic. Faint pine, coffee bean, toffee. Would like a little more floral hop aroma here.

T. Black bitterness up front, starting with an almost burnt quality, leading to a pine like hop bite. Nice flavor.

M. Medium bodied. Bitterness lends the carbonation an extra bite.

O. Solid for the style. A tad heavy on the bitter black malt, and could use a touch more hop aroma. I guess I'm being picky, but this is Hill Farmstead! It's got a reputation and a standard.

Serving type: growler

06-08-2013 18:37:59 | More by NuclearRich

Luk13

Quebec (Canada)

4.6/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 growler, drank one week after purchase and on tap at the Ann release. Appearance: Beautiful black pour with thick moka head. Aroma is roasted grain, coffee, chocolate, burnt toast but also incredibly hoppy and resinous. So resinous, it smells like weed. Taste: Lots of coffee and dark malts and also very hoppy and resinous. Full bodied and lively carbonation. Didn’t suffer at all from the wait unlike Double Galaxy. I’m not a big fan of Black IPAs but I absolutely loved this.

Serving type: growler

08-06-2012 02:53:10 | More by Luk13

ehammond1

California

4.4/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Growler

Acquired via trade
Thanks, AdamJackson!

Very dark brown, nearly black, in color with a small dark brown head that doesn't last for too long. This does, however, leave the glass completely messy with thick ribbons of lined lacing. Very pretty black IPA.

Though this beer really is exceptional, the aroma is (only) very good. There's good pine and citrus character, butting up against roast and mild coffee. I like it, though I have smelled (slightly) better.

The flavor is wonderfully balanced, though fully delicious. There's lots of pine hop flavor along roasty black malt. There's a little bit of chocolate and coffee as well, but the pine is dominant, and I like it--a lot! Awesome stuff!

Medium bodied with moderate to high carbonation. No alcohol presence whatsoever.

Simply sublime.

Thanks again, Adam. I'm all out of Hill Farmstead. Can I have some more, please?

Serving type: growler

05-29-2012 00:13:41 | More by ehammond1

jegross2

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewing the Solitude & Society #2 from the Hill Farmstead Brewery.
Score: 92

Three week old 750 ml growler served in a Half Acre tulip and enjoyed on 04/09/12. Review is from notes.

Appearance: Pours a pitch black, essentially opaque, color with two fingers of foamy tan head that settles to a ring around the glass and foggy cap. Amazing lacing and retention. 4.5/5

Smell: Roasted chocolate, lemon zest, grapefruit, orange rind and pine sap. There is a light amount of oak as well behind the juicy tropical citrus aromas. 4.5/5

Taste: Roasted chocolate malt, zesty tropical citrus and extra sticky and resiny pine sap. There is a heavy and lingering hops bitterness present. The finish is a little chocolate-y. Loads of hops to boot, with a growingly bitter finish as the beer layers on the tongue. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus bodied with carbonation on the higher end of medium. Oily mouthfeel. Dry and bitter finish. 4/5

Overall: One of the better black IPA on the market.

Recommendation: Fans of black IPA should seek this one out. Haters of black IPA should seek a bottle of this out too, if only to demonstrate that the style has it's highlights.

Pairings: Hamburgers.

Cost: $10 for a 750 ml growler or $18 for a 2 liter growler (plus the deposit).

Serving type: growler

05-28-2012 21:22:31 | More by jegross2

vonnegut21

New York

4.15/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a delightful dark deep black with a finger and a half of brown-white head. It smells intensely of roasted malt with a healthy dose of hops. The hop presence is more floral and less fruity than other HF brews. The first sip is quite good, the richness of the malt doesn't overpower the hops as is the case with many black IPA's/American Black Ales. For an almost 10% beer, it goes down easy. Overall, a very nice brew. Second in my mind only to Stone's Escondidian Black IPA in the style.

Serving type: growler

05-09-2012 02:12:11 | More by vonnegut21

raveskdr

Virginia

4.6/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Was lucky enough to get a growler of this when Starrdogg and I were up at HF. Poured out of the 750ml swing top growler into my HF high tulip.

A - Nice black color with great carbonation. The head is a brownish white. Nice lacing.

S - Great mixture of tropical fruits, slight pine and roastiness.

T - Starts out with the prototypical amazing HF hop combination. Rounds out on the end with a good amount of roastiness. It finishes with a combo of roast and hops that lingers on your tongue.

M - The hops and roast really interact well to make this a really drinkable beer. A bit lighter than the other imperial black IPA's that I have had.

O - A stellar beer. I am confident in saying that this is the best black IPA I have ever had. Another beautiful beer by Shaun.

Serving type: growler

05-04-2012 14:26:42 | More by raveskdr

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Their self-capping bottle, re: half a growler. Very floral.A big roast, and also big citrus hops. The two are too much. Less hop kick may have been better and improved drinkability. Looks great at black body.Fuller mouthfeel.Suitable carbonation.Some burnt bits.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2012 00:01:56 | More by northyorksammy

largadeer

Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler from gn0sis. Thanks.

Appearance: Black as pitch, and surprisingly viscous. A dark tan head retains well.

Smell: Citrus and char, orange and chocolate. Resinous, pine-like hop notes pop out as it warms up. Hints of lime.

Palate: Chocolate covered oranges. Pine, bitter herbs, a touch of burnt malt. Pretty thick body - drinks more like a hoppy stout than a DIPA. Resinous, bitter finish with an additional kick from roasted malts.

Overall: Not what I was expecting, but really enjoyable. Something of an imperial stout/DIPA hybrid.

Serving type: growler

05-03-2012 22:36:16 | More by largadeer