Walden - Hill Farmstead Brewery

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

4.35/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 64 oz. growler fliptop filled yesterday at the brewery. This has been chilled since it was filled. Poured into a pint glass and enjoyed by myself over the course of a couple hours.

Appearance: Pale straw yellow in color and plenty cloudy. Pours a two to three finger white and cloudy head with really good retention. The carbonation has held up really well.

Aroma: Big citrus and tropical fruit notes are strong and definitely are the main component. The hops are definitely the star of this beer. Seems more an IPA than a blonde.

Taste: This is definitely more of a sessionable IPA than a blonde if there was any doubt before. Citrus, tropical fruit, and some bitter pine notes. What's really interesting is that all the huge flavors of a double IPA are there with none of the alcohol. The booze and malt sweetness that comes along with it is gone. Feels a bit watery at the end, but I think that's just a function of the ABV.

Mouthfeel: Light in body and plenty crisp. Very refreshing.

Overall: A really flavorful and interesting sessionable version of an IPA. I'm almost done the growler and I can barely feel any effects. It really succeeds in that regard. It is a bit watery in the finish, but I feel that is a byproduct of the powerful hop flavors upfront that just cannot be sustained throughout. Really good and interesting, but I would not say it is my favorite from HF. Perfect for a sessionable hoppy beer though.

Serving type: growler

08-27-2012 02:17:22 | More by Gosox8787

bobv

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

04-17-2013 05:18:06 | More by bobv

TallSaint

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

04-15-2013 13:03:36 | More by TallSaint

straightlambic

California

4/5  rDev -7.2%

03-29-2013 01:35:19 | More by straightlambic

AutumnBeerLove

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -18.8%

03-06-2013 18:13:34 | More by AutumnBeerLove

Takeanotherswing

New York

4/5  rDev -7.2%

03-06-2013 03:28:21 | More by Takeanotherswing

vtbeerandbud

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

01-24-2013 19:38:20 | More by vtbeerandbud

jbuddle

New York

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

01-22-2013 21:32:29 | More by jbuddle

CypherEnigma

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

01-19-2013 01:52:04 | More by CypherEnigma

Quackus

New York

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

01-18-2013 22:41:02 | More by Quackus

spycow

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

01-13-2013 21:27:01 | More by spycow

seeswo

Ohio

4/5  rDev -7.2%

01-13-2013 03:12:22 | More by seeswo

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.4/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

On draft at Blackback.

Pours a light, hazed yellow with a dense white head. Leaves plenty of lace and thing ring as the head fades. Crisp bready malt and lemon/citrus hop aroma; nicely balanced. Light bodied, well carbonated with a dry grassy and citrus bitter hop finish. Flavor has a strong bready malt base and tons of lemon and grass, with mild grapefruit juiciness. Amazing for a blonde.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2013 01:37:38 | More by yourefragile

bpk59

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

01-08-2013 17:35:08 | More by bpk59

benoit917

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

01-08-2013 02:48:18 | More by benoit917

BeerCosmonaut

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

01-05-2013 08:02:06 | More by BeerCosmonaut

AgentZero

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

12-30-2012 19:59:20 | More by AgentZero

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.65/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL growler poured into a snifter. Reviewed from notes.

Appearance - Hazy with a white head. Yellow/orange body. Very wispy.

Smell - Grapefruit hops, just like Life without Principle #1, but more of an earthy pine hop presence. Pale malt is also more prevalent, which is strange considering this should be less malty.

Taste - Grapefruit hops and that same touch of earthy pine. More pale malts again than its other blonde cohort. Even a touch of bitterness to this one.

Mouthfeel - Light, more body and bitterness than Life without Principle #1, which I don't get. Not quite as easy to drink, though.

Overall - Good. Very nice or a blonde ale. Light in body but still has a good hop bite to it. Impressive as always.

Serving type: growler

12-23-2012 12:59:40 | More by Alieniloquium

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to yourefragile for sharing the growler. Served in Hill Farmstead stemware. Pours a very pale straw color with a really nice white head and plenty of lacing. Nose has nice lemon and a touch of citrus. Intense. Flavor more subdued. Light grain. Fairly bitter and quite dry. Really drinkable.

Serving type: growler

12-16-2012 19:30:32 | More by Thorpe429

chippo33

Vermont

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%

11-30-2012 03:27:03 | More by chippo33

GrumpyOldTroll

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +16%

11-22-2012 18:32:42 | More by GrumpyOldTroll

Romulux

Michigan

4/5  rDev -7.2%

11-11-2012 15:41:04 | More by Romulux

c_patton

3.5/5  rDev -18.8%

11-08-2012 18:48:57 | More by c_patton

dunix

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

10-29-2012 14:18:52 | More by dunix

Holland

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

10-25-2012 17:26:54 | More by Holland