Society & Solitude #5 - Hill Farmstead Brewery

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.58/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Growler to HF Stemmed tulip. Growler filled on Sept 22, consumed on October 5th.

A - Very cloudy golden yellow with some orange in the centre. Half a finger of white head with moderate lacing.

S - Massive hit of fresh grapefruit, pine and orange zest with a fairly noticeable but not overwhelming bitterness. Some sweet honey/caramel in the background.

T - A bitter punch up front with one of the most pungent grapefruit rind flavours I've tasted in a beer. While most grapefruit-forward IPAs taste of fresh grapefruit juice, this one definitely tastes of the bitter rind, not the fruit. There are also lighter peach and orange zest flavours present with a lighter honey/caramel malt sweetness in the background. The finish is bitter and dry.

M - Medium body; chewy with the typical HF IPA dryness that I love. Light carbonation.

Serving type: growler

10-07-2012 15:23:12 | More by TheSevenDuffs

tewaris

Minnesota

3.68/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Growler sent kindly by millerbuffoon, thanks a lot!

Hazy amber colored, very typical of HF. Medium head, good lacing. Tropical fruit heavy aroma, lots of pineapple and possibly malty sweetness. Light and hoppy taste with a finishing bitterness and a dominant fruity note. Crisp and dry feel. Overall it's not bad but nothing's great about it either.

3, 3, 3, 4, 3
---
Took it's time getting warmed up and what not, glad I had a growler full. Bumping the scores up to 4, 4, 3.5, 4, 3.5

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 03:44:43 | More by tewaris

mdfb79

New York

4.58/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From 10/02/12 notes. Had this on tap at Rattle n Hum in NYC. 10 oz. pour, had two glasses of it.

a - Pours a murky, orange-golden color with one and a half fingers of fluffy bright white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of oranges, citrus, grapefruit, pine hops, tropical fruits, lemon, fruity malts, floral hops. Ton of fresh hops and fruit; really an amazing nose for a hoppy beer. Perfect for me.

t - Tastes of oranges, citrus, lemon, grapefruit, tropical fruits, bready malts, pine hops, some earthy notes, and floral hops. Again, really amazing, though I think the nose had a little more to it. Still an amazing taste.

m - Medium body and low to moderate carbonation. Body is super smooth and insanely easy to drink. Not much bitterness at all for a DIPA. Near perfect mouthfeel for a DIPA for me.

o - Overall a really amazing DIPA. I also drank a Heady Topper and Ephraim tonight, and this is right up there with them as some of the best hoppy beers I've ever had. I think I like it a little bit better than S&S #4 as I find this less bitter and more drinkable. Perfect nose and mouthfeel to me, would love to have this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2012 21:35:11 | More by mdfb79

brystmar

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Mac & Justin for sharing!

This bright, straw-colored body is lighter in color than I remember from other HF DIPAs. Delicate lace and head form atop the liquid which, again, departs from the thicker, often aggressively stubborn foam shown by their other offerings.

Taste and aroma are similar. Initial dose of lemon zest has spring in its step, yet this succumbs to the hoppy base midway through the drink. Fresh hops take over, imparting a bitter quality that isn't overbearing or imbalanced, yet doesn't quite capture the magic of their previous DIPAs. More hop resin at the end for a unique finish.

A crisp, clean, tasty brew that's sure to please many, but I'm still an Abner man.

Serving type: growler

10-01-2012 18:29:00 | More by brystmar

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.23/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

64oz growler (Harvest Fest)
New Belgium Globe

A: Hazy as hell golden orange color. About a finger of bright white head. Leaving some sticking lacing sheets. There is some yeast in suspension floating around. Again, so cloudy.

S: Tons of piney grapefruit notes. Very reisinous. Smells so inviting. Low malt bill. Hop bomb. Right in my wheel house.

T: Lots of crazy hop bitterness on tongue. Just really attacking it. Tons of pine and grapefruit. Hop bomb. Low malt bill. I like the lower ABV for a DIPA. Not as sweet with the lower malt too.

M: Medium bodied. Lighter than most DIPAs.

Serving type: growler

10-01-2012 18:24:49 | More by inlimbo77

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

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

Tasted from a growler 24 hours after the 2012 Hill Farmstead Harvestfest.

Society and Solitude #5 pours a hazy straw yellow with a medium sized, creamy head on top. The foam is slow to dissolve leaving behind a coating of lace on the glass.

The aroma is loaded with pine, grapefruit and lemon citrus. A touch of bready pale malt is also present.

Each sip of this medium to full bodied beer is oily on the palate with a good firm carbonation. The flavor has lots of lemon and grapefruit citrus as well as some pine. There's some bubblegum sweetness and a touch of bready pale malt found in the background. The beer finishes dry and bitter and slightly tart. Once gone the lemon citrus lingers on the palate.

This is a very tasty beer that's loaded with hop flavor, but the aroma fades quickly.

Serving type: growler

09-30-2012 23:50:55 | More by WanderingFool

lovindahops

New York

4.53/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Decided to crack open a 2 liter growler of society of solitude 5 that I picked from hill farmstead at the 2012 harvest fest. I really enjoyed trying this brew at the festival so my mouth is watering to tap into this growler

A- society and solitude pours a hazy tangerine orange body with a soapy white head of foam that laces the edges with marshmallow webbing. Very exuberant and glowing in my hill farmstead stemware.

S- Ridiculous grapefruit blast that embodies the description of tropical oasis. Sweet and citric catapult of literal grapefruit bombs blasting the scent profile. S&S5 pushes your nostrils off a tropical island of a citric oasis

T- A sweet and sour compilation of the aforementioned tropical flavor. A bitter mouth cringing grapefruit flavor attaches itself to the palate while a sugary spectacle of flavor lingers on. There is a caramel flavor that is at the exit with flavor that suggests some piney resinous flavor contributing and therefore balancing the hoppy grapefruit too

M- carbonated and prickly deliciousness that flows all over the palate

O- The best way to summarize society and solitude 5 is to summarize it as a tropical grapefruit neutron bomb. Very enlightening and tropical brew that explodes and graffitees your palate with bitter sweet flavor. Again, here is Shaun Hill demonstrating that DIPA's can embody many different properties. Way to go Hill Farmstead!

Serving type: growler

09-30-2012 00:09:52 | More by lovindahops

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer is hazy golden yellow with a white head. Citrus and hops, grapefruit, orange, rind. Smells fabulous. Smooth and delicious. Lingering hops with a delectable bitterness. Little malt profile. Medium bodied with appropriate carbonation. Another winner from Shaun and the folks at Hill Farmstead.

Serving type: growler

09-28-2012 20:20:18 | More by Huhzubendah

nrs207

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Light golden yellow with a finger of a white head. Leaves decent lacing. Nice and hazy.

S - Grapefruit bomb. Sweet and bitter grapefruit pours out of this beer. There's really not too much else to note. If you like grapefruit forward IPAs, this is 100% for you.

T - Follows the nose quite well. Starts out with a nice sweet, juicy grapefruit flavor. Finish is dry and bitter grapefruit.

M - Really smooth, no alcohol. Medium bodied. The bitterness really builds as you drink it.

O - Another fantastic brew from Shaun. Big surprise, right? Not my favorite IPA, but for what they were going for, it's really excellent.

Serving type: growler

09-27-2012 00:04:09 | More by nrs207

cfrances33

Illinois

5/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Growler thanks to juliusseizure. Filled 9/22/12, enjoyed 9/26/12. Poured into a Hill Farmstead tulip.

Pour: Completely hazy yellow-orange with a finger and a half of white soapy head. Head eventually recedes to film, and leaves solid lacing. Shaun Hill described this as "think grapefruit" - well this looks just like grapefruit juice.

Smell: Tangerine, mango, pineapple, and grapefruit explode from the glass. Malt? What malt. This beer is carbonated juice. This smelled perfect.

Taste: Tangerine and grapefruit BOMB. This beer is so juicy and fantastic. The citrus that bursts in your mouth every sip is incredible. A nice sweetness, but no substantial malt presence. I'm perfect with that.

Mouthfeel: This is so drinkable. Velvety carbonation, but the highlight of this beer is how the juiciness of the taste translates to the mouthfeel. Perfect again.

Overall: I can unequivocally say this is the best beer I've ever had. Nothing has even come close, and I truly mean that. I want to edit my other reviews to show how much this beer stands head and shoulders above the rest, even Abner, Double Citra, and Ephraim. Thank you Shaun Hill.

Serving type: growler

09-26-2012 20:59:28 | More by cfrances33

merc7186

New York

4.2/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this beer poured from a growler into a tulip glass.

A: Hazy Golden Straw Hue, Passes Some Light, Thick White Head, Great Lacing

S: Mild Grapefruit, Mild Grapefruit Rind

T: Grapefruit, Mild Grainy

M: Great Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Bitter

Overall, good but disappointing for a DIPA.

Serving type: growler

09-25-2012 00:13:35 | More by merc7186

Gushue3

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into Jack's Abby pint

A Pours a hazy light orange color with a pretty large white head. Lots of sticky lacing left all the way down the glass and lots of lively carbonation. Typical Hill Farmstead looking beer...

S Citrus bomb. Grapefruit, tangerine, orange and a light malt hiding out in the back.

T Follows the nose perfectly. Medium to lighter bitterness with lots of sweet grapefruit and tangerine. Sweetens up in the middle and rides out to a juicy finish. I'm always looking for the bitterness in IPAs and DIPAs but the citrus in this is crazy. and does NOT drink almost 8%.

M Medium feel with a medium amount of carbonation on the tongue. The finish is somewhere between dry and sticky.

O This beer was pretty unreal. It tastes like goddamn fruit juice with a small bitterness. These S&S's dont deviate from the awesome line. Thanks HF guys for having another top notch fest and making ridiculous beers.

Serving type: growler

09-25-2012 00:00:54 | More by Gushue3

Sean9689

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Parker Pie and HF Harvest Fest 2012 into HF wine glass and pint glass (at Parker Pie).

Pours a mirky golden yellow color, white head, thin collar, spotty lace. Aroma is hop-forward without being over-the-hop, light fruity sweetness, some resin in there too. Flavor is grapefruit, pine, and citrus. Hoppy yet smooth...not a palate-wrecker...very well-done. Light toward medium body, good carbonation, oily hoppy finish.

Easier to drink then S&S #4 and I think I enjoyed this one a bit more as well. Very easy to drink for 7.8% and the perfect balance of hops to not kill me after one or two glasses. Great stuff!

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2012 19:49:58 | More by Sean9689

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from tap at the 2012 Harvest Festival - twice. Pours a beautiful hazy straw color with nice head. Aromas are just amazing. Big citrus/grapefruit hops! Taste is deff full of the grapefruit, but sweet hops and malts really balance the bitterness. Its just so drinkable and bursting with flavors. One of the best Double IPA's out there. Have this brew if you can get your hands on it!

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2012 19:11:58 | More by DrinkSlurm

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Sampled on draft a few times during the Harvest Festival weekend, and a few glasses from a growler watching football on Sunday.

Pours a pale, hazed golden amber with a dense, soapy white head that fades fairly quickly to a thin collar and some clumpy lacing. Aroma and flavor are like biting into a fresh grapefruit with a surprising lack of bitterness in the finish. Aroma is ruby red grapefruit, citrus rind and skin, not particularly sweet, artificial or juicy. Flavor has a little more sugary sweetness, but continues with fresh grapefruit notes. Pulpy in the finish with long lasting lingering acidity and no bitterness. Dry, crisp and balanced, body is exceptional for this series. I realize describing this as a grapefruit IPA makes this sound like 1 of N other beers, but this was remarkably unique and exceptional.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2012 19:34:24 | More by yourefragile

Brad007

Vermont

4.43/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Picked this up at the Hill Farmstead Autumn Harvest Festival in a 750ml bottle. I honestly had not sampled the previous four in this series so I was not sure what to expect.

Pours a cloudy orange-blonde with a two-finger head that fades to lacing in my glass. I was not expecting the cloudiness but perhaps it's there for a reason?

Spicy with a touch of pine and citrus in the nose. It tingles my olfactory gland, mellowing me out.

Wow. It starts with a touch of pine that morphs into a tsunami of acidic grapefruit with a sweet, biscuity backbone. Something about this just feels so right.

It's all in the mouthfeel. The hops fade and lead to a buttery, doughy, lupulin-soaked aftertaste. Wow.

Sure, scoff at the repetitive use of "wow". I am very happy with this selection.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 01:48:13 | More by Brad007