285. Hill Farmstead Double Citra

This is a the only beer I have had from Hill Farmstead's single hop series. In this series they bitter, flavor and dry hop the beer with a single type of hop. It would be very interesting to taste the entire series to see how the hop varieties change the aroma and flavor of the beer. The series includes both single and double IPAs.

This is a double IPA which again is my favorite style of beer and the citra hops give it tons of citrus aromas. Taste has a bit of sweet malts in the beginning that quickly give way to loads of citrus and grapefruit or pineapple flavors. Taste is crisp and clean, very easy to drink for a double IPA and very enjoyable. You truly cannot go wrong with Hill Farmstead beer. 
Pros: Everything 
Cons: 
Alcohol Content: 8.0% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Hill Farmstead
Brewers Description: An American Imperial Pale Ale bittered, flavored, and dry hopped exclusively with Citra hops from the American Pacific Northwest. 8% abv.

284. Vermont Pub & Brewery Grand Slam Baseball Beer

Another growler that I brought back from Vermont. I tried lots of different beers at Vermont Pub & Brewery but never made it to their pale ale so decided to leave with a growler. 


I may have waited a bit too long before opening and drinking this growler as the beer seemed a little flat. The label states it is best to drink within 30 days which I certainly did but the beer still had very little carbonation and almost no head. Aromas are very subtle but has some solid malt character, minimal hop aroma. Taste follows the nose with a fair amount of malts and a slight hop bite. Overall this is a fairly simple beer but it is drinkable and worth trying if you find yourself in Burlington. 
Pros: Drinkable
Cons: Simple
Alcohol Content: ??% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Vermont Pub & Brewery
Brewers Description: A light-bodied American pale ale dry-hopped with Fuggles hops. This was the brainchild of Greg Noonan. He had said, privately, that he felt that he had nailed the style for what he had planned and hoped for. As a side note, the inspiration for the name of this beer came from an 8 year old girl named Jenny, about 25 years ago! The name stuck and style stuck. Go figure. Enjoy this light, summer ale while watching your favorite team play!

283. Hill Farmstead Society and Solitude #4

Another superb beer from Hill Farmstead. Everything about the beer from this brewery is as close to perfect as I have found. Every beer is different but still has the huge aroma, beautiful color, unfiltered look and amazing taste. 

This is a double IPA which happens to be my favorite style of beer and as you can see has a bright orange color, thick white head and just looks amazing in the stem glass that I purchased from the brewery. Lots of citrus and tropical fruits in the aroma and a bit of pine. Flavor follows with loads of hops and a hint of  sweetness. This beer has an excellent feel to it and is very drinkable for an 8% ABV double IPA. Only one more bottle of Hill Farmstead left but I am planning another trip to Vermont in a couple of months. Will be stocking up again and looking forward to anything new from Hill in the coming months. 

Pros: Everything 

Cons: 
Alcohol Content: 8.0% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Hill Farmstead
Brewers Description: Our experimental Double IPA experience continues. Hybrid Imperial IPA... Think Double Citra Meets Double Galaxy.

282. Zero Gravity Ale Communication

This is an interesting beer from Zero Gravity which is part of the American Flatbread family in Burlington, VT. On my recent trip to Vermont we had lunch at American Flatbread, had several of the beers that were available and ultimately left with a growler of their Ale Communication double IPA.


This is a big beer even though the ABV is only 7.3%. Pours a deep orange with a thick off white head. Aroma of pine resin and a bit of sweet malt. Unlike many other big IPAs there is almost no citrus or tropical fruit smell coming from this one. Taste is quite complex and follows the nose with lots of pine resin hops and a nice kick of sweet malts. This one finished somewhere between a double IPA and a barley wine as the hop presence is almost lost in the power of this beer. I was surprised as the ABV is lower than many other hoppy double IPAs but the taste is much more complex. A very good beer from Zero Gravity. 
Pros: Complex flavor
Cons: 
Alcohol Content: 7.3% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): Lots
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Zero Gravity

Brewers Description: None

281. Hill Farmstead What is Enlightenment?

Another pale ale from Hill Farmstead and this one is special as it was brewed for their second anniversary and uses a different mix of hops than Edward. The beer is lighter in color than the others from Hill but has the same cloudy appearance and white head. Aroma had tons of citrus and tropical fruits, very enticing and certainly draws you into the beer. The taste has more citrus and lemon notes than Edward and is excellent with a hoppy finish that makes you want more. 


I really cannot say enough good things about Hill Farmstead's beers. They are everything I like in a beer; fresh, unfiltered with plenty of hops but not palate wrecking. Have a couple more bottles in the fridge and will get to them very soon. 
Pros: Everything 
Cons: 
Alcohol Content: 5.4% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Hill Farmstead

Brewers Description: American Pale Ale brewed in honor of our Second Anniversary. Simcoe and Amarillo hops.

279. Woodstock Inn Brewery Loon Golden Ale

Anyone that has been following my blog for a while knows that I love growlers. When we went to Vermont (see details of trip here) we visited 6 different breweries / brew pubs in 3 days and I had the opportunity to pickup 4 growlers plus the many 750 ml bottles from Hill Farmstead. This one is from Woodstock Inn Brewery in Woodstock NH which was out last stop on our way home.


Color is pretty typical of a blonde ale, maybe a bit darker but it is filtered and crystal clear. In fact some of the writing on the other side of the glass is visible. This is a blonde ale so I was not expecting much in the way of aroma or flavor and I was right. Maybe I have just been drinking too many big IPAs and I have ruined my palate. Nice beer for a hot afternoon as it is light, refreshing and easy to drink.
Pros: Easy drinking
Cons: Simple
Alcohol Content: 4.75% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 30
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Woodstock Inn Brewery

Brewers Description: Light golden in color. Dry and crisp with a semi assertive, Fuggles hop bitterness. Hops are prominent but not overwhelming. Overall, a well balanced representation of the golden ale style. O.G.1.050

278. Hill Farmstead Harlan

You might start to see a pattern over the next few weeks with lots of beer from Vermont. After my 3 day trip last week I have tons of Vermont beer to drink and review. Will most likely start with the Hill Farmstead 750 ml bottles. I am sure the bottles would keep just fine but why chance it as they make some of the very best beer available.

This is Harlan which is Hill's IPA or as they describe it a more aggressive version of Edward. Edward is certainly the best pale ale I have reviewed so it is no surprise that I enjoyed this one just as much. Color is similar a very nice unfiltered orange with solid white head. This beer leaves amazing lacing on the glass too. 


Aroma is very pleasant - strong but not overwhelming with lots of fresh hop and tropical and grapefruits. The best way to describe the taste on this one is fresh. All types of hop flavor here with some pine, tropical, grapefruit and citrus. Just enough of a malt character to balance it out but the beer still finishes with a slight bitterness. Overall another excellent beer from Hill Farmstead. 
Pros: Not over the top like many of today's IPAs, very drinkable
Cons: 
Alcohol Content: 6% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Hill Farmstead

Brewers Description: Harlan is Edward’s slightly more aggressive alter-ego. Dry Hopped exclusively with Columbus hops.

270. Bunker Brewing Belgian Black IPA

Made my first visit to Bunker Brewing Co in Portland last week while visiting some customers. Bunker is just starting to fill growlers and I believe they will have regular growlers hours starting this week. While I was there they had 2 options available; a pilsner and this Belgian Black IPA. This is another example of a style that probably doesn't truly exist but it is a black IPA brewed with a Belgian yeast strain.


Color is a deep brown not quite black with solid tan head. Beer seems to have a mild sweet smell but not much of a nose at all. Taste is sweet to start and finished with a nice bitterness that last a bit too long. This is an interesting combination of styles but not sure it works as well as I had hoped. ABV is in the mid-7s and is well masked by the smooth taste. 


Overall not a bad beer but completely average by my standards. Looking forward to trying other options from Bunker Brewing and will surely get this growler filled many more times. 
Pros: Smooth and easy to drink
Cons: Odd combination of styles
Alcohol Content: 7.3% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Bunker Brewing (Facebook Page)

Brewers Description: No description available

263. Oak Pond Brewery DoorYard Ale

Picked this one up on my first trip to Oak Pond Brewing in Skowhegan. They had a number of options available and because it was a hot afternoon I opted for the nice light DoorYard Ale. 


This beer is pretty simple but quite refreshing. Light in color with a solid white head. Aroma is minimal with a bit of bready malt. Taste starts off fairly sweet and finished with a slight hop bite. This is a beer that almost anyone could drink, even if they usually drink Miller, Bud or Coors Light. A quality brew but nothing too exciting. 
Pros: Light and refreshing
Cons: Simple
Alcohol Content: ??% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating:  
Brewers Website: Oak Pond Brewing

Brewers Description: DoorYard Ale is a light crisp ale with a smooth, clean finish. Light hopping and a hint of wheat malt blend in a mellow brew with a creamy white head.