Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro, Vermont, founded by Shaun Hill, is rooted in family history that extends back to the 1780s. In college, Hill started a homebrew club in college and fantasized about coming back to Greenboro and launching a brewery, which he did in 2010. Unlike most Vermont breweries, his jaw-dropping operation rests on a beautiful, secluded farm in the middle of nowhere. The rural ambiance and gorgeous architecture, combined with their fine ales, makes for a true one-of-a-kind experience. To connect with the personal stories and family history, Hill names his beers after the people in his family that occupied Vermont for the past two centuries. Hill Farmstead is one of the country’s most renowned breweries, having earned glowing coverage in beer-focused publications as well as mainstream news outlets like the Associated Press and Vanity Fair. In January 2013, Hill Farmstead was dubbed Best Brewery in the World by RateBeer.com just two years after being awarded the title New Brewer of the Year. Peaks & Pints received a shipment of Hill Farmstead, which we’re converting into today’s to-go beer flight, Peaks and Pints Pilot Program: Hill Farmstead Beer Flight.
Peaks and Pints Pilot Program: Hill Farmstead Beer Flight
Hill Farmstead Florence Farmstead
5.2% ABV
Florence (1915-1967) was Shaun Hill’s grandfather’s sister, and Hill Farmstead Brewery rests upon the land that was once home to her and her 13 siblings. In her honor, this Belgian inspired wheat ale is crafted from American malted barley, organic Vermont wheat, European and American hops, their distinctive farmhouse yeast, and water from their well. It’s unfiltered and naturally carbonated. The nose is doughy with bright lemon juice and peel, as well as fresh cut grass. Taste is pleasantly tart and lemony, plus faint notes of dough, wheat, and fresh baked bread. It’s tart, refreshing beer.
Hill Farmstead Plum: 2021 Harvest
6% ABV
Each harvest season, Hill Farmstead choose various oak barrels of their Farmstead ales that exhibit sympathetic characteristics for pairing with local fruit varieties, in this case, organic plums from the 2021 harvest season at Elmore Roots Nursery in nearby Elmore, Vermont. Nose and palate are plum with slight funk and mineral water.
Hill Farmstead Arthur Farmstead
6% ABV
Arthur (1922-2005) was Hill’s grandfather’s youngest brother. In his honor, this saison is crafted from American malted barley, American and European hops, their distinctive farmhouse yeast, and water from their well. On the nose, expect clean farmhouse smells with mild citrus notes. On the tongue, expect grassy, floral, funky, and citrus notes with lots of yeast. “Unfiltered and naturally carbonated, this is the ale that I dream to have shared with Arthur,” states Hill in his Arthur Farmstead description, and, frankly, many other of his saisons.
Hill Farmstead Anna Farmstead
6.4% ABV
Anna (1902-1993) was Hill’s grandfather’s sister. In her honor, this honey saison is crafted from American malted barley, European, and American hops, Vermont wildflower honey, their distinctive farmhouse yeast, and water from their well. On the nose, expect lightly tart, fruity, funky, apricot, lemon, tea, honey, and a touch of floral smells, followed by lightly sour and a touch tart notes, plus lemon, lime zest, apple peel, tea, honey, floral, damp hay, and funk flavors.
Hill Farmstead Edward Pale Ale
5.2% ABV
Edward (1917-2002) is Hill’s grandfather; Hill Farmstead Brewery rests upon the land that was once home to him and his five children. In his honor, this American pale ale is dutifully crafted from Pale and Caramel malt, Centennial, Chinook, Columbus, Simcoe, and Warrior hops, Hill Farmstead House Ale Yeast, and water from their well. This unfiltered and dry hopped pale is aromatic and flowery, with impressions of citrus and pine.
Hill Farmstead Of First and Last Things IPA
6.5% ABV
Of First and Last Things is an IPA inspired by years of accumulated experience and an expression of both past, present and future, harmonizing some of our favorite hop varieties — Motueka, Nelson Sauvin, and Simcoe, in this case — into a bright, balanced beer that showcases delicate aromas of white peach, mango sorbet, guava, and a strawberry/banana smoothie, followed by flavors of earl grey and jasmine tea, kumquat, and a nice creamy oat-heavy malt bill.
LINK: Peaks & Pints cooler inventory
