Once Upon a Time in Denmark... Biscotti
Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro, Vermont, United States 🇺🇸
Stout - Pastry / Flavoured - Imperial Series Out of Production|
Score
7.30
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On Denmark’s tiny island of Fanø, in the days before Hill Farmstead, Shaun Hill and Ryan Witter-Merithew worked closely to develop new, novel beer concepts. The partnership bore forth several notable beers and planted the creative seeds of future others. With nearly two decades of experience and friendship, the opportunity to revisit and reclaim these touchstone creations has arrived:
Once Upon a Time in Denmark…
Springing forth from the conception of Twilight of the Idols—in its original incarnation as Fanø Julebryg more than a decade ago—each of the beers in this collection is a creative expression of whimsy and friendship, guided by experience and committed to pushing boundaries while upholding the highest standards.
This imperial stout was aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels for more than 13 months, following which the blend was conditioned with a range of additions guiding it towards the enlivening sense memory of a favorite baked treat and its accompanying morning beverage: Vista Hermosa coffee, selected and roasted by our lifelong friends at the Coffee Collective in Copenhagen; organic Madagascar vanilla beans; single-origin, organically-grown cacao nibs from the Duarte Province of the Dominican Republic, sourced and roasted by Cacao Vita; and certified organic California slivered almonds, sourced by Tierra Farm.
Once Upon a Time in Denmark…
Springing forth from the conception of Twilight of the Idols—in its original incarnation as Fanø Julebryg more than a decade ago—each of the beers in this collection is a creative expression of whimsy and friendship, guided by experience and committed to pushing boundaries while upholding the highest standards.
This imperial stout was aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels for more than 13 months, following which the blend was conditioned with a range of additions guiding it towards the enlivening sense memory of a favorite baked treat and its accompanying morning beverage: Vista Hermosa coffee, selected and roasted by our lifelong friends at the Coffee Collective in Copenhagen; organic Madagascar vanilla beans; single-origin, organically-grown cacao nibs from the Duarte Province of the Dominican Republic, sourced and roasted by Cacao Vita; and certified organic California slivered almonds, sourced by Tierra Farm.
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6.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 6.5
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Sample at Churchkey. Pours a very oily black, opaque, wispy tan head. Legs. Nose is huge with molasses and black licorice and malt, some soy notes, burnt toast. Flavor has plenty of umami, if there is biscotti then I don't get it. All malt and dark stuff. Some dried raisin and dates. Molasses, black licorice, some kirsch. Full bodied, long and boozy. Just don't get a ton of adjuncts. Its fine as is though.
Tried
from Draft
on 27 Aug 2026
at 22:12
8.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
Bottle shared in NH. Picked up from the brewery. Pours oily black with a cascading, foamy tan head. Richly layered dark malt character, some bourbon, raisins, chocolate, mild roast, burnt toffee. Full bodied, lightly chewy, with fine carbonation. Warming finish, sweet but not cloying. Great depth. Super.
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Aug 2024
at 19:31
7.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle pour shared by ClarkVV--thanks, Clark! Opaque black with light viscosity. Aroma is sweet malt, almond. Taste follows aroma. Smooth, full bodied with soft carbonation and finish as taste. Delivers what it says. Fine.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Jun 2024
at 02:44
6.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
500 ml. Thank you ClarkVV for the share. Aroma has almond, chocolate, and sugar. Chocolate, nuts, caramel, and sugar. Overall the sweetness is over the top. WAY more than I have ever had in a Hill Farmstead stout. Jeez…
Tried
on 02 Jun 2024
at 01:57
6.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Bottle drunk 6/1/24. Clear, dark, ring of bubbles. Again a bit sugary and maybe a bit bitter/ashen on the coffee. Less bourbon than the Southward. Sweet caramel, molasses acidity. Almond paste, lots of sugar, some weird bitterness. Some minor spicy bourbon. Sweet. Just kind of there. Kind of bitter. Lots of sharp vanilla. Lingering sugar mixing with borderline astringent bitterness. What a disaster of a series.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Jun 2024
at 01:42
8.3/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8.5
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Pours black, small very darkly tanned head fades fast. Scent is intense, roasty, bit boozy, very warming and heavy. Some vanilla. Some nuts, but not typically almond (to my pleasant surprise) . Taste is full, roasty, mildly bitter, intense dark chocolate, bit boozy , bourbon barrels come trough nicely. Almond isn't too recognizable. Some vanilla. Quite 'refined' for an imperial stout, whilst being rather booze-forward, strong and intense. Chocolate shines tough very well, coffee providing a backbone.
Tried
on 09 Dec 2023
at 22:09
8.3/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 6
Overall 9
9/XII/23 - 500ml bottle @ BBGG winter 23-24, BB: n/a, bottled: 25/III/22 (2023-1169) Thanks to ElManana for sharing the bottle!
Clear dark brown to black beer, no head. Aroma: malty, chocolate, some coffee, oxidized, alcohol, soy sauce, some toasted hazelnut, almonds, honey, dark chocolate. MF: soft carbon, medium body. Taste: sweet start, malty, lots of alcohol, lots of chocolate, good roast, vanilla, oxidized, slightly sourish, sugary, bourbon, coffee, more dark chocolate. Aftertaste: caramel, vanilla, some coffee, chocolate, soft acidity, more alcohol, oxidized, soy sauce, soft roast, sugary, almonds, maple syrup, bourbon, lovely beer!
Clear dark brown to black beer, no head. Aroma: malty, chocolate, some coffee, oxidized, alcohol, soy sauce, some toasted hazelnut, almonds, honey, dark chocolate. MF: soft carbon, medium body. Taste: sweet start, malty, lots of alcohol, lots of chocolate, good roast, vanilla, oxidized, slightly sourish, sugary, bourbon, coffee, more dark chocolate. Aftertaste: caramel, vanilla, some coffee, chocolate, soft acidity, more alcohol, oxidized, soy sauce, soft roast, sugary, almonds, maple syrup, bourbon, lovely beer!
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Dec 2023
at 21:15
8.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bottle. Pours a dark brown with small beige head that lasts. The aroma is vanilla bean, roast, cocoa, wood, tobacco. Slick body, milk chocolate, vanilla, roast, bourbon, nice sweetness, enjoyed this.
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Sep 2023
at 18:49