Hill Farmstead Brewery Aaron: Cognac

Aaron: Cognac

 

Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro, Vermont, United States 🇺🇸

  Barley Wine - Barley Rotating
Score
7.77
ABV: 10.0% IBU: - Ticks: 6
Barleywine-style Ale Aged in Cognac Barrels

Aaron A. Hill (1785-1869) was Edward’s great-great-grandfather who operated the original tavern in North Greensboro and upon whose original sign the Hill Farmstead Brewery logo is based. This iteration of his namesake barleywine-style ale has rested—unhurriedly and undisturbed—for nearly two years in Cognac barrels. Profoundly structured yet elegantly smooth, this beer is both a tribute and an indulgence, meant for those who appreciate the passage of time in a glass.
 

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8.3
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

Bottled. Clear mahogany colour, small head. Generous cognac aroma with caramel and dates. Sweet with full body and rounded mouthfeel. Caramel, cognac, port and treacle. Warming mid bitter finish.

Tried from Bottle on 18 Sep 2025 at 01:19


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8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

A reddish brown barley wine with a thin mocha head. In aroma, sweet fruity chocolate malt with dark fruits, licorice, vanilla, very nice and rich. In mouth, a nice sweet caramel malt with light vinous character, light woody notes, alcohol warmth, very nice.

Tried from Bottle on 18 Sep 2025 at 01:16


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8.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 9 | Overall - 9

500mL bottled Nov 15, 2024, drunk 7/31/2025.
Clear, dark amber. Small, dark beige head, decent retention.
Nose is definitely brandy-like, with some candied wine and lots of oak. Caramel, light bread, light toast, light vanilla. Dark fruit, but not too much/intensely-so. No alcohol or flaw.
Soft and malty with light bread, light toffee, lots of plum and raisin. Zesty brandy with good barrel character leaving lots of tart, mineral-rich grape behind. Dries out very nicely on the finish. Wow, this is one of the most dry Aaron's I've had. And I've had almost all of them from the past 7 or 8 years.

Tried from Bottle at Hill Farmstead Brewery on 31 Jul 2025 at 22:15


8

Tried from Bottle on 07 Jun 2025 at 19:05


8

Smooth, fruity, malty and heavy with cognacy apple notes, some wood, oak, plums, prunes, dates, raisins, toffee, syrup and earthiness. Soft and quite complex, surprisingly fruity

Tried from Bottle on 07 Jun 2025 at 19:01


9
Appearance - 9 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 9 | Overall - 9

Bottle: Poured a deep brown color barleywine with no small brown foamy head. Aroma of deep caramelized notes with Cognac notes and some light vanilla notes. Taste is also a mix of deeply caramelized malt notes with Cognac notes and a semi-sweet finale. Body is pretty full with good carbonation with some discernible alcohol notes. Nice barleywine with some good amount of barrel notes that are discernible.

Tried from Bottle on 01 Apr 2025 at 02:25