Chalumeaux (4962) reviewed Supah Phunk #3 from Hermit Thrush Brewery 9 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5
Poured from bottle thanks Blisscent golden color with a minimal head. Aromas of funk spice honey. Taste is sweat sulphur vinegar.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 4.5
Growler- hazy golden orange. Smells like straight lemon juice and sweat. Yeah, earthy, but in a mold way. the finish I get a little bit of butter. man, not great. sorry guys.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Peterson Amber from Hermit Thrush Brewery 9 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Draught at the brewery, 3/18/16.
An amber body with an off-white head that shows moderate to low retention. Light haziness.
I liked the aroma on the gold more than this one, at least initially, finding a bit more toasted/sourdough character from the malt than I’d prefer (in general but especially in a sour). Melanoidin-like fruitiness, as well as buttercream, vanilla and light caramel suggestions with plentiful tartness. No alcohol or flaws.
In the mouth it’s quite less bready/toasty than in the aroma, which isn’t usually the case. The base malt seems to cover it up much better here and you’re left with a honey-toffee-like character that allows for a good deal of red fruits and a tart, lightly sour finish full of light acetic and lactic acids. Ample, engaging carbonation and no alcohol or flaws.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Peterson Gold from Hermit Thrush Brewery 9 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Draught at the brewery, 3/18/16.
Bright golden-flax body shows low haze and a moderate white head that shows low retention.
Very dainty nose exhibits light wine characteristics, mixing with brett tartness (lemon, lime) and a shot of rich honey-like maltiness behind it that balances things perfectly and rounds out the aroma. No alcohol or flaws, light wood and oak, but nothing buttery/overly toasty. Lovely.
In the flavor it’s a bit more aggressive, with stronger wine and oak suggestions and a bit more sweet/sour character than I’d prefer. Still, the carbonation is on-point and the flavors are quite delicious, with no flaw or alcohol and maybe just a touch too much tannin on the end.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Green Street Sour IPA from Hermit Thrush Brewery 9 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Draught at the brewery, 3/18/16.
Lightly hazy blonde-bronze body shows light carbonation and a medium-sized white head atop with moderate carbonation.
Hoppy in the nose, but with some strong brett aromatics, as well. Not too much on the pine/citrus side of things, but rather full of spicy/woody notes which seem to match the brett perfectly. Tiny bit of dry pineapple and mango, as well, with no alcohol or flaws.
The flavor is very, very unique. The hops add a mossy/woody/spicy element that complements the tart brett band-aid-like notes, while mango, pineapple and guava add levity and brightness. Ample, tight carbonation and a slight puckering sourness on the end. Very nearly perfect tart/sour/bitter balance, with a gentle caramel-like sweetness as well, helping to balance.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Dizzy Vicar from Hermit Thrush Brewery 9 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Dark violet-tinged mahogany with low clarity and a dark beige head that quickly runs to the edges.
Bright dark fruits are quite tart and vigorous in the nose, adding grape, prune, berry and other such characteristics. Some earthiness behind it and a touch of toffee on the end provide a bit of balance while no alcohol or flaw is noted.
Heavy vinousness in the flavor, with prunes, figs and heavily tart/sour lactic notes. The carbonation is quite engaging, however, and there’s a light toffee-like sweetness which prevent the sourness from running away with this one. Though it’s still quite puckering and heavily fruity. Interesting. Maybe tone down the sourness, but it certainly adds a fun element to the otherwise pedestrian abbey dubbel.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Alight #1 from Hermit Thrush Brewery 9 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Draught at the brewery, 3/18/16.
Light golden/straw body shows a strong haziness and a small white head atop with low retention.
Light oak, saison-like esters, pinches of very dry brett and some strong yellow fruits all seem well balanced in the nose. Nothing sharp nor does the gin or wine barrel aging come off to prominently.
Flavors all collide upon first sip and it’s surprisingly overwhelming with strong oak tannins providing toastiness, moderate honey-like maltiness and a light amount of diacetyl adding some butter. It almost works with the oak, giving it a chardonnay-like butteriness and isn’t all that problematic, in the grand diacetyl-scheme of things. Carbonation is moderate to low, fairly engaging and there’s plentiful floral and dry fruit-like notes that are, perhaps, a bit too dry themselves given the oakiness. Probably just needs a bit more time, as it seems quite enjoyable and well-done.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Winter Rye from Hermit Thrush Brewery 9 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Draught at the brewery, 3/18/16.
Very large, dark beige head tops a minimally hazy dark mahogany-to-ebony body. Retention is moderate to moderately-strong.
More bacterial influences in this guy than some of the other stuff they had, but still a strong fruitiness (probably from the rye, yeast and bacteria) and ample light caramel character to balance. Dark fruits, spiciness, dry chocolate and moderate funk. Quite nice with none of the alcohol showing through.
Malty up front, with dark fruits and a lightly spicy rye character emerging as well as raisins and figs. Sour cherry, bitter chocolate and soft caramel all play nicely, with little/no aggressiveness. Not heavily toasty, or at least it doesn’t seem that way. Very nice texture, with engaging carbonation and no alcohol or flaws noted.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Brooks Brown Ale from Hermit Thrush Brewery 9 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Draught at the brewery, 3/18/16.
Dark mahogany brown body shows a light to moderate haze and a small beige head that quickly recedes to a ring.
The nose has light ash, dark chocolate, a moderate dose of souring bacteria and a very strong hazelnut character. No alcohol or flaws.
In the flavor it’s quite nutty. That classic nut brown toasty/roasty/breadiness that we all know and love/hate. I really can’t stand nut brown ales and thus don’t care for that aspect. It’s somewhat more interesting here adding the sourness, but it seems a bit too novel and I can’t really see trying to make a sour nut brown ale to offer to people who really like nut brown ales. Can’t see someone that is in to those being in to this. But it’s done well and there are no flaws nor is it overly sour. Lots of cracker, crust, nuttiness, light roast and a moderately sweet caramel malt to balance the sourness and dry characteristics.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Brattlebeer from Hermit Thrush Brewery 9 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Draught at the brewery, 3/18/16.
Pours a mostly clear, light golden with a touch of amber. White head immediately fizzles to a ring.
Dusty wild yeast notes combine with malic and acetic acids, as well as juicy apple sugars. The malt really goes a long way here and gives backbone/structure to the beer. I’ve been mostly unimpressed with American wild fermented ciders, as they’re just too dry/thin/overfermented.
In the flavor, the sweet apples play perfectly against the honey-like malts while light acetic/malic/lactic acids provide tartness and depth. Really nice balance and lip-smacking acidity on the end make for a crisp, drinkable experience. The alcohol is in a good place here too. What a charming little brewery.