Hill Farmstead — Samuel Batch 5 (2021)

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

Samuel Batch 5 is a luminous Vermont saison built on buckwheat, spelt, and local wildflower honey, then patiently rested in wine barrels and bottle conditioned for many months. The 2021 release pours bright and effervescent, leading with lemon zest and gentle citrus before unfolding layers of nutty buckwheat, delicate spelt grain, and floral honey sweetness. Wine barrels lend a vinous, oak-tinged depth, while wild yeast contributes a softly funky, tart finish. Elegant, dry, and quietly complex, it drinks beautifully now yet rewards further cellaring with deepening vinous and farmhouse character.

Food Pairing

Pair with a fresh chevre and herb salad drizzled with lemon vinaigrette, where the saison’s citrus and floral honey notes echo the goat cheese’s tang. Alternatively, serve alongside roasted chicken with thyme and preserved lemon, allowing the beer’s vinous oak and gentle funk to complement the dish’s bright, savory depth.

About Hill Farmstead Brewery

Hill Farmstead Brewery was established in 2010 by Shaun Hill in Greensboro Bend, Vermont, nestled in the remote Northeast Kingdom region approximately seventy miles from Burlington. Hill’s brewing journey began with a high school science fair project and evolved through professional experience at Denmark’s Fanø Bryghus and Nørrebro Bryghus before he returned to his family’s farmstead to create one of the world’s most celebrated craft breweries.

The brewery has achieved remarkable acclaim for its uncompromising approach to brewing across multiple styles, with particular distinction in American Pale Ales, IPAs, Porters, and Saisons. This dedication to quality has earned Hill Farmstead an extraordinary record of recognition from the global beer community. RateBeer named it Best New Brewery in the World in 2011, followed by the prestigious title of Best Brewery in the World in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, with a second-place finish in 2013. This sustained excellence reflects Hill Farmstead’s commitment to traditional brewing methods and thoughtful innovation, making it a pilgrimage destination for serious beer enthusiasts worldwide.