We've survived another week, and we're a few steps closer to the goal. Survive and advance, my friends, survive and advance. Not much planned for the weekend, although we're cramming in a 20+ mile bike ride, farmers market visit, trip to the Mini dealership, a trip to a new bottle shop in the area, a visit to Tired Hands and dinner with friends, and all of the remaining episodes of Breaking Bad at our disposal. Okay, so maybe we have a few things planned here and there.
Today's beer is Harlan, an IPA from Hill Farmstead. Had this one on draft at Teresa's Next Door, which was fortunate timing as there had been a Hill Farmstead event the day prior. In the glass, it has a hazy straw color, with a fluffy white head, although that might be related to the fact I had the last beer in the keg. Your nose picks up aromas of lemon and pine, and when you take a sip you get a dry hop bitterness, with lemon, grapefruit, and pine throughout. There's an earthy quality in there, and this beer is unquestionable proof that fantastic IPAs are not the exclusive domain of the West Coast or Colorado. Hits the right spot at 6% ABV, and I'm moving it into my Top 25 for the year.
Hill Farmstead has become a "cult brewer" (my phrase) over the past two years, building up an incredible reputation and devoted fan base in a short amount of time. In an earlier paragraph, I mentioned that finding this beer on draft was fortunate - that's because any time a local bar taps something from this brewery, a swarm of beer geeks descends on the bar like a plague of thirsty locusts, devouring all the Hill Farmstead beer in their path. As their production is limited, people have in fact started selling bottles of their limited releases on the web for hundreds of dollars (although, the brewery is working to put an end to this illegal practice). If you see it on draft, drink it immediately. Do not wait, do not pass go, do not collect $200.
Thing to Think About Today:
Hill-related thing to go with your beer tonight, perhaps appropriate to kick off a Friday night? Sure, why not! Cypress Hill, the floor is yours:
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