Hill Farmstead Mary

Tasting Notes

Mary pours with a dense, persistent white head and leads with delicate aromas of fresh bread, white pepper, and floral Saaz hops. On the palate it's soft and round with a gentle malt sweetness that gives way to a firm but refined bitterness — herbal, earthy, never harsh. The body is medium-light with a notably smooth texture characteristic of a proper lagered pilsner. The finish is clean and long, with the hop character lingering quietly rather than fading fast.

About the Brewery

Hill Farmstead operates out of Greensboro Bend in northeastern Vermont, founded by Shaun Hill around 2010. The brewery is widely regarded as one of the most influential craft operations in the United States, building its reputation on expressive IPAs and pale ales named after family members, alongside thoughtful interpretations of European lager and farmhouse traditions. Their limited distribution and remote location have made their beers highly sought after, and they've placed at or near the top of multiple world brewery rankings.

Food Pairings

Roast chicken works well here because the malt softness mirrors the savory drippings without competing with them. Fried fish or schnitzel finds a natural partner in the firm hop bitterness, which cuts through the fat cleanly. A simple charcuterie board with mild cured meats and semi-soft cheeses lets the beer's subtlety show rather than be overwhelmed. Potato-based dishes — gratin, pierogi, knödel — pair comfortably because the earthy hop note echoes root-vegetable character. Even a good bratwurst with mustard plays directly into the Central European context this style was born from.

Style Guide

Czech Pilsener, rooted in Bohemia and famously anchored by the original Pilsner Urquell dating to 1842, is defined by its use of soft water, Moravian floor-malted barley, and noble Saaz hops. The result is a lager with perceptible but rounded bitterness, a soft malt backbone, and a fuller body than its German counterpart, the German Pils, which tends to run drier and more sharply bitter. ABV typically falls between 4.5 and 5.5 percent. What distinguishes it most from other pale lager styles is that combination of soft-water roundness and the distinctly earthy, herbal Saaz character — it's a style where balance and texture matter more than any single dominant note.