414: Hill Farmstead at 15—A Conversation with Shaun Hill

May 23, 2025

In this conversation, Shaun Hill, the founder of Hill Farmstead Brewery, shares his unique brewing philosophy and the evolution of his acclaimed Vermont brewery. He discusses the transformative role of hazy IPAs and the inventive use of yeast strains like London Ale III. Hill reflects on the intentional development of Farmstead Ales and the significance of sustainability in brewing. He also shares insights on adapting practices during the pandemic and the creative journey that shaped his vision—highlighting the balance of flavors and authenticity in craft beer.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Shaun Hill's Solo Brewing Years

Shaun Hill shared how early on in his career he worked alone on a seven-barrel system, managing all brewing tasks by himself.
This intense solo work shaped his strong endurance and brewing expertise.

INSIGHT

Defending Early Hazy IPAs

Hill Farmstead's early IPAs were intentionally hazy, challenging traditional clarity standards.
Shaun defended haze as a fresh, delicious characteristic, shaping beer texture perceptions today.

INSIGHT

Focus on Mouthfeel and Texture

Emphasizing mouthfeel, Shaun added calcium chloride and oats to accentuate beer texture and softness.
This focus created elegant, distinctive beers elevating craft beer experience.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Few breweries in the 21st century have been as influential as Hill Farmstead on American craft beer. This rural Vermont brewery, built on the family property just outside Greensboro Bend, captured the beer world’s imagination upon opening in 2010, and enthusiasts have flocked there from all corners of the world ever since. Their IPAs helped to change the trajectory of the style, and their saisons—trademarked as Farmstead Ales—have received numerous honors, including a Beer of the Year nod from Craft Beer & Brewing in 2018.

Founder Shaun Hill has a reputation as a philosophically driven brewer who isn’t afraid to speak his mind on a broad swath of subjects, and in this episode he covers a wide range:

changing Edward from an IPA to pale ale 10 batches in
defending hazy beer in the early 2010s while making contributions to the development of mouthfeel and texture
making the jump from Conan to London Ale III yeast
using New Zealand hops effectively
the origin of the term “Farmstead Ale”
early iterations of the brewery business plan with a focus on Brettanomyces beers
finding a Hill Farmstead voice in mixed-culture saison
acid contributions from Chad Yakobson’s Brett strains
building beer that maintains peak flavor at 10 years in the bottle
process refinements while getting back on the brewdeck during the pandemic
intentional sustainability in the brewery
balancing consciousness and presence in a demanding brewery environment
developing a manufacturing philosophy
weighing needs of the self versus feeding the business machine
employing a “best known way” philosophy rather than standard operating procedures
reassessing what creativity looks like

And more.

This episode is brought to you by:

G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): For years G&D Chillers has chilled the beers you love, partnering with 3,000+ breweries across North America and beyond. With our 24/7 service and support, your brewery will never stop. Remote monitor your chiller for simple and fast access to all the information you need, and gain peace of mind your operation is running smoothly.
Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Berkeley Yeast bioengineers ordinary strains and make them extraordinary—enhancing the flavors you want and eliminating the ones you don’t. Visit berkeleyyeast.com to learn more and start brewing with science on your side.
Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer): As breweries expand beyond beer into other segments like mocktails and CBD beverages, Old Orchard is here to help. We can formulate custom blends featuring specialty ingredients. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer.
Indie Hops (https://indiehops.com) Lórien seamlessly combines traditional elements of European noble hops with an elegant twang of American modernity. Learn more about Lórien and the rest of Indie’s varieties at www.indiehops.com. Indie Hops — Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful.
Steel Chill Cups (https://SteelChillCups.com) Steel Chill-Cups are the perfect promotional tool! Crafted from 100% recyclable steel and proudly made in the USA. Discover how Steel Chill-Cups can “Put your brand on every pour”—visit SteelChillCups.com today!
Arryved (https://www.arryved.com) Not only does Arryved offer a world-class POS built specifically for breweries, but they also provide Arryved Brewery Management, e-commerce, and more to help breweries scale and thrive. Visit arryved.com to learn more.
Paktech (https://www.paktech-opi.com) With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, PakTech helps brands stand out while staying sustainable. Trusted by craft brewers nationwide, they offer a smarter, sustainable way to carry your beer. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com
Brewery Workshop (https://breweryworkshop.com) If you’re launching a brewery or acquiring an existing one, consider our brewery workshop and new brewery accelerator, September 14 through 17th in Fort Collins, Colorado. Over four days, we engage in panel discussions, technical brewery tours, networking, and small working group sessions that help you better understand and prepare for the challenges of brewery operation. Tickets are on sale now.

Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast