Hill Farmstead Adding Fifteenth Anniversary Shaun Hill & Ryan Witter-Merithew Imperial Stout

Today I’m bringing you a highly anticipated, limited-release anniversary stout that is already generating serious buzz among craft beer enthusiasts, barrel-aged beer collectors, and imperial stout fans alike. Coming out of the legendary Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, Vermont, this release celebrates a major milestone for one of the most respected names in American craft brewing.

Introducing the Fifteenth Anniversary Shaun Hill & Ryan Witter-Merithew Imperial Stout, a special collaboration beer that highlights the artistry, precision, and innovation that Hill Farmstead Brewery is known for. This anniversary imperial stout is expected to showcase everything that fans love about Hill Farmstead’s dark beer program, rich complexity, layered flavors, and world-class barrel aging.

At its core, this release is a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout, a style that continues to dominate the high-end craft beer market thanks to its bold flavor profile and aging potential. By resting the imperial stout in carefully selected bourbon barrels, the brewing team is able to impart deep notes of oak, vanilla, caramel, and warming spirit character while enhancing the base beer’s natural intensity. The result is typically a full-bodied, high-ABV stout with a luxurious mouthfeel and a long, decadent finish.

This particular anniversary stout is even more notable because it brings together Shaun Hill, the visionary founder behind Hill Farmstead, and Ryan Witter-Merithew, whose contributions to the brewery’s exceptional lineup have helped cement its reputation as one of the top breweries in the world. Collaborations of this caliber often produce standout releases that quickly become must-haves for collectors and serious beer aficionados.

The beer will be packaged in elegant 500ml bottles, a format that is especially popular for barrel-aged imperial stouts and limited anniversary releases. This bottle size allows for both personal enjoyment and sharing, making it ideal for special occasions, vertical tastings, or long-term cellaring. Given Hill Farmstead’s track record, this release is likely to be highly allocated and in strong demand immediately upon announcement.

While official details such as ABV (alcohol by volume), full tasting notes, and release date have not yet been confirmed, expectations are already high. Craft beer fans can anticipate a robust and complex flavor profile that may include layers of dark chocolate, roasted malt, espresso, toasted oak, bourbon warmth, and subtle sweetness, all balanced with the smooth richness that defines a world-class imperial stout.

As with many bourbon barrel-aged stouts from Hill Farmstead, this beer will likely be suitable for aging, allowing flavors to evolve and deepen over time. Hill Farmstead recommends consumption within 6 months of release. Collectors often seek out anniversary releases like this for their ability to develop additional complexity in the bottle, making them prized additions to any serious craft beer cellar.

For those following the latest in Vermont craft beer releases, limited-edition imperial stouts, and barrel-aged collaborations, this is absolutely one to watch. Hill Farmstead has consistently set the benchmark for quality and innovation, and a fifteenth anniversary release of this magnitude is expected to reinforce that legacy.

Stay tuned for upcoming announcements regarding availability, distribution details, and official tasting notes. If history is any indication, the Fifteenth Anniversary Shaun Hill & Ryan Witter-Merithew Imperial Stout will be one of the most sought-after craft beer releases of the year and a standout addition to the world of bourbon barrel-aged imperial stouts.

Label Text Hill Farmstead Fifteenth Anniversary Shaun Hill & Ryan Witter-Merithew Imperial Stout:

“Ryan Witter-Merithew and I first met in 2007. Then, as I prepared to leave my brewing role in Denmark in 2009, he arrived to take my place. We lived and brewed together on the island of Fanø for a month—long days of shared labor, quiet meals, and the beginning of a friendship that has spanned continents and decades.

In that brief overlap, we created Grassroots Brewing as a conduit—an idea that might allow us both to remain creatively tethered to Denmark, even from afar. Together, we have made beers like Twilight of the Idols, Birth of Tragedy, Viola Sofia, Six Years, and so many more. I’ve often believed that my methodical approach gave shape to Ryan’s imagination—and that his inventiveness helped loosen my edges.

Fifteen years later, Ryan has returned. We brewed this Imperial Stout—the largest, most sugar-laden beer we have ever produced. It marks not only our anniversary, but also Ryan’s own return to Hill Farmstead as Chief Operating Officer. He is a creative force and a dear friend. This beer is for the journey—circular, persistent, unfinished.”

About Hill Farmstead Brewery:

Past is Prologue

The Hill family legacy in the Northeast Kingdom spans 8 generations, stretching back to the arrival in Greensboro of father and son, Peleg Hill Sr. and Peleg Hill Jr., in 1791. The history of the Hill family includes the founding of Greensboro and North Greensboro, the building of its first roads, mills, and its first tavern in 1809. That tavern—owned and operated by Aaron Hill—has direct connections to modern day Hill Farmstead Brewery, with our logo taking inspiration from that original tavern sign.

Over the decades, numerous family members have worked the land in and around Greensboro, including Shaun Hill’s grandfather and his 13 siblings, all of whom were born and raised on the land upon which sits Hill Farmstead Brewery today. For much of its history, this swath of land has been working dairy and crop farming and continues in active agricultural use, producing forage hay for Tom Hill’s cows.

Chapter 1

The Beginning

Founder, owner, and brewer Shaun E. Hill was charmed early by the process and science of fermentation, creating his first homebrew as a high school science project. This interest ran parallel with his studies at Haverford College of philosophy, creating a unique foundation and inspiration for the methodical, intentional work to come. After stints at a few smaller, early Vermont breweries and worldwide travel, Shaun took a position at Nørrebro Bryghus in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he excelled under the mentorship of Anders Kissmeyer, winning multiple World Beer Cup medals. During that time, Shaun began in earnest his planning to open Hill Farmstead brewery on his family’s land.

Shaun returned from Denmark in 2009 and founded Hill Farmstead Brewery in 2010 on his family’s ancestral land, making him the 7th continuous generation to make productive use of these the rolling hills of Greensboro Bend, tucked away within Vermont’s beautiful Northeast Kingdom—our middle of everything.

Chapter 2

Away We Go

The timing of the first few years ran parallel with the simultaneous explosion of modern craft brewing in America. Despite our remote, rural setting, we far exceeded our early goals and found an enthusiastic audience for our craft. Working from our modest garage-style brewery atop the rise on Hill Road, we set the foundation for what lay ahead, guided by the core principles of intention, process, and inspiration.

Within a few years, it became necessary for a small expansion of the building, which would serve as our brewery and retail shop for several years. Throughout that period, our company grew in small increments, but remained a small, local business, holding true to the highest standards of quality and always striving for great refinement and deliberate exploration.

Chapter 3

Onwards, Upwards

Over the course of 2 years, we undertook a significant expansion of our facility, adding a new brewery, new packaging room, new bottling and barrel room, and an entirely new tasting room and taproom. Despite the changes and pressures of any big project, we maintained our commitment to our guests and their experience here.

Throughout this last phase of our growth, we’ve worked even harder to maintain the strictest standards for our beers. Hand-selecting hops, working with local fruit producers, exploring new styles, continuous staff improvement, evolving our expectations… we press forward with an eye towards providing an even better experience for our guests, greater expressions of the beers we offer, and further explorations of what’s possible here at Hill Farmstead.

Chapter 4

The Forward Look

Shaun has spent his professional career in pursuit of beer’s pinnacle expressions, regardless of style. For more than a decade, this determined endeavor towards elegance, sophistication and tasteful simplicity has resulted in many of the most highly regarded, most sought after, and frequently lauded beverages amongst enthusiasts in both the wine and beer audience.

Guided by Shaun’s uncompromising vision, the brewery has become a leader and trendsetter in the brewing world—respecting the past; taking cues and inspiration from the wine and spirit communities; and refining and shaping the results to showcase the best that beer can become in the future and to help it ascend to its rightful equal footing alongside wine and spirits.

Chapter 5

A Shift in Direction,
A Change of Perspective

As the global pandemic of 2020 took form, its impact on the Hill Farmstead story was—and continues to be—unimaginably significant. Confronting the same challenges that upended even the world’s largest operations, including logistical complications, abrupt economic turmoil, and an ever-present concern for the wellbeing of colleagues and the wider community—it was a difficult period that reshaped the team into a necessarily smaller, yet more close-knit, group of professionals forever dedicated to the art of brewing.

Through it all, by relying on one another in the face of an uncertain future, the members of Hill Farmstead grew closer together—united in an uncompromising commitment to its delicate production process that was built on a shared appreciation for premium craftsmanship, and nurtured over generations.

More than three years of deep introspection, collaboration, and team building has led us to a renewed purpose and energized connection with each other and our community.

We have worked together, built bonds, and equipped ourselves with a true growth mindset that we hope will echo through everything and everyone with whom we interact going forward into the next decade and beyond.

Our Mission and Vision guides us in all decisions and actions.

Explore the story as it unfolded from The Early Years

View the Hill Farmstead early years blog

zzubreebym