183. Starr Hill Northern Lights IPA

Our second beer from Starr Hill Brewing; our last one was Jomo Lager. Northern Lights IPA begins with a skunky hop nose (Elli said she wanted to trademark that term), mostly, it would seem, from the large volume of hops in the beer. It has a soft copper color with a light haze, a light white head, and it leaves some lacing on the glass. Northern Lights IPA has a dry biscuit malt front that moves into a big bitterness and finishes with a clean, lingering bitterness, and has a decent carbonation bite. It is slightly astringent in the mouth; the bitterness in the beer curls the tongue and the back of the throat. Overall, it is a bit heavy handed with the bitterness; the focus on bitterness limits the balance and diminishes the malt presence, which is not evident across the flavor profile. While the beer is very drinkable, it is very one dimensional, with the bitterness cutting out other elements of the beer.

From the Starr Hill website: “Northern Lights is an extra-special India Pale Ale that is now available year-round. Characterized by its full-flavored bitterness and floral aroma, a perfect blend of barley and hops make this a very balanced IPA. For the craftbrew connoisseur, Northern Lights is a deliciously crafted piece of the heavens.”

ABV: 6.5%

IBU: 52

Malts: 2-row, Caramel, Munich, & Wheat

Hops: Cascade

(12/30/2009)

76. Starr Hill Jomo Lager

Starr Hill Brewing is located in Charlottesville, VA. First opening in September 1999 in an old store front in downtown Charlottesville, Starr Hill has since moved to a larger facility outside Charlottesville.

Jomo Lager has a hazy straw color with a white creamy head. It has a grainy malt lager nose, and a generous white head. Jomo has a soft lightly creamy malt front, a crisp clean middle with some light bitterness lingering at the middle to end, and a dry finish. Hints of toastiness from the malt and some slight spiciness from either the hops or malt are layered along the way. The body was a bit dark (as was the taste) for a lager—this beer verges on being more of an Oktoberfest than a straight lager—we wouldn’t have complained if we had been served this and told that it was one, especially with the slight creamy opening and the more complex and malty body (although it was not as sweet as some of the Oktoberfests that we've had). With a soft smooth mouthfeel and a crisp refreshing carbonation bite, Jomo is enjoyable from beginning to end.

From the Starr Hill website: “Starr Hill’s Jomo Lager is a smooth, multiple-award-winning Light Amber Lager. Fermented with Southern German Lager yeast, its crisp, clean taste, and noticeable hop aroma are effectively balanced with a slight malty sweetness. This is a crossover beer that appeals to the broadest spectrum of brew aficionados.”

ABV: 4.6%

IBU: 23

Malts: Two Row, Munich, and Caramel

Hops: Tettnang and Hallertau

(9/14/2009)