Lately, I’ve been a bit partial to easy-drinking session beers. Such brews should not be too high in alcohol, have a flavorful but not overpowering palate, and be well suited for repeats drinking in one sitting. Really, that’s the definition of “session” ale.  And while I rarely end an evening with the same beer I began it with, I still sometimes drink more than one of the same beer. That’s something I did the other night with Smuttynose Star Island Single.

Star Island Single is a year-round treat from Portsmouth, New Hampshire’s Smuttynose brewery. Smuttynose has long been one of my favorite beers since my early days as a beer enthusiast. Living in New England for so long meant their beers were readily available to me back in the nineties. A visit to the brewery only made me a bigger fan.

Star Island Single is brewed as an abbey single in style. Here’s what Smuttynose says about it:

Our Star Island Single is an eminently sessionable, abbey-style ale offering a beguiling mix of flavor and refreshment. This medium-bodied golden ale features a slight residual sweetness from Honey Malt and hints of citrus and tropical fruits from the unique Belgian yeast it is fermented with, leaving a crisp dry finish. Enjoy it sociably while you savor good times, tall tales, friendly company & life’s unexpected pleasures.

And I say:

Smuttynose Star Island Single pours to a bright golden color with a moderate sized spritzy head formation and a citric, lemon zesty nose. Palate is very crisp and fresh-malty, easily a drinkable brew. The palate is delicate and the spicing light, and they play off each other well. Subtle coriander, rock candy, zesty citrus, white pepper vie for the palate’s attention. Belgian funk is readily apparent, too.  A slightly sweet finish reveals little in the way of hops.

A Belgian-style session ale? Why not! At 5.1% alcohol by volume, Star Island Single seems eligible for that category.  I like this crisp and refreshing ale packed with plenty of flavor well enough, and would certainly buy it again. It’s about average in price (at today’s rates anyway) at $8.99 a six-pack. Try it with sharp cheeses, fresh fruit, and toasted nuts.



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