Try?
Here we are, folks, on location once again at our local Taco Mac, enjoying our
second Beer of the Month selection for April, 2014. This month, Starr Hill
brewery from Charlottesville, VA is the featured brew, and as its pint glass
night, that means I get to take home a free Starr Hill glass with my purchase of
a Starr Hill beer.
My mug of Starr Hill
Northern Lights IPA
arrived a bright orange amber color with a light layer of foam and a slightly
toasty maltiness in the nose accompanied by a bit of resiny pine. The palate has
some chewy-toasted caramel malt flavors up front and then sharply bitter hops
emerge with hints of citrus and resin that linger with a long dry bitterness.
Overall, though, this one has very nice balance.
That makes me think of a time I was sitting at the bar of my Canton Taco Mac drinking a beer with someone from the corporate office (who shall go nameless to protect the innocent). He wanted my opinion on what I would think if Taco Mac did away with pint glass night. I said I thought it was a very bad idea, in no uncertain terms.
You see, I spend a lot of money at Taco Mac and on craft beer in general, and I have to say that this is one of the ways I see craft beer giving something back. So keep the glasses coming, craft breweries and Taco Mac. You owe us at least this much for our loyalty.
OK, off the soapbox now and on to the beer in my glass, Starr Hill Northern Lights IPA. There’s nothing like a good old malty-hoppy American IPA to make my day, and my friends, Starr Hill Northern Lights is a good old malty-hoppy American IPA. Toss in a plate of wings and you’re really talking, so that’s exactly what I did.Ingredients from the website:
Malted Barley: Two Row, Caramel, Munich & Wheat Kettle Hops: Cascade, Willamette & Columbus Yeast: Ale Yeast
Starr Hill Northern Lights IPA has an alcohol content of 6.5% by volume according to the brewery website, but Taco Mac listed it as 7.2% on the beer menu. It has 52 IBUs and I paid a reasonable $5.25 for my 20 ounce mug (you’ll get 16 ounces here without a Brewniversity Bachelors degree).
My mug of Starr Hill
Northern Lights IPA
arrived a bright orange amber color with a light layer of foam and a slightly
toasty maltiness in the nose accompanied by a bit of resiny pine. The palate has
some chewy-toasted caramel malt flavors up front and then sharply bitter hops
emerge with hints of citrus and resin that linger with a long dry bitterness.
Overall, though, this one has very nice balance.
An excellent American IPA, very enjoyable indeed, and one whose delightful hop aroma and bitterness paired wonderfully with an order of Taco Mac’s signature wings.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
