The “session IPAs’ keep on coming, but Virginia’s Starr Hill brewery has introduced one with a twist (a twist of grapefruit that is): Starr Hill The Hook Grapefruit Session IPA. The Hook is new for 2016, and was introduced as a summer seasonal available May through August. My feelings on the style are well know (it doesn’t exist), but that said I do enjoy drinking the beers, especially in the warm weather.

I do love grapefruit, too, so that makes The Hook even more attractive to me. Hence, when I saw it on tap at Taco Mac in September, I ordered one up with much alacrity. It served as an excellent beer for 1 PM Sunday football drinking, and Tom Brady and I enjoyed a 20-ounce mug while watching the Pats play.

From the website:

The tart freshness of grapefruit perfectly complements this full-flavored beer’s bright citrus hop character, while its sessionable body brings you back for more.

Ingredients, also from the website:

MALTED BARLEY: 2-Row, Crystal, Honey Malt & Golden Oats

 KETTLE HOPS: Apollo, Citra, Mosaic & Falconer’s Flight

 DRY HOPS: Citra, Mosaic & Centennial

 YEAST: Ale

Starr Hill The Hook Grapefruit Session IPA has an alcohol content of 4.9% with 38 IBUs. I paid $5.50 for a 20-ounce mug at Taco Mac, and it runs $8.99 a six-pack in bottles. Both quite reasonable these days.

My mug of Starr Hill The Hook Grapefruit Session IPA arrived a light orange amber color with a medium sized head of creamy foam and bitter grapefruit rind in the nose. Taking a sip, the beer is thin malty as these beers usually are, then comes more of the citrusy grapefruit (quite a bit more ) and a  long dry bitter finish. Overall, lots of grapefruit flavor here, which I like.

As these beers go, the grapefruit really helps this one out, and the bargain price is a plus as well. I still would like more malt, but hey, I’m greedy like that. All in all though this is a beer I would certainly buy again.

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

 



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