Having spent a large part of my beer drinking youth in Belgium, and visiting literally scores of times over the years, AND have the privilege of hanging out with some natives, I grew to really appreciate and enjoy the art of the simple Belgian Pale Ale, AKA the “Single”.
A style that is not easy to catch up with in the USA with its obsession with huge ABV beers, but the kind of thing that one could expect to buy in a gas station in BE. Enough reminiscing and back to THIS beer;
12 oz bottle as (appropriately enough) a single from Hop City, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Pour is a mid-golden body with a slightly disappointing head situation.
Nose has a rather bland feel and again is slightly disappointing.
Mouthfeel is a little prickly, but I like the life in it.
Tastes have a touch of Belgian yeast and a little corriander. It’s all very restrained but at the same time it seems very appropriate to me. Pretty dry with a satisfying finish and aftertaste. a bit more bitterness and dry character than one might expect, but nevertheless very acceptable. Not a beer that packs a huge punch but nor should it be. Nice.
Good, simple stuff with lots of crossover potential.
Smuttynose Star Island Single


09/26/2009
Brewery:
Smuttynose Brewing Company
Smuttynose Brewing Company
Style:
Belgian Pale Ale
Belgian Pale Ale
Format:
bottle
bottle
ABV: 5.8 %
Appearance: 3.5
Taste: 3.5
Mouthfeel: 4
Smell: 3.5
Overall: 4
Total: 3.65
Series Name:
Year:
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