Starr Hill Amber Ale - Starr Hill Brewery

Minkybut

Virginia

3.23/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I poured this average brewski into my tumbler at 45 degrees. The beer poured a fair head but nothing to get excited about. The amber colored beer had sweet-bready smell to it. Taste had a hint of caramel but the brew was so watery it really did not stand out. Slight nutty finish. I was not impressed and will not buy this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2010 21:32:52 | More by Minkybut

ByTor2112

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Amazing, I was going to comment that the color of this brew looks like a true Red Ale or Irish red, and low and behold....on to the review:

Pours up a beautiful red color, barely amber in color and looks great. Aroma, very mild hops with some sweeter, malty notes.

Mouthfeel-Lively carbonation delivers mild hops and a grainy cereal malt texture. Tasty, but would have liked to feel a little more malty backbone. A few tannin-like flavors from the roasted malt. Label says Amber and before I even looked this one up, my palate was like this is an Irish ale or Irish Red Ale. Finishes clean, very tasty and very drinkable. I bet fresh on tap this would really satisfy. I am liking Sarr Hill's offerings. More basic styles in the bottles and they are consistently good. They are doing major justice with their Lager!
Cheers to them!

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2010 17:08:24 | More by ByTor2112

jhtipton

Spain

4/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up at a convenience store near Farmville. Surprisingly good taste for an Amber Ale. I think its better than the one that has a bicycle on it. Poured it into a pilsner glass. Nice dark coppery color. It gave me some great head, about 2 inches that disipated to about 3/4 inch in 45 seconds while leaving some lacing. Smooth, not too full bodied, and suitable for session beer.
Slightly metallic smell but did not affect the taste. I'd hunt these down again.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2010 09:30:55 | More by jhtipton

merlin48

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle pours a hazed copper body that is topped by a medium sized tan head. Good retention and lots of sticky patch lacing.

Aroma is malty toffee and caramel with a spicy/floral hoppiness that is more prominent than expected.

Medium body and carbonation.

Taste is nicely balanced, but on the malty side. Caramel has a slight toastiness. Floral hop bitterness balances well. Clean finish.

A very well executed Irish red ale. Pleasantly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2010 19:53:02 | More by merlin48

wahooman

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Local favorite at the University of Virginia since the brewery is 20 minutes away. Beer is always fresh and delicious.
A- Perfect color and tinted head. Lacing through out.
S- Slightly floral
T- Perfect balance of maltiness balanced by hoppiness
M- Very clean finish would go well with steak or burgers
D- Have had a whole 6 pack at a time and enjoyed everyone of them

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2010 23:44:28 | More by wahooman

pzrhsau

District of Columbia

3.58/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance: Nice deep brown color with an offwhite colored head. But i wanted to see more of a deep red.
Smell: Subtle malt scent, also a slight roasted aroma.
Taste: Good malt flavor, toasty and flavorful. Not overpowering and very balanced.
Drinkability and mouthfeel: Very clean and refreshing. Not too heavy or carbonated so it goes down smooth.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2010 23:09:08 | More by pzrhsau

jwc215

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to hwwty4 for this!

Pours slightly hazed orangeish to copperish amber, with reddish hues and a thin tan head that diminishes to lasting wisps. Web-like lacing sticks.

The smell is of an "Irish red" caramel-candyish maltiness with light toast and a hint of citrus/pine and tea-like spiciness. Mild, but pleasant enough to give it the higher of two scores I had in mind for it.

The taste is malt-accented, sweet, again - in a "red" type. A touch of herbal/floral, tea-like hops and light roast give it a balanced finish.

It has a medium to medium-high carbonation level. Pretty smooth. It does have some watery spots.

An easy-drinking, malt-accented but with a balanced finish, ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2009 16:58:31 | More by jwc215

whtguitarguy

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours to a light amber color. Has a nice malty aroma with a little bit of hops in the nose. The taste is a little hoppy, more so than the aroma but is smooth and pleasant. Smooth finish with a bit of a bitter aftertaste from the hops but it is not to overwhelming or unpleasant.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2009 20:39:46 | More by whtguitarguy

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.85/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours out a clearish, light amber-brown body with a thin, wispy, bone white head.

Smell: Nose of toasted bread crusts lightly sprinkled with brown sugar. Minuscule notes of fruit and spice.

Taste: Lightly toasty, sweetish malts yield to a small hint of orchard fruit and a slight minerally tone. Pint-sized pinch of brown sugar. Modestly spicy hops with just a bit of complimentary bitterness. Somewhat crisp, drying finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: A nice, light ale that makes for smooth, easy drinking and one I could probably down a fair amount of in a sitting.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2009 18:40:23 | More by ChainGangGuy

Tone

Missouri

3.48/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a cloudy, brown color with a cloudy, copper color along the bottom third of the glass. 1/5 inch head of an off-white color. Slight retention and slight lacing. Smells of slight hop, slight pine, and slight sweet malt. Fits the style of an Irish Red Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of slight hop, slight roasted malt, yeast, slight citrus, and some grain.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2009 02:44:28 | More by Tone

Travlr

District of Columbia

3.83/5  rDev +13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: chestnut brown with a bit of red, creamy nitro head.
S: aroma of caramel and vanilla.
T: malts are dominant, but are fairly well balanced. Bitter middle with some dark fruit, with a mildly sour finish.
M: medium body.
D: not a bad beer, interesting enough, but could use a bit more complexity.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2009 00:33:05 | More by Travlr

clayrock81

Virginia

3.2/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured a brownish red with decent carbonation and good head. A sweet malty smell that is subdued w/ minor hops. More spicey and grainy than hoppy or sweet, and while enjoyable it was rather mild and nothing sticks home. Medium body, smooth, flows down easy. Finishes dry but not overpowering and is an OK beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2009 23:59:17 | More by clayrock81

avalon07

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a copper color and a slightly hazy consistency. Had a fairly small amount of foamy head and OK lacing.

S: A sweet, sugary, malty aroma.

T: Tasted of malt, grain and caramel - in other words, a typical amber. Not bad, but hardly mind-blowing.

M: A decent amount of carbonation with a fairly dry finish. Medium-bodied.

D: A decently drinkable beer, but not anything to write home about.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2009 03:48:43 | More by avalon07

hwwty4

Missouri

3.13/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

1 of 5 beers in a sample pack that my folks brought back for me.

I poured a 12oz bottle into my Dogfish Head over sized snifter. This beer pours a rather dark mahogany with ruby highlights when held up to the glass. A decent 2 inch tan head arouse from the pour but receded into just a thin patina over the beer. Very little lacing is noticed. The aroma is a bit like a brown ale. A bit of nuttiness with some toast and just a little biscuit quality. The flavor is just not very strong. The nose was weak, but the flavor seems weaker. Toast, biscuits and water. Very slight herbal hop presence on the finish. The mouthfeel is light with a pin point carbonation that prickles the tongue. It's unoffensive, and probably a good beer for people looking to get into craft beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2009 02:51:54 | More by hwwty4

CampusCrew

Florida

3.73/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

appearance: garnet, dark copperish color. not amber. not head lcaing or retention

smell: maybe some caramel if any aroam at all

taste: great malt flavor, some nuttiness and caramel notes, not bad

mouthfeel: medium bodied

drinkability: solid red ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2009 03:08:16 | More by CampusCrew

KickbacksSteve

Florida

3.53/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle poured into a Unibroue tulip. Funny smell (not bad), very unique, not sure I've ever smelled this smell before. Actually when I was like 15, there was a fluoride flavor they used to put on my teeth and this smells like that. Maybe the smell is similar to caramel malts. Head is over and done with pretty quickly and some soapy lacing slides into the body of the beer. Malt sweetness apparent on the taste and this one is very smooth going down. Very pleasant beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2009 09:31:36 | More by KickbacksSteve

redneckchugger

Florida

3.85/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark brown, fizzy tan head.
nose of dark grains, some caramel and even a touch of mocha.
Taste is very brown ale-esque with a lot of toffee and chocolate , its thinner than a brownale, but the taste is close.
All in all this is a good beer, style confusion aside.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2009 16:35:08 | More by redneckchugger

Risser09

Pennsylvania

2.6/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle poured into a goblet - fridge - best by august 2009

Appearance: A transparent, garnet, very slightly carbonated beer yields a 2" tan head that shows decent retention. The head is cakey with deep, penetrating craters. Some spotty lace remains behind after drinking.

Smell: Malt nose of caramel and Munich malts combined with cereal grains. No hop aroma. Basic.

Taste: A cereal, oat flavor is bland and on the verge of recycled cardboard. A gritty aftertaste is kind of chalky. Slight hop bitterness. Not too good.

Mouthfeel: Easy drinking smoothness and well attenuated out, this beer has not much to offer. A lingering bitterness and some alcohol burn.

Drinkability: This beer lacks complexity and balance. There isn't much to it, and is underdeveloped for a craft beer. A mediocre amber ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2009 12:14:55 | More by Risser09

wahhmaster

Virginia

3.23/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a nonic imperial pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a dark amber color with a bit of a reddish tint. The head is small and fizzy and dissipates quickly leaving little lacing.

Smell: Hoppy notes come through strong here. Some sweet malty smells also come through.

Taste: Nicely balanced between malts and hops. Leave a nice hoppy aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: A little on the thin and carbonated side, but not overwhelmingly so.

Drinkability: Meh. Not the worst amber ale I've had but nothing I would go out of my way to find.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2009 22:27:52 | More by wahhmaster

Mosstrooper

California

3.88/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle into nonic pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a dark mahogany-brown color with a smooth, medium-sized head that stays a while with lots of lacing.

Smell: Toasty malt with floral and citric hop aromas- well-rounded smell overall.

Taste: Starts with a sweet apple-like flavor, and finishes bitter with hints of toastiness and grapefruit.

Mouthfeel: Crisp with a medium body, also a bit dry. Slightly heavy on carbonation.

Drinkability: A solid, well-rounded beer overall. Nothing oustanding, but makes for a nice drink.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2009 19:13:55 | More by Mosstrooper

Gavage

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: clear amber color with a one finger head that breaks apart quickly. Some spots of lace paints the glass duirng the session.

Smell: caramel sweetness is all that could be detected and was hard to pull from the glass.

Taste: slightly bready profile with some caramel, red apples, and a mild bitterness.

Mouthfeel: lightly crisp to start and smooth at the finish. Medium bodied beer. Very brief aftertaste.

Drinkability: decent but not an overly exciting beer. Stick with Starr Hill's Pale Ale instead.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2009 19:27:25 | More by Gavage

tugdriver7

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Number 777 on my overall list, but would be ranked near the top. Gorgeous red/brown in the glass, nice foamy head that laced all the way down. Soft malt with subtle hint of hops in the nose, and initial taste was at first a touch sweet, caramel malt with a hint of bitterness and (at first) a bit of metallic overtones that softened as the beer warmed. Extremely drinkable, smooth and enjoyable. Would be a very easy session choice.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2009 23:01:40 | More by tugdriver7

Clydesdale

District of Columbia

3.83/5  rDev +13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a deep, reddish-brown with some visible carbonation. The tall head has a mild, light brown tint with a thick, foamy, frothy texture. Retention is nice, with some decent lacing.

S: Some caramel and light chocolate malt in the nose. Toasty, bready, slightly nutty. A bit of hop spice as well.

T: Again, solid doses of caramel and chocolate malt, at least for the style. Some nutty and tealike notes, along with a spicy hop twang. Overall, something of a pumpernickel bread flavor.

M: On the light side of medium. Carbonation is soft, lending a slight creaminess.

D: A pretty flavorful Irish red from Starr Hill. Nothing world-beating, but just a nice, drinkable beer. Some others have mentioned that it's close to a brown ale, which is on the mark in my opinion. Definitely somewhere in the middle, although it's a nice middle ground.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2009 02:16:23 | More by Clydesdale

rye726

Colorado

3.28/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an amber/bronze color with a decent tan head. Nose has some bready malts, caramel and grassy hops. Taste is also nice and malty with mellow hops. Lightish body is a bit over carbonated. Nice session beer from these guys. Well balanced, but light.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2009 05:09:49 | More by rye726

dmamiano

West Virginia

3.7/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very dark, polished bronze color. Decent head and nice carbonation. Ample lacing left on the sides of the glass.
Really not a big nose IMO, lihght traces of roasted malts, earty and homey. Bread, maybe waterbreads come to mind.
Taste is nice and smooth, slightly bitter in the end but nicely balanced. A hint of roastyness and grainy.
Very smooth and semi-full mouthfeel.
Great session beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2009 01:35:26 | More by dmamiano