Smuttynose Star Island Single - Smuttynose Brewing Company

JustinJTisdale

New York

4/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got a growler of this from a bar in portsmouth NH. Color was light with a hint of orange and a small but sustained head which left a great lacing.

The taste starts off mild gets slightly acidic and finishes with a faint hint of bitter orange flavor.

I try to get this whenever I am in the area its an all around great beer. Super easy and mild to drink but with some very complex rolling flavors.

Serving type: growler

01-14-2010 20:51:09 | More by JustinJTisdale

plaid75

New York

3.98/5  rDev +15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a hazy bright light copper hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured a doughy malt, an estery yeast and lemon zing.

The taste featured a grainy malt, earthy and estery yeast and spicy hop.

The mouthfeel was typical of the style and clean.

Overall a tasty and estery pale ale.

Serving type: growler

05-12-2009 23:31:52 | More by plaid75

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.9/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed on 7/4/08. Growler from Big Z, Huntington, NY. Pours a light clear orange with a small white head. Aroma of light fruit, tart raspberries, raspberry jam, and light flowery hops. Initial flavor of spices, anise star, light fruit, crisp apple, wheat/bready malt. So light and crisp, a little hot with all the spices. Absolutely delicious and easy to drink.
7/4/8/4/15 (3.8/5)

Serving type: growler

12-20-2008 17:49:32 | More by LilBeerDoctor

ckollias

Maryland

2.85/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Enjoyed this 12oz bottle out of a tall pilsner glass.

A: Pours a clear pale yellow hue with a thin white head that quickly dissipates down the side of the glass leaving a partial lace.

S: Spicy and sort of skunky aroma.

T: Similar spicy skunky flavor – coriander and some yeast notes.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Weird spicy beer – nothing I would grab again.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 03:06:23 | More by ckollias

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

2.6/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Pours a cleann deep yellow color with a white head. In the aroma, quite pilsner like with a small note of candy sugar. In the taste, a pils like bite, a small presence of yeast and a touch of fruit. A small pils bite and a medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a lightly dry and a small yeast presence in the aftertaste. More a pils with Belgian ale notes.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 18:29:49 | More by OWSLEY069

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

We pour a brew of muddled honey coloring. It holds an initial two finger head of crisp, creamy, white bubbles, showing lower end retention. This, however, is nicely reproducible, in part, by a strong swirl. Bits of lacing are left around the glass as the head recedes. There is a moderate haze to the beer, no sediment, and light carbonation. The nose shows clean pale malts, with like chalkiness, fresh lemon zest, Belgian yeast, white sugar sweetness, and far off Band-Aid phenols. Our first impression is that the flavoring is pretty even throughout. As we sip, the taste opens with clean orange and lemon flesh sweetness, Belgian yeast, and pale, also Belgian-seeming malts. There is a flash of sweetness of apple cider vinegar, bringing us to the middle where plastic phenols, nutmeg, clove, and vanilla hit as the advertised spice. The finish is with a bit more bite of alcohol, more of that spice, coiny yeast, apple sweetness, and more Belgian, pale malts. The aftertaste shows nice fruitiness, with red cherries, apple, and pear, along with more yeast, pale malts, drying booze, and chalky, caramel sweetness. The body is solidly medium, and the carbonation is medium. There is surprisingly nice slurp, smack, cream, and froth to each sip, with an initially thick coating to the mouth. The beer cools and satiates, but eventually dries the mouth with a more serious astringency. The abv is appropriate, and the beer drinks easily.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the cleanliness of flavoring, and cooling slurp. The flavor, as in the nose, was as spicy as advertised, which helped to greatly complement the paleness and the Belgian-ness of the yeast and grain profile. Things remained on the sweeter side, but fresh throughout the tasting. Admittedly, this was the first Smuttynose beer we bought back in the day, and it was because of the amazing pseudo-tranny mermaid on the label. Simply awesome!! Since then we’ve had this guy numerous times, and believe this to be a truly underrated offering from a great brewery.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 05:07:49 | More by TheBrewo

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.53/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Best By 03/26/12 (or 02/26/12, can't tell because the ink is slightly smudged on the single bottle I have)

A: Pours a slightly hazy yellow color with a finger and a half's worth of fizzy white head that fades to a thin layer of bubbles within a minute or 2

S: Starts out with spice and light fruits from the Belgian yeast, along with light malts and some sweetness. As it warms, it gets quite the lemon/lime note that takes over

T: Follows the nose, starts out with the spices and fruitiness, and then goes into a nice bready maltiness with some sweetness

M: Light-medium bodied with moderate-high carbonation. A little too spritzy for the style

O: A solid Belgian-style pale ale with plenty of flavor while still being very easy to drink at 4.7%. Not really even close to the best for the style, but certainly a good American version

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 02:18:52 | More by BEERMILER12

RussBecker1

3.5/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A fine Belgian Pale. The flavors are very nicely balanced, although they are neither very big nor outstanding. They bounce between very nice malts and Belgian yeasts which are at the forefront of the beer. After that note however, the rest of the brew trails off with a bit of lemon zest and a very small hop profile, but their really is not all that much too it. The beer was fine, given its accessibility I will probably have it again, but it is not my first choice

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 15:24:58 | More by RussBecker1

JEdmund

Kansas

3.85/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy, light amber color; very little head formation and it quickly disappears.

Smell is light but there’s enough to tantalize and invite, with its fruity/spicy notes.

Body is light and carbonation is fairly high, really helping keeping this sessionable. Flavor is also light, but it’s very pleasant and drinkable. Yeast fruity notes intermingle with light spices (coriander?) and there’s also a good, slightly sweet doughy malt finish. Bitterness is low.

I think the brewers accomplished what they set out to do. It’s nice drinking a 4.2% beer with plenty of flavor for being light. Also nice to have a lighter beer with Belgian influence (not sure I’ve had one before). This would be a great beer when you’re in the mood to put back a few, especially with food.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 01:13:18 | More by JEdmund

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

On tap at Mudville 9, NYC.

Pours pale gold, nearly clear, with a finger of slowly settling white head. Decent lacing clings to the glass in patches here and there. Aroma is pretty mild; some fruity yeast esters and honey sweetness; crackery pale malt; subtle floral and herbal hop notes.

The taste mirrors the aroma pretty closely; there’s a moderate sweetness with honey and fruit notes that dries out pretty well in the finish. Pale malt intermingles with light yeast flavors; the latter are quite muted for a Belgian-style ale and left me wanting more. Additionally the hops are restrained and only lend a slight bitterness and not much in the way of flavorsome hop character to the beer. In the end it feels like the volume has simply been dialed down a bit too much for my liking and the beer seems a little bland and uninteresting.

Moderately light in body; crisp carbonation; clean and dry mouthfeel.

Maybe I’m just not a Smuttynose kind of guy. While I haven’t found any of their beers to be distasteful or simply bad, I haven’t really been impressed with any of them either. To each their own, I suppose. This one just failed to make much of an impression on me.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2012 12:43:04 | More by tobelerone

Cavanaghty

Maine

3.45/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: Cloudy yellow in color with a thin white head and no lacing.

Smell: Smells similar to a hefenweizen, wheat, hops, banana maybe.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Medium to light bodied, with a lot of carbonation that you can feel. Taste is wheat, hops and citrus.

Overall: Decent beer, nothing really special about it. It was refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 16:47:54 | More by Cavanaghty

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I poured this beer and it has a nice golden color body with a nice small white head that holds it own for a while. The smell is of wheat and some citrus. The taste is has a nice light citrus flavor with some graineness to it. The mouth feel is very nice and overall a good beer for summer and could use it as a session beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 20:26:08 | More by chefhatt

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

3.35/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from session notes.

Pours out a yellowish-amber color with a single finger of white head that lasts for two minutes but leaves only minimal lacing behind. Lighter side of medium body and carbonation levels.

Smells mostly of yeasty phenols and a touch of fruity esters (pear and apple). Tastes about the same, but with a touch of graininess as well which helps to provide a framework for the phenol spice. This is...a simple beer. Not that simple or clean is a bad thing per se, but I've had sessionable beers with a lot more complexity than this one before.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 20:42:42 | More by WastingFreetime

Lemke10

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a semi-cloudy amber color with a very thin head. Scent is full of wheat and citrus with sweet malt tones. Taste is very earthy and refreshing. Texture is great for an easy, light drinking summer beer. Lots of grain taste in this brew that delivers an overall sweet taste. Leaves a slight chalky after taste. I think this is a lot better than the ratings reflect.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 03:16:22 | More by Lemke10

alexgash

Connecticut

3.03/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle from mixed 12 pack.

Slight haze in a golden yellow body. Lots of effervescent bubbles. Small, off-white, gauzy head. Not a lot of lacing. Spicy nose, with notes of anise, grains of paradise, and maybe orange peel. Fruity bread malt and yeast underneath.

Grainy, slightly toasted malt up front. Mild mineral water bitterness. Spices show up mid-palate, with a fruity, bready malt base. Allspice, grains of paradise, and some orange peel. Yeasty banana and a hint of clove near the finish. Peppery hop bitterness into the fade with lingering spices. Moderate to light body with a lively feel. Not bad, but not too up my alley.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 21:49:50 | More by alexgash

ummswimmin

New Jersey

3.18/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I picked up this bottle as part of a multi-pack for a party a few months ago. They make for a very nice combination [note to Boston Beer: stop putting Boston Lager in your Sam Adams mixed pack!]. I especially appreciate the IPA and brown ale.

The Star Island single pours decently. It is a very light shade of brown with just a finger and a half of head. This head goes down quickly and leads to minimal lacing.

The smell is not very impressive. I get a wheat ale smell. It is really minimal.

The flavor is really funky. I really don't pick up much from this beer. I expected more from this one, but maybe I just got a bad bottle. I will pick up another bottle very soon to verify.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 00:35:09 | More by ummswimmin

djbst73

4.35/5  rDev +25.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured in a pint glass, probably served too cold, but hey, it's a hot day.

A- Deep gold color with significant haze. An inch of off-white head that leaves nice lacing the whole way.

S-Lots of citrus and a hint of wheat and clove.

T- I have to say this is really hitting the spot. I was concerned that the label said "brewed with spices", but it is well rounded with a bit of fruity sweetness and a nice bite. Coriander, maybe?

M- plenty of body, but by no means heavy.

O- Very enjoyable, and definitely seems sessionable on nice day outside.

Very disappointed I only had one bottle of this...

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 21:22:13 | More by djbst73

obywan59

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This BPA pours a yellow-golden color with a pure white 1 1/2 finger head that looks substantial at first, but soon dissipates leaving a bit of lacing for awhile.

Spicy citrus and tropical fruit on the nose with some light sweet malt. A banana-like smell from the Belgian yeast.

The taste is less spicy than the nose. Tart citrus and more tropical fruit with light Belgian yeast and a hint of bitter hops in the follow through.

Medium bodied, but it clings to the tongue leaving a drying effect in the end.

This is a pretty decent brew. Light enough to be an easy drinker, but substantial enough to hold your attention. A good summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 02:28:21 | More by obywan59

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.01/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Best before July 2012:

Into my chalice:

A: light hazy golden orange colored body yielding a one finger white head that lasted for about fifteen seconds, lots of bubbly carbonation is seen rising the same color body with tons of bubbly carbonation surfacing quickly, very little lacing was left and no rings appeared.

S: spices and malts combined pretty well. There wasn't much else to note.

T: wheat up front with the spices and malts taking more of a subdued second place. A bit of sourness came in close to the finish that ended up making the taste slightly bland.

M: light with a decent amount of carbonation felt, sessionable

O: its lightness makes this a good brew to have this time of year, I would like to have other Belgian pales before I make the statement of having this again or not. I'm just wondering if this needs to be fresher to have a better quality (not sure)?

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 19:33:03 | More by kangarooAdam59

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.7/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Malty aroma has a yeasty overtone and subtle fruity notes. It pours a clear straw yellow - not inspiring (to me, anyway), but at least the white head is quite thick and fluffy. Flavor has a fruity core, apple and banana mostly, with malty and yeasty notes and a hint of butterscotch. Texture has firm body, if not a lot of fizz, but it does leave a fairly persistent tingle.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 01:32:23 | More by Cyberkedi

flagmantho

Washington

3.35/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into a tulip. Bottle is labeled best before 8/29/12.

Appearance: light silvery-golden color with a light haze and a good effervescence. Head is a finger of frothy white foam. I like it.

Smell: lightly refreshing malt aroma with a light spiciness. It's kind of like a somewhat phenolic witbier. Interesting.

Taste: starts off with a refreshingly wheaty flavor (though I don't know if there is actually any wheat in here), then builds into a chalky muddled mess somewhere in the middle. There's a hint of unwelcome sourness as well. It is OK, but I don't love it.

Mouthfeel: light body with a good carbonation and creaminess.

Overall: this beer has some good and bad points. I'm still a bit on the fence here; it is decent, but at first the flavor can be kind of grating.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 17:09:41 | More by flagmantho

JWU

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle poured into a snifter

A- a translucent gold with orange highlights. A finger of bright white soapy head, that dissipates quickly.

S- grainy, soapy, a mild belgian funk, and some spices. Aroma just isn't overwhelming or inspiring.

T- ok, tastes a good deal better than the smell. Some slight sweetness up front gives way to a slight hop presence with a drying effect. Spicing is very light, but does add a little complexity.

M- the low spot of the brew. Fizzy, dry, and leaves a bit of a dryness on the palette.

O- Certainly not Smutty's best, but I do quite enjoy this on a hot, summer day. Quite refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 01:49:08 | More by JWU

RTEdmunds

New Hampshire

2.88/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Clear golden color with a pure white head. Pretty good retention. Looks nice.

Some floral notes and a little fruity.

The taste is mild. A bit soapy, and hop presence is minimal. Aftertaste has a hint of spices and yeast.

Light bodied and medium-low carbonation. Slightly chewy.

First time I've been disappointed by a Smuttynose product, I'm sorry to say. The soapyness killed it for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 02:35:41 | More by RTEdmunds

wafers

New York

3.3/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Mostly transparent upon the pour, light golden coloring
S: Aroma of berries, slightly soapy
T: Some sugary sweetenss, kind of fruity, hints of hoppy bitterness
M: Crisp, kind of pilsner-like
O: Decent beer, mostly enjoyable but does not really stand out in any area, the crisp flavor and mouthfeel are probably the strongest points of the brew

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 05:54:58 | More by wafers

matjack85

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I found this single 12oz brown bottle at the Binny;s store in Plainfield, IL for $1.69. A best before date of May '11 is notched into the side label and this is now March of '12, so this beer is almost a year past its prime, so I'm not sure how well it's held up - but here goes.

The beer poured a hazy pale yellow color with an incredible fast rising head. 90% of the glass was filled with white foam and it rose quickly, so be careful with the pour. Retention was good and so was the lacing, so no sign of over aging yet.

The smell was very lemony with other tropical fruits along with some mild spiciness in the background.

The beer starts out with a mild honey malt sweetness, but then the lemon and other fruit flavors from the Belgian yeast take over. Some coriander and white pepper make up the spice aspect and then it finishes dry.

Medium bodied with medium carbonation.

Overall it's kind of bland, but it's easy to drink and there's nothing in it that's offensive. No noticeable alcohol, but no hop character either.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 05:10:17 | More by matjack85