Starr Hill The Hook

This summer seasonal from Starr Hill Brewery is part of trend of the "session IPA." Part of me thinks "hoppy Pale Ale" when I red the term, but I still enjoy the full-flavors that most of these lower ABV beers offer. I first tried The Hook Grapefruit Session IPA a few weeks ago on draft and enjoyed it, so I brought a six pack home when I was shopping for a beer to wash down some steamed shrimp this weekend.

The beer pours a very attractive copper color with a moderate white head. The aroma is citrusy with some faint caramel mat. Grapefruit zest is the prominent flavor, with a bit of pine, along with caramel and bready malts in the background. The Hook is very light bodied and finishes clean. While the grapefruit zest of the beer was dominated by the extra spicy shrimp we paired it with, it still served well to cleanse the palate. A second pint after dinner, it's only 4.9%ABV, proved quite quaffable.