Starr Hill Taste of Honey
I think the last Belgian-style brew that I had that utilized wildflower honey instead of (or in addition to) the traditional candi sugar was New Holland’s Beehive. That tasty brew was a tripel by style, but still had a nice earthy honey character. Starr Hill’s Taste of Honey also substitutes wildflower honey, but is a dubbel by definition.
This 8.5% ABV brew uses honey from Hungry Hill Farm (Shipman, VA) that imparts a light, yet earthy sweetness to the flavor profile. Taste of Honey combines that honey influence with dark fruits, caramel and a subtle roast character.
Appearance
A dense cap of khaki foam rests atop the reddish brown brew that has a garnet glow around the edges.
Aroma
You can definitely pick up the earthy, floral honey amongst caramel, yeast, distant spices and a peppery note.
Taste
Yeast, caramel and a bready malt character lead the way for soft honey notes, a moderate sweetness and a light roasty note. Taste of Honey is medium bodied with an active carbonation and lightly warming finish.
Overall
Taste of Honey is a pretty decent shot at a Belgian-style dubbel, but aside from the honey influence, there’s just not much here to cause me to come back for more. I don’t need a beer to be over-the-top in order for me to revisit in the future — Starr Hill’s Jomo Lager is a great example as it frequently shows up in the household. That said, if I’m in the mood for a Belgian dubbel, I would like it to make some sort of impact. There are just fuller-flavored, more refined examples of the style that I would rather seek out.
Rating: 3.25/5
