We’ve been really lucky on the WILK Friday BeerBuzz to feature some of the world’s best brewmasters on the show. Some come from famous well-know breweries and many are absolute rock stars in the beer world. It’s also very cool to feature a brewmaster who is NO less talented and NO less a rock star in his own right, but he’s not a name or a brewery name that most people in the craft beer world may know…..YET!
Today we welcomed Starr Hill Brewing co-founder and Brewmaster Mark Thompson on the show. While Starr Hill has been around since 1999 and while they are the largest and most awarded brewery in Virginia, they are just finding their way into our PA markets. With distribution into PA that began in Sept 2012, and 19 GABF medals to his name, Mark Thompson & Starr Hill Brewery will soon be very familiar names and very popular beers in our area.
It was a lot of fun getting all the details on the original and new Starr Hill Breweries from Mark…and I’m always surprised how many Biology graduates go into brewing like Mark did. It was even more fun to sit down with Mark and sample two of my favorite Starr Hill beers. 
Grateful is a really tasty hop-forward Pale Ale. At 4.7% ABV and with a lighter body than most hoppy beers, it’s really a sessionable beer. This is Starr Hill’s new summer seasonal, and I expect we’ll see a lot more of it in the future.
Northern Lights is a classic west-coast American IPA with plenty of citrusy & floral hops in the nose, and a really nice flavor & mouthfeel to back it up. At 6.5% ABV it may sneak up on you a bit, but it’s still a really easy drinking beer with a really well balanced malt/hop character. I liked Northern Lights a lot and I suspect our local beer lovers will like both beers. 
Be sure to get out to Krugel’s Georgetown Deli & Beer tonight (7/12) from 5-7 PM for a special Starr Hill tasting event and see if you agree with me about how good Mark Thompson’s beers are.
Thank you to Mark Thompson from Starr Hill, Nancy, John & Joe for yet another
fun Friday.
The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together. As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE.
Mark Thompson finds inspiration in music (and has also found it in the parking lot at places where music happens! lol) and the result is 19 GABF awards and an excellent Northern Lights IPA and Grateful Pale Ale!
ReplyDeleteThe Grateful Pale Ale, if you only could get a whiff, could easily be mistaken for an IPA. Aromatic hops for sure but only 26 IBUs. I'm an IPA lover but I enjoyed the Grateful Pale Ale every bit as much as the Northern Lights!
Thanks to Mark for being on the show, thanks to Bill from MyBeerBuzz.com, and as always, thanks to you for listening!
Best,
John
webster@wilknewsradio.com
To WILK: I really enjoyed your guest today. Very funny guy and I'll have to watch the video to catch up on a few jokes I missed. I think it's really good when you can pair up your guest with your tasting event. Kudos for that.
ReplyDeleteJaared
Another new brewery comes to PA. I knew you guys would hit it first. Welcome to PA Starr Hill!
ReplyDeleteAdam
I plan to go to Krugels tonight to try all of these but the Northern Lights is tickling my fancy. See you there. Chris
ReplyDeleteI've heard of Starr Hill form my visits south. I didn't know until today that they were available in PA. Thanks for the heads up and the tasting event tonight too. Amy in Olyphant
ReplyDeleteSee you at Georgetown.
ReplyDeleteJ
Count me in too. Save a few Starr Hills for me.
ReplyDeleteI never miss a show and I try to never miss a tastin event. Cheers to Mark Thompson. Ryan W
ReplyDeleteThanks Buzzers. You always recommend the best beer to try and you haven't missed yet with me. I really liked last week's beer and I will be at Georgetown tonight to try this week. Axe
ReplyDeleteI've tried Northern Lights and I do like it. I'm curious to try the Grateful. I really like a good Pilsner so I'm also excited for the Starr pilsner tasting tonight. Eric
ReplyDeleteAny chance I can buy some Starr Hill tonight for takeout? Rob
ReplyDeleteRob. I'd say yes. I'm not sure how much of the sampling beer tonight is in bottles and how much is on draft, but either way I'm sure you can buy bottles or fill a growler if you like.
ReplyDeleteStarr Hill has one of the coolest brewery tours. I just went down there to visit over the 4th of July week and it's real industrial. Try the tour when you can. Em
ReplyDeleteEm...we didn't get a chance to talk to Mark about the tour but I hear you get really immersed in their production brewery. I'll have to check it out next time I'm down that way.
ReplyDeleteI hear the Grateful Pale is really good. BearT
ReplyDeleteI really liked the Grateful Pale Ale a lot BearT. I'm a big fan of hop forward Pale Ales
ReplyDeleteI'll be there tonight to try them. Thank you for showing off another great brewery in PA. TJ
ReplyDeleteNice show and the video always makes me laugh. Who does the credits? Arne
ReplyDeleteThe one and only John Webster handles the video production as well as the credits Arne. Of course he is advised by his assistant Hal Jalikakick.
ReplyDeleteHi WILK. I tune in every week and I really have a lot of fun on the show. I also tune in early because I think Webster & Nancy are more relaxed and funny right before the show too. Cheers. Ed
ReplyDeleteWow! 19 GABF medals! I am impressed and didn't know anything about Starr Hill until today. Great Show Buzz.
ReplyDeleteJerry
That's a lot of medals especially in different style categories. Congratulations to Starr Hill.
ReplyDeleteMex
Is it too early to go to Georgetown now?! :)
ReplyDeleteI'll meet you there!
ReplyDeleteCool show today. I have to meet this guy.
ReplyDeleteI want to try Northern Lights. Thom
ReplyDeleteWe had a lot of fun talking beer with Mark Thompson at Starr Hill today and we really enjoyed sampling Grateful Pale Ale and Northern Lights IPA. Be sure to get out to Krugel's Georgetown Deli & Beer tonight from 5-7PM and sample these Starr Hill beers & more.
ReplyDelete