Southern Tier Tier de Garde Belgian-style India Pale Ale

Southern Tier Tier de Garde Bottle Conditioned Belgian-style India Pale Ale, Ale Brewed with Grapefruit Peel. 8.1% Alc./Vol. Brewed and bottled by Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, New York. USA. 750 ml bottle, 1 pint, 9 fl. oz.

It just occurred to me that the Southern Tier brewing company hasn't done many Belgian-style brews. If they've done any, I can't think of any that I've had. I had thought, based on the name, that this was their take on a Biere de Garde, but it's not, instead it's something much more up my alley. Now, let's proceed with the drinking.

Appearance: Clear-ish, bright amber coloring, glorious white head, long-lasting and lovely.

Aroma: Grapefruit greets us first, with Belgian yeast character right behind. Fruity and funky and wild and hoppy, and just exactly what I expect from a Belgian IPA. Very nice.

Taste: Again, the grapefruit leads the charge, with fresh, fruity hops dropping flavor and some bitterness behind. Smooth stuff, exceptionally drinkable, delightful and delicious. I said "fresh"? I said "Fruity"? Yeah, it's tasty stuff.

This is a beautiful beer, and I can't imagine it's really, truly 8% ABV. Wait, whoa, …there it is. Yum, yum. Wonder what that label tells us?

""Moving on the street at bicycle pace is an experiential way of being in the world. Pedaling with friends is a social event and an exercise in teamwork. All senses are tuned and each revolution moves the riders closer to the destination. Similarly, the ingredients in the bottle work together to reach an end. This is an invitation to raise a glass in celebration of a finish." Well, that tells us nothing about the beer, but, whatever...

Tasting notes: Hop bitterness & grapefruit zest w/ floral & apricot notes.
Pair with: Spicy seafood, aged cheese.

Southern Tier Live Pale Ale

Southern Tier Live Bottle Conditioned Ale. Brewed and bottled by Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, NY. Brewed with 4 types of malts and 4 varieties of hops. Alc 5.5% ABV.

Appearance: Highly clouded, pale golden coloring, vast chalk white head, lace-leaving.

Aroma: bold citrus hop notes ring in at the front. Lemon and orange and a spritz of pine. Beautiful.

Taste: Once more, hops up front, followed by yeast. Light bodied, lean and clean. Long, hoppy finish. Lively and easy-drinking. Citric hop flavor never quits. Yum. Good sessioner, with a rewarding cask-like quality. Love it.

"Contains yeast. We recommend decanting into a glass."

Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale

Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale. Brewed with 3 varieties of hops and 2 types of malts. Brewed and bottled by Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, NY. USA. Alc 7% by Vol.

Appearance: rich burgundy hue, slim white head.

Aroma: fruity, malty aromatics. Increasingly rich and complex flavors emerge. Enticing, inviting.

Taste: A rush of malt in the mouth, full, flush, and fruity. A little toasty, some caramel and toffee malt flavors. Nice notes of bitter hops, some apple and cherry coming through. Definitely a feel of an English winter warmer, nearly a barley-wine…on the fringes of one.

Medium body. Great balance. Good flavor. Fine drinking. That'll make a nice session for a cold night.
(and, yes, I said "session" referring to a 7% beer, that's my kind of session.)

Southern Tier Warlock Imperial Stout with Pumpkins

Southern Tier Warlock Imperial Pumpkin Stout. 8.6% ABV.
A left over from StoutFest Volume six. I have to take notes on this one quickly before it's gone.

Dark as sin, this one, under a vast, thick, creamy-toned head. Looks fantastic.

Aroma: there's pumpkin here, but it's a little hard to find. At first. Give it time and it starts to follow, though still held back a bit but other stout-y aromatics, like a complementary helping of cocoa and coffee. Pumpkin spice notes are here, as well.

Now, to drink. Full-bodied, plump and thick in the mouth, with the pumpkin flavor fairly spilling all over now. End dryly with a slightly bitter touch in the finish. Tasty blend of the stout and the pumpkin. Sweetness is kept at bay just by a hair, a delicious tango between scrumptious flavors.

Do I like this? Yes, I do.

Southern Tier Plum Noir Imperial Porter with Italian Plums

Southern Tier Plum Noir, Imperial Porter with Italian Plums.

Dark brown color, utterly opaque, big, creamy tan head, leaving lace, and looking lovely. Looking good.

Aroma: dark, rich, roasty, coffee and toffee, with dark fruit rising up from below. Slightly sweet, slightly tart. Definitely plummy, but it's more delicate, and in no way a fruit-forward thing. Don't think that's either possible, or wise, if you're going to do this right. Great complexity here, I like it lots.

Taste: Brisk, bright, and fruity, though floating over a dark, malty morass. An intriguing mix, to say the least. Rich and thick, some bitterness, small sweetness, great balance. This is not a typical imperial porter,  just enough of this, plenty more of that.

Is it silky smooth? Almost. Is it fruit-tastic? Pretty much. It's all these things, and more. bright and fruity…some bitterness, massive malt, and extra deliciousness.

…a little wine-y...a little plummy...plenty richness. Good stuff, Southern Tier, keep it up!

Southern Tier Back Burner Barley-wine Ale

Looking at notes from a bottle in July, 2008, but drinking right now on tap. It's Back Burner, the barley-wine from Southern Tier, and do I like it. Here's what I wrote then:


Clear, crimson hued, slim, creamy head.

Aroma: rich, pungent, dark fruit meets brandy...cherry notes, sweet, but not too syrupy, rounds out dryly in the end.

Drinkin'...plump on the palate, and right quick, alcohol comes burning in, blazes the back of the mouth. Profusely malty, gathering sweetness, growing texture, bitter hops scouring the tongue.

Flavor lasts long in the mouth. Persistent finish. Big, hot, wet and juicy. Mmmm-mmm.

Southern Tier Creme Brulee

Way back in July of 2008, I had the pleasure of hosting the initial release of Southern Tier Brewing's beers at the Blue Nile, with maybe 4 beers on tap (more? can't remember.), and others available for sample in bottles. It was all the big stuff, the Imperials, and such. My review of Creme Brulee vanilla imperial stout was from October, 2008. Could have been one of those sample bottles, or maybe I went out and bought one afterwards? Who knows. Anyway, it's back on tap, along with Mokah, Iniquity, and Back Burner barley-wine, for an American Craft Beer Week, in association with Hohenstein's Distribution. So, I snapped a pic of the Creme Brulee I had after work, and will share with you now the notes from nearly 5 years ago:



Deep brown color, with reddish edges...thinnish, roasted tan head. It's undulating now, actually, not sure why, it's pretty stable sitting on my desk.

And I can smell the vanilla from here at my chair. Let's bring it in...Yup, all vanilla, with cocoa close behind. Sweet and lovely.

Mmm. Smooth, sweet, creamy, fluffy, but yet still solid. Delicious. Yum. Dark and light. Sweet and substance. Rich and airy. Candy, and caramel malt, and ...yumminess.
The ten percent alcohol level boasted on the label is not felt in the slightest.

Why the cows on the label, though? They make cream, maybe, but not vanilla. Whatever.
Good stuff, here. Great dessert brew.

Southern Tier Mokah Coffee/Chocolate Stout

Next up on the dedicated stout line, here's Mokah, from Southern Tier, a blend of Jahva and Choklat, I think,  and as I drink it from the tap I look at notes from 3 years ago, June, 2009, from a bottle:



Mokah, A Stout Brewed with Chocolate and Coffee. "Imperial" Mokah.

Jamaican coffee, Belgian chocolate, caramel, chocolate & black malts...11%? We're in for some fun.

Aroma is all chocolate, coffee below, hops muted....appearance, utter darkness, rich, roasted brown head....that aroma is to kill for though...so, rich, bittersweet, ...is it my birthday already?

Taste:Insane! Everything I try from these guys goes further and further. Jahva, and Oat, and Choklat...these can be pushed further and made deeper, richer, fuller and more expressive in flavor? Damn right.
Bittersweet, coffee mingled with rich cocoa flavor...liquefied chocolate frosting.

Holy macaroni, this is great stuff. Full-bodied, long, luxurious finish. Damnably delicious. Pretty amazing, never quite tasted quite this much genuine chocolate flavor in a stout. Intense, decadent, almost indecent.
Yum, mmm!

Southern Tier Gemini Blended Unfiltered Imperial IPA

Here's one I noted for the first time back in January of 2008, but have had on tap several times since then. Like, now. A blend of Hoppe Imperial EPA, and Unearthly Imperial IPA, I happen to be quite a fan of it. Those first notes were sparse, but true. Here they come:

hazy orange, fluffy white head...

Fat citric nose, pithy grapefruit rind, orange and lemon...fresh, vibrant, super-hoppy, lovely...

Uniquely flavored, very...shall we say, "grabby"...grips the palate and drops a payload of hoppitude. 
Lots of lush, flavorful malt, feelin' the wheat in this...

Beautiful stuff...clean, sweet, zesty, hoppy...

very nice.It's good beer, and you can drink it. Just, not that much of it. The 9% ABV shows itself early and often.

Southern Tier Pumpking

Into a chalice, it's poured, lookig a light orange, softly hazed, with brown edges..nice, if slimmed down head. Aroma starts with cinnamon and nutmeg, not too loud, soft, but spicy, then the meat of the gourd calls out below. Sweet, spicy, and nice. In the mouth, it's all there. Nothing but pumpkin, not too big and bold, but not skimpy either, and not one of these where only the spices of a pumpkin pie are employed to deliver the desired effect. No, this is with real pumpkin added, and the abv is definitely higher than normal, doesn't show at first, but then we get nice and warm. Honestly, it really tastes like drinking a slightly diluted pumpkin pie, blended up and kicked up with some booze. Delicious stuff. Really good. Might not need the 9% abv, I mean, jeez, does everything have to go so high, these days? I remember when 9% used to mean something...argh, grumble, mumble, you kids get off my lawn! BUT..damn good beer, highly recommended...drink one and see... Serving type: on-tap Reviewed on: 10-13-2008 06:24:25

Southern Tier Choklat

Busy week, hard on the ol' liver. Saturday was Firkin Fest, Sunday the Bell's event at Bryant-Lake Bowl. The Wild One was excellent. And then, Tuesday, the Stone event at Stub & Herb's. Samplers of infusions of the Smoked Porter, a flight of Old Guardian Barleywine, 2008 Bourbon barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout (which they for some reason call "Imperial Russian Stout".) and more. and more.
So, of course, I came down sick the next day, with a cold. Left myself vulnerable, I think. And everyone says, jokingly, I think, that beer is the cure. "Try a really hoppy beer, that'll unclog your sinus." Nah, that doesn't work. Alcohol only makes me sicker. And here we are in day two of no beer, day one of missing work. Think I'll be better tomorrow. Also, think I'll set aside some beer-less days more often, give the body a break.

So, let's look at something from a moment or two ago, a keg tapped Friday night, ran out earlier this week. Hugely popular, this 11% a.b.v. chocolate stout. People can't resist it. My first review of it was from a bottle, perhaps right around when Southern Tier first arrived in our market. August, 2008, was when it was.

"Notes are minimal, for I wrote while enjoying with a friend:

Choklat

thoroughly black, roasty tan head...

aroma: full on chocolate at first sniff...huge, rich, and bittersweet...it's no more or less than having real chocolate beneath your nose.

BAM! There it is all over the mouth. You're drinking chocolate. nice roast below the cocoa. good drinking, not too thick, not AS thick as I like from a RIS ...but it's all chocolate. I like a few other things ,sometimes...

that's enough, don't you think?"

Southern Tier Iniquity Imperial Black Ale

Despite what I said earlier in the Stone/BrewDog review, I don't really hate black IPAs, Cascadian Darks, whatever they're called. There's a few that are alright with me, especially if the citrus hop character is downplayed, such as in the first one I ever had, Southern Tier's Iniquity. Good ol' Jordan gave me a gift of one the other day, what a heck of a guy he is, and I threw it down my gullet with affable aplomb just last night. These are my notes from when I first tapped it, June, 2009:


Yep, it's black, all right, thoroughly opaque, nothing but nothing but darkness, and a cream-toned, tanned head atop. Looking good.

Aroma is fresh and lively, pine and citrus at play, but matched with dark malt, a bit of chocolate and caramel. Odd, but true.

In the taste, it's utterly indescribably delicious. Tasty dark malt, chocolate and toffee, met with a blast of hops. What is this? India black ale. Damn, but it's good, though.

With each sip and gulp, I wonder if I'm downing a porter or stout, but the brash hoppy twist takes it to another level, and we have to reckon with that. Still, despite the confusion, it's nothing besides delicious. Really.

So unique, so unusual, so really delicious. The best of malt, the best of hops. Damn, what is up with these guys...? Just keep making the great beer, Southern Tier!

Southern Tier Krampus Imperial Helles Lager

This little brewery out of Lakewood, NY has made their name with their imperial series, whenever they make 'em big, they turn heads. So, here's my first review of Southern Tier Krampus Imperial helles lager.

Not a bad brew for Christmas Eve. Leave it to ST to name the holiday brew not after Santa Claus, but his partner who punishes bad kiddies, while St. Nick rewards them, Krampus. Beware his switch, children. I'd love to quote the label, but it is soooo long. In brief, it'll warm coldest hearts…Christmas Devil, sticks and chains….fanged, goat-horned bully…naughty or nice?….replace the cookies, lager yeast, aged cold, Merry Kramp-mas to all, and to all a good pint!
So there you have it!

9% abv, 2-row pale malt, munich, caramel malt, chinook & willamette hops, cool place, snifter, best at 48, blahbetty blah…

Let's drink it, look at it, smell it, you know…

Clear, pale reddish hue, eh, more like amber, slim head, lace leaving, …looking pretty nice. ( On further pours, it's bigger, taller, prouder.)

Aroma: malty, sharp, smooth, mild hops, somewhat sweet, …but a little shy, not giving much else up.

Taste: grainy, malty, fierce, and hot. And yet smooth-…ish, despite the high alcohol.
Clean, and smooth, and pretty tasty. Sweet malt, delicious booze. Yum, me like.
I'm still not crazy about imperial lagers, still like ales better, when they're bigger. Just not enough flavor coming through…mmm, imperial lager, wait, what's happening to me?