Southern Tier Big Red

Brewed by Southern Tier Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
Lakewood, New York USA

Copper in color with just a hint of red. Smells of light sour fruit and sweet malt. Notes of caramelized vegetables. Tastes just about right for the style. But nothing really stands out either. Nice light bitter finish. Quenching.

Pours a lacing, beige head with a copper body. Aromas of resin and caramel. Flavor is caramel and resin. Slightly bitter finish. Smooth and mellow. Silky, almost creamy body.

A dingy brown colored brew with a small but thick tan head and dry sticky lacing. Aroma is mostly fruit with spices. Flavor begins with lots of fruit and spices but has a nice tart hop bite that adds depth. Alcohol isn’t tasted or felt in warmth but the effects are there. Very well done.

Serving: 22 oz. bottle. Appearance: Hazy amber with a small, foamy, off-white head. Aroma: Very fruity with hints of cherries, chocolate, paper, and a slight herbal note. Taste: Smooth chocolate notes, some fruitiness, spicy hops, and a stalwart bitterness. Really nice! The alcohol is undetectable. Palate: Medium carbonation that is almost a little creamy. Medium-rich mouthfeel and a medium-long, slightly bitter finish. Overall: A creative and well made beer that had a lot of surprise in the aroma and taste categories. Rebuy: Yes. I found this one to be very enjoyable and tasty.

Bottle. Heavy red pour, with amberish head. Aroma is fantastic, and complex flavors interact well. Very well balanced and flavorful.

Amber,beige head.Intense bead. Light fruity/spicy hop nose.Good malt front,lighty fruity.Very long medium strength hop end. NICE

Bottle thanks to St.fun. Pours with a hazy, amber orange body and a large, off-white head that leaves a good amount of lace. Aroma of orange, caramel, red fruits, raisins, and light grape. Taste is caramel, light fruit, and faded hallertau. A bit earthy overall. Light bubbles and a creamy mouthfeel.

8/09/2009: Southern Tier Big Red (Imperial Red Ale)... Aroma: Soft, citrusy notes, slightly earthy along with plenty of inviting toffee and caramel maltiness. Appearance: Pours a golden orange/copper color; a dense, but short lived ivory-colored head gathers on the top. Flavor: Citrusy toffee maltiness gives way to an earthy, spicy, and slightly pine-like hoppiness; iced tea with some citrus (tangerine) and pine resin complexities; moderate bitterness; fairly short finish; herbal tea aftertaste; alcohol is fairly well-hidden despite the other flavors not being that huge or intense. Palate: Medium to medium-full body, extremely smooth. Overall: This was pretty much the only beer from the Southern Tier Imperial Series that I had not yet had despite this one being one of the originals and I am disappointed with it. I have always put off buying this beer because of the price, perceived style, and the hope that it would show up someday at tasting (I guess everybody has long since had this beer already though!). While this beer is reasonably tasty, is still don’t think that it warrants the $6.99+tax price tag. It does a reasonably good job at showcasing Hallertau hops, but I might as well just get a super Hallertau fix from some Sam Adams Hallertau Imperial Pilsner at a much lower price! That having been said, I am with my pal illinismitty... This could really be a great beer. Southern Tier should re-evaluate their recipe and think about redoing it to be something really intense and huge like all of their other Imperial Series brews. Actually, they should get really aggressive with it and make it into an Imperial Pacific Northwestern-Style IPA!

1 pt. 6 fl. oz. sticker-labeled bottle (Alc. 9% by Vol. / 20° plato / 10° L / 2-row pale malt, caramel malt, chocolate malt / kettle hops: hallertau magnum & hallertau tradition / dry hops: hallertau perle & hallertau magnum) from Jungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield, Ohio. Rating #390 for this beer.