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Southern Tier Big Red

Percentile
89
overall

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
4133.54/5.03.52/5.0Special9%52.8Snifter, Trappist glass
Commercial Description:
Inspiration can sometimes be found in the strangest of places. This eccentric brew started with a single flower from a hop named Hallertau. The delicate and spicy aroma present in the flower has been responsible for generations of great beers. Hallertau hops are to a brewer what an old tractor is to a farmer: reliable. Big Red expresses the nobility of Hallertau by placing it at the forefront of this Imperial Ale. Pour it into a snifter. A swirl allows the spicy aromas to come forward as a taste to the lips reveals the complex balance between sweet malts and the bitterness of hops. Big Red’s ability to please is as dependable as your grandpa’s old tractor. Please consume wisely.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 estoppel (1028), Buffalo, New York, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/514/20
Sep 7, 2007  
Bottle. Clear reddish amber body, dense off-white head with good retention and lacing, hoppy nose with alcohol. Body was sweet and malty with spicy hops and finishing bitterness. Does not hide alcohol particularly well.


 beerbill (1942), Laurel, New York, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/515/20
Sep 6, 2007    Updated: Mar 25, 2008
22 oz. bomber consumed 3/24/2008. Pours a clear amber with a moderate linen white head that lasted through about two-thirds of the glass and left partial lacing. In my original rating, I thought the flavor was stronger than the aroma. I got the opposite impression with this bottle. The aroma was huge and was totally dominated by the scent of spruce trees. Even when I was sipping the beer, I could actually taste the aroma, if that makes sense. The flavor was light malt with a bit of citrus, and definitely spruce. This bottle was not as well balanced as I recall and was definitely more tilted towards the hops. Lots of hops bitterness at the finish. A very good beer, but different than the one I sampled six months ago.

Original rating 9/6/2007. 22 oz. bomber. I picked this up while on a reent vacation to the Finger Lakes. Pours a slightly hazy amber with a moderate, foamy, off-white head that lasted almost to the bottom of the glass and left very nice sheets of lacing down to the bottom of the glass as well. Aroma is malt, citrus, and a bit of brown sugar. The flavor is a bit more intense than the aroma with malt and citrus both nicely balanced. Just a bit of brown sugar sweetness as well. Light hops bitterness at the finish. Medium-full bodied and smooth on the palate. The alcohol was well hidden and provided gentle warmth at the swallow. A nice surprise! 7-5-8-4-16=4.0


 5000 (2409), Hardened Liver, Washington, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
Sep 2, 2007  
Bottle: Deep orangish caramel, fairly hazy, moderate foamy off-white head, fairly nice lacing.   Candied citrus peel and hops on the nose.   Huge sweet sugary citrus peel start, with a whole boatload of tea leaves.   Subtle hops, fairly decent malt base.   Somewhat thick, but moreso smooth.   Best served at 42F?!   I think I know why, as it warms the alcohol becomes more noticeable.   As is, its somewhat warming but not really alcoholic.   Not overly hopped like most Red Ales.   Focus here is on the sweet citrus aspect and the malts.   Not as Imperial as I would have thought tho, but good nonetheless.   Clean, very clean.   Soft lingering citrusy sweetness with an ever so soft hop bite.   Oh yeah, I can really dig this.   Wished I had a keg of this for my staple beer.   Great stuff!   Thanks to Jah Noth for the bottles!


 kp (8400), Woodstock, Georgia, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/104/515/20
Sep 1, 2007    Updated: Sep 30, 2007
Date: 07/27/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting

dark red, creamy thin fine beige head, nice lace, big earthy hop aroma, solid body, big carmel flavor with lots of hop flavor and a long bitter finish,
-------- /> Date: 09/15/2007
Mode: bottle
Words: cellar stock

rich caramel malt aroma covered over with earthy hops, creamy body, nice sweetness along with the rich caramel, the earthy bitterness keeps it well balanced,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4


 IndianaRed (1555), Boise, Idaho, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/514/20
Aug 27, 2007  
Bottle pours a redish amber with a tal light tan head and thick heavy lacing. Sweet woody malt aroma with some notes of brown sugar and citrus zest. Flavor was a rich caramely swetness and barely enough IBUs to compete for the bill. Decent all around and a hefty ABV. Thanks Jake65


 Cartoonkhaki (1150), Brantford, Ontario, Canada
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/104/513/20
Aug 25, 2007  
Dark amber orangy colour with large off white head. Stonge malt aroma caramel like. Robust flavour with strong malts and a slight alcoholic hint. Dry bitters on the back of the tongue


 jake65 (1698), Williston, North Dakota, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/514/20
Aug 22, 2007  
Bottle: Pours a deep rusty color with a large beige head and nice lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, citrus, and little bits of spice. I liked the rich, malty body with hints of rye and caramel. Even a hint of breadiness. Light in the hop character, but still tasty. Thank you Goldtwins.


 BückDich (4830), McCall, Idaho, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/514/20
Aug 22, 2007  
Bottle: Copper color, nice head and lacing. Nose of caramel and some melanoidins. Decent sweet fruity malts. Very little alcohol and a nice smoky overtone to it. Light nose vs the nice malty body. Clean, hmmm.



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