Southern Tier Big Red

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

Todds tasting, Thanks Sell Tibet! Amber pours with many shades of red. Alcohol is well asked. Hops up front, with a toasted malty finish! Nice lingering bitter finish

Morgan’s tasting, 07MAR09. Bomber. Clear red amber with an off white head. Lots of earthy hop aromas, grapefruit and caramel. Chocolaty berry flavors are balanced well by the sweet caramel and earthy hop bite. Good stuff!

Dense, hazy, golden/orange body with faint carbonation beneath a large yellowhite head which settles slow and frothy. After an initial whiff of pepper (which actually made me sneeze), I got a big nose of pine and citrus, from sweet tangerine to tart lemon. While hops dominate, there are enough malts here to uncover some light, pale DME and a sweet caramel backing. Sharp and thick in the mouth. Flavor seesaws between bitter and sweet... I’ll say there is balance here but only if you can picture some BFFs on either end of that seesaw (and I don’t mean "best friends forever"). Big caramel candy sweetness, mild tea notes, sharp pine, tart, rindy grapefruit, and undeniable ABV. Pretty huge. I notice Southern Tier likes to put "Imperial" on a lot of their labels. This time it’s well-placed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 22 oz. bomber from Kenwood Liquors, Oak Lawn, IL

hunkering down listening to Pat mAcdonald trying another new southern tier brew. hazy amber with no red in sight. the aroma is woody and earthy with hints of caramel. not sure where the citrus is that i see others mentioning. the flavor is interesting, the hop profile is certainly different in a beer of this type. spicy, hints of floral, and lots of earthy wood. caramel is the other dominant flavor. the body is lighter than expected with a prickly feel and a clean dry finish. not sticky at all.

22oz bomber acquired via trade with HogTownHarry. Pours a clear copper orange with a one finger slowly fading light yellowish white head. Aroma of some spicy and earthy hops, yeasty bread dough, toasty and caramel malts. There is also a hint of vanilla and dirt. Flavor is quite earthy with some resiny hops showing up having a moderate amount of bitterness. There are still some spices and the light yeasty characteristics as well. Alcohol is barely noticed in the dry lingering bitter finish. Full bodied, low sharp carbonation. Pretty well made brew. Thank you Harry! Update: I left for about 20 minutes, came back, and gave it a few more whiffs. I would compare the smell to a New Glarus IPA that is a little past the best by date.

Bottle. Pours a dark amber with a small white head. Aroma of caramel, citrus/floral hops, earthy, and notes of grapefruit. Flavor is sweet malts, pine, caramel sweetness, grapefruit and a touch of toffee with a bitter finish.

650 ml. Clear, deep copper with a small but lasting head leaving some soapy lacing. Aroma is juicy caramel-drizzled citrus fruit, resin and tea leaf. Flavor begins with a lesser version of the same, turns towards more tea leaf, nutmeg, rye, soggy wood and peppery herbs. Long finish of peppery oak and toasted walnut. Near-medium body is dry and too fizzy.

Attractive amber pour...somewhat hazy. The nose releases an appetizing array of hop notes...grass, herbs, citrus. Flavors are a nice balance of sweet roasted caramel malt and herbal, grassy hoppiness. Very enjoyable easy-drinker, despite the huge alcohol.