Southern Tier Hoppe

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

Bottle pours a crystal clear light copper with a two inch off white head and lots of lacing. The aroma is very much of resinous hops, pine sap in the sugar bush season (spring when the nights are below freezing, but the days are above freezing), and fresh bread. The flavor is of sour dough bread, ale fruitiness, and hop juice. Oh yeah, we really have something here. I just read the ABV, there is no way I can taste the 10%. The palate is thin but lively and cleansing compared to other IIPAs of similar ABV, but it seems to work OK. This is one fine beer. Make no mistake, one of the finer IIPAs out there. Um yeah, I just saw it is classified as an ASA - OK then, damn good ASA. Next time, I buy a case.

Bomber, at least a year old. Poured clear, brilliant lighter orange with a short, creamy cap of off-white head. The aroma was quite delightful.. rich, biscuity sweetness joined tangerines and perfumey notes upfront with undertones of lemongrass and a lighter spice that I cannot pinpoint.. fruity, warm feel at the back. The flavor had a decidedly fruity sweetness at the core with more-than-ample cat pee and floral notes from the Amarillo.. floral, perfume, and tangerine bitterness around the edges, amplified by some alcohol warmth.. grainy, warm finish. Heavier-bodied on the palate with medium carbonation.. rather bitter and grainy on the palate with a very warm back.. fusels were a little stronger than I’d like, but maybe because I drank this warmer than suggested. Solid stuff!

Bomber from West Lakeview Liquors, Chicago. Hazy light orange/amber with medium white head. Aroma is big citrus hops slight pine, also a nice doughy malt backbone with caramel and a little yeast (or maybe perfumy alc) spice. Dirty citrusy hops, some dough and definite perfuminess, pretty sweet caramel malt base, wheat. Creamy full body, a little chally. Very nice but once again a little too much perfume.

Nov. 2007 - Yet another tasty brew from ST! Pour was honey brown, very little head but some decent lacing. Aroma of sweet sticky citrus fruit. The flavor was a nice blend of sweet citrus fruits and similar hop bitterness. Perhaps a touch of grassyness and pine was present as well. Rich thick mouthfeel. Yes, the alcohol was present, but I found the alcohol bite complimented the syrupy fruit well. Good brew.

22oz bottle thanks to Badbeer. Pours a thickish solid yellow color with a dense white head that leaves good lace. Smells hoppy flowery and nutty, a bit tangy. Tastes hop flowery and resiny with quite a bit of malty nuttiness as a backbone. Medium body with smooth carbonation.

Pours a clear golden yellow color with a small white head. Great citrus hop aromas dominate the aroma. Nice powerful citrus hop flavor with a great caramel malt backing rounds out the flavor. Wonderful bitter hop flavor lingers on your tongue. Wonderful Brew!

22oz bottle. Poured a clear golden-light orange color. Head was sticky and white with decent retention and lacing. Aroma was of steeping barley, flowery/citrusy hops, and tropical liqueur. Dry and bitter up front. The bitterness softened somewhat toward the end, giving way to some delicate sweetness. The hop bitterness peaked at about 6-7 out of 10 before the finish. The flavor palate included the likes of citrus fruits, flower blossom, alcohol, and caramel. The citrusy hop flavor unfolded fully after the finish. Pretty decent stuff.

Pours dull orange; entirely transparent topped with a thin white skin. Aroma is an alcoholic syrup of pear, banana, cotton candy and lavender; fusel-like greasy sweetness of brown sugar and dirty honey. Booze really hits it hard, and the mostly soft colors of floral bitterness and candied fruit sweetness suffer rather helplessly. Like bruised fruit or tea with too much honey. The flavor, again, brings an awkward unrest of delicate qualities and overpowering alcohol; feathery, bittersweet rose essence and white tea leaves with hints of blonde brownies, powdered sugar, and caramel. Seeming so pleasant and smooth, only to resort consistently to an insufferably ugly, heavy booze sweetness. Some tropical and citrus fruit and banana in the wet, cool midpalate. Sweet pine throughout. Palate is unsuitably dense but livened up by moderately high carbonation; finishes with a dry, nondescript vodka sweetness. Bland intensity; none too satisfying.