Southern Tier Hoppe

Pours a pretty clear golden with a nice sized white soapy head. At first, I could smell pine even far away from the glass. As the beer warmed though, the aroma rounds itself into more toffee, bread, citrus and floral notes. Some pine still lingers, and there’s something sweet there too, perhaps a slight brown sugar or cinnemon note. Sweet white chocolate and brown sugar malt taste is apparent first, but combines well with the strong grapefruit, pine and floral hop flavors. Finishes with a nice white chocolate sweetness, while the hops get more bitter and grapefruity, slightly toasty, and a bitter floral aftertaste. Nicely rounded mouthfeel, obviously a big bodied beer, but it feels pretty light and drinks easily. Medium carbonation. I guess doing a double "extra pale ale" puts a new spin on the DIPA category. Good beer, lots of nice things about it, but it’s not a "wow" beer. I can’t imagine why a beer like this is 10% though....

Sampler at <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/illinois/frankfort/united-liquors/1120.htm>Cardinal Liquors, Frankfort. Light color, almost Pils-like. Implication from the name is that this is some hop monster, but not so. Just some well-done light toast malts, still detectable among a snootful of hops (are these PNW or New York-grown?). Hoppiness sticks around, though, and makes for a very strong surprise finish.

22 oz. bottle my mother-in-law picked up from the brewery - Pours a clear golden color with a one and a half finger thick off white head. Light lacing. Aroma is toasted malt and light citrus hops. Flavor is citrus hops and lightly sweetened toasty malt. Nice balance. Medium body. Smooth palate with no lingering aftertastes. Alcohol is slightly noticed in the finish. A very nice beer. Thanks Ma.

Golden colored beer with a rocky white head. The nose has strong citrus/orange juice notes, with enough hair spray to warm you about the ABV. Flavors of grapefruit juice, orange rind, and melted caramel that lead to a long bitter/sweet finish that ends like candied orange peel. The alcohol is noticable but well integrated.

pours a hazy yellow amber with a medium fluffy white head that thins out but sticks around and leaves a great lacing. smells of pine resin and grapefruit, with a tiny bit of caramel malt. taste is orange and grapefruit, with hints of dark fruit esters and some more caramel malt, and a bit of alcohol. medium to full body and moderate carbonation, with a well balanced bittersweet palate and a good bit of warming. a different and interesting brew. the more i try of southern tier, the more i like where they’re going.

Semi smeared glaze of honeyish gold in color and a very small capping of whitish foam. Tons of lacing trickles across the glass in holed sheets and tattered strings. Aroma is big on piney hops at first, very soft, yet broad and fresh with a green sprucey waft over a taint of orange oils and other citrusy things that peak a bit more towards tropical as it sits. Resinous qualities also poke through as it warms giving a bit more depth and interest of cannibus and floral accents. Taste is just as good, lots of fun tropical fruits spark juicy parts of orange, peach, tangerine, and pineapple. Pine tones are there in a good duration of bitterness underneath and always in check. Nothing overwhelmingly huge here. But damn flavorful and quite fresh and juicy. Kinda oily and resinous, which is quite welcome, keeps a great forward rounded tone of body thats creamy full and juicy fresh. The bitterness is wonderfully plain and piney with lots of growing resinous qualities and lofting citrus juices and slight pith and peel action as it trails off into the finish. Bits of pineapple remain with a bit of the pine very late and among the little hop burps that I get from downing the stuff! Feel is pretty full, oily, lavish, juicy, clean, creamy, and fortified with hoppy goodness. Very nice balance and tone throughout the entire session. Smooth, sensual, and tropically delicious. The bitterness hits just right for me in the citrus and pine resined hoppyness. Absolutely drinkable by a bunch! A very well toned and flavorful Dbl IPA by Southern Tier.

Hazy orange/amber with a fluffy,white, short-lived head. Nose is somewhat musty, quite bitter, with a good deal of grapefruit. Quite sweet--very nice, with some tobacco, pine resin, almonds. Excellent, pillowy mouthfeel.

Sampled at From The Vine beer tasting Oct 19th, 2007: This beer is a lightly hazed amber-gold color with a compact off-white head that dissipates steadily. Stickly rings of lacing on the glass. Citrusy hops is dominant in the nose, with a light bready malt behind. Crisp, medium body with a bright citrus hops flavor, alongside herbs and caramel malt too. The finish is nicely bitter and lingering hops. Enjoyable all around.