Southern Tier Jah-va

Brewed by Southern Tier Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Lakewood, New York USA

22 oz. Pitch with a small ring of foam. Aromas of espresso, cream and vanilla. Flavors of espresso, caramel, cream, cocoa liqueur, oats. A bit harsh with coffee and alcohol on the finish, but still a good brew. Medium-heavy body is acidic-tingly, slighty watery but still somehow sticky on the finish. Mostly smooth carbonation with some small flareups.

Bottle, shared. Pours a deep black with a frothy, tan head. Aroma is led by chocolate with roasted coffee notes and dark fruit/espresso as well. Taste is espresso up front, with chocolate, roasted malt, dark fruit, and a slight hop bitterness complementing the coffee at the end. It’s silky smooth throughout, and despite not being a coffee drinker I could drink this coffee stout all the time. (Note: This was the 2007 vintage, so I suspect it calmed down a bit since it was in my cellar)

Bottle courtesy of HogtownHarry- Deep opaque black, pours a finger of frothy mocha foam. Lots of spotty lace. In the nose, lots of dark chocolate is the fore-runner, followed by roasted black coffee beans, deep rooted fruitiness, espresso, black strap molasses, and nice fresh hops with just a bit of smoke and vanilla. Tastes of sweet espresso, dark chocolate, a bit lactic with some vanilla, quite fruity with some wood and char. Good coffee bitterness leads to chocolatey sweetness in what is probably one of the most balanced imperial stouts I have had. Creamy, silky, delicate, bitter, huge coffee finish. The 12% isn’t anywhere to bee seen or felt. Excellent, thanks so much Harry!

BOTTLE: jet black pour, roasty aroma. Very silky smooth, chocolate, coffee, dark fruit. Awesome beer.

On tap at Dilly Deli. Pitch black with a medium mocha head. Velvety smooth and chocolaty with accents of coffee, dark fruit, anise (thanks Jerry), and some caramelized sugar. The roast flavor is milder than expected but it seems to make itself known as the beer warms. Nice balanced hops and the high ABV is well concealed (but it certainly can sneak up on you!). Palate is thick and both fluffy and slightly syrupy at the same time. Delicious.

March 09 I really enjoyed this beer. Pours jet back with a thick and big tan head. Big aroma of coffee, burnt sugars. Has a thick oily body with some sweetness at the end. Some chocolate and slightly burnt coffee flavors.

22 oz. pour dark with nice tan head. aroma is bitter sweet with a hint of coffee. mouthful is robust with some candied dark fruits and unique bitter bite. finish has got big coffee flavor. no hint of the big abv... well done.

22 oz. bottle - Poured dark brown with nice frothy tan head. Aroma - vanilla, brown sugar, chocolate and coffee. Flavor - chocolate, dark fruits, brown sugar and dark roast coffee. Palate - medium creamy mouthfeel, almost like chocolate milk. Finish is excellent, slightly dry with soft coffee aftertaste. Overall - liked it, does taste better as it becomes warmer! The creamy texture gives it a very drinkable quality. 12% abv., tastes more like 6%.