Southern Tier Jah-va

Rating based on 2007 batch. 2008 was not nearly as good. Thanks bmartin. Pour is a beautiful dark black with little to no head, wispy chestnut brown. Managed to coax a one finger brown creamy head. The aroma is extremely rich, woody, bourbon, molasses, chocolate, coffee, light alcohol. The flavor is extremely big, very thick and sweet, rich roasty chocolate, coffee, molasses, feels like motor oil, berries, alcohol is mild and warming, bourbon, and some waxy hops at the back of the mouth. Fantastic palate, one of the best imperial stouts I’ve ever had.

Wining & Dining tasting. Pours black with a light brown head. Full flsvored. Lots of coffe, dark chocolate and caramel. Also metal notes. Medium carbonation. Full bodied and smooth with a sticky mouthfeel. Dry coffeeish finish which is boardering on a small alcoburn.

One of the better coffee stouts I’ve ever had. Pours a nice thick dark black with minimal head. Later notice it to seem thinner then pour showed. Nose big on sweet chocolatey coffee with a nice caramel kick. Flavor is similar with expresso thrown into the mix as well as a little bit of hop. Very solid beer overall.

On tap at Ale House. Dark as used motor oil, almost molassass sweet, chocolate and coffee blended for a very nice kick ass drink. Not much into the Southern Tier brews, but this was a pleasant surprise. Would definitely buy again, but I’m sure it can only be enjoyed in small measures, as it is soo full.

2007 bottle. Dark dark brown, really dark with a relatively dense dark tan head, thinning over time. Big sweet nose. Chocolate. coffee, to some extent. Creamy and round. No off flvors, smooth with low roast. Smooth velvety sort body some carbonation and a bit oily. Creamy bigger coffee. Very sweet! some roasty astringency, bringing into something closer to balance. Alcohol is big, but not 12% big, maybe 8. Rich, full, a little diacetyl, but it works. Roasty dry coffee finish. This is like a desert version of Expedition!

Bomber, courtesy of my East Coast connection - john adam2002 (Thanks Adam!). Pours a dark brown/black with a pillowy two finger dark cinnamon colored head, good lacing. Aroma is fresh ground coffee, bittersweet chocolate, molasses, brown sugar and a noticible hops presence. Flavor is an espresso shot with just a touch of sweetness, some milk chocolate, and a gentle hoppy bitterness that lingers; gently warming, but otherwise the alcohol is imperceptible. Palate is thick and creamy, nicely coating. This is a well done coffee stout and another solid ST creation - more, please!

22oz bottle. Deep red-brown/black color with a thin film of dark brown head. Alcohol, coffee, bitter chocolate, and piney hops in the aroma. Complex coffee components, muddy chocolate and a keening roastiness. Some dark alefruit, coarse floral hop bitterness. Heavy semisweet chocolate flavors manifest late. Chocolate, coffee bean characters in the finish, lingering sweetness with some alcohol notes. Mouthfeel is heavy, chewy.

22 oz. bottle from November 2005. Brown/black pour with the slightest ruby tinge at the edge produces a slowly devleoping, but very healthy, brown head. Deep dark chocolate, roasted coffee, vanilla, blackstrap molasses, and a hint of spice combine for a wonderful aroma. Smooth, rich, and creamy on the palate complement the heavy body and light carbonation. A deep, dark, and satisfying sweetness settles down as the tempering from some spicy hops kicks in. A wonderfully luxurious beer. The 12 % alcohol is never a factor in the aroma or flavor. Absolutely first rate.