Thursday 4 August 2011

Beer # 61 2XIPA, Southern Tier


Southern Tier Brewing Company 
Lakewood New York, USA (Independent)
Double India Pale Ale 8.2% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 355 ml.
$2.95 (Canadian) At LCBO.


Twitter @stbcbeer


@Twitter Hashtag of the Day: #IPAday




Well Happy IPA Day! As you may or may now know today was declared International IPA Day by a grassroots movement of Beer Bloggers and Craft Beer Producers and has become quite the sensation on Twitter. So @pintjockey is not one to be left out so I shall post an IPA today.


Heading south of the border again to what is quickly becoming one of my favourite producers: Southern Tier from Lakewood New York, today we sample 2XIPA as their website puts it: a "not quite imperial IPA" but a strong (8.2% ABV double IPA. Brewed with 4 hops and 3 types of Malt it has a very distinct flavour, and a beer I quite enjoyed tasting.


Onto the IPA


Golden in colour with a hint of green. Cream coloured head made up of tiny bubbles that disperse quickly. The nose is grapefruit and herbs. Dark malted flavours unusual for a lighter looking beer, more grapefruit some citrus sweetness, caramel and alcohol. Some wine or brandy/cognac notes near the end. The beer does not mask it's full 8.2% ABV the alcohol warms the beer and lingers on the tongue and in the throat. Bitterness seems mild however I would say it is balanced out by the other strong elements of the beer. Very drinkable and refreshing, but only one or two please... feeling the alcohol right away!



Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional
                                                                                                               

Cost:  5/6  PASS
Colour:  5/6  PASS        
Beer Style:  5/6 PASS 
Re-Order:  5/6 PASS   
Experience:   5/6  PASS


Final Thoughts:


A very good turnout again from this great American Brewery. Time and again the USA is setting the standard for advancing the craft beer industry. What began in the kitchens of medieval homes has grown into the avante garde laboratories of modern craft breweries. With late night beer fueled ramblings turning into delicious experiments. Hop, malt, and flavour combinations never dreamt of before... it is a great time, to be a beer drinker.


Cheers

CJT

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