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Tag Archives: New York
Southern Tier Choklat
Southern Tier Choklat
Here is another I have been trying to get my hands on for a while, Southern Tier Choklat.
Darker than expected with a tight, light brown head. As expected, however, the aroma is full of chocolate. Bitter chocolate is indeed the most pronounced flavor, but there is so much more going on. Vanilla, some coffee, and oak. Wouldn’t be surprised if this were barrel aged (but not bourbon barrel aged). Long, dry, chalky finish with hints of marshmallow. The 10% ABV really warms on the way down, too.
To recap, huge flavors, well balanced, great texture, and a heaping helping of booze. What else would you expect from Southern Tier? It’s excellent.
Grade: A
Southern Tier Krampus
Admittedly, I had never heard of Krampus, naughty child punisher at all until this brew from Southern Tier. Pours with the crisp, clear body you’d expect from a lager with a frothy off-white head.
Lots of interesting flavor, even if it’s tough to figure out what all is there at first. Piney hops definitely come through, along with sweet citrus and caramel. This is positively bursting with hop flavor throughout. Including in a lasting, bitter finish.
A winter lager, but with none of the cinnamon and clove of others. It’s all hops and 9% ABV.
The biggest, baddest lager I’ve had
Grade: A
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
If the name has you thinking this is a straightforward chocolate stout, the aroma will let you know you’ve wandered into Imperial Stout territory with Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout.
The pour is as dark as you’ll find with a fluffy dark tan head. The smell is filled with toasted and charred malts, dark fruits, and dark rum. The flavor is complex and powerful. A hit of alcohol comes first, followed by charred marshmallows, dark fruit, and chocolate. Noticeable kick from the hops leads to a long, dry, woody, slightly sour finish.
Very big, very tasty. Grade: B
Ommegang Abbey Ale
Ommegang Abbey Ale
There is no doubt that Trappist Monks know a thing or two about brewing beer. So Ommegang Abbey Ale certainly has a lot to live up to with their interpretation of a world-class style of beer.
The color is spot on for a Dubbel. Deep ruby with a fluffy off white head. The familiar sweet malt and sour fruits fill the nose. The flavor is quite close, too. Sweet malt, fruit, lots of spice and black pepper. Maybe some anise, too. Full and creamy in the mouth with a pleasant alcohol warmth on the way down from the 8.5% ABV.
If there is any drawback, I’m getting an overly salty soy sauce flavor.
Overall, it’s outstanding, but I would put it a notch below similar offerings from true Trappist breweries.
Grade: A
Southern Tier Mokah
Southern Tier Mokah
Southern Tier makes some rather tasty dessert style beers like Pumking and Creme Brulee Stout. Mokah is another stand out. The aroma of chocolate, coffee, and booze will draw you in from the next room.
Supremely creamy, the slightly sweet chocolate takes over at first then leading to strong coffee and a boozy finish. It’s like letting a strong chocolate rum ball melt in your mouth. Loads of caramel. Toasted, but not charred. Hints of raisin, too. The hops provide a necessary kick at the end.
Another delightful, and huge, beer from Southern Tier. They’re quickly moving up my list of top breweries.
Grade: A
Southern Tier Creme Brulee Stout
Southern Tier Creme Brulee Stout
The intoxicating and inviting aromas of South Tier Creme Brulee Stout draw you in the second you pop the top. Tons of toffee, butterscotch, and milk in the nose and a gorgeous dark tan head floating on a sea of black.
Sweet sugar with a little bit of char to go along with the butterscotch and warm milk and a very creamy texture. There’s also a hop bite at the back end to remind you it’s a beer. Never having had Creme Brulee (I know, how bourgeois of me) I can’t say how close it is to Creme Brulee in a bottle, but gosh is it tasty. Might be too sweet for some, but I think it’s delicious. The burnt flavor lingers more than anything, but it goes very well with the sweetness. Not even a hint of the whopping 9.6% ABV
Excellent brew!
Grade: A
Southern Tier Harvest Ale
Southern Tier Harvest Ale
Up to now, I have only had two offerings from Southern Tier: Pumking and Creme Brulee Stout, and both are outstanding. What does Harvest Ale have in store?
Inviting copper color with a sticky, if thin, head. Caramel and apricots in the nose. Wheat, dried apricots, caramel, and a dry finish. Some lingering banana, too. The hops provide a late, but pronounced character.
I like it, but it isn’t on the same field as the ones I mentioned earlier.
Grade: B
Original Sin Hard Cider
Original Sin Hard Cider
I don’t go for hard ciders often, but I do get a taste for them every now and then. The very cleverly named Original Sin Hard Cider is extremely light in color. It’s closer to a white wine than it is a beer. Smells a bit like a white wine, too, but it is full of apple.
After drinking it, this really does feel to me more like an apple wine than most hard ciders. The champagne yeast probably has a lot to do with that. While most ciders are cloyingly sweet or puckeringly (like that?) tart, this isn’t. It’s crisp and refreshing with a good apple taste. There is enough sour tartness in the finish that you won’t be disappointed. This is probably the easiest drinking hard cider I have had. Try this for something different. It’s quite good. Nice 6% ABV, too.
Grade: A
Coney Island Freaktoberfest
Coney Island Freaktoberfest
Red beer? Bubbly pink head? What is going on with Coney Island Freaktoberfest?
A blend of 6 malts. 6 hops varieties. The ABV? 6.66%, of course. Regardless of if this beer is any good or not, this is an example of why to love craft beer. It’s fun, they are taking chances and being creative.
The smell is fresh and fruity. Hops dominate the flavor, but they aren’t overpowering. Some sweet malt in there, too. Outstanding lacing, even if it is pink foam. Smooth and crisp without being the slightest bit watery.
It doesn’t taste as complex as the 6 malts and 6 hops would expect you to believe, but it’s a fun, unique, tasty, and drinkable beer. What’s not to like?
Grade: B
Southern Tier Pumking
Southern Pier Pumking
It’s my first pumpkin beer of the season, and I’m starting big with Southern Tier Pumking.
The color is a crisp copper with just a bit of cloud. Not much head sticking around. Lots of pumpkin and spice in the nose, but it doesn’t smell like the pumpkin pie in a can.
Fresh pumpkin and graham cracker hit first with the familiar nutmeg, clove, and allspice coming later. Not much from the hops and this ends up in a long, dry finish.
Might be the best pumpkin beer I’ve had. I really like the spiced graham cracker flavor coming through. And when you consider this and the Creme Brulee Stout, are Southern Tier the kings of dessert beers?
Grade: A