Monday, March 3, 2014

Southern Tier 2XIPA

I've had Southern Tier's 2XIPA a couple times in the past, back before I really started to appreciate and enjoy the bold hoppiness IIPAs are known and loved for.  Back then, I was just getting started with training my palate, and I remember feeling a little overwhelmed by this beer.  I was able to hide one of these from my husband last time we got a ST variety pack, and I've been looking forward to trying it again:

Vittles:
Imperial IPA
8.2% abv

Score:
Appearance: 9/10
Aroma: 23/25
Taste: 37/40
Mouthfeel: 8/10
Style: 5/5
Drinkability: 8/10
Overall: 90/100

Impression:
It pours out beautifully, and the creamy head has decent linger but leaves only spotty lacing.  The aroma packs a strong floral, pine, and fruity/citrus punch with biscuit, cracker, toffee, and grass in the background.  The flavor follows suit nicely, with a surprising and pleasant floral aftertaste -- I was expecting more of a pine/citrus/grapefruit aftertaste.  I wouldn't say this is an overly bitter beer, though the flavors are full and bold.  The mouthfeel is moderately carbonated and fairly smooth, finishing with a bit more crispness than I expected.  Overall, it's not a huge powerhouse of an IIPA, but it is a very well balanced beer that showcases the hops characteristics nicely.

Cheers!

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