 Kinz (1900), Glen Allen, Virginia, USA
May 11, 2008
This should be getting way, way more love here. I think we are so used to piney, citric hop flavors in a big beer that when something else comes along, we don’t know quite how to react. Pours a clear medium copper with a lasting white head that leaves a thick lace on the glass, quite attractive. Aroma is perfumey, floral, and a bit spicy, very unusual for most American brews. Initial biscuit oriented malt flavors give way to a spicy floral hop finish with a very long lingering bitterness. Malts and hops match perfectly here. When I read that this was a Hallertau based brew, the reason for the unique hop profile became clear. American brewers really should pay a bit more attention to some of the more traditional German varieties as a way of creating a more unique flavor profile, which is what Southern Tier has done here. The closest thing I can compare this to is the Sam Adams Imperial Pils, but this is clearly an ale. Outstanding stuff.
marchcow (492), Coralville, Iowa, USA
Sep 5, 2008 Orangish colors with a rich foamy head. Aroma is rich floral, malty, hops, slight pineapple. Spicy flavor with caramely middle and sweetish finish. Fruit juice, light bitter hoppiness, rich. Palate is mild and carbonation is mild. Pretty good but lacks punch.
Gar4016 (2), , Iowa, USA
does not count  Sep 4, 2008 22oz bottle. Pours a red amber color. Decent amount of head with a little bit of lacing. Quite aromatic, pine, a little citrus and a little sweet malt. The palate was nice and for me quite balanced. Quite a bit of hops at the front of the palate followed by caramel, a small amount of carbonation, some bitter hops at the end and finished with faint caramel and chocolate. I like this quite well, very aromatic with the dry hopping, balanced, and covers up the 9% quite well. Will purchase again.
kevd193213 (323), Coventry, Rhode Island, USA
Sep 1, 2008 Bomber. Reddish amber pour with a medium tan head. Aroma of piney hops. Taste of hops and pepper, with some faint caramel malt present.
MrBunn (849), Western, Pennsylvania, USA
Aug 30, 2008 Bottle. Pours a somewhat dark amber with a finger or so of head and aromas that feature big hops: pine, pineapple and a bit of floweriness. Flavor is thick with hops and sticky sweetness, but it doesn’t come across as overpowering or cloying like many of the big IIPA’s... still, it kind of has that flavor. Sweetness is caramel malt and hops are a little more on the pineapple/citrus side than in the nose. Pretty good stuff.
checkmatei1 (244), Willow Grove, USA
Aug 29, 2008 Poured an orange amber color with a thin head. The aroma was caramel, pine, hops and sweetness. The flavor was smooth and hoppy and well balanced. Overall, an excellent beer.
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