Southern Tier Cuvée Series 2

Brewed by Southern Tier Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
Lakewood, New York USA

Almost a gradient color, brown near the top, red on the bottom. Appears red when held into the light with gold on the edges. Almost no head whatsoever. The color alone gets it a good score though. Unfortunately, that’s where the great reviews end... Interesting smell...the smoky smell is apparent with definite vanilla tones. Not bad, but not exceptional. Taste is a little underwhelming, to be honest. There are definite vanilla undertones, same as the scent. You can taste the oak, but it’s not overpowering. Mouthfeel is crisp, but not like there’s no feel whatsoever. Overall, this beer is remarkably average, unfortunately. It’s got an interesting taste, and I like the vanilla hints, but it’s just not a memorable beer. It seems like they were trying to do too much - too many flavors, too complex, etc. Based on the price, I probably won’t buy this again for a long while.

On tap at Zeno’s Pub. Aroma is peculiar and bubblegummed with a lot of weighty caramel. Alcohol. Pours a clear red-brown, with no fringe. Flavor is absolutely ugly and messy. Burnt caramels, sloppy sugars, boozy barrel, and weird dead yeast. This is underattenuated, sloppy, unfinished and gross. Ugh.

(bottle - 22 oz) Dark orange color with a thin but creamy tan head. Aroma is sweet with lots of oak, butter, malts, and caramel. Flavor is much the same. Lots of butter and oak notes, some cocoa and caramel, and a lightly sweet finish. Not bad, but I liked Series 1 better.

On draft at Zenos. Dark orange to amber hue, little head. Nose is oak, roast malts, coffee, caramel, cocoa, and vanilla. Flavorful malts ranging from caramel to cocoa with strong tones of vanilla and oak. Thick and viscous texture with moderate alcohol warming, slightly flat. Unique strong ale that falls short on balance and boldness.

22oz. Dark pour, almost purple with no head. Sweet candy aroma, brown sugar. Flavors are nice and complex. Overly sweet - but still good and interesting. The quality is there and its obviously quality; but for the cost, it just isn’t worth it.

Sampled at the Nashville BA Tasting. Pours dark amber with an off white head. Aroma of caramel and cherry like esters. Flavor is similar to Cuvee 1, but a tad darker with a hint of peat. This is drinkable, but not worth the asking price. However, sometimes you can’t predict how these barrel experiments will turn out.

Aroma has a very potent alcohol note with oak. Flavor of vanilla and some caramel. Not very enjoyable

On tap at Sunset Grill. Pours a dark amber with a white head. Aroma of vanilla, oak, and alcohol. Flavor of vanilla, bourbon and sweet oak. Harsh with sharp alcohol notes. Very nasty and much worse than #1. Ugh what an awful beer. 5/3/5/3/12 (2.9/5)