Southern Tier Harvest Ale

Brewed by Southern Tier Brewing Company
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Lakewood, New York USA

Solid pale ale. Weak overall, but drinkable. Hope notes with slight malt hangin out. Went down smooth enough with a weaker then expected hop flavor. Lite citrus, less then I hoped.

LIght golden color with a smallish, but stable white head. Rudy red grapefruit and lemon zest dominate the aromas. Hints of sweet pale malt in the background. Not the typical scent that I would expect from a "harvest" ale, but a rather nice surprise. I’m starting to wonder if I like it because it is different or because I really do like it. I think I like the difference. Sweet malt and lemon soap in the flavors followed again by a burst of malt and sweet somewhat floral hops. Finish is somewhat dry with quite a bit of bitterness left on the tongue along with fresh green hops residue. A solid APA.

12oz bottle. Pours a brilliant and clear, orange-tinged golden color; white head with good retention and shiny, cascading lacing. Fresh, resiny hop aroma: grapefruit and citrus: not even the slightest astringency. For starters, this beer reminds me so much of Buckeye Amarillo IPA (which is now my baseline of clean hops): clean, orangey and citrus hoppiness throughout; great resins and hop oils, with just enough malt to keep things afloat; just incredibly drinkable and good. Seems more like my conception of an IPA; just lacking a little depth. Medium, refreshing, light orange hop finish.

Very hoppy when ice cold, but evens out as it warms. I really wasn’t expecting all the hops, but in the end it works well.

Bottle at RFD Washington DC, 10/6/07. Pours an attractive deep golden with a frothy white head. Fresh, grassy, herbal hop nose - not intense, but nice. Has a simple malt profile to showcase the hops; notes of pale brewing malt, a light touch of bread/graininess then fresh grassy, floral hop character. Seems like a mix of noble and American hop varieties. Well attenuated, not that sweet - assertive yet non-harsh bitterness. Medium/light body with a smooth texture and lively carbonation. An ideal session, everyday drinkin’ beer. I wish I can get cases of this for the entire summertime.

Bottle. Pours an amber color with a smallish white head. Aroma is huge floral hops, grapefruit, caramel. Flavor is again grapefruit, lemon zest, caramel. Palate is medium bodied, medium carbonation, crisp and refreshing, finishes with a profound hop bitterness. Very good!

Bottled. Poured clear lighter golden with a short cap of white head. The aroma picked up a soft, very pleasant light fruit and grapefruit backing that supported pine and grapefruit from the hoppage.. nice and sweet. The flavor lost a step, but only one.. caramel and grapefruit sweetness with rising pine and juicy light fruit bitterness as it warmed up.. quite bitter and refreshing on the finish. Light-medium bodied with a sweet and bitter finish. Good stuff!

12oz. bottle, from both shadey and hopson (thanks guys!). Pours a BRIGHT yellow golden, almost flourescent it seems; with a thin white head and good lacing. Aroma is crisp citrusy hops. Flavor is more hops, with a milder, albeit nice, lingering spicy bite. Crisp and clean on the palate. A very solid and tasty APA for fall.