Southern Tier Jah-va

Brewed by Southern Tier Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Lakewood, New York USA

Winter 2008 batch...Pours almost black with a moderate bubbly brown head. Aroma is a bit reserved, but otherwise has notes of dark roasted coffee, chocolate, a bit of vanilla, and very noticeable alcohol. Tons of sweetened coffee/espresso right upfront, followed by a mixture of vanilla and molasses that slowly gives way to the alcohol. Palate is full, creamy/oily, with lingering coffee bitterness, and a good bit of warming alcohol.

Bomber, dated 22 November 2005. Pours silently with a noticeably oily texture; it’s black with very small reddish brown head that takes a moment to appear. The aroma is espresso, some bitter chocolate, a touch of vanilla, and some charcoal. The flavor is molasses and cocoa, followed by chewy espresso notes. A nicely rounded vanilla and nut flavor comes in the middle, but the harmony is disrupted quickly by a cacaphonous burst of alcohol. The alcohol burn takes over the finish and aftertaste entirely, and swallowing makes me shudder a little bit like I just took a shot of hard liquor. After a few sips I feel like I’m drinking a cordial. I gotta say I’m kind of disappointed. I mean, the flavor starts off so elegantly, it’s a pity that the overwhelming alcohol throws it so far out of balance.

Bottle: Thick black, tan brown head, creamy, nose of dark strong vanilla and anise. The coffee merits its own paragraph; robust, balanced, light char, sweet molasses and chocolate. Thick and chewy, resinous mocha and balanced bitterness. Thick tail. Good!

From Puddintaine via trade. The beer came out of the bottle in a semi-viscous glob and produced an attractive brown head that was two-fingers or so tall. The head receded quickly and didn’t produce much lacing. The aroma was lots of bitter, roasted coffee, chocolate and syrupy sweet sugars. The flavor was bitter coffee with chocolate and lots of sugary sweetness coming in play to try and keep the alcohol in check. The mouthfeel was thick, chewy and quite nice. I think this beer was nice and could have slid into hot, cloying overdone beer territory, but they stopped it just in time.

Another wow. Up there with a rasputin. Black as molasses and thick. Small amber head. Aroma of dark malt and molasses. Taste is heavy with java, chocolate, molasses. Alcohol warmth comes sneaking through. Bottled Winter 2007

Bottle at HogTownHarry Fest ’08. Huge respect to Harry for this bottle too. Brazil nuts and espresso coffee and vanilla on aroma. It’s a bit too sweet and cloying for my palate. Shame as I normally like coffee beers.

Pours like molasses, thick and almost slow. Pitch black. Small tan head that forms after a few seconds. Amazing. Nose is minor coffee with an extremely full fragrance of dark chocolate. I could take a whiff of this one for hours on end. If it is as good on the flavor as it has been to now, this might just be one to remember. Flavor. Oh my. Hearty like you don’t even know. Massive malts. Molasses is there too. Just a thick funky presenting…I mean, hello! Feel is thick on the liquid but smooth. On the carbonation it is a bit thin, but just right I think. What? Could it be? Another perffect score beer? Man. This is what I love. I am just sitting here, and I decide to have one more beer before I pass out for the night, and what do you know; a perfect scored beer. If you haven’t tried this beer and you willingly pass it up, I have to say I have to question my respect for you. This is a beer that is crafted so well, it absolutely must be tried. I can’t believe I waited so long to try it myself.

Thick head. Poors dark chocolate. Aroma of coffee, chocolate, dark malts and sugar. Flavor of coffee, molasses, and chocolate. Very sweet. Extremely thick, almost has a syrup consistently. Nice bitter finish. Excellent beer.