What they say (Southern Tier Brewery, 21+ please):
“Not quite an imperial, but certainly not a standard India pale ale. Our double IPA is a hop lovers dream. Citrusy and clean with an incredible finish.”
My take on it:
I’m starting to notice how much I love a hoppy brew. This Double IPA didn’t let me down.
?I’ve gotten used to my craft beers being a little hazy, so I was somewhat surprised to find this one was very clear, with a nice, golden color. I’m getting a good, consistent two-finger head. Nice scent, too. Not overpowering, not too flowery, but not too tart, either. Kind of homey, if that makes sense. The other thing I noticed was the lace. There was a significant amount on the glass when I was done.
Seriously…I don’t expect any of that, when I’m drinking a beer I can see through.
I also didn’t expect to feel a slight buzz after drinking one. Not like the buzz you get after a few cocktails, but just something pulling at the edge of your thoughts, letting you know you’ve had an alcoholic beverage. I was caught completely off guard by that, so I checked the label, only to discover it weighs in at 8.2. ?As smooth as 2XIPA is, that could be dangerous!
The label boasts “4 types of hops & 3 types of malts.” This creates a really good balance. It’s to the hoppy side, but isn’t that what you expect from a double IPA that tells you it has four kinds of hops? ?You can’t miss the citrus flavor, either. It starts out with a slight bitterness, that gives way to a spicy, malty, almost caramel taste. Again, this all surprised me after the pour. These are not characteristics I normally associate with a beer that I can see through!
All in all, I enjoyed 2XIPA quite a bit. Enough so that I see myself exploring ?other brews from Southern Tier.
I’m trying to keep the brews under $10 for a sixer. I’ll go above that from time to time, but that’s the target range of this blog. After all, I’m just an average guy, writing a blog for beer drinkers like me.?2XIPA was at the top end, with a price tag of $9.99. ?I’ve got no complaints though. It’s a happy 10-spot!
In the end, I’m going to ?give this one a 7.75 out of 10 with high expectations for the rest of the Southern Tier lineup!
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