I keep mentioning how I'm a big fan of IPA's, but I haven't reviewed one yet. So time to pull out one of my favorite IPA's from the archives.
This is from one of my favorite breweries, Southern Tier Brewing Company of Lakewood, NY.
I found variety packs from this brewery at one of my favorite package stores (that's New England speak for liquor store). This particular establishment carries quite a variety of beers from many locations.
It was the name that first caught my eye. From age 4 to about half way through the 5th grade my family lived in the town of Vestal, NY just outside of Binghamton. The region was referred to as the Southern Tier. So when I saw beers from a place called Southern Tier I had to pick it up. I have never been disappointed.
Southern Tier advertises itself as liking "vigorously hopped" brews so they were already on my good side before I had tasted a drop. Every beer I have tried from them so far has been good, but the IPA is outstanding. It just may currently be my favorite in the entire genre.
The hops are strong in this one for sure. You get the bitterness you expect from an IPA. But it is nicely balanced so the bitterness does not overwhelm or get in the way of a very flavorful brew. This is an IPA you could drink all night, at an appropriate moderate pace of course. It will stand up to spicy or strongly flavored foods, but can be enjoyed immensely all by itself. The taste fills the mouth as they say and has the usual hoppy taste with tones of caramel from the malts. What more can I say? This is one of the smoothest, tastiest IPA's I have ever had. They also have an Imperial IPA that is allegedly much stronger than their "regular" IPA. Can't wait to find that one and try it.
I'm giving Southern Tier IPA 8 mugs out of 10 only because I'm harder grading IPA's than other styles.
And they lose points because it turns out Lakewood, NY is closer to the southwest corner of New York state near Jamestown, hours from the Binghamton area. So while technically still Southern Tier, it is not as close to my old home as I thought when I first purchased these beers. Hey my scoring is nothing if not highly subjective and capricious.
But all seriousness aside, if you're a fan of IPA's find this beer and drink it. And if you find other offerings from Southern Tier try those too. Like I said I have yet to find a bad beer from these people. And apparently it's not just me, they have expanded their operation dramatically in recent years and are shipping to more and more areas of the country. So find out what the excitement is all about.
This is from one of my favorite breweries, Southern Tier Brewing Company of Lakewood, NY.
I found variety packs from this brewery at one of my favorite package stores (that's New England speak for liquor store). This particular establishment carries quite a variety of beers from many locations.
It was the name that first caught my eye. From age 4 to about half way through the 5th grade my family lived in the town of Vestal, NY just outside of Binghamton. The region was referred to as the Southern Tier. So when I saw beers from a place called Southern Tier I had to pick it up. I have never been disappointed.
Southern Tier advertises itself as liking "vigorously hopped" brews so they were already on my good side before I had tasted a drop. Every beer I have tried from them so far has been good, but the IPA is outstanding. It just may currently be my favorite in the entire genre.
The hops are strong in this one for sure. You get the bitterness you expect from an IPA. But it is nicely balanced so the bitterness does not overwhelm or get in the way of a very flavorful brew. This is an IPA you could drink all night, at an appropriate moderate pace of course. It will stand up to spicy or strongly flavored foods, but can be enjoyed immensely all by itself. The taste fills the mouth as they say and has the usual hoppy taste with tones of caramel from the malts. What more can I say? This is one of the smoothest, tastiest IPA's I have ever had. They also have an Imperial IPA that is allegedly much stronger than their "regular" IPA. Can't wait to find that one and try it.
I'm giving Southern Tier IPA 8 mugs out of 10 only because I'm harder grading IPA's than other styles.
And they lose points because it turns out Lakewood, NY is closer to the southwest corner of New York state near Jamestown, hours from the Binghamton area. So while technically still Southern Tier, it is not as close to my old home as I thought when I first purchased these beers. Hey my scoring is nothing if not highly subjective and capricious.
But all seriousness aside, if you're a fan of IPA's find this beer and drink it. And if you find other offerings from Southern Tier try those too. Like I said I have yet to find a bad beer from these people. And apparently it's not just me, they have expanded their operation dramatically in recent years and are shipping to more and more areas of the country. So find out what the excitement is all about.
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