Southern Tier Cuvee, Series Three - Friday Beer O'Clock Selections 1-14-2011
This week's Friday Beer O'Clock Selection was admitidly influenced by the packaging. A nice boxed package with fancy graphics and fonts... lesson learned? Never judge a book by it's cover, or a beer by it's fancy packaging. However, in my defense, the selections this week on the shelves were a bit limited.
Today's selection brings us Southern Tier's Oak Aged Ale Cuvee, Series Three.
ABV: 11%
Appearance: Poured into a mug with a nice clear but dark amber-red color, forming an UN-impressive fizzy head and leaving spotty lacing.
Aroma: Off the bat, this is very sweet smelling with vanilla, caramel, and sweet plum, pineapple and malts coming out on top. Strange, but the aroma reminds me of sweet 'n sour chinese chicken.
Taste: Very sweet alcohol with malts right up front. In the middle, vanilla, toffee and caramel come out and in the back, a VERY slight hopiness and oak, all finishing with an overall sweetness. There is a noticible alcohol ether throughout.
Feel: It has a definate bite of alcohol that warms the gut. Body is on the heavy side with a smooth syrupy texture and low carbonation. So far, the best part of this brew.
Drinkability: No points scored here either. Far too sweet with noticible alcohol. It's not too bad for a warm sipper in snifter or wine goblet, but definately not suitable for a mug.
Overall: I had high hopes for this, but in the end, was a little dissapointed and having trouble finishing the glassfull. Similar in many ways to the Samichlaus reviewed a while back which also didn't win me over. After getting past the expectations I had, It's not a complete loss, but I'm not recommending this one, especially at the price it gets.
Maybe I missed something, but if you've tried this one and don't agree with this review, now is your chance to speak up.
