Imperial Cherry Saison - Southern Tier Brewing Company

yesyouam

New York

4.38/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Southern Tier Cherry Saison is a pretty clear, sparkling and golden with a bubbly white head that fades to a bubbly white film. The aroma is of cherry and oak. It smells lively and fresh. It is very smooth; medium bodied with a slightly syrupy finish. There is lots of oak in the flavor, with notes of black pepper, orange peel, curacao and leather. It is very complex and well balanced. The aftertaste is all oak-- almost like bourbon. It's very satisfying. The cherry is very subtle. It's a very wooden taste. It's more like cherry furniture. It's bold and unique, as I've come to expect from Southern Tier. I really like this beer.
(rated Sep 21, 2008)

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2008 05:01:38 | More by yesyouam

t0rin0

California

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

02-09-2013 22:42:31 | More by t0rin0

DmanGTR

New York

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%

01-30-2013 16:12:04 | More by DmanGTR

stereosforgeeks

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

12-17-2012 17:46:37 | More by stereosforgeeks

Eriktheipaman

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

11-14-2012 01:51:52 | More by Eriktheipaman

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.4/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from 3/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a slightly cloudy yellow amber, one finger white head and lacing. Aroma of cherry, citrus and esters. Mild saison start, tart sour middle and sour and bitter finish. A bit too sour on the finish for me, although the body and start are OK.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 19:56:14 | More by LiquidAmber

atoulouk

Indiana

4/5  rDev +13.3%

04-27-2012 14:36:43 | More by atoulouk

GrindFatherBob

New York

1/5  rDev -71.7%

03-15-2012 20:08:23 | More by GrindFatherBob

imperialking

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

03-15-2012 19:41:35 | More by imperialking

Tyrawlings

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

02-19-2012 01:49:28 | More by Tyrawlings

jfcaa193

Connecticut

2/5  rDev -43.3%

02-02-2012 03:16:51 | More by jfcaa193

bonbini26

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

01-13-2012 18:44:26 | More by bonbini26

jennaski01

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +13.3%

01-03-2012 02:21:32 | More by jennaski01

VikeMan

Pennsylvania

2/5  rDev -43.3%

12-19-2011 18:40:23 | More by VikeMan

djrn2

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +13.3%

12-12-2011 20:15:15 | More by djrn2

rab53

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -15%

12-09-2011 04:00:48 | More by rab53

JohneHoodlum

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +13.3%

12-09-2011 00:21:49 | More by JohneHoodlum

THECPJ

Delaware

4/5  rDev +13.3%

12-05-2011 16:11:14 | More by THECPJ

barnzy78

Illinois

2/5  rDev -43.3%

12-01-2011 03:12:23 | More by barnzy78

JAHMUR

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +13.3%

11-27-2011 22:01:51 | More by JAHMUR

Exiled

Texas

4/5  rDev +13.3%

11-25-2011 20:06:04 | More by Exiled

nh2032

New York

3/5  rDev -15%

11-25-2011 13:13:13 | More by nh2032

EasyReader

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +13.3%

11-24-2011 05:00:53 | More by EasyReader

superspak

Michigan

3.35/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

22 ounce bottle into tulip, no bottling date. This could be pretty old since it is retired now. Pours extremely hazy orange amber color with a fairly dense 2 finger off white head with good retention; that reduces to a thin lacing cap that lasts. Fair amount of lacing clings to the glass as well. Aromas of big tart cherries, apple, lemon zest, grass, candi sugar, spices, bread, and a bit of funkiness as well. Surprisingly nice aromas with good strength and balance. I like my saisons funky. Taste of big bread, pepper, spices, banana, wood, candi sugar, cherry, and some tart graininess in the back. No bitterness; with lingering notes of tart cherry, pepper, bread, and spices on the finish for a bit. The wheat malt is definitely more noticeable on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a fairly creamy and slightly syrupy mouthfeel. Alcohol is well hidden with only a warming on the finish noticed. Fairly smooth drinking, but this is still quite a sipper. This is not cloying surprisingly, but i would have liked a better flavor balance. A little difficult to drink at times because of the flavor balance. Overall a fairly enjoyable saison, but it needed better flavor balance with a bit more cherry in the taste. Overall I say it was worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 04:51:53 | More by superspak

brandoman63

Illinois

4/5  rDev +13.3%

11-20-2011 03:53:21 | More by brandoman63