2XIPA - Southern Tier Brewing Company

JG-90

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer is a translucent light golden straw color. Pours a large white head with with good retention and moderate lacing. Smell hits first with an incredible smell of pine. Also get grapefruit, orange, resin, and a bit of bread.

Taste starts with a ton of pine and some resin, followed by grapefruit, orange, and lemon. Has a piney, grapefruit, lemon, bready, slighty floral, crisp finish. Mouthfeel is definitely on the light side for a DIPA, with above average carbonation. Normally I would want a heavier body for a DIPA, but this lighter body helps keep the intense piney-ness from being overwhelming, also making it a surprising refreshing 8.2% beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 19:06:38 | More by JG-90

DenverHopHead

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Southern Tier's 2XIPA pours golden in color with little head and not much lacing. The smell is pleasing, the taste is fantastic and the mouthfeel is subtle but good. I enjoyed this beer, but it was pricey. I'd have again, but only at a more reasonable price.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 17:40:53 | More by DenverHopHead

utopiajane

New York

3.5/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours vivid gold with sparkling clarity and an inch of foam that fell to some downright chunky lacing. Not a big nose on this beer. Light citrus, faint grass and pale malt. Taste is crisp and so easy to drink. The hops come forward nicely with touches of lemon and grapefruit. The pale malt stands up just sweet, sturdy and strong. Hops and malt both sweeten up as the beer warms. Finishes with a long bitter aftertaste, and a dry malt presence that makes this a dapper DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 16:51:25 | More by utopiajane

IPA4LIFE77

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

I really enjoyed this beer. Anything that comes from Southern Tier is normally great. Though the regular IPA by ST is not as impressive. This is my very first review on here. I need to learn lingo. All I know is. If you like a great IPA, this one is a winner!

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 23:47:57 | More by IPA4LIFE77

davidsumner

Virginia

4.7/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Very very good. Picked this up at Total Wine today without much expectations. Southern Tier is a brewery foreign to me; but after having this beer, is now in my radar.

Poor - Poor's excellent, with a yummy two finger head. Good lacing and the head settles down to a decent half finger top lining with the remainder of the beer. Appearance is 14 Karate gold and very clear.

Nose - Very Pine. The pine isn't hitting you in spades, but it's definitely takes center stage imo. Very decent nose; I like it a lot. There's some citrus; mostly lemon; but mostly resin and pine. Cascade/Columbus hops?

Taste - Ok here's the deal. This has a very Pilsner taste to it. Alot like a Czech Pilzer i.e; Pislner Urquell or Lagunita's PILS. Yeah I know; I'm weird, but yeah, it definitely reminds me of a damn good Pilsner. But it does have that slight grapefruit, West Coast IPA taste. Wow... this is pretty darn good. Very smooth; no ethanol, no heat. Very good finish. The bitterness doesn't hit you over the head, it's really pleasant and goes very well with the malt. There is a really nice balance of sweetness and bitter; and the there's not strong bitter finish on the tongue. There's also some apricot, peach and pineapple. Hmm... awesome.

Wow... really like this beer a lot. This to me is right up there with Hop Stoopid. Will be keeping this in the fridge on a permanent basis!

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 19:06:35 | More by davidsumner

ZethOfTheNorth

Louisiana

4.15/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottled 4/23. $1.75 for the single.

A: Transparent and quite light for the style. Thin, unimpressive head, though it leaves behind nice lacing.

S: Lemon-lime, pine. Smells clean, sweet, and hoppy.

T: Very clean and straightforward early, then pine-dominated, and finally a citrus expansion late. Sweet. Very good.

M: A little less carbonation activity than I'd like.

O: DIPAs in an $11 6-pack are few and far between, and I can't think of another as quality as 2XIPA. Among the better bargain beers around, and along with Live, an expected staple this summer.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 13:16:09 | More by ZethOfTheNorth

kojevergas

California

3.39/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 fl oz brown glass bottle with elegantly simple label art and branded pressure cap acquired at a local bottle shop and served into a Uinta pilsner glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high; I've had very good beers from this brewery in the past and my good friend schlimenhaumer recommended this beer. 8.2% ABV confirmed. Identifies as a Double IPA; I'm reviewing it as such. "Brewed with 4 varieties of hops and 3 types of malts." I believe the cost was somewhere around $5-6.

Looking closely at the bottle, I find a bottle date I never saw before - 02/15/13; this is about 3.5 months old. According to Southern Tier's website, "The majority of our products, especially the hoppy styles, are intended to be consumed within six months for peak hop flavor and freshness." So per Southern Tier, this should be fine.

Served cold, straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a two finger head of beige to light khaki colour. Nice creaminess. Nice soft frothy complexion. Good thickness. No bubble show. Thin light lacing as the head recedes; unimpressive in this respect. Retention is pretty good - about four minutes. Not too shabby for 8.20%.

Body colour is a clear translucent vibrant yellow. No yeast particles are visible. Not as coppery as most Imperial IPAs I've seen.

Good appearance for the style overall. Looking forward to trying it.

Sm: Fresh clean malts balance the fragrant floral hops quite well. Lightly oily and nectary. The pale malts are evocative and crisp, reminiscent of a good pilsner actually. A bit of straw lends it a more refreshing aroma. Some sweeter caramalts enter in but don't come across as too sweet [insert obligatory Southern Tier sweetness joke here]. An even keeled aroma of above average strength. I love that no naked hop bitterness is detectable; it gives me hope the flavour profile will actually be balanced. No yeast character or alcohol is detectable.

T: It's got a nice caramel and lightly candied sweetness to it up front, but this grows problematic when the mouthfeel goes from smooth and wet up front to fizzy and coarse after the midpoint, drawing out the sweetness in an undesirable fashion. Hop character is varied, yet primarily floral. Light oily hops help lend needed multi-dimensional character on the climax, offering up something a bit different than the preceding flavours. The finish leaves you with a sweetness that lingers, which reduces the drinkability and my desire to take the next sip. Good carbonation. I'd prefer that it got coarse and dry on the finish to make the sweetness of the next sip more welcoming; that's a missed opportunity and one that would greatly improve the overall balance.

Speaking of balance, it's well executed in that regard. No naked hop bitterness comes through; it's pleasantly hoppy but not biting or rough on the palate. Fairly soft texture throughout keeps it approachable.

Not getting any alcohol heat here. Not at all boozy or hot. ABV isn't entirely unnoticeable, but it's quite well concealed.

What it lacks in complexity and subtlety it makes up for in drinkability and a pretty good balance. I like it, but there's definite room for improvement.

Good thickness. Good body.

Dr: A pretty drinkable imperial IPA for the ABV. I'd get it again, but the lack of complexity and the problematic sweetness do bring it down. A(nother) good but not great beer from Southern Tier. I wouldn't want more than a couple in any given night. It's more balanced than most of the imperial IPAs offered here on the West Coast, and that's a big plus for me.

B-

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 03:10:16 | More by kojevergas

LI_PO12

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle into Tulip (bottled on 1/31/2013)

Appearance- Gold, a little hazy, 1 finger white head

Aroma- Lots of pine, herbal notes, a little grassy, some citrus, nice light malt backbone, a little booze

Flavor- Bitter but balanced with a juicy sweetness, pine, herbal hops, maybe a little citrus, light malt, some alcohol

Mouthfeel- Medium full, smooth, a little alcohol warmth

Overall- This is a go to DIPA for me, This bottle is a little old and I have had this 1 week old and its awsome. Still very good now, an east coast DIPA for sure, and considering its price and availability its a great deal. There are way better doubles out there but as an affordable standard this is a great one.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2013 03:24:54 | More by LI_PO12

barnzy78

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle, "DOB 3/7/13" stamped on the bottle
Pours golden with stunning clarity, and has a frothy, white head that holds good retention. Both citric and caramely malt on the nose with some tropical notes to boot. Nice meld of juicy tropical hops, citric grapefruit, pine, bready malt, caramel, and honey on the palate. Mouth-feel is medium-full with nice carbonation. Overall, a solid DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 03:31:40 | More by barnzy78

Fusion_Pirate

Michigan

4.65/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Purchased from a local beer/liquor ship in a six-pack. I gave their standard India Pale Ale a "3 out of 5" a while back, so I honestly don't have huge expectations for this one!

A: Poured carefully into a chilled weisen glass, Southern Tier 2XIPA yielded a half-finger of bone-white head which quickly dissipated. Pretty good lacing and retention thereof. The beer itself is a fairly translucent, pale amber color. Elegant-looking, but nothing that knocks me out at first glance.

S: Gorgeous. Rich pine needles, citrus notes, banana bread, and caramel maltiness all hit the nose in a strong, yet balanced fashion.

T: The taste almost matches the olfactory preview, which is saying a lot! A strong, hoppy bitter front end, with a generous, warm malt finish. Very balanced, although some of the definition is lost in translation from smell to taste.

M: This beer is very smooth on the tongue, especially for a DIPA- it actually offers a smoother drink than many standard IPAs I've had, which is a testament to the balance of flavors and the moderate carbonation level. Almost dangerously effortless! haha

O: Definitely a winner. While you can't judge a book by its cover, it's too bad that the appearance is so unremarkable, especially when the imbibation process is ultimately so righteous! All in all, Southern Tier's got the right idea with their take on the American DIPA. My advice: Skip their underwhelming standard IPA and go straight for the 2X!

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 23:31:56 | More by Fusion_Pirate

Alextricity

Michigan

4.36/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottled 4/4/13 and poured into a shaker pint on 5/23/13. $2.19 bottle.

Appearance: Looks like a Miller Lite -- CRYSTAL clear yellow color. An aggressive pour gave me almost a fist full of white, fluffy and soapy head, but it ultimately went down to and stayed at about two. Ridiculously nice lacing.

Smell: Floral, spicy, earthy, delicious. Very West Coast-esque.

Taste/feel: Like the smell. Surprisingly, there's actually quite a bit of body to this. While I'd expect that from the style, this poured looking rather thin. A good bit of sweet, hoppy, resinous flavors on the front, and a super tasty bready flavor from the malt on the finish. There's also a slight grainy flavor during some sips that I'm not much used to in IIPAs, but I enjoy it. Well balanced, easy drinking, refreshing. Very "juicy" tasting, with just maybe a slight drying on the finish due to the bitterness. Excellent body, and perfect carbonation. One of the most easy-to-drink IIPAs that I've had... no alcohol in the aroma, taste, or feel. Tasty as all get out.

Smells great, tastes fantastic ... screams West Coast IIPA for me, and I think it tastes a bit like a sweeter Torpedo by Sierra Nevada, if I'm remembering that beer correctly. Mind is blown that this beer *only* has a 91 rating, because this is outstanding... everything about it is right. The appearance, the smell, the taste, the feel, and even the price, even though it's a bit more expensive than some other similar beers.

TRY THIS BEER.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 20:58:44 | More by Alextricity

magictacosinus

California

3.99/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks angrybabboon. Poured into a tulip glass from a 12oz bottle. Bottling date is "02/21/13." Consumed on 05/19/13. Review is from my notes.

Pours a surprisingly golden yellow color with slight amber-ish tones, but in a way that would easily mistake someone of this being a pilsner or something. The head is good, in a way that rises about 2-3 fingers high, but it eventually settles down and leaves a ring behind. Not too many bubbles, although pretty mellowed out for a beer this high in ABV. Definitely a very different look for beers of this style - but its clear, down-to-earth appearance is definitely winning me over.

The aroma is not as hoppy as I expected it to be - but the lack of resinous oils from the hops should have been a first indicator of what I was getting myself into. Light graininess with a touch of sweetness, and then there's a bit of pine, some citrus, apricots, definitely a lot of cider, but otherwise super pleasant and not stinging on the nostrils at all. It's pretty impressive how well hidden the alcohol is here, and while this does smell at all what I'd expect a DIPA to typically be, it's not anything offensive either. Simply a tad underwhelming.

The flavor is similar, but luckily a little bit more of a desired hop-focused character seeps through on the palate. This is very similar to Arctic Panzer Wolf only far more toned down - by that, I mean that there's a far more present grainy, crisp, and refreshing flavor, some butterscotch from the malts, and traces of dried pine needles, oranges, pineapple, and a bit of grapefruit. Not very astringent or explosive, but rather more even leveled - the crisp sensation adds a bit of charm to otherwise tame hop profile, and makes this particularly easy to drink. Over the course of consumption, I began to enjoy this more based on its balanced nature - in a way, it's almost like a dry hopped pale, but it's more than that. The extra alcohol adds consistency to the body, and the golden pale grains make this refreshing in midst of any dryness from the hops. Very, very drinkable, actually - this is still thickened enough, semi-wet, and fruity and dried at the finish to hold interest throughout.

It is so refreshing to see a DIPA that brings forth any nuances from the grains and malts like this one does! The hops are without a doubt a bit more subtle than I expected them to be, but their presence makes itself known throughout, with the solid grain backbone soon following. It's not necessarily the most complex DIPA on the block, but it's undeniably easy going and perfect for even the most casual settings. Not my favorite in the style, but definitely one that I can commend for its original recipe that breaks the mold for once.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 06:35:03 | More by magictacosinus

joshbrink

Alabama

4.04/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Serving type: 12 oz bottle poured into IPA glass

A: Lighter golden color. Lighter than I would have expected for this style. Still pretty to look at. One finger head, left small amount of lacing on the side of the glass.

S: Definitely can smell the hoppy content of the beer. Noticed the aroma well before I poured it. Very nice citrus and grapefruit aroma. Some floral notes as well.

T: Moderately bitter. Not quite as much bitterness as i was hoping for. Slightly mislead by the great aroma. Slight caramel taste to it. Definitely taste the citrus, fruity flavors, some grapefruit. Masked the higher abv quite nicely.

M: Generally good carbonation. Mouthfeel was not disappointing. Medium body.

O: A good beer, but with so many other rather outstanding IPAs out there, this one may not be one i will go back for on a regular occasion, but definitely glad i grabbed a sixer of it. For I will definitely want more than one glass.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 15:56:01 | More by joshbrink

HerdNo1

West Virginia

4.49/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Appearance: Slightly hazy golden color poured into a tulip glass. Most IPA's are more toward the amber side so this was a bit unexpected. A decent white head lingered and left fairly good laing

Aroma: Hops but not "knock your socks off" hops. Citrusy and pine notes dominate. There is just a touch of breadiness in the background but you have to really look for it.

Taste: Interesting intermingling of three things. The hops bitterness is both immediately apparent and it lingers at the end. At first, you don't find much malt sweetness but there is just a a bit and it fits in perfectly with what you got from the aroma. What is also going on in this beer is the alcohol. Unlike some DIPA's, the alcohol is not hidden in this beer and I think it serves to reduce what might be an otherwise undrinkable bitterness to a much more tolerable level.

Mouthfeel: Fairly light with medium carbonation but it lingers on the palate. I wouldn't say it has a sweet finish but it's definitely not dry.

Overall: This is a very nice DIPA. Too many are nothing but hops, hops, and more hops and so bitter they are simply intolerable. This has a nice intermingling of hops, a bit of malt, and some alcohol to compete with the hops. My only critique is that I would have liked a bit more hops on the nose.

BTW, if you pick up this beer, let it warm a bit. It is much more balanced and I find the malt asserting itself a bit more as the beer warms. I left it out of the fridge 30 minutes before I poured and it wouldn't have hurt to have left it out 10-15 more. Either it's getting better as it warms or I'm feeling the alcohol. :-)

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 01:09:09 | More by HerdNo1

karengarys

Indiana

3.16/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This pours rich clear yellow-gold with fairly large bubbles, minimal head.

Smells a bit off to me, skunk like, at least cold out of the bottle. Born less than 4 months ago and not in the light, but some beers just come off odd to me, my smeller picks up odd things. As it warmed it smelled better, floral and citrus, perhaps grapefruit.

taste is mostly hoppy - pine, and lemon peel. It has some sweet syrupy backbone I do enjoy, maple like but not really, and it is real subtle.

Mouthfeel isn't bad, the syrupy heft is nice and the bubbles provide a decent mouthfeel.

Overall, this is great if you are looking for over the top pine and hop. I guess if you are reaching for a 2xIPA that is what you are looking for. I just thought the type of bitter was a bit too sharp, not quite the aggressiveness I would be looking for. The odd nose put me off, but I was able to drink through that.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 22:13:16 | More by karengarys

heygeebee

Australia

3.09/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

From Jim's

Appearance - very light light for stlye - almost blonde/lagerish. Spotty lace.

Smell - Little. Bready malts. Slight hops.

Taste - Mango, Peach. Moderate hops. Little malt backbone.

Mouthfeel - lighty carbonated.

Overall - Strange beast, not a 2IPA or even close imho. Really lightweight, moderately hoppy, morwe like a Pale Ale than anything. Need a lot more than this for the ABV.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 07:40:13 | More by heygeebee

Treyliff

West Virginia

3.95/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A- pours a bright, slightly hazy golden-yellow with a small white head that reduces to leave a thin layer

S- lemon-grass with some piney hops, slightly soapy with some floral notes, grainy malt with just a bit if alcohol

T- pretty good balance for a DIPA, piney and floral hop flavors with some grainy-yet-sweet hop notes. The alcohol comes through on the finish and is quite sweet at the end

M- medium body with slightly syrupy mouthfeel, medium carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel with a bit if alcohol warmth at the end

O- more balanced than a typical DIPA and quite easy to drink, ABV is hidden pretty well, worth a try!

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 01:13:50 | More by Treyliff

johnnieoz

California

2.36/5  rDev -41.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25

12oz bottle from six-pack, DOB 3-27-13

Coming from California, I feel fortunate to be enjoying great local TX brews as well as favorites from back home and others less available in the West from the East. For example, Firestone Walker & Ballast Point just arrived in TX ,and just yesterday I enjoyed a fresh Double Jack & some Pale 31, both bottled in March 2013. So you'd think, this newcomer would be comparable, but...

A: As others have noted, this beer looks like like a bad lager. Unfortunately, this is the best part of this bottling. Average.

S: I'm getting nothing here - aromas are comparable to Session Lager or Edison, ie diplomatically low key and certainly not DIPA caliber. Corn?

T: Bitter does not a DIPA maketh. There are hops in there somewhere - "4 varieties of hops & 3 types of malts" per the box, but which ones? - A mess...

M: Nothing wrong here, but the lack of balance nearly makes it a drain pour.

O: I hope I'm reviewing a badly kept or sub-par batch of this beer. I've enjoyed other Southern Tier ales - inc Unearthly & Pumking while based in DC - but this is just not a good tasting brew.

The un-icing on the cake is the fact that Firestone's Pale 31 (opened for comparison) was not only tastier but hoppier. StArnoldFan (another TX BA who review this bottling) offers a second, equally unfavorable opinion. Southern Tier, please advise.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 01:39:15 | More by johnnieoz

KYGunner

Kentucky

4.15/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Very pale yellow with a lot of carbonation that feeds a fluffy white head. The appearance is cheap.

The scent is very lively with sweet fruity hops. Touches of piney floralness, the aroma is sweet with honey and orange.

I get honey on the tongue with sweet citrusy hops. Malty back bone and little bits of pine resin this is exceptionally easy to drink.

Overall, I very impressed with this IPA as it seems to fit in my preferences for the type.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 00:03:06 | More by KYGunner

StArnoldFan

Texas

3.61/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle from 6 pack dated 3/27/13

Well I have to start out by saying I was really excited to hear Southern Tier would be making its way to Texas. It's here, and 2x was my 1st 6 pack to pick up. I'll start out by saying I'm very disappointed. It pours a piss yellow with a finger of white head. Much more yellow than to be expected from a DIPA. It smells heavy of corn, not sure what is going on there?? The taste is alright but I've had so many DIPA's that put this to shame. This is my 1st offering from a new brewery that Texas now has distro to, and I hope there is better to follow.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 23:44:13 | More by StArnoldFan

tbryan5

Louisiana

4.39/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to griffeyb for sending me this one.

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter.

It pours a hazy almost amber color with a medium head that dissipates quickly leaving a nice amount of splotchy lacing. The bread and malts hit your nose up front and then the hops come through nicely after. It is not quite as hoppy as I expected since it is a IIPA but still damn good. A medium amount of carbonation with this guy. Overall, I really enjoyed this brew. If I could get it near me I would definitely pick up more.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 17:19:30 | More by tbryan5

acevenom

Louisiana

3.79/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a glass mug. The beer pours golden with a minimal white head and lots of visible tiny bubbles rising in the beer. There's a light aroma of hops. There's citrus and pine with some bready malt in the background. The taste absolutely follows the nose. The citrus and piney hops are forward with some sweetness and breadiness from the malt. It's very straightforward. The alcohol is also there in the flavor. The body is medium with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is pretty smooth and a bit sweet on the finish. This is a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 04:02:35 | More by acevenom

rangerred

Tennessee

3.63/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a clear darkish gold with a half finger white head that fades away rather quickly. Just a few splotches of foam left on top of the beer with a couple wisps of lacing.

Aroma of pine, some overripe citrus, and a little dankness. There is also a little caramel sneaking through that I can pick up. The aroma is quite weak overall and unimpressive.

The taste is also quite underwhelming. There is a lot of dankness along with overripe citrus, very similar to the aroma, and equally as weak. The hop flavors are really quite fleeting and are gone midway through the sip. Overripe citrus is present with a little light citrus lingering on faintly. Bitterness is only moderate but does do well hiding the alcohol. Mouthfeel is full with a slightly sticky finish.

Overall, I was a little disappointed by this brew. The hops are just way too weak and this was only a couple months past the bottling date. Boost the hop flavor and this beer would be worlds better.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 02:31:18 | More by rangerred

GoldHorde

Minnesota

2.89/5  rDev -28.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Before I wrote this review - I double checked the other reviews to make sure I was rating the same beer. My review here is NOT so much about the performance of this beer as the perceptions of the other reviewers. I am convinced the others who rated this beer do NOT know what a Double IPA is OR perhaps they have not had a good/great one. I am willing to be ravaged here - if you slay me wrong.

After all, it was labeled as a 2X-IPA. Maybe it spoiled in the bottle BUT this beer falls CLEARLY into the Belgian Ale category. It's sour notes have no place in the IPA category - everything about it screams "Belgian Ale!". As I did take a Silver Medal in competition against 400+ others in the Belgian Ale style - I should be allowed a sharp opinion here.

I would give this beer a MUCH HIGHER rating if it were listed as a Belgian Ale. However, I purchased it because I am a hophead - preferring strong snorts of IPA's and 2xIPA's.

POUR/APPEARANCE: Clear gold.
AROMA: Sour musk.
HEAD: One finger fading.
FLAVOR: Sour malt and heavy malty aftertaste

Absolutely nothing wrong with this beer - if you are after a great Belgian Ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 06:01:40 | More by GoldHorde

JaredM

New York

3.98/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Super clear, golden straw yellow color. Almost looks like a macro. Good carbonation. Doesn't look like a lot of double IPAs and I'm a bit turned off the look.

S: Dank, citrus hop smell with a bit of pine going on. Smells a lot better than it looks.

T: Tastes just like it smells. More of the pine comes through on the taste rather than the smell. Has a syrupy quality from the hop resins and the sweetness from the malt comes in near the end but it's ultimately capped off with hop bitterness. Pretty refreshing though can start to get some of the booziness after a few sips.

M: Medium bodied. I could see this getting more syrupy as it warms up. I'm drinking it straight out of the fridge.

O: Was bottled on 3/7/13 so pretty fresh. I'll be honest, I don't like this nearly as much as their regular IPA. I would pick up the IPA over the 2XIPA if they were next to each other. I'd also note that this would probably be best not as your first beer of the night but maybe your 2nd or 3rd.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 00:33:10 | More by JaredM