2XIPA - Southern Tier Brewing Company

fauxpunker

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle

A: Poured gold with a short, white head. Retains thin, lacey head throughout. Very clear.
S: Citrus and grass. Even a little hay. Kinda earthy. Assertive, but not overpowering.
T: The aromas carry directly over into the taste. Good balance between them. Bitterness is moderate despite the strength. Tasted a hint of breadiiness on the finish that I liked.
M: Moderately full thanks to carbonation. Nice and clean. Dry but easy drinking. Warmed me up a bit after a couple sips.
O: Great beer. Not as overwhelming as it could have been. Nicely balanced and plenty enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 18:39:06 | More by fauxpunker

danreitz

3.9/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served from a bottle into a Mason jar. Pours a clear gold with a foamy head that dissipates after about a minute. Citrusy, slightly maltier aroma than some IPAs. Full, balanced flavor; bright and hoppy with a subtle malt sweetness and a sharp, noticeably alcoholic aftertaste. The taste gets thicker and less alcoholic as it warms. I just finished the bottle, and my head is starting to feel a little fuzzy.

Overall: This is a very good double IPA that tastes like a thick, balanced single IPA. I enjoyed this beer from start to finish. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 22:47:30 | More by danreitz

FLhopLOVER

3.95/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- This is a filtered beers is very weird, it's definitely strong yellowish color. And you could pass for a lighter beer. If you put his beer next to Stella you may not be able to pick which ones the DBL IPA is which one's not

S- As with many double and Imperial IPAs, smell appears to be lighter and a bit more sweet. However, It is enjoyable

T- Overall very well balanced, got a little bit of forward, and then a nice middle ground with just enough of a hop bite by the end so that you know you drinking an imperial idea

M-Mouth feel is where I believe this beer really shines it's got a really nice balance, the kind of beer can you drink without wondering whether you were drinking malt or hops just very nice rich smooth mouthfeel.

Overall- As a whole this beer is a very nice Imperial IPA… I personally would rank this in my top 15 across United States at this point. Definitely recommend you try it

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 22:46:58 | More by FLhopLOVER

tviz33

New York

3.93/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle served in to a standard pint glass

A- A fairly aggressive pour brings out a single finger head covering a light orange/gold body. Minimal lacing and rising carbonation.

S- Lots and lots of pine. Smells like a Christmas tree. A tiny bit of grapefruit, but this one is really all pine on the nose.

T- Really bitter hops hit me first. Everything else follows the nose to a T. I get a little bit of malt, but it's not quite enough to balance it. The taste is far from bad, but there is something that is slightly off-putting. Perhaps it is the relationship between the sweet and bitter tastes.

M- Leaning towards the thin side, but with a moderate amount of carbonation. Finishes quickly and crisply.

O- Not my favorite representation of the style, but it's the best I can do in this little college town of Alfred.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 03:34:05 | More by tviz33

flexabull

California

3.68/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From notes, purchased from the Growler Station in NYC, drank later that night.

Pours a hazy gold color, pretty clear with a decent white head.

Aromas are grapefruit, resin, and lemon.

Taste is just like the nose, hoppy, bitter with some grapefruit, resin, and resiny hops, also kind of dusty.  Finish is crisp, lightly sweet with some crystal malt flavors.  

Mouthfeel is smooth and full bodied.

Overall, a pretty good DIPA, not quite up to top notch standards, but still good.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 23:13:55 | More by flexabull

jucifer1818

Florida

4.8/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Clearness, but a nice slightly darker color for an IPA
smell: brilliant clean hoppy smell
Taste: Amazing. It has a strong hoppy character, but its not jarring, ripping, or brutal. its like being hit on the tongue like a velvet wrapped hammer.
Mouthfeel: full malty backbone for a IPa, yet still to style. Excellent

To me this is a perfect double IPA. It just works on all levels and is so good that even a malt loving person like myself can enjoy its flavors.
If you see it, get it. Its a great beer for a great price.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 19:25:16 | More by jucifer1818

DrinkMoreBigBeers

Michigan

3.85/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This one has a bottle date on it 8/23/12.

A - pours out a clear light golden yellow, with a white head of a fingers height which died off relatively fast. Average lacing on this one. Head died to nothing after a few minutes. Looks like a typical IPA.

S - I get a nice dose of crisp clean smelling hops that provide a light sweet citrus (orange), mango and pine aroma with a nice caramel malt back on it. Not very strong on its nose but pleasant none the less.

T - This beer comes off nice clean and crisp with some pine, grass, orange citrus, and some pineapple sweetness. It is relatively balanced at this point with a caramel back on it. Cannot detect the alcohol besides on the back end which cleans off your palate and dries it out. Only complaint is a slight metallic flavor on the aftertaste. Hops do not build on your palate so you get to taste and enjoy them after each sip.

M - The beer is nice and soft on the palate with a medium light mouth feel all followed by a nice dose of carbonation. This beer slides down really easy and makes you want more. All I can say is crisp.

O - I really enjoy the way this beer drinks for a Double IPA, definitely not extreme for the style but really clean, crisp, and pleasant for a beer coming in at 8.2%. Nothing to complain about here just a really good easy drinking beer. I could put a few of these back for sure. Will buy again. Well done, cheers!

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 22:11:14 | More by DrinkMoreBigBeers

Theheroguy

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Its always nice to discover a great beer from a new brewery.

Thin white persistent head. Light copper in color.

The smell of this beer is pretty mild but it is rather pleasant with hop and grain notes. It definitely smells like an east coast IPA but it isn't a robust aroma.

The taste is exceptional, very well balanced, perhaps too balanced for a DIPA. One would expect the hops to outweigh the malt in a beer like this but they are evenly matched. This beer is well carbonated and has an excellent finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 22:34:21 | More by Theheroguy

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into standard pint glass, color is transparent gold, head is off white presenting pretty thin with not much lacing.

Smell is all big pine hops with light grapefruit intermingled, feint toasted or light pale malt noted as well.

Taste is dominated by the big hop flavors, mostly pine upfront, then grapefruit and lemon in the tail end; malt flavors are backing up mainly in the form of light clean malt, maybe a note of toastiness

mouthfeel is just right for an ipa, just enough mixed malt to balance hopiness.

Overall, great well balanced ipa, not too sweet and very hop forward.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 23:30:45 | More by mvanaskie13

mpedara429

Massachusetts

2.6/5  rDev -36.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

A: Burnt orange in color with two fingers of off white head with little retention. Thick sticky lacing all the way around the glass.

S: A strong smell of pine and sweet malt. Subtle notes of orange and pineapple.

T: Bitter hops up front followed by everything that was in the smell. Really sweet and malty. There is some sort of disconnect where the hoppiness and sweetness don't balance each other out and are like two separate entities in the beer.

M: Light carbonation in a light body for a DIPA. It doesn't really stick to the mouth at all either.

O: It is is probably the lightest DIPA I've had. Truthfully, I liked the idea of the light mouthfeel because it is unique for a DIPA. It wouldn't be all that bad except that it lacks the overall taste of a big DIPA. Besides the ABV, this actually tastes like it is somewhere between a pale ale and a single IPA that is really sweet. I'm not likely going to be drinking this one again.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 06:38:09 | More by mpedara429

BasterdInABasket

Wisconsin

3.48/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle poured into Samuel Adam's Perfect Pint Glass
A- Pours a Slightly Hazy Golden/Yellow color,white one fingers width head, not a whole lot of lacing retention
S- Citrus, hops, a little malty sweetness, nothing spectacular
T- Similar to the nose, get some lemon and resinous pine too, nothing really jumps out
M- For a Double IPA, very crisp, dry and a little thin, but very drinkable for the style
It has the ABV of a Double IPA but reminded me more of a Single IPA, a nice beer decent price but nothing really wowed me other than the drinkability

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 04:40:37 | More by BasterdInABasket

mgironta

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This brew poured with a one finger, thick off white head that shockingly dissipated really quickly and left no lacing on the glass. The body was a clear amber color with very light carbonation. The body was a clear amber color with very light carbonation. The nose on this brew was strong and absolutely lovely, marked with strong grapefruit and a bit of booze. The taste wasn’t quite as nice. The strong grapefruit that was in the nose didn’t come through as much in the taste. There was a definite bitterness to it, but was quickly followed up by a metallic flavor and some malt that really wasn’t in balance with the brew. The body was on the medium side and carbonation was very low. The finish was long and I just couldn’t get the nasty metallic taste out of my mouth. I have to say, given the nose, this beer was a big disappointment. I could go on and on listing the other brews of this style that were better. I wouldn’t have this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 18:37:16 | More by mgironta

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.08/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours out looking lighter than expected, gold to yellow in appearance, .5" head on it, white in color, lacing not spectacular, but adequate. Aroma, lays some Simcoe down, but really not aromatic, pungent or anything special. Couldn't even tell if it was dry hopped at all.

Taste, again, decent, hides alcohol well, but the hops didn't really lend much in the way of flavor, just some bitterness. I liked the minimal malt bill, didn't get in the way, and still the hops just didn't really lend anything to the flavor, just the bitterness.

It finishes kind of dry, but its really ho hum. Easy enough to drink, and no aspect of it fails, but for being a Southern Tier beer, I had way higher expectations. I have no idea how old the bottles were since it was acquired in a trade, so I would revisit, but ultimately, its not my fault the brewery doesn't bottle date.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 18:22:32 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Froggy52

4.2/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is my second case of this beer and I'll continue to purchase as long as I can get a recent freshness date. This case was marked two weeks ago, and has outstanding taste and mouthfeel as long as your sample is fresh. It doesn't seem to hold up so well over time.

Citrus and caramel notes on the front end. Hop is muted but definitely there. Nice head and lacing if not served too cold. There is a smooth drinkability here which is lacking in some doubles. Amazing under-the-radar alcohol taste, almost hard to discern. A wonderful choice with strong cheese or after some yard work.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 17:52:15 | More by Froggy52

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Rattle N Hum in New York, NY

A: Pours a dark golden yellow to light copper in color with moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a finger tall dense off-white head that slowly reduces to a thick film covering the entire surface of the beer with a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate to significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of citrus/grapefruit and pine/resin hops along with a very light note of sweet malts.

T: There is a very light amount of caramel malt sweetness with moderate flavors of citrus/grapefruit and pine/resin hops - but the hop flavors are not very aggressive. Very light hop bitterness.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Crisp.

O: Easier to drink than a lot of other beers in the style, but the hop profile of this beer is not as aggressive as the other examples of the style. The alcohol is this beer is well hidden but I would probably classify it as more of a 1.5 IPA (not quite a double). Enjoyable but not a real special beer for the style (which is one of my favorites).

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2012 02:28:15 | More by dbrauneis

BradenMK

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Poured into a 20oz mug, 2XIPA shared its yellow-gold color with all of the mainstream American lagers out there. However, it did drum up a good finger to finger and a half of white head (depending on pour) and had an above average amount of retention. Though not much in the way of quality lacing. About average I'd say.

Smell: This was nice. A bit of a sauteed onion character that quickly fades into grassy/herbal hops, and a strong resiny pine note. Sweet malts lurk at the edges of hop astringency and pop out more and more fiercely as the beer warms.

Taste: Follows the nose. You get what you paid for, what was advertized. The hop character dominates here a little more strongly than other double IPAs perhaps, but not overwhelmingly like it can with standard IPAs. The malt backbone may be a bit less pronounced here, but its sweetness helps to cut into the hop bitterness and combines deliciously with the resinous pine.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, maybe a little on the light side, but in a good way for the flavors presented. The light feel combined with the light malt only helps to give the malt that is there a better vehicle to keep up with the aggressive hops. Creamy without being sticky or chewy.

Overall: Compared to Sixpoint's Resin, Southern Tier's 2XIPA doesn't quite measure up. Resin has a much better smell and taste, but both have a comparable mouthfeel. That's not to say that 2XIPA isn't a great beer. On the other hand, Southern Tier's 2XIPA is much easier to drink - which is saying a lot, because even at 9.1% abv, Resin is an easy drinker. I could even call 2XIPA a sessionable beer, and at 8.2% abv that's quite an accomplishment. A very fine beer that I'm glad to have finally tried.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 01:30:57 | More by BradenMK

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.5/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Shout out to bth86, thanx for the trade:

In my snifter:

A: hazy golden yellow/orange colored body that gave a one finger white head that dissipated within thirty seconds. Some slight spider web lacing was left.

S: citrus up front with the pine and the hops coming in strong but slightly in the background.

T: hops combining with the pine and the malts subtlely.

M: medium with nothing harsh on the tongue, however, I did sense a certain blandness that kinda bothered me in the aftertaste and finish.

O: well, personally, I think this was just an average double IPA. I'd probably seek other double IPA's before this.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 02:04:39 | More by kangarooAdam59

Rizalini

Nevada

3.9/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle, bottled on 08/01/12, and poured into a plastic cup...

A - Pours a hazy golden yellow color, with 1 finger of white head that dissipates rather quickly.

S - Earthy hop aroma. Pineapples and maybe a little hint of grapefruit as well

T/M - The taste reveals more of a bitter hop than a citrus hop. Nice caramel malt backbone. Very smooth and drinkable. Nice resinous aftertaste that I look for in a good IPA. Medium mouthfeel, good carbonation.

O - I don't think I've had a bad Southern Tier brew, and this is no exception. The more I sip this one, and let it warm up, the more I like it.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 06:11:08 | More by Rizalini

StJamesGate

New York

4.05/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Amber-tinged sunshine with a creamy white head that fades to clumps and eagerly rimming crust that leaves big sheets. Nose is lots of pale citrus and melon with angel food cake underneath.
Saltines, peach melba and maybe some peanut, then hops hit with big grapefruit, both white and pink, and some nettle.
Saltwater taffy finish and intense waves of lingering bitterness. Light to medium, soft, creamy but crisp.

Another odd case (Victory and Speakeasy also come to mind) of the DIPA in a range being paler and lighter than the IPA. IBUs are pronounced but there's a lightness of touch that makes this far more drinkable than its "little" brother. Top shelf everyday DIPA that justifies 3T's reputation.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 20:34:15 | More by StJamesGate

kemoarps

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

It's a pretty honey amber, with a decent head. Minimal retention and no lacing.

The nose is somewhat citric, but with a floral backdrop. Somewhat weak.

The beer transitions from a primary hop infusion mellowing to a golden honey as it warms.

Good carbonation level and compliments itself extremely well. Approaching one of my favourites in the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 02:30:26 | More by kemoarps

gcamparone

Rhode Island

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

A- deep gold in color, high clarity. Medium head that quickly went down. Medium heavy lacing

S- lime, citrus, floral aroma with some malt

T- a nicely rounded malt and hop balance. Not overwhelming

M- low carbonation. Smooth

Overall, a decent ipa.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 03:05:19 | More by gcamparone

tlazaroff

Virginia

3.8/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On the nose I get some nice citrus lime, orange, papaya, and a touch of pine sap.

Golden yellow in color and perfectly clear with a nice crisp white head that unfortunately falls into the beer rather quickly, but leave some pretty lacing in it's wake.

2xIPA is biscuity with layers of juicy hop profiles on top of it. Lime, tangerine, and tamarind are all flavors I pick up here. It has body on the lighter side of medium and medium carbonation to match. Bitterness is firm, but not overbearing and long lasting as well. Quite tasty, this is a nice staple year-round to have.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 23:15:46 | More by tlazaroff

BudWizeMan

Florida

3.4/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The only thing I can say about this beer is that it definitely did not seem like a Double IPA.The hop flavors and aromas were not nearly potent enough.It possessed a sweetness that let you know it is not a single IPA,yet did not taste overly malty nor was body too heavy.It's flavors were pleasant,hop character quite restrained for a double IPA though.Would like to give it another shot in the future,worth trying again.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 08:56:21 | More by BudWizeMan

godlessape

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This one pours a clear light amber with plenty of visible carbonation, and a half finger head that settles down within a few minutes to a bare skim.
The aroma comes with subtle herbal, floral and citrus notes, mixed with a slight brown sugary, caramel base accompanied with a hint of alcohol.
The taste follows the nose in every way. Nothing too sweet and nothing too bitter. This contains a subdued balance that I wasn't expecting from a DIPA.
The mouthfeel is thin to medium in carbonation.
Overall this is a decent brew that I hope to try out on tap some day.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 02:19:32 | More by godlessape

BulletToothJake

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I picked up a case of this to try and was so impressed that I got a sixtol of it for my kegerator when I was done with the case. After the sixtol was done, I grabbed another case so I would have some on hand while I moved on to some other brews.

Clean, crisp, strong.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2012 15:56:56 | More by BulletToothJake