2XIPA - Southern Tier Brewing Company

thedoubler55

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- A nice clear amber base, with a slight head and bits of lacing around the glass as the head dissappears

S- Distinct hint of citrus hops with apricots and peaches at the tail end

T- Very bitter with first sip, as it warms up it gets better, very orangey taste and some hints of pineapple as well

M- Thick Mouthfeel

D-This is not a beer I would try again, I was expecting A lot from southern tier with this beer, it was kind of a let down as far as taste and drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2010 18:31:03 | More by thedoubler55

GehenHerzog

North Carolina

4.68/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured out of a growler (From Grapevine in Fort Mill, SC) into a Delirium Tremens snifter.

A- Light, Orange appearance. Small but dense, white head.

S- A very pleasant smelling beer that just invites you to drink it. I am smelling heavy citrus and slightly piny hops.

T- Extremely hoppy beer. Again strong citrus hops. The taste is very much like the smell.

M- The mouthfull is medium bodied with low to medium carbonation. Very fitting.

D- Definitely doesn't drink like an 8.2% alcohol beer. A very sessionable beer for a Double IPA.

Serving type: growler

12-24-2010 01:46:26 | More by GehenHerzog

prdstmnky

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

*review from notes Oct. 2010*

First pour from a 1L growler, a cloudy golden amber body and a nice 2 finger layer of white head on top leaving spotty lacing. Lots of great hop aromas with this DIPA - floral / citrus / pine are all represented in the nose. Very hoppy on the tongue, grapefruit and pine upfront, a touch of sweet malts in the middle, and a nice bitter finish. Since this DIPA is on the lower end of the ABV scale for the style, it seems they are less prevalent, which I really like. Medium body and carbonation, and very drinkable for the style.

I said that there may be less of a malt bill for this particular Imperial IPA, given the ABV %, however, this can quickly become quite the malt bomb. I like my DIPAs very fresh, but this seems to fade very quickly. I find freshness is paramount with this beer, and since they don't bottle date, that becomes quite difficult to determine when purchasing by the bottle. Ive had this beer in various stages - when it is fresh, whether on tap or from a bottle, it is a helluva beer (as this review represents).

Serving type: growler

12-19-2010 04:07:29 | More by prdstmnky

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at my boy Lackeys place.

Pours a clear yellowish golden, nice and bright, thick and tight white head forms, slowly settles to a thin ring around the glass, some lace spots stick, looks nice.

Smell is solid, some caramel sweetness, a touch of biscuit, big floral hops, a touch of grapefruit and pineapple, light pine, some alcohol, light orange peel, nice balance.

Taste is similar, sweet and malty up front, caramel, biscuit, nicely hopped, big floral, some grapefruit and pine, light pineapple and a touch resiny, solid bitter finish, well balanced.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low to medium carbonation, a bit of warmth going down. Nothing fancy but a solid DIPA. Thanks Mike!

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2010 23:47:38 | More by Viggo

Hojaminbag

Colorado

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2XIPA definitely has the look that a IIPA is going for. The body is light copper in color with a good amount of active carbonation bubbles. The white head is creamy with great retention; it blankets my glass with lace.

The aroma has mostly juicy hops, with loads of fruit and some resin.

2XIPA tastes really good. A solid bitterness from the hops is dwarfed by hop flavor. A plethora of fruit and citrus flavors that are sweet, bitter, and juicy all at the same time attack the palate. Underneath the fruit from the hops a hint of fruity ale yeast can be found. The malt stays in the background, adding just a little bit of sweetness and allowing the hops to go to work.

I like the dry finish on 2XIPA, which I would guess comes from a lower malt base that doesn't leave a bunch of residual sugars hanging around.

Very drinkable and very reasonably priced, I will be having this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2010 23:14:09 | More by Hojaminbag

Seanibus

California

3.25/5  rDev -20%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a clear golden with a lively white bubbly head. The aroma is sweet and super hoppy - citrus and pine. Very grapefruity. The flavor is typical hopbomb - grapefruity and sweet, though there is a strange watery thinness in the middle that is unsatisfying. The bitterness on the end is slight. The mouthfeel is weirdly thin and watery, though there is some sharp stingy bitterness deep in the throat.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2010 00:05:19 | More by Seanibus

chinchill

South Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

20 oz pint from tap
Brewer says this is "Not quite an imperial, but certainly not a standard India pale ale."

A - Clear, golden amber. Creamy, off-white head; coats sides of glass and has good retention

S - Weedy/herbal but clean and fresh hops. Hops. More hops.

T - somewhat complex with barley malt (?) evident. Intense hop shot with piney/orange/grapefruit hop finish that includes some maltiness.

M - smooth; good carbonation

D - too hoppy and bitter for high volume consumption, but then this is a beer to be savored slowly.
For hop lovers only. Like drinking the essence of fresh hops, magically made quite palatable.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2010 04:29:52 | More by chinchill

gopens44

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - beautiful thick frothy head taking space above a perfectly golden brew. Crystal clear.

S - very vibrant floral presence with a rich hoppy malt smell

T - much like the nose, the taste is rich with hops and dandelion type floral happiness. A touch of sweetness in the background balances the bitter.

M - medium to well carbonated yet silky and pleasant. Little bit of aftertaste, but not overwhelming.

I would take this over 90 Minute (90 Minute is great, but this is a touch better). Very drinkable, and the high ABV is not an issue at all. You only notice the warmth a little while after drinking it.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2010 22:18:25 | More by gopens44

greenmonstah

New Hampshire

4.18/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into straight pint glass from 12 oz bottle, a few weeks old. Revised review based on fresh growler pour.

A - Pours a clear light gold with a very thin, wispy head. Almost no head at all after a few moments. Lacing is good.

S - A floral bouquet, as well as pine. Even some sweet citrus hop in the background. A great display of the various hop aromas. Some caramel malt sweetness

T - Sweetness and caramel malts up front with a nicely balanced (mostly piney, but with a hint of citrus) hop finish. The citrus comes out more as it warms, turning into a strong grapefruit flavor. Delicious.

F - Slippery with some decent carbonation and a medium body.

D - Extremely drinkable, alcohol is well hidden and the hops are not overbearing. One of the most drinkable double IPA I've had. I can have this every day. The body is a bit off, but it tastes brilliant.

O - Overall one of my favorite DIPAs, despite the score perhaps not being super high. Taste and drinkability combine to make this exceptional. This is a beer that, if I see it on your draft list, I will absolutely have at least one in the night.

Serving type: growler

10-15-2010 19:31:26 | More by greenmonstah

SkunkWorks

New York

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap October 9, 2010 at Bobbique in Patchogue, NY. Served in a pint glass.

Look: slightly hazy, slightly orange with a decent egg shelled colored head and some lacing.

Smell: lots of floral and citrus hops.

Taste: follows the nose nicely. Lots of citrus hop flavors and some malt in the finish. I didn't taste the alcohol at all. Its not as intensely hopped as you would expect from a DIPA.

Feel: very crisp and refreshing. Medium bodied and just the right amount of carbonation.

Drink: very easy drinking. I could drink a few of these in a sitting!

Overall, its a solid beer. Aside from the ABV though it doesn't feel like a DIPA so you might be disappointed if you're craving something disgustingly bitter. Its still worth a try and I recommend you give it one.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2010 15:28:14 | More by SkunkWorks

ToasterChef

Maine

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from my notes. The beer has a golden orange color and a white foam head. Within the liquid I can see a a few clumps of bubbles clinging to the sides of my glass, as well as a lot of rising streams of carbonation. After a short while, this tapers off to just a few bubbles making their way upward. The aroma features some warm pine hops and some malt in the back. The flavor has a good hop presence that is better but not excessive. Before the hops kick in, I can taste some pale malts. Hop oils and warm alcohol are on display in the finish and linger on. It's a full bodied beer with plenty of carbonation and bitter flavors to feel on my tongue. There is some coating, but it isn't very sticky. It is very drinkable though, considering the style. I could handle a 12oz bottle or two of this in an evening. I wouldn't want much more than that, but I certainly wouldn't be opposed to another pair the next day, after my pallet recovered.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2010 12:05:01 | More by ToasterChef

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Capone's last Saturday.

Pours a light gold bordering on yellow. Nice white head in the tulip and large amounts of lacing as it makes its way down. Promising start but the nose is a big letdown. With a name like 2XIPA, I'm expecting something big and bold. This brings a bit of citrus and grass, but nothing over the top. Taste is the same, although the bitterness levels are pretty high. Not much malt and very little actual hop flavor apart from the bitterness; not sire what they were going for here. Mouthfeel is dry and slightly alcoholic. Good drinkability as I like me some resin with my lunch, but nothig spectacular.

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2010 12:18:35 | More by Thorpe429

thain709

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A bright, golden kissed, copper body...a creamy, two finger, white head which showed decent retention...good lacing

S - A big, West Coast nose...with lots of citrus (grapefruit, mango, orange)...malt provides a strong backbone

T - The taste is a little subdued from the nose...upon first sip your mouth is filled with all the citrus flavors and I think this is going to be a great beer...after following sips the citrus really subsided and the malt takes over more...don't get me wrong the hops are still there...they are sweet upfront and finish bitter...the malt is a nice balance

M - Medium bodied...the carbonation was spot on...no alcohol...dry

D - I enjoyed this IIPA from Southern Tier and I'm happy to see they put one in 12 oz. bottles...this is an affordable IIPA that isn't bad to have around

Serving type: on-tap

09-21-2010 10:54:43 | More by thain709

garuda

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Mostly clear golden orange with a thin white head that has little retention, but good lacing.

S - Big pine hops up front, and some more citrusy, orange peel hops on the back.

T - Citrusy hops, sweet malt undertones, and resinous pine hops in the finish.

M - Medium body, maybe a little thin, but has ample carbonation, sticky mouthfeel, with a nice dry finish. Not very harsh at all from the hops, with little lingering pine bitterness.

D - Very drinkable, with the hops offering a lot of taste with very little harshness on the palate. Nice balance of sweet caramelly malts.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2010 22:46:57 | More by garuda

glid02

Georgia

4.43/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Porter Beer Bar in Atlanta.

Pours a light copper color with a one-finger white head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of pale malts with large amounts of bright tropical fruit and citrus hop aromas. As it warms slight amounts of herbal hops waft out as well.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Crisp pale malt flavors kick things off and are joined shortly by large amounts of citrus and tropical fruit hop flavors. Midway through the sip the hop flavors turn toward the sweeter side of things just a bit, carrying through to a solidly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with smooth carbonation.

Drinkability is very good. I finished my glass quickly and could easily have a few more.

Overall I was pleasantly surprised by this beer, although admittedly I shouldn't be as almost all of ST's big beers are top notch. A very good but not quite world class DIPA that's well worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2010 00:37:54 | More by glid02

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a bright golden-orange color with two fingers of foamy white head.

There is not much in the way of a scent, really only faint hops.

The taste was dominated by dry bitter hops. There was a little citrus in the aftertaste.

Light bodied, smooth and crisp, perfect carb.

Though this was a drinkable beer, I thought it was lacking the flavor and aroma for an IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2010 17:59:38 | More by BeerCon5

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clean yellow color with orange hints, with a white head. In the aroma, grapefruity citrus hops. In the taste, HOPS, mostly a grapefruity citrus but ending with a pine like hop. A smooth and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry pine like hop aftertaste. Nice big hops, mix of grapefruit and pine. Hides the 8%, and quite nice.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2010 14:18:44 | More by OWSLEY069

Manoftyr

New York

4.05/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance-Pours a light amber/gold into the glass, a very, very beautiful color I should say. A fluffy white head rises and slowly recedes back down leaving some very sticky lace, a solid ring and a wisp of fluff on the top. Looks good.

Aroma-Crisp, typical hoppy nose accompanied by some biscuity light malts, more so than I typical find in IPAs/DIPAs but, fortunately, I'm rather a fan of the more balanced DIPAs.

Taste-Follows the nose, same crisp, piney hoppiness followed by some lightly sweet biscuit malt; straightforward and yummy.

Mouthfeel-Could be a bit more plush, a bit thin for my liking.

Drinkability-Sure, I could knock back a sixer of these; it's on the drinkable side for sure.

Serving type: growler

08-07-2010 00:17:17 | More by Manoftyr

zoso1967

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer arrives at my table your standard IPA medium amber color with a very attractive and sticky looking head that leaves excellent lace on the sides of the glass. The aroma is wonderful. Pine, grapefruit and just enough malt sweetness to bring out the fruity notes. Exactly what I am looking for in a double. I take a sip and am immediately impressed. Plenty of bitter grapefruit, pine, citrus pith and lemon zest assault my tongue. There is a nice spice character in there as well that really brightens up the flavors. There seems to be a major bitter component going on here, but an ample amount of pale biscuity malt is there to hold it all up. Very balanced, yet still doing a great job of showcasing the hops. Medium bodied with a great, dry finish and ample carbonation. 2X goes down very easily, which is good news because it is not only delicious, but fairly affordable as well.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2010 22:48:03 | More by zoso1967

dandrews74

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - This beer poured like a double IPA - thin due to the higher % alcohol. Most of the opaqueness was filtered out and it had an off-white head with average sustainability. It had a nice golden honey color and average carbonation.

Smell - This is where this beer hits a home run! Hops, hops and more hops. Citrus (grapefruit, lime/orange zest), with hints of earthy/grassy and floral undertones...this is what most IPA/2IPA beers strive to deliver. One of my favorites.

Taste - The beer's flavors are similar to the nose but with a touch of sweetness. Great balance for a all you hop lovers. A well balanced and a very delicious 2(X)IPA.

Mouthfeel/ Drinkability - It drinks more like an IPA...Easier than most doubles. A bit thiner, and touch more carbonation than expected make this a very enjoyable beer. Would I buy again? I just bought a case!!!

Other - Serve in a tulip or snifter to really enjoy the hops aroma and serve at the temperature you prefer a pale ale or standard IPA (a few degrees cooler than a thicker, heartier 2IPA) for maximum enjoyment.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2010 02:19:44 | More by dandrews74

Chico1985

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Sierra Grille, been wanting to try this.

Poured hazy golden orange with a 2-finger or so white head. Retains pretty well, ends up a cap and leaves some lacing.

Nice fruity IPA smell. Citrus, lemon, some tropical notes, floral hops with a nice malt backbone.

Taste doesn't quite match up to the smell (how many times has this happened in IPAs..) but it is good. The citrus is still there, the rest is replaced mostly with piny hops, the malt and hops are balanced nicely. Alcohol is well-hidden.

A surprisingly balanced offer from Southern Tier. A tasty easy-drinking double ipa.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2010 15:29:10 | More by Chico1985

wedge421

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-Crystal clear with a very light orange body. About a fingers worth of head that dissipated quickly.

S- A huge hit of sweet floral citrus hops. A very fresh smelling beer. Up there with the best of the west coast IPA's. There is also a small amount of malt in there as well.

T-Bright, clean and very very refreshing. Lots of citrus and sweet fruits as well. Just enough bitterness to make it interesting but not overwhelming. A very drinkable beer.

D-This is a very very refreshing drinkable beer. Huge hop notes blended well with the sweet malt backbone a very good beer.

Serving type: growler

07-16-2010 21:42:55 | More by wedge421

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On-Tap at Whole Foods in a pint glass. Glad to find this as is besides a oldish bottle.

Southern Tier 2XIPA pours out a bright golden yellow color but surprisingly not even a little foam on top, just some miniscule bubbles, so no lace. Pretty still beer but a nice shade to it.

Smells malty and screams East Coast. There is a small portion of grapefruit and other tropics but that sweet malt overshadows anything there. A small amount of alcohol though. For what it's worth there is no grassy scents.

And it goes to show that the east does not compare in this category. This is malt forward with some sweet bubblegum and sweet bready malt. Mixed in some tropics, grapefruit, slight orange. A bit of alc in the end and a lingering sweetness.

Not all that bitter, in fact it's not bitter at all. I need some bite here. A big medium body that lightly coats and stings on the end with the alc. I figured this would have some edge off the tap, naw pretty tame.

Glad I tried this off the tap than risking a bottle. It's far from my least favorite DIPA (stoudt's DIPA) but it's not in the same league as others. With so many choices in this category I can say Im starting to really notice the lacking ones here and there.

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2010 02:15:12 | More by onix1agr

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Draft from Fathead's.

A-pours a slightly haze light orangish amber with a tiny bit of pure white head.

S-the nose is quite hoppy with little malt, but present. lightly toasted malt, tons of pine with notes of citrus hops, grapefruits and tangerine.

T-the taste is bigger than the nose, lightly toasted malt makes a small presence, the pine is strong with a light citrus hop flavor in the back with tastes of grapefruits and tangerine. the finish is moderately bitter lingering for a moment.

M-smooth and syrupy with a medium body and a good carbonation, slick on the back of the throat and slightly dry.

D-this is tasty, hop bomb with a great feel and nice finish. clean and tasty!

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2010 00:29:16 | More by cpetrone84

Stigs

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - dark golden, slightly amber colored beer with half an inch of frothy off-white foam which sticks around for awhile, leaving sticky lacing down the whole glass.

S - heavy on the fruity hops with melon, cantaloupe, pineapples. some alcohol heat and a mild caramel malt settles behind, but this is all about fruity and juicy hops. sniffed this as long as it was in my glass.

T - very tasty bright fresh pineapple, melon, orange flavors with a subtle grassy note. bitterness comes through in the second half by the way of more piney and grassy hops. malts are there as a base but dont steal an attention. quite yummy.

M - medium bodied and very creamy, oily and smooth going down. just a faint (but pleasant) alcohol burn at the swallow, with moderate carbonation.

D - what can I say, so far my surprise beer of the year, especially considering I'm not a huge fan of Southern Tier's other IPA's...this one drinks like the finest out of the west. cant complain about drinkability as I easily threw down 3 of these at happy hour. wonderful beer. need more.

Serving type: on-tap

07-10-2010 02:01:15 | More by Stigs