2X Stout - Southern Tier Brewing Company

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a lighter fizzy 1/2 finger head that fades semi quickly without much lacing, over super dark pretty much black beer with the faintest hints of brown ruby light sneaking through the edges in direct light.

Nose brings some darker malts, no roast though, some dark crystal malts, hint of milk chocolate and chocolate milk, creamy lactose, a little bit of booze, caramel, hint of vanilla, and some earthy herbal hops. There is also a very slight grainy and nutty malt aroma.

Taste starts creamy, very creamy, lots of lactose, chocolate milk, and malty, caramel, lots of crystal malts, a hint of chocolate and maybe black patent malt. There is a light scorched roasty malt bitterness that isn't big, light acrid burnt flavor, but no roasted malt flavor. hint of coffee, and vanilla, light creme brulee. Light earthy hops round off it all with a hint of bitterness. The finish gets a bit more bitter, more light burnt flavors and burnt creme brulee, more light earthy hops, and plenty creamy chocolate milk shake. It gets a bit dry and sticky on the finish with a weird milky lactose feel.

Mouth is a bit heavier bodied but very creamy, decent carb for the style.

Overall not bad but not quite my style and not great either. Some OK flavors but some not quite what I was expecting. No real off flavors just not very pleasant flavors.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 18:19:30 | More by jlindros

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Picked this up in Totowa recently, having never given this a go before. I like the lactose that's prevalent in a Milk/Sweet Stout but for some reason, I couldn't really feel it here. This was a bit more bitter and chalky than I expected and while this wasn't a bad beer, it almost feels like its categorized wrong and I wouldn't label this as this particular type of Stout if it was up to me.

The pour was what I expected as the beer had a dark and pretty solid hue with just a hint of garnet around the edges. Thankfully, a solid and frothy head provided some contrast and some of the foam stuck around as some lacing on the glass, on the opposite side of where I was taking my sips. Not much of an aroma to this besides some coffee and this was repeated in the taste, followed by some powered chocolate, alkali, and espresso. Very little carbonation and the hops only became apparent in the back, as it felt like there was a hair of chili or cocoa powder underneath everything. While not terribly silky or creamy, this was smooth enough to go down relatively easily.

That's also because the alcohol wasn't that present here. By itself, this was a good beer but with the bar being set so high for Stouts in general, this just fell short a bit. As a mellow alternative to the more aggressive examples of this style, this would be as good a choice as any and was if it was a little more sticky, this would have reminded me of a fancy cola like the ones that are coming back into style now. This was as unassuming as a Stout could get without feeling watered-down.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 08:25:48 | More by JerzDevl2000

DeekNayvuz

Montana

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

05-22-2013 19:34:15 | More by DeekNayvuz

sketchyhoodie

New York

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

05-21-2013 21:29:16 | More by sketchyhoodie

seplo

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

05-21-2013 01:50:59 | More by seplo

ryanpj

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

05-20-2013 17:51:49 | More by ryanpj

jimmah120

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-20-2013 09:29:26 | More by jimmah120

SpAiReArGsEonNE

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

05-20-2013 02:38:02 | More by SpAiReArGsEonNE

randylangford

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-19-2013 19:33:11 | More by randylangford

TheConnMan

Michigan

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-19-2013 04:30:11 | More by TheConnMan

darkstar12

Maryland

4.3/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

From a bottle, poured into a snifter. Beer's black as night as it should be. Smell is of coffee and milk, very mild. Taste is an outstanding mix of chocolate, toasted coffee, mild hops mixed with sweetness. Good mouthfeel with mild carbonation. Excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 22:16:52 | More by darkstar12

Smextongo

Indiana

5/5  rDev +31.6%

05-18-2013 05:09:07 | More by Smextongo

Jamison85

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +18.4%

05-18-2013 02:12:00 | More by Jamison85

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-17-2013 14:48:55 | More by twenty5

Nunya

Ohio

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-17-2013 01:14:23 | More by Nunya

Alextricity

Michigan

4.18/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Bottled 1/16/13 and poured on 5/16/13. Single bottle purchased for a reasonable $2.19.

Appearance: I'm a sucker for nitro'd beers, but this one still looks fantastic. Pours with a nice 3-finger head that settles at about one throughout the glass. The beer seems to be a clear, dark black with a touch of ruby on the edges. Lacing's not great, but solid.

Smell: Chocolate/cocoa and coffee. Smells quite sweet, as you'd probably expect, but not too much so. Really nice on the nose.

Taste/feel: Wow. I'm not sure what it is ... there's something about it. You get the typical chocolate and coffee flavors with some caramel malts, but the finish has a bready characteristic, and even maybe a very slight spicy hop note? Whatever it is, this is working for me. The slight bitterness on the finish is really pleasing, and the coffee and chocolate flavors linger in the mouth enough to make you want another sip. The mouth feel is awesome, as it has body and is creamy, but it's not syrupy.

I've had Left Hand Milk Stout, which is supposed to be one of the best Milk Stouts out there, but I have to give it to Southern Tier. While Left Hand's Nitro Milk Stout wins in appearance (what a shock...) and aroma, 2x Stout is better in what matters most -- the taste. This is a beer worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 00:45:59 | More by Alextricity

CanisMajor

Indiana

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-16-2013 21:28:52 | More by CanisMajor

iHeartMNBeer

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-16-2013 20:51:11 | More by iHeartMNBeer

firstlighthiker

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

05-15-2013 20:44:34 | More by firstlighthiker

ADZA

Australia

3.73/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A new one for me but love the style and pours a very dark kola hue with a creamy two finger khaki head that stays and leaved heaps of nice lacing here and there,the smell is milky coffee,brown sugar,milk chocolate and herbal hops,the mouthfeel is full bodied and has tastes of milky mocha,brown sugar,creme brûlée and finished with a herbal bitterness and overall it's not bad and quite enjoyable for a night like tonight cheers.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 13:05:43 | More by ADZA

lucasj82

Indiana

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-15-2013 03:01:40 | More by lucasj82

buzzy

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-15-2013 02:22:54 | More by buzzy

plaid75

New York

4.01/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at The Lark, East Northport, NY.

Poured a deep brown hue with a two finger frothy tan head. There was wry good retention and lacing.

The smell featured charcoal, a touch of smoke and dark chocolate.

The taste consisted of dry and sweet cocoa, roasted barley, lactose and a nip of hop.

The mouthfeel was round and full.

Overall a tasty full bodied stout.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2013 00:32:12 | More by plaid75

shanny1981

Georgia

4.44/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Southern Tier is known to produce great beers overall so wanted to try this one. This is a deep brown, heavy bodied beer with a sizable tan head. Not as dark and thick as your typical motor oil stouts. This is a very complex beer in terms of flavor. Great sweet, chocolaty smell. Nice sweet, malty, dark chocolate and earthy coffee taste. A good blend of sweet from the fermented lactose and bitterness from the dark chocolate and roasted coffee. A dark roasted malt taste with a good amount of hops to it. I would say better if warmed to room temperature and served as a sipping stout. A very pleasant beer to drink. Real smooth hops with medium carbonation. If you like coffee and/or coffee-tasting type stouts, you should definitely give this one a try. It's definitely not one to disappoint in the taste department.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 14:11:36 | More by shanny1981

toshiromifune69

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-14-2013 00:51:50 | More by toshiromifune69