2X Stout - Southern Tier Brewing Company

sommersb

Tennessee

3.48/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Tasted On: 03-20-2013
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Tulip pint
Purchased: Single from Frugal MacDoogal, Nashville

A: Black and opaque color, with a finger's worth of tan head. Retention of the head is fair and lacing is good.

S: Aromas have chocolate malts and a light coffee-like roasted smell. Some earthy hops as well.

T: Tastes of bittersweet chocolate and roasted coffee grains. Also has some woody/earthy hop bitterness. It's not as sweet as other milk stouts, which kind of surprises me since everyone says how sweet ST beers are. Has some alcohol warmth.

M: Carbonation is on the low end and the body is medium. I don't get the creaminess you'd expect from a milk stout. Finishes dry and has chocolate aftertastes as well as bitterness of toasted grain.

O: Overall a good beer, but seems to miss the marks of a sweet/milk stout. Seems closer to an American stout or perhaps an RIS to me.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 04:24:28 | More by sommersb

cyclonece09

Virginia

4.21/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a 14 oz "pint" glass. Pours a dark black with a small amount of brown head that dissipates very quickly. Smells of coffee, chocolate, and caramel, very nice mixture and very inviting. Tastes of cream and coffee with a very sharp coffee aftertaste. Beer is carbonated right and goes down smooth for its medium body. Overall, a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 03:04:59 | More by cyclonece09

pmorey

Indiana

3.69/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Home bottle pour into an imperial pint. Appearance is top notch with nice creamy head; not a Guinness cascade or anything, but pretty good without the nitrogen. Two fingers off of a pour down the side of the glass. Held the glass up to the light and literally could not see through it.

Smell was rather weak but the first taste was very good. Espresso was the predominate flavor for me with a hint of milk chocolate underneath and a finish with bite. Lacing all down the glass with just a few sips to go. Pleasant aftertaste, the bitterness doesn't last.

While I am definitely not a stout expert, overall i found this to be very good. Looking forward to the rest of the six and would come back to this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 23:05:43 | More by pmorey

Hopscat

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured to goblet. Dark brown with red highlights. Nice ring of lacing and a thin head remains throughout.
Smell- very nice roast coffee, caramel and booze.
T- coffee is really upfront , then sweet biscuity malt and chocolate finish . Really tasty. Surprised the booze doesn't roll over it all as happened with the 'Old Man' from ST.
M- body and carbonation are about right. This has a creamy feel that very enjoyable
O- Definitely one that I will look for and pick up again.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 20:36:24 | More by Hopscat

Maltmaiden

Alabama

3.81/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: tiny tan head that quickly goes away but leaves a ring the whole time.Very dark brown, almost black. Not viscous looking.

S: roasted malts and sweet lactose right away. Some alcohol. Not a very huge boquet, but a nice one. Straight forward.Not seeing the 2X part of the smell.

T: Much more bitter than expected. Lots of smoke. Very alcoholic. burnt coffee. Touch of floral and piney hops. Much more interesting than the smell but the alcohol is so intense.

M: Thin for a milk stout but not too thin overall (it does have a body). well carbonated. Not smooth at all. Pretty rough actually. I guess I like my milk stouts to be less crisp and biting.

O: I had very high hopes for this one. I don't think it's a bad beer, but I was not a fan of the alcohol intensity and the roughness of the Mouthfeel. However, I will say that as I drink it, it is starting to grow on me.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 01:56:00 | More by Maltmaiden

niktastik

Pennsylvania

4.14/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A - Looks like a stout, with a dark, dark pour and a tan head.

S - It smells sweet, with maybe a hint of citrus in there. It doesn't smell as "roasty" as other stouts.

T - Nicely balanced for a milk stout. Not too sweet, but has hints of caramel and and chocolate. There's a little bit of breadiness to it, as well as a bit of a taste of alcohol.

M - Lovely mouthfeel, nice and thick and creamy. This is what stouts should be like, in my opinion.

O - This is a nice stout. Not my favorite, but a solid choice for sure. I would buy this beer again. To be fair, I am a little biased since Southern Tier brews two of my favorite stouts.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 01:51:00 | More by niktastik

neophilus

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Commenting on the appearance of a stout at this point is an exercise in repetition. It's dark colored, can't really see through it, there is an off-white head probably tan. If you can't get the appearance right the rest of the review is most likely going to suck.

Appearance is good. Oh, the head fell faster than normal. Take that for what its worth.

Very clean aroma, I think I'm picking up more scent from the glass than the beer. Hints of sweetness and chocolate. Not a heavy dose of roasted grain but also not hop heavy, nice and smooth.

Smooth, creamy and somewhat chocolate flavor. Ringing hop bitterness shows up but doesn't dominate. Roasted grain enters the auditorium, says hi, then takes a seat to watch the show. Super smooth with a firm bitterness to clean it up. Malty like Whoppers or a Wendy's Frosty. Finishes with a bitter hop bite. Medium to full, silky body.

I really liked the cleanliness of this beer's flavor. My one complaint is the hop bitterness was a bit assertive at the very end, and finally the taste lands on an acrid roasted grain note. But overall the drinking experience was smooth and satisfying. Tantalizingly close to being a straight up clone of a Wendy's Frosty, only the hop bitterness pulled it back from greatness. Would love to have this same beer with a lingering malty chocolate finish, just let up on the hops a tiny bit.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 21:58:24 | More by neophilus

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Been quite a while since I've tried anything new from Southern Tier.

This has two hop and three malt varietals. There is a clear hop influence noticed as an accent and a pretty decent sweet tone, as a milk stout. The hops do seem to grab a little more attention than I would expect for the style, but it works. A different interpretation of the style, but a nice one.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 03:05:23 | More by RblWthACoz

bum732

Maryland

4.24/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

S: Creamy, light chocolate, some vanilla and brownie notes. Just a hint of earthy hops, touch of roast.

L: Very dark brown, bordering on black, light tan head that dissipates.

T: Rich, milk chocolate malt with some cake batter notes. Low bitterness with some cappucino like flavors in the middle. Finishes with some light ashy, roast mingling with the mocha like flavors. Lactose fairly mild throughout. Finishes semi-dry.

M: Medium full body, very smooth on the palate. Medium low carbonation.

Really enjoyed this beer, not too sweet with the lactose working great throughout without being too overpowering. One of the best milk stouts i've had.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 03:03:27 | More by bum732

BeerGog89

New York

3.49/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Age: 03/19/12
First Impression: Bitter sweet aroma upon opening of bottle.

Appearance: Dark black body with a light mocha head, body allows no light through. 4.0, head was small but had a nice fluffy air to it.

Smell: same bitter sweet aroma as upon opening smells of brown sugar. Not as strong as I personally prefer but still not bad.

Taste: Not bad...slightly watery but the flavor is very much there. More sweet than bitter. Beautiful combination of the sweet and the bitter. Great blend of hops and malts.

Mouthfeel: Perfect amount of carbonation for the flavor, not too heavy of a feel,just enough of a presence to be a stout...about mid range I would say...not to strong not too weak...

Overall: This is a fairly good stout...for those who don't like it too strong or too weak this is a beer for all. Finds a perfect middle ground among stouts. I will definitely be having this beer again and will recommend it strongly to friends.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 19:54:45 | More by BeerGog89

DenverLogan

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

From a 12 oz bottle shipped commercially, poured in a Palm tulip glass. Date is a little scratched but looks like 11/20/12 (Nov, 2012).
Pours black with a big brown head that leaves lace and mellows quickly.
Aroma of brown sugar, fresh baked milk chocolate hazelnut cookies, bitter chocolate, sweet dark malts.
Moderate carbonation and mouthfeel.
Flavors of big hops vs. dark roasted malts. Rich and complex but there's some astringency that gives a bitter bite, cream of tartar of a touch of chalk, but not overwhelming.
15 Minutes into the brew offers a small lingering cosmic star designed head, slight lace, very light chocolate malt aroma, and rich flavors of dark roasted malts with bitter chocolate notes. Overall very full bodied and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 04:41:43 | More by DenverLogan

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.49/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Consumed 2/20/13

Appearance: Dark, dark brown - clarity around the edges - tiny, borderline nonexistent head - manages to leave some spots of lacing, though

Smell: Roasty sugar - caramel, sugar, and lactose sugar - roasty coffee (with cream) - dark chocolate and milk chocolate - typical Southern Tier level of sweetness, but it seems to work here - some lightly burnt, chocolate malts

Taste: Somewhat like a milky mocha - roasty coffee, with some light roasty bitterness - sweet, with caramel, sugar, and lactose sugar - somewhat creamy (the lactose) - some dark chocolate, but mostly milk chocolate - some dark fruit as well

Mouthfeel: Medium body, minimal carbonation, smooth, sweet finish

Overall: Very good, could use a better name

This is a good milk stout. Nothing about it screams "2X" in any way, but I guess I felt the same way about Southern Tier 2XIPA. It's sweet, which should be expected, and the 12oz format works for this reason. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 05:22:22 | More by angrybabboon

JK4Stout

Virginia

3.14/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

A: Not too shabby. decent head, but not enough to send me into orbit. Great color. Makes me think of easter morning, but someone melted my chocolate bunny and put it in a tulip glass.

S: Meh...expected a bit more. Almost smells unfinished or just weak. I don't claim to know much about much, but I have drank my fair share of stouts...weak scent.

T: Average. Terrapin makes a way better product here. I was really excited to try this...even left a bottle of Chimay Blue chilling, but just didn't do it for me. Just not thick enough to justify the title.

M: Again average in every sense.

O: Try it if you like, but you've been warned.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 01:27:07 | More by JK4Stout

fps_dean

Massachusetts

4.86/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Despite already having a 6 pack of stout in the fridge at home, I had to pick a 6 of Southern Tier's 2x Stout up, as it was a brew from Southern Tier I had not had yet. Those who have had any of Southern Tier's brews will know exactly what I am talking about, as I have never had anything bad from them.

This stout is pitch black, and you can tell it's on the thicker side just from looking at it. There is fairly little head.

It smells fairly chocolaty.

It tastes like chocolate, milk, caramel, and malt. A higher alcohol is clearly noticeable as well. It hits your mouth sweet, but leaves bitter, and the overall flavor profile is pretty much inline with traditional stouts. It is fairly sweet, but not overly sweet like many milk stouts. I think it works as well with cheeses as it does with deserts.

This is a rather thick and strong stout, but it does not have as much head as I would like.

Despite not having as much head as I would like, this is easily one of my favorite stouts.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 02:35:00 | More by fps_dean

cjoc83

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Bottled 1/16/13. Pours black into a chalice with some garnet hues visible at the far edges of the glass when held up to light. An initial 2 finger khaki head fades quickly to a ring. Some decent lace.

Smell is mostly sweet milk and roasted malt, with a touch of brown sugar. A little subdued, but this seems typical of milk stouts.

Flavors pop in the mouth. Roasted malt and lactose sweetness in the front, followed by some caramel and a slight, earthy hop note before finishing with a little bitter, roasted coffee. Pretty nice stuff.

Medium bodied, smooth, and pretty easy drinking. Not as viscous as a typical RIS (as this is a milk stout after all), but by no means watery or light bodied. A little creamy. ABV isn't noticeable at all.

A super solid milk stout I bought as part of a mix-a-six. Definitely not regretting it. As far as milk stouts go, this fella is full of flavor and drinks easy. I could see having a few of these.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 00:29:33 | More by cjoc83

guityler83

Wisconsin

3.55/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

A: Motor oil black with no head. No light shines through when held up to a light. swirling the beer in a tulip glass results in a small amount of cocoa colored lacing.

S: Milk chocolate with some burnt, roastyness. solvent-like alcohol notes in the background. sweetness too.

T: Chocoolate Milk in beer form is my first impression. The lactose adds a vanilla like sweetness to the dark chocolate/roasted malts that makes the whole thing meld beautifully. As it warms up, the flavors get more complex and the bitterness is more apparent yet still a bootnote.

M: Slick and oily with a big chewy body. a chalkyness lingers after a few sips. low carbination

O: In a word full of great stouts 2X falls somewhere in the middle.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 01:25:47 | More by guityler83

jwc215

New Jersey

3.91/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours pitch black with a thin tan head that doesn't stay around very long before becoming a wispy patch. Some dotted lacing sticks.

The smell is of chocolate syrup, chocolate cake, lactose (giving a sour touch) and some alcohol.

The taste is very much of chocolate. The sweet, dark chocolate is balanced by sour lactose and mild roast. The alcohol is quite apparent - almost harsh. It has a fairly long finish.

It is pretty silky - full-bodied but not thick. The moderate carbonation fits it well enough.

This is a nice, chocolatey, with sour notes, "sipper".

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 21:20:03 | More by jwc215

Immortale25

Florida

3.99/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Due South Brewing Co. DOB 04/16/12

A- Pours a totally opaque black color with a 1/4 inch tan head that doesn't retain long before becoming a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a thin, spaced-out layer of surface foam. Jagged ring of resilient lacing.

S- Dark chocolate, vanilla and roasted malt. Some brief caramel and vanilla sweetness. Hardly any alcohol fume.

T- Semi-roasty with a balanced bitterness and creaminess. Alcohol is very well masked. Notes of cocoa, light char and light vanilla. Sweetness comes through more as it warms.

M- Slightly creamy with medium carbonation and a hearty body.

O- Not as good as I was hoping, but an easy-drinking, well-constructed stout nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 01:31:02 | More by Immortale25

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a glass mug.

A: Dark nearly opaque red-brown with one-finger, tan, creamy head that lasted a couple minutes and left a nice film. Pretty good lacing.

S: Roasted chocolate.

T: Moderate sweetness and light bitterness. Chocolate and milk. Roasted malt.

M: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.

O: This tastes more chocolatey than most milk stouts I've had. Almost tastes like chocolate milk beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 01:33:23 | More by SolipsismalCat

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.06/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a khaki, three-finger head that fades quickly leaving traces of lace. Black color, no highlights. Strong carbonation and medium-heavy bodied. Chocolate/coffee nose. Flavor is sweet chocolate and coffee, hops balance. Decent double stout. $2.00 for a 12oz bottle from Tully’s Beer & Wine Wells, Me.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 23:28:35 | More by jdhilt

SerialHiker

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Poured with brown head that lasted only for a minute or so…a few bubbles along the side, it’s too dark to see any real action in the middle…this beer is a very attractive, extremely dark brown…(3.5/5)

Smell: Coffee and sweet cream from beginning to end…they blend nicely with a distinct malt base…very sweet and aromatic…(3.75/5)

Taste: Coffee, malt and cream are the prevalent flavors…the higher alcohol content is noticeable…(4/5)

Mouthfeel: Love the coffee and cream flavors…very nice from beginning to end, though I would have loved a bit more malt/hop and less alcohol…(3.75/5)

Overall: This is a very drinkable beer…the lactose compliments the variety of hops and malts making a delicious blend…there is no head which would have been nice, but I definitely could drink a couple of these while watching the daily show…(3.75/5)

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 04:04:13 | More by SerialHiker

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a mug. Beautiful jet black with hints of deep red/brown in light; fizzy dark brown head that dissipated quickly. Smells malty, with chocolate and roasted notes. Taste is surprisingly good; it goes all over your tongue with chocolate and roasted goodness. The sweet chocolate tempers the bitterness of the roasted malts. I was already expecting to like it, and I was still surprised by how good it tasted. Mouthfeel is relatively light, but the taste makes it seem fuller. Overall, this is a delicious stout, easy to drink. One of my new favorites.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 23:59:13 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

JohnFatAss

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Almost black in color. Formed a small tan head that did not last.

Sweetness up front. Roasted malts and chocolate. It actually has a milky mouth feel. Almost like drinking a chocolate milk but with a bitter after taste.

For a stout, it is not thick or heavy. It is super easy to drink. This goes down so easy, you have to be mindful not to drink it too fast because It is 7.5% ABV.

May not be the best stout I have ever had but probably the most easily drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 02:26:51 | More by JohnFatAss

mooseisloose

Florida

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Saw this bad boy at TW. I love stout so hey 2X stout must be twice as good, so let's give it a whirl. Popping the top I get nice roasted malts and a definite heavier ABV than your average stout. Some licorice and somehow a hint of cinnamon. Pours into my trusty SA perfect pint like a chocolate milkshake, thick and heavy classic motor oil. Nice tan head with multi-sized bubble groupings. Taste is large and in charge with a very sweet roasted malt with some toffee up front and a slight bitter middle, still under the sweetness then a sweet and chaulky bitter fade at the end into a pleasant charred dry bitter aftertaste. Mouthfeel is thick and syrupy a good assest with the flavor. Sweeter than I expected but it is a milk stout so it is actually spot on. A very tasty brew. I recommend.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 23:18:49 | More by mooseisloose

DocJitsu

California

3.55/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours an opaque very dark brown with a short-lived light mocha colored head. Smoke, cherry, and coffee on the nose. Mouthfeel is remarkble for the style. It's like carbonation fizz encapsulated by a slick, thin-membraned bubble. Some coffee up front. Cherry appears at the finish. Very drinkable. I'm drinking Edmund Fitzgerald along with this beer and have found 2X Stout to be the better beer, in my opinion. Ed Fitz is too heavily carbonated.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 03:41:21 | More by DocJitsu