2XMAS - Southern Tier Brewing Company

MadScientist

New York

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A medium-dark copper with good clarity. The head a a better than average retention and is light tan.

S: The cardamom with it's lemony slight exotic notes and the clove are the first things I smell which blend very nicely with the orange peel aroma. It doesn't smell overly spice, it smells balanced and restrained like a brew that wants to let you taste a beer not potpourri. There is a light malt sweetness and touch of caramel and if there are any citrus hops the'd be covered by the orange peel and cardamom. There is a light fruit aroma as well of figs and prunes. There is a moderately-light ginger aroma that kind of ties everything together.

T: The figs come through in the flavor with moderate spice flavors of cinnamon and ginger with lighter flavors of clove and ginger. There is some lemony flavor and orange peel as well. The malt sweetness provides support and is paired with a moderately-light hops bitterness. The balances is slight sweet with a medium finish.

M: A medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. A very light prickle of astringency on the tongue that is unavoidable when brewing with spices and doesn't detract.

O: Not a bad holiday spiced beer that showcases the spices but has enough balance to still drinkable. I was nervous when about the brewers description saying this is double spiced but is isn't as strongly spiced as other beers I have both commercial and homebrewed.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 00:43:18 | More by MadScientist

curasowa

New York

3.35/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Appearance: Clear, copper color with just a thin cap of head that fades quickly to a ring.

Aroma: Very bright, sweet and floral, with candied fruit and molasses notes and hints of toasted malt in the background.

Taste: Very crisp up front, with lots of spice and some of that oily bitterness from the orange peel. Toasted caramel malt shows-up in the middle and then some mild hop bitterness on the tail end with a bunch more spice, which leaves a somewhat astringent finish.

The Rest: Quite spicy, but with enough body underneath to make it tolerable. Overall a decent winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 00:42:39 | More by curasowa

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I'm usually impressed with Southern Tier beers. They always seem to be spot-on, challenging, and very rewarding. Unfortunately, that's not the case with 2XMas. It's a clear, reddish colored liquid with a thin tan head. Medium carbonation. The smell is fruit and spice, with a bit of toasted malt in the background. The fruit is hard to place. The label says fig, but I'm getting a lot of orange and lemon peel. The peel/rind theme plays into the taste as well, which is also full of fruit and spice...a bit of bitterness from the former, as well as the latter. Firm body, good balance. The beer just doesn't really come together, though...the bitterness is distracting. Not bad, just not up to my expectations.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 00:30:12 | More by Suds

CuriousMonk

Virginia

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

Pours a deep amber brown color with a half inch of off-white. Aromas of pine, clove, cinnamon and citrus zest aroma, a little yeast. Flavors of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, anise and roasty malts. Tartness and warmth is certainly supplied by ABV and malt. Medium mouthfeel along with some soft carbonation throughout. Finish offers a doughy feel and a spicy taste. Overall, a really nice holiday surprise for 2012.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 19:06:53 | More by CuriousMonk

kylehay2004

Florida

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

1.5 finger head with nice lacing on a clear, deep copper amber body. Brown sugar, milk chocolate, caramel and bready malts, with herbs of cinnamon and nutmeg. Flavors follows well with caramel, bread malts, brown sugar and more spices, mostly nutmeg and cinnamon again which perfectly go with the season. Medium body ad light to moderate carbonation. A nice seasonal. Not all that different from many of this genre as a winter release but still good nonetheless.

Serving type: on-tap

12-25-2012 04:23:16 | More by kylehay2004

Gatch

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Clear, deep ruby red with a slightly yellow, off-white head that builds nicely and dissipates slowly leaving behind no lace at all with just a foam ring of retention. Oily, it seems.

S: I'm glad I saved this for Christmas Eve. Big holiday spice nose. I get the orange peel and fig, but also raisins, earth, moss, spiced cake, nutmeg, dark fruit preserves, and a bit of roasted malt. There's something in there I can't decipher. As it warms, it seems to get hotter and the aromas meld into just spices. Strange.

T: Interesting. Properly spiced. The fruit flavors are pleasant and the sweetness is never overwhelming. The roasted malt and alcohol show themselves more as the beer warms. About half way through the bottle the spices and sweetness end up becoming a bit overwhelming.

M: Nice carbonation, pleasant malt and fruit flavors, but also a bit cloying. Seems to be too much going on. Enjoyable, though, and drinkable for what it is. Medium-to-heavy body.

O: I've never had Swedish Glogg but I can imagine this being an accurate representation of the style because it goes well with cold weather. The flavors are strong as is the ABV but it comes together to make a good beer for the season. One bottle is enough, though, and I'm glad I didn't get a 6-pack.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 21:45:01 | More by Gatch

StoutHunter

Michigan

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

I picked up a bottle of Southern Tier's 2XMAS last week for $1.89 at The Lager Mill. I've heard good things about this beer so when I saw it at the store I decided to give it a chance, so lets see how it goes. 2012 Vintage. Poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a tulip.

A- The label is nice and a little eye catching with a nice Christmas theme to it. It poured a nice darker amber color that took one some nice ruby hues when held to the light with two fingers worth of darker tan head that died down to a thin ring that eventually faded to nothing and left some patch lacing behind. This is a good looking beer, I have no complaints.

S- The aroma starts off with loads of spices with cinnamon and nutmeg sticking out the most, but it's got all the spices that make me think of the holidays. After that comes a medium amount of sweetness with some nice dark fruits with raisin and figs sticking out the most followed by some malty, molasses and honey like aromas. Towards the end I get a slight earthy hop aroma. This beer had a really good aroma, it smelled like Christmas in a glass, I really liked it.

T- The taste seems to pretty similar to the aroma, it starts off with a medium amount of sweetness followed some malts that impart some dark bread, and grainy flavors with some molasses and honey coming through, After that comes the dark fruits that are a little on the lighter side and impart a nice fig flavor. Next comes the spice which aren't overpowering and have all the nice spices that I picked up in the aroma. On the finish there's a little bit of alcohol and a slight earthy hop flavor followed by a medium amount of bitterness and a sweet, malty, spicy, and fig like aftertaste. This was a good tasting beer, it was fairly balanced, the spices weren't overpowering and the figs added some nice complexity that I don't normally get in these Spiced Beers, I liked it.

M- Fairly smooth, a little sticky, a little dry, medium bodied with a nice amount of medium carbonation. This beer had a nice mouthfeel but it would be a little better if it wasn't sticky.

Overall I thought this was a good beer and a good example of the style, it had all the things that I look for in the style and little more complexity and balance than I normally find in this style, I thought that worked pretty well with this beer. This beer had ok drinkability, it went down fairly smooth and the flavor held my attention but I don't think that I would want to follow it up with another one. What I like the most about this beer was the aroma , it's pretty intense with lots of spices going on, like I said it smells like Christmas in a glass. What I liked the least about this beer was the mouthfeel, it wasn't bad at all, but I could go with out the stickyness. I would buy a couple bottles for Christmas next year but this isn't a beer I'll be really stocking up on, I recommend giving this a try if your in the mood for a good spiced Christmas Ale. All in all I was pretty happy with this beer, it was pretty fitting for the holiday season and the aroma and taste seemed to embody Christmas in beer form. Southern Tier seems to be a pretty solid brewery and I think all three beers in the 2X series are good, I hope to see some new beers added to this series. Good job Southern Tier this is a nice Holiday brew, it makes me want to throw some logs in the fireplace.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 04:47:15 | More by StoutHunter

weeheavybutdieting

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served from a growler from Ale Yeah, Roswell, GA into a Westmalle chalise.

A:A slightly muted brown with a hint of red ruby. A light lacing that chases away quickly.

S: All of the Christmas herb/spice goodness on the nose that you would expect from a Christmas beer.

T: If you are afraid of over the top holidy brews then this beer is for you. Don't let the scent throw you. This is a well-balanced beer. It keeps with the style and carries a good bit of herb and spice on the front of the tongue with a nice carmel in the middle and a little bit of hops throughout to balance it all out.

M: This bad boy looks like it will be a big sticky mess but it comes to the tongue in a much lighter and fresher way. While keeping a nice warm spice on the tongue.

O: This has become my favorite holiday beer this season. It was hard to find but worth the search. It is a rare find to have a holiday beer that you can come back to over and over without just a one off, "That was fun, now back to a real beer." attitude.

Serving type: growler

12-23-2012 01:02:50 | More by weeheavybutdieting

scvance

South Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours a deep amber color, with a thin white head. Poor retention and no lacing. Smells of holiday spice and malt, slight alcohol notes. Tastes similarly, rich caramel malts up front with a good amount of spice character. Slight alcoholic taste towards the finish along with a very slight bitterness. Hop bitterness is almost non-existent, so this beer is unbalanced and malty. However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, for the style, this beer does a fine job. Very good beer for the cold winter season. Very drinkable, medium body and low to medium carbonation. I recommend giving it a try if you're looking for a good winter seasonal for those cold nights.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 22:18:53 | More by scvance

vette2006c5r

Wisconsin

4.48/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2XMAS ale pours a clear brown color, with a decent size lacing head. There are strong hints of cinnamon, ginger, and figs aroma. There is a strong malty backbone, with lots of spices mixing together; tastes like ginger snap cookie. Easy to drink and full flavor. Overall a fantastic Christmas style ale, full flavor, sweet, and a bit unique.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 23:06:49 | More by vette2006c5r

suspect

New York

4.43/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served into a standard pint glass at Central City.

A: deep amber color. Crystal clear. Served with a one finger off white head.

S: figs, oranges, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and lots if big body malt character swarm this beautiful aroma. Really nice smelling beer.

T: follows the nose directly. Lots of beautiful spice and figs mix with a big wonderful malt body. Very tasty brew.

M: medium body. Perfectly carbonated. Bitterness washes my mouth leaving a dry puckering finish.

O: superb Christmas beer. One of the better of the style I've had.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2012 17:22:39 | More by suspect

garuda

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A - Deep amber, hazed, off white head has some retention and lacing.

S/T - Almost like a Belgian-style dark ale with dark fruit yeast esters in smell and taste. Brightens up on the back end with orange peel and some pine hop bitterness. Some warming alcohol through the finish.

M - Full body, medium carbonation, smooth going down.

O - Nice take on the winter warmer style. I like how the addition of orange peel brightens up the darker fruit flavors.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 13:39:15 | More by garuda

atr2605

New York

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

A-pours a deep red amber with an off white head with nice retention that leaves a slight foam
S-dark fruit, pine, honey
T-molasses and dark fruit up front followed by hop bitterness, then honey and pine in the finish
M-medium bodied
O-very unique holiday beer. The pine is something that is typical of christmas but I havent found in many holiday beers. I would definitely pick this up again

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 03:18:13 | More by atr2605

jtierney89

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear copper with a thin tan head. Really unique smelling nose. Fruit cake and fig jam, cinnamon sugar cookies. Really smells like the holidays.

Tastes like dark fruit jam on the tip of the tongue on cinnamon raisin bread. Rich creamy mouthfeel. Mild carbonation. Finishes with holiday spice to balance the sweetness. This is an awesome beer with complimentary flavors that really work well together. The flavors are actually kind of mild which makes it a nice supper. Can't detect the alcohol at all.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 02:25:43 | More by jtierney89

AnalogReigns

North Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Nice appearing ale, but with a very british, quickly disappearing head.

S: Aroma is nice, figs and cinnamon. Sophisticated subtle Christmas spices.

T: Taste is really excellent--distinctly spiced, but like most current top quality Christmas beers, subtle, and not over the top. Cinnamon and sweet figs come through to my palate, with moderate to low carbonation.

M: Good mouthfeel, just right for the style.

O: Overall, one of the best, if not THE best Christmas beer I've had this year. Better than Anchor Christmas (as that stuff is just too spiced) and not quite as sweet as Anderson Valley Winter Solstice...just a really sophisticated, top quality Christmas ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 00:16:57 | More by AnalogReigns

KajII

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

[Suggested Glassware: Tulip Glass]

The pour was a clear dark cranberry red with a small (less than 1 finger) light brown creamy head that receded steadily, down to a small puddled film and small collar with excellent full sheeting of lacing.

The aroma was a complex mix of scents with a light grain malt and a sweaty yeast along with notes of citrus (orange peel), ginger, clove, cinnamon, dark fruit (figs and raisons) and a pronounced Glögg (mulled wine) odor.

The taste was lightly sweet with hints of dark fruit and Glögg from the get go, becoming a tad bitter and rather yeasty with hints of orange peel and cinnamon somewhere in the middle and a spicy alcohol ending. The flavor lasted a nice long time following the swallow, with a spicy yeast infused alcohol warming sensation lingering on for a little while longer.

Mouthfeel was almost medium in body and dry in texture with a somewhat bold carbonation.

Overall this brew is what Winter Warmers are all about, lots of spicy flavor and a good alcohol warming at the end...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 15:19:16 | More by KajII

zeff80

Missouri

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

A - Poured out a clear, dark burgundy color with a one-finger, khaki colored head of foam. It left thin rings of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of spice and orange peel. Lots of Christmas aromas.

T - Big Christmas spice flavor - nutmeg, cinnamon and orange. Good roasted malt backbone adds balance.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a fairly dry finish.

O - Not sure what Swedish Glogg tastes like, but this is pretty good. A very Christmasy beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 05:15:29 | More by zeff80

barczar

Kentucky

3.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear reddish-amber color with a half inch light tan head that dissipates fairly quickly, leaving no lacing. Probably residue in the glass.

Smells like gingerbread. Clove, cinnamon, ginger, and brown sugar combine with floral hops and figs to create a perfumey bouquet.

Flavor reveals more ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a bit of a cloyingly sweet sorghum and toasted bready malt backbone. There's a buttery graham cracker character, as well. Notes of cola and dark fruit surface at the finish, which is rounded out by a hint of citrus. There's a lingering bitterness.

Body is fairly thick, slightly syrupy, with moderate carbonation lifting the flavor from the palate to prevent it from being overly cloying.

Overall, the spice character was not as offputting as some. There's good balance of the various spices, as opposed to some that are more dominant in one spice. That said, it's still a spice bomb. The bready malt counters the spices fairly well, but the sweetness is also over the top.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 18:55:23 | More by barczar

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - An standard pour yields the slightest of late developing light khaki colored head that quickly fizzes away... What's left is a very thin splotchy veil of lacing (and that may be an overstatement)... The color is a dull slightly muted ruby red with a faint brownish hue... Carbonation is light and moderate paced in the form of very small bubbles rising along the sides of the glass...

S - A big assertive aroma... A very pleasant mix of holiday spices are first to greet the nose... Heavy on the cinnamon... Some nutmeg... A bit of clove... Orange zest... Light brown sugar... Perhaps some fig and some raisins... Complex, robust and rather enjoyable...

T - The dominate flavors are a mix of medicinal and hoppy... Next are a thick layer of spiciness highlighted by cinnamon... Brown sugar... The orange zest and dark fruit notes take a distant back seat but are still noticeable... A bit of heat...

M - Medium bodied... Sleek... A bit sticky... Slightly dry... Slightly chalky... Light carbonation...

D - This Southern Tier offering screams Christmas Beer in a good way... If it weren't for the medicinal notes on the palate this would be a top notch seasonal offering... In it's current form it's a very nice brew and likely worthy of a six pack investment each and every holiday season...

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 03:04:07 | More by philbe311

rangerred

Tennessee

3.63/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a clear deep ruby with a tiny head. No head retention or lacing.

Aroma of figs and cinnamon with a little bit of orange thrown in. Maybe some other spice that I can't identify. There really isn't a ton I can pick up on outside of the spice.

The spice continues in the flavor. Lots of cinnamon with some ginger, orange and figs. A little bit of roast and brown sugar comes in towards the finish although it is faint. Mouthfeel is smooth with plenty of sweetness ending with a sticky moderately bitter finish.

Overall, can't say I am overly impressed with this beer. I don't like overly sweet beers and this is one of them. In fact, I prefer Anchor's holiday beer over this., Not something I'm likely to pick up again.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 02:41:11 | More by rangerred

JackieTH

Minnesota

4.2/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Amber reddish hue, not much head or lace. Smell is nutmeg, cinnamon, caramel, buttery crust, reminiscent of Pumking. Taste is spices..cinnamon, nutmeg; orange marmalade, brown sugar, raisins and fig newtons, buttery crackers crust. There is a little of the Pumking magic flowing in this one, but with a figgy-orange Christmas twist. Medium body, silky, well crafted. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 02:59:08 | More by JackieTH

andrewjraab

Michigan

3.55/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A. Dark and deep brown with a brown egg shell colored head.

S. Malts, Prunes and raisins, nutmeg and cinnamon.

T. Smooth and malty followed by a huge taste of brown sugar, raisins and finishes up with a warming touch of alcohol.

O. Solid for the style. Exactly what a winter warmer should be.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 02:33:25 | More by andrewjraab

bsp77

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Imperial Pint.

Appearance: Hazy, dark reddish-orange with thin cream colored head.

Smell: Figs and other fruits, cinnamon, and orange peel.

Taste: Pretty sweet core of figs, plum and caramel. Great mix of spices, such as cinnamon, ginger and orange peel. Very Christmas like, with the mix of spices and sweet decadence. It also reminds me a little of Pumking, which makes sense.

Feel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation. Finish is a little tingly from the spices, but not really dry. Usually a sweet finish bugs me, but not here.

Overall: This beer just screams Christmas, with its crazy spices and ultra sweet core. But I think it is great.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 02:04:26 | More by bsp77

macrosmatic

Florida

3.05/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Reviewed from notes. Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a TBBC pint glass.

A: Pours a clear, deep brown with some reddish highlight. Forms a thin tan head on top of relatively low visible carbonation.

S: Spiciness, I get primarily ginger, fruity sweetness, and some citrus aroma. I'm not sure if this was the orange peels that the bottle says it was brewed with or not. It struck me as more lemon or grapefruit. The overall impression on the nose is certainly sweet.

T: Flavors are overwhelmed by ginger, allspice, cinnamon. There's probably some sweet malt, and I'd hypothesize some hops, but who can tell in this mess. Finishes sickly sweet.

M: Medium body, low carbonation sensation, mild alcohol presence.

O: Not good. Kinda like drinking beer that someone had poured potpourri into. Poured the last of it down the drain.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 00:39:45 | More by macrosmatic

IronLover

Pennsylvania

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

Deep amber in color with hints of brown and a slight haze. Poured with a short off-white foam that was constantly fed by streaming bubbles. Cinnamon, clove, all-spice, and orange zest aromas with sweet fruit and malt sweetness beneath. Smooth, delicate, slightly oily feel with pleasant carbonation. Solid caramel and sweet dark fruit flavors from beginning to end that carry cinnamon and spice flavors overtop. Slight hop bitterness near the end followed by a spicy finish. Sweet up front with a wonderfully balances sweet, spicy and bitter middle and a spicy finish. Southern Tier brews always have nice character.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 03:09:43 | More by IronLover