2XMAS - Southern Tier Brewing Company

BB1313

Ohio

2.98/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottled on 10-18-12. 12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Pours a dark auburn with red and brown hues. Fluffy off-white head which fades and leaves really nice lacing and retention. The aromas are full of orange zest, cherries, cinnamon and malts. The other spices are noticeable in the nose, but not dominating. The flavors are bitter. Not sweet at all. There's more cinnamon along with some ginger and nutmeg. Dark fruits are present. The flavors seem to fall flat and don't leave an impression. It's not hot or boozy, but leaves an alcohol aftertaste. Mouthfeel is nice, moderate carbonation and smooth. It's on the lighter side of full-bodied.

I was really hoping Southern Tier used their Pumking magic with this beer, but no. I'm a huge fan of the spiced Christmas ales, but this one is lacking flavor. It's similar to Great Lakes Christmas Ale and Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Christmas, but lacks the depth. I was expecting something bolder from Southern Tier.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 22:55:25 | More by BB1313

mattsdenney

Tennessee

3.45/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Local store only got two cases of this one. Lucky me!

This one pours a clear, deep ruby red with one finger of cream head. Little lacing or retention but looks promising. Heavy scents of spices, malted barley, dried fruit, and booze. Not sure what Swedish Glogg is but it makes for a tasty beer. Heavy on the spices here; cinnamon, nutmeg, etc. A very malty backbone with some hop bitterness in there too. Very boozy finish and aftertaste, warming. Mouthfeel is thick and creamy. Mild carbonation with a slick finish. Overall, a nice, festive Christmas ale with solid flavor.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 02:39:13 | More by mattsdenney

TMoney2591

Illinois

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

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

A tad early for any decorations or festive merry-making, but I'm too much of a ticker to let a new Southern Tier 2X beer sit on the bench. This stuff pours a clear sunrise garnet topped by a finger of dusty wan tan foam. The nose comprises ginger, light peppermint, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, gingerbread cookies, and candied orange peel. The taste focuses on that orange peel, along with a bit of rye bread, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and ginger. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda grainy feel. Overall, a pretty solid Christmas beer, one that certainly lives up to its billing as a glogg beer, though the spicing may be a bit much.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 20:19:56 | More by TMoney2591

oberon

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a nonic a deep amber tinged brown with very little head to speak of,what there was was off white color.Deep fig and winter spice notes in the nose,alcohol and fruit cake notes linger.Candied figs with the orange peel underneath on the palate,cakey and rich with mild drying hops to keep the sweetness from going over the top.The lack of carbonation is actually good in the feel,it's mellow and almost chewey.A real warmer and true to the CHRISTmas season.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 22:15:54 | More by oberon

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.7/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a cool winter beer, with figs and orange peel. the pours is darker brown with a tanish head nice and thick and lasting. the nose is really christmasy, like mulled wine almost, clove and anise, orange and definite sweetness from the figs. my first fig beer i think. the flavor is the same as the nose, with all the elements mixing together really nicely. sweeter on the back end, like molassas, with a huge malt body, dark and roasty but not black. finish is quick for a beer of this style. big body, enough bubbles, and plenty of booze for the cold evenings. overall a clever winter warmer that i will be enjoying all holiday season long.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 15:51:50 | More by StonedTrippin

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a Brooklyn Brewery snifter. Really nice-looking pour. It is clear and deep reddish-brown with a thin head and low carbonation. The nose carries a fair amount of bready malt notes and holiday spices, primarily ginger, allspice, and cardamom. There is also a hint of dark fruit in there as well. It reminds me of raisins and cranberries.

The beer has a medium-to-full body and a slick feel. There's lots of cookie-like sweetness on the front of the palate, but the spices help to balance it out and keep it from getting cloying. I definitely taste ginger and orange peel, but it is not overdone. They simply add a nice balancing bitterness to the malt. The ginger in particular lingers on the finish.

These Christmas Ales are hit-or-miss for me. The first year I encountered them, I made the mistake of buying too many and got really tired of them. This is one of only two that I plan on buying this year. I could have done a lot worse. I was kind of hoping Southern Tier would do for Christmas beers what they did for pumpkin beers with Pumking, but this one doesn't differ too much from the other winter warmers that are out there. It's on the same level as Great Lakes Christmas Ale, which sells really well in this area every year. Definitely recommended for fans of the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 00:22:37 | More by deadonhisfeet

rajendra82

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

deep copper colored body was clear, but had some floaty bits in it. The smell was very herbal and spruce like, and really made it obvious that this was a winter ale. The taste on the other hand was quite a bit drier and more delicate than other winter warmers. It was as if the winter spices and herbs had been thrown into an Oktoberfest beer. There were notes of honey, raisin, brown sugar, and caramel in the taste, followed by a herbal bitterness, and a cinnamon finish. The body was light and creamy, rather than sticky and dense. This was an nice winter treat.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 03:48:41 | More by rajendra82

dogfishandi

New York

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle at cellar temp poured into a snifter. DOB 10/24/12.

pours a clear deep chestnut brown color with about one fingers worth of off white head that fades to nothing within a minute. no lacing, some very minor legs however.

big x-mas spice aroma. gingerbread, nutmeg, cinnamon, a little honey. as it warms some dark fruits and bit of the orange peel become noticable. also the slightest hint of booze.

similar to the aroma, but some figgy like dark fruits are more in balance with the x-mas spices. some definate orange peel citrus as well as a bit of some fruity esters.

starts off kind of light but finishes slightly thick and warming. average feeling carbonation.

a pretty decent beer, but it wont make my list for must buy winter beers. reminds me of a stronger version of great lakes christmas ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 23:13:52 | More by dogfishandi

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

4.23/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

A: Pours a dark ruby color with excellent clarity. The head is a one finger khaki color with decent texture, but not much retention. Only a modicum of lacing stays on the glass.

S: Spruce, ginger, nutmeg, graham cracker, orange peel, light dark fruits, and very slight hops. Give Southern Tier credit - when they want to make a beer resemble something else (like chocolate or, in this case, Christmas) they go all out and leave nothing to the imagination. Pretty much everything advertised comes through aromatically.

T: There isn't much of a drop off from the (admittedly ambitious) aroma, though maybe it's a touch less complex. Lots of dark fruits appear immediately, smoothing out on the midtaste to graham crackers and gingerbread. The finish is shockingly bitter for Southern Tier, consisting of a combination of subtle wood, leafy tobacco, and orange peel. I swear the faintest hint of roasted malts comes through on the finish. There's a nice layering of flavors, though finding some of the complexity requires a little hard work. Still, it's an excellent winter warmer.

M: Very slick, and creamy up until the swallow. The finish is both clean and wet, with a little bit of syrupiness to cover up the booze. This goes down superbly, without a hint of alcohol coming through.

O: Admittedly, these heavily spiced winter beers are never quite my thing, but this seems almost paragonal of the said style, so it earns itself bonus points. This will be my future standard for winter warmers until further notice - naturally, this is an easy one to recommend.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 21:58:28 | More by ThisWangsChung

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: copper/bubbly body, trace head, no lacing

S: orange peel, spices, fig, clove, bready malt

T: orange peel, malt, clove, spices, mild fig/boozy finish

M: med body, mild smooth/firm bubbly mouth
hint of dry in finish

O: Like ST, but this was not my fav. Might give it another go,
recommend to spice/herb/Christmas beer lovers.
I do love ST bombers and love this time of year for beer.

PRETTY GOOD, NOT MUST HAVE!

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 20:43:23 | More by BeerLover99

jera1350

Minnesota

4.2/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ruby/mahogany colored with a fizzy head that dissipates quickly to just a small ring around the glass. It does leave some lace though.

Cola, fig, plum, prune, nutmeg and cinnamon.

Matches up well with the nose here. Very deep complexity. Sweet, malty, fruity and full of holiday spices. Significant hoppy bitterness and spice at the end.

Medium feel and mostly smooth. A bit slick, but dries out towards the end.

Definitely fits the bill as a holiday beer. This may very well be the best holiday ale I've had. It's big and bold with sweet and spice and everything nice. Very warming and just really hits the mark for being a Xmas brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 04:30:16 | More by jera1350

Billolick

New York

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle. "DOB 10/22/12" etched onto the bottle.

Pours a nice warm shade of darker amber, with a dark ruby glow. Moderate sized dark tan head. Nothing special, film, collar and lace.

The nose is loaded with holiday spice.

Flavorful, fruity, sweet, highly spiced...tastes like a holiday fruit cake, in a good way. On the heavier side mouthfeel wise. Would work well with holiday desserts or as a holly jolly night capper. I like it

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 03:54:02 | More by Billolick

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured out brown-ish red color with a thin white head. The head fades rapidly. The smell of the beer has a pretty good spicy aroma to it. The taste is sweet with a spicy flavor, some berry notes and cinnamon mostly. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and has a smooth carbonation to it. Overall it's a decent holiday brew. Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 23:58:59 | More by Knapp85

wvsabbath

West Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving Type - Bottle

Appearance - Dark tanish brown with a red tint. 1/2 inch foamy head with some average lacing.

Smell - Loads of sweet sugars and spices, cinnamin, nutmeg, lemon peel, corriander, borwn sugar, mollasses, roasty malts, some floral notes also.

Taste - Much like the smell, a boat load of spices. Has a minty flavor going on. Lots of mollasses, brown sugar sweetness. Malts are roasted and bold. has a big pumpkin pie taste. Alcohol comes out a littel in each sip. Hops are masked under all the spices and malts.

Mouthfeel - Tounge is nailed with spices. Lots of sugars coat palate, along with malts and more spices. Aftertaste is spiced, sweet and tounge is left tinging from the spices.

Overall - Really tasty, and lots of flavor. One of the more spice heavy beers ive had. The malts are roasty and work well with this beer. Hops are buried under eveything to were i dont taste them at all, but other then that its a great spiced beer. Really easy to drink, so the Alcohol can sneek up on you. This could pass as apumkin beer really, but the cinnamin nutmeg give it enough of a winter warmer feel. Worth a drink for sure.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 02:08:22 | More by wvsabbath

CHADMC3

Connecticut

4.23/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep chestnut body with reddish hues beneath the foamy tan head that dissolves to leave only a faint lacing around the glass.

Generous spice aromas with sweet molasses and caramel malt float from the glass. Figs, cardamom, clove, and cinnamon are all present as well as some bready notes.

The flavor is spicy and sweet featuring cinnamon, clove, and brown sugar as well as figs and toffee. The orange peel really shows up in the finish. Any hop notes are woody in nature, perhaps pine.

Fuller in body with medium carbonation and a spicy, warming finish.

This is a really nice spiced winter beer with tons to offer the senses and a nice warming mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 01:20:56 | More by CHADMC3

deaconoflove

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Very dark brown w/ a quick small tan head. All kinds of aromas in there...pine/cedar/spruce, citrus hops, some breadiness, spices, cloves.
The taste is a blend of sweet caramel, spruce, candy, cloves. A real mix of sweetness and spice, a touch of harshness, then a nice smooth finish. Lots of things to find in there. It reminds me of Yards Spruce Ale.
It's a very interesting beer, easy to drink as an after dinner sippy beer. I like it.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 01:11:03 | More by deaconoflove

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-Pours a burnt crimson shade. Quite a pretty color. Body is transparent. Head never fully developed. A ring of bubbles leaves behind plenty of remnants however.

S-I know it has already been stated in the few earlier reviews, but this smells like Pumking. Cinnamon, clove and nutmeg all over the place. Like a Swedish Christmas cookie tray. Plenty of caramel along with a cool amalgamation of spice and bread. The spice meshes with the bread malt to make a Christmas cookie nose. Very interesting. Slight hints of orange and dark dried fruits.

T-Figgy and loaded with a plethora of spices. Gingerbread men. Cloves and fruit cake. There is also a surprisingly bitter finish. This doesn't remind me of Pumking as much now. The spice lingers pleasantly. Sweet and spiced with a satisfyingly bitter end.

M-Creamy. Matches its ABV quite accurately. Drinks far easier than I expected it to. Booze masked very well. Boy, do those spices linger.

O/D-Must eat with a Gingerbread man! This is Swedish satisfaction to the max! Haven't run across a 'Glögg' before, but they are pretty damn cool and perfect for ushering in the Holiday spirit. I was very skeptical of this beer, but I ended up enjoying it. I can't wait to scream "MY BEER TASTES LIKE SANTA!" to the next person I see.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 02:54:18 | More by VelvetExtract

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.15/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a dark, red-brown color with a dense, fluffy tan head that fades, but never completely dissipates. The nose is rich and spicy with notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, and brown sugar. It's very appealing considering the different spice profile ST used in this beer compared to other over-the-top winter warmers It's almost like the goose island winter brown ale for comparison. The taste is well spiced with a modest fig sweetness and semi-dry finish. It drinks like liquid dessert, but doesn't get old. The body is rich and inviting. Honestly, this may be one of my favorite winter beers considering the unique spice profile, drinkability, price, and availability. I just want to get into a wool turtleneck and eat a winter ham while drinking this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 02:16:51 | More by ThePorterSorter

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle, bottled on 10/17/12. Served in a chalice, the beer pours a clear ruby red color with about a quarter inch off-white head that didn't stay around for too long. Not much lacing. Aroma is sweet and spicy, it smells like ginger, cinnamon, orange peel, candied oranges, figs, and some cloves. Taste is pretty much just like the aroma, except that there's a slight bitterness noticeable. Also, the aroma seems stronger compared to the flavor of the beer. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit slick with moderate carbonation. I think it's a good overall brew, I know I'll be enjoying the rest of my 6-pack! $10.99 a sixer.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 22:12:54 | More by bluejacket74

schoolboy

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I am almost a Southern Tier blind faith follower. I started out liking their brews and as they added more styles I find I LOVE those. This new one is no exception, but it is exceptional.

It's a dark thing with very little head. The aroma is mildly that of a unique combo of spices and things plus a little hoppy ale. The taste follows with a nice balanced spice and ale flavor. Not very hoppy but that's not expected in this style. A tart fruity aftertaste lingers long after the drink.

This is a very nice holiday brew. I look forward to drinking a bunch of these.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 01:02:37 | More by schoolboy

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Deep amber, minimal head.Crystal clear.

S - Holiday spices. Nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, Sweet malt notes , dried fruits, herbaceous scents. Candied citrus peel.

T - Sturdy malt base, sweet and grainy. Soft on the tongue, with the spices present but mild. The nose lent a stronger offering, but the flavor has them all just more subtle. Agreeable blend of winter spices, and a subtle hint of candied orange peel.

M - Well balanced, light-medium body, pleasant carbonation. Spiced semi-dry finish.

O - All of the winter beer components you look for and want. Southern Tier comes through.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 01:47:10 | More by BeerForMuscle

merc7186

New York

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into pint glass.

A: Deep Reddish Amber Hue, Passes Some Light, Thin White Head Ring, Some Lacing

S: Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Sweet Malts

T: Cinnamon, Sweet Bread, Nutmeg

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Spicy, Mildly Malty

Overall, still a pretty excessive xmas ale but not as bad as others....drinkable but overly spiced.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 03:32:49 | More by merc7186

travisdiener32

Florida

4.55/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Grabbed a single a week back because I had never seen this from southern tier and love a little holiday kitsch.

The friend I was with grabbed some nameless pecan beer due to a weak beer palate and snuck a taste of 2XMAS before I even had the chance and exclaimed "the best beer I've ever had". I thought I was in trouble. Appearance is on par, solid head. There is a bouquet of aromas, akin to a fruitcake you would actually want to eat. Taste is figs, molasses, slight pecan, graham cracker. Body is medium, but I almost want to chew it. A very drinkable, tasty addition to the realm of fall/winter beers.

This beer will probably stand as one of the better/best readily available seasonals. It's a beer that you won't have to seek out, but will simply be available when you need a notch below imperial stouts during the winter season.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 02:24:15 | More by travisdiener32

Weegee40

Michigan

4.48/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served from bottle to goblet style glass. temperature 50 degrees f*
App-like a cherry finish on a guitar-mysteriously opaque- dark dark brown/red/black.
small lacing in goblet.
Smell-heavy on the spice for aroma. I get ginger, figs, nectarine, and something like molasses.
Taste- Not very hoppy or bitter. Which is surprising from this brewery as i have tried most of there bottled beers. tastes like it smells only better. there are several types of malts in this one. This is very evident in the taste as the malt taste is greater than the hop taste. this one is more spice than sweet.

Mouth feel- bubbly swish reveals additional dimensions of spice with a slightly biter after feel. The appearance plays tricks as your tongue feels the cream of the seasonal.

Overall- a very different, individual, and pleasant winter edition seasonal. I will be buying this again when the mistletoe is hung and snow is on the ground.
It is reminiscent of Christmas dessert in a glass.

Pairing: I would imagine a ginger bread man dipped in whip would go nicely as this is heavy on the impression of dessert.

again ; heavy on the spice for aroma and taste. I get a very satisfactory ginger, figs, spice, anise nectarine, and something like molasses.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 22:50:48 | More by Weegee40

Thickfreakness

New York

4.53/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- The color is a cross between santa-suit red, copper pipe and ruby! It pours with a nice cherry tinted head, but it fades quickly and leaves only little traces of lacing left behind. Really nice clarity!

S- Malty and spicy! X-mas cookies!!! Nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, powdered ginger, vanilla, gingerbread cookie, melted butter, caramel, candy corn, alcohol and allspice. This is what Christmas smells like when I close my eyes! It's perfect!

T- Gingerbread, caramel apples, mulled cider, vanilla pudding with a graham cracker crust! A hint of maple sugar candle wax, clove, ginger, cinnamon, allspice and little hints of X-Mas tree in your living room!!! X-mas dessert in a glass like a perfect parfait!!!

M- Not alot of sparkle... creamy and thick like pudding! Perfectly spiced! After taste has a touch of candle wax, but over all it's one of the best spiced beers, and I'm not surprised coming from ST! Alcohol is well hidden behind the spice and sweet malts.

O- It's the Christmas version of Pumking!!! You can taste the graham/gingerbread cracker crust in the pie! It's rediculous!!! LOL! The best winter brew I've ever had!

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 20:36:25 | More by Thickfreakness