Southern Tier Creme Brulee

[FedoraDave]

This is an imperial stout brewed with vanilla beans. I'm not big on stouts, as a rule, but a well-made one is definitely appreciated. Also, since I'm collecting bomber bottles to make bottling day a little easier, and the name piqued my curiosity, I thought I'd give it a try.

Interestingly, it lists the ingredients on the label: 24* plato, 2-row barley, dark caramel malt, vanilla bean, lactose sugar, columbus and horizon hops, natural flavor. The ABV is 10%. This is certainly intended to be a specialty beer.

And I was not disappointed. It almost seems to pour thick, if that makes sense; very rich and full in appearance, with a dark tan head. A bit of alcohol heat at first, but at 10%, that's not unusual, and it's not intrusive. A slightly sweet aroma, but the roasted malts keep it from being cloying.

A smooth, full mouthfeel, and the vanilla is fairly prominent, but again, it's balanced well by the malt bill. This is definitely a dessert beer, and would complement French vanilla ice cream with strawberries, chocolate or raspberry cheesecake, or even coffee cake.

It's not something I'd buy again unless I was planning to serve it this way, but as a specialty beer, it's extremely well-done.

Souther Tier rarely disappoints, in my experience.

[berryman]

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It's not something I'd buy again unless I was planning to serve it this way, but as a specialty beer, it's extremely well-done.
Southern Tier rarely disappoints, in my experience.

Good review Dave on this beer. Southern tier is my local brewery and I don't always care for everything they brew but for the most part they have good beer. I drink a lot of their beer. Just a little ways down the road from me. But I will say sometimes the glue they use on their labels don't clean up good, I'm Fighting that right now trying to get some more bottles ready for my own use....ST = good beer..............

[FedoraDave]

Don, when I find some label glue to be especially stubborn, I use some cooking spray on it, scrape it with a butter knife, and then scrub with a soapy sponge.

For a few of my bomber bottles, I haven't even bothered to try removing the labels. More trouble than it's worth, and I just write an identifier on the bottle cap with a Sharpie.

[berryman]

Not all of their labels come off hard but some do. I soak in hot water and oxi and some clean up easy and some don't. SA, Great Lakes and Doghead come off on their own, but Ommegang , ST and others I have to work at. Must be the different glue they use.