Sunday, September 9, 2012

Southern Tier Brewing Company Unearthly Imperial IPA


Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Southern Tier Brewing Company Unearthly Imperial IPA.  Years ago I had the chance to try Southern Tier Brewing Company’s Crème Brûlée Imperial Milk Stout and absolutely loved it, but of course finding it in NorCal has been impossible.  When I found their Unearthly Imperial IPA at a place shippable to me (and with free shipping) I jumped on it.

From the Southern Tier Brewing Company website: “At the Southern Tier Brewing Company, vigorously hopped beer is our standard and inspiration. We continue a commitment to innovation with our most aggressive offering yet. Unearthly is a manifestation of the brewer’s craft; skillfully balancing art and the forces of nature to produce a divine liquid. Delicately pour a taste into a fluted glass. Smell the enchanting aromas of the hops waft forward as your first sip divulges this beer’s fervent soul. To underestimate Unearthly is to trifle with the mysteries of the universe, so please consume wisely.”
Let’s get started!
Appearance: Pours a hazy golden orange with small white head and thick lacing.
Aroma: Citrus and pine hops, sweet caramel malt and all that’s good about an Imperial IPA.
Taste: Surprisingly malt forward, caramel and roasted followed by citrus and pine hop bitterness.  Really well balanced and not the hop bomb I was expecting, but fantastic and enjoyable.
Overall: With IBUs sitting around 100, Southern Tier Brewing Company’s Unearthly Imperial IPA is very easy to drink, not too over the top bitter and one heck of a DIPA.  At 9.5% ABV the alcohol is very well hidden most likely due to the excellent malt profile so be careful, that is, if you can find some. 

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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