Southern Tier Creme Brulee

This highly touted imperial stout began landing on beer shelves in Georgia for the first time late last week. I’d say this seasonal was the “must try” beer from the folks at Southern Tier, for me.

The food and beer lover that I am, I enjoyed this brew over and over again in my mind in the weeks leading up to its arrival. Anticipation brewed into lofty expectations. Perhaps too lofty.

The beer I dreamed of was rich with complexity, silky smooth and balanced.

The beer I drank, however, didn’t exactly measure up to the quaff I had in mind. Aroma is extremely sugary — not in a good way — full of butterscotch and caramel. It’s so sweet a diabetic could be pushed into convulsions by a mere whiff. That same cloying aroma carries over to the taste, but with a slightly nauseating vanilla extract finish.

My palate quickly tired from this beer’s obnoxiously high levels of uncontested butterscotch and sugar. Texture is more syrupy than creamy. And I struggle to find any resemblance to creme brulee.

Currently my least favorite beer by Southern Tier.

Stats:
Strength: 9.2% abv
Style: Imperial Stout
Serve In: Snifter