About Southern Tier 2Xmas: Swedish flags are a fairly common sight in our part of the country. Holiday parties often have warm concoctions of spices and booze at the ready to knock the ice off of toes while raising spirits. We were inspired by a Glogg party, deciding on the spot to brew a beer that pays tribute to this Nordic tradition. 2xMas Ale combines traditional brewing ingredients with figs, orange peels, cardamom, cinnamon, clove and ginger root. Its a holiday addition to the 2X line and another reason to roast to the season, but unlike Glogg, we recommend serving this one chilled.
Food Pairings: Particularly tasty when paired with sausages, korv, fish, pickled herring, rich cheeses, holiday cookies and cake.
Beer Advocate Score: 84 points
Style: Double Spiced Ale
Brewed Since: 2012
Fermentation: Ale yeast, two varieties of hops, four varieties of malts. Figs, orange peels, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger.
Color: Dark ruby
Effervescence: Light carbonation
Nose: Spice cake, dried fruit, mulled wine
Flavor: Spices balanced with sweet malt, slight hop bitterness
Bitterness: Medium-high
Body: Medium
Serving Temperature: 40-45°F
Glass: Tulip glass or snifter
Availability: Release begins in Late Autumn / 12oz (6pk and 24 bottle cases) / 1/2 keg, 1/6 keg
Cellaring: 40-45°F
Alcohol by Volume: 8.0%
Case Cost: $39
*website: http://www.stbcbeer.com/seasonals/seasonal-standard/2xmas-beer-page/
Pretty similar to the winter solstice and the Red Nose Winter ale. Like the sweet spices balance with the hop bitterness. Starting to get a little tired of winter beers. Good thing the imperial IPA season starts soon. I'll give this one a B +. Looking forward to the Krampus.
ReplyDeleteThis is the homestretch! Only 3 days left til xmas and need to push through. I saw the last 3 beers and am like a kid opening up a chocolate 24 days of xmas box; so excited about the last 3 beers. I remember Southern Tier from 2 years ago and remember it being good. So I was wondering if this is a case of as time goes by, the girl you don't date anymore gets better in your memory only or was she really hot and you are pissed you dumped her???
ReplyDeleteWell, after I poured it I immediately smelled a beautiful aroma like some long ago forgotten perfume. I was excited and when I tasted it; it was heaven. Why didn't I continue drinking this beer??? This was absolutely perfect. Very little bitterness or after taste. The xmas spices were not over powering but very noticeable. Definitely looking for this beer this year as well.
Rating: 9
Wow. Holy figs Batman. I like the winter solstice, but this one was over the top for me. Too sweet and cloying. Justin gave me the rest of his and I downed it like a shot because I didn't want to taste it. There's definitely a silver lining of drunkenness there, but for taste I would not go back to this beer.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite beer to date. Had it with a papa johns the works pizza and buffalo wings (hey, I'm on vacation, don't judge me!). Anyway, this beer and papa j are made for each other
ReplyDeleteThis was great and I enjoyed this a lot. It had a full carmel taste with hints of nutmeg. Its a shame that most of the stores are closed, because I'd be sure to run out and get some more. A
ReplyDeleteAh, 2xmas. My favorite holiday brew. I won't bore people again with my blind adoration for my hometown brewery, Southern Tier. However, too make it even better, Swedish glogg is a staple in my household during the holidays and this is a great beer interpretation that really hits you with a lot of flavor. I'm going to go out a pick some more tomorrow before it disappears for another year.
ReplyDeleteWhoa...Holy ginger and nutmeg. Normally I would say this is way too much, but the more I drink the more I feel like this is Christmas in a glass!!! It's my 1st time trying it and I sure am glad I did. It is a whole xmas party in my mouth tho
ReplyDeleteSo someone brought a sixer of this to my office holiday party last Tuesday and I had a head start. But I made sure to drink it on schedule. Had pretty high hopes, possibly due to the unending pro-Southern Tier propaganda coming from a certain Jamestown native in this group. I taste the figs. And nothing but the figs. I like a good newton as much as the next guy but holy crap that's the figgiest thing I've ever had. Combined with the malty denseness, I just can't handle it. I mean, I can handle it. I've had 4 in the last 5 days, but still. The wildest ride was on Friday afternoon when we tried to finish all beer left in the office and I did the trifecta of Sierra Nevada Kellerweis, 2xmas, and Blue Moon. That was a wild ride that I do not recommend anyone ever try and replicate. I would have been better off with LSD, heroin, and crack.
ReplyDeleteOops forgot to post. Anyway the winter ale pattern continues. I liked this one slightly more than yesterdays. I got an intense gingerbread taste that wasn't bad at all. Giving this a B!
ReplyDeleteYum! Gingerbread beer. I like it. Wasn't sure what I was tasting until I read the blog posts and someone said gingerbread. Yup. That's what I taste. This one rates to the nth degree higher in my book than the previous two (Winter Solstice and Red Nose Winter Ale). Not sure I would go out of my way to drink it again, but if I was picking out of a limited lineup it would stand a very good chance.
ReplyDeleteHoly shit, this tastes like Christmas tree water! Barf! Poured it out halfway, and that's saying a lot 'cause I'm a sucker for Christmas kitsch!!!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this beer. Ginger, cinnamon and yes oh my holy mother gawd figs. But not in a bad way. I am a sucker for most anything Southern Tier, being a native of Central NY. And their 2X line hasn't failed me yet. I'll be adding this to my favorite holiday beers list for sure. Someone mentioned finally getting a gingerbread beer, and I couldn't agree more. I busted out my gingerbread cookies from Trader Joe's (this box is way too big for one person) and the paired extremely nicely. I'll be grabbing a six-pack up here before I leave for DC this weekend.
ReplyDeleteNot bad, but not the best winter ale we've had. It does have some interesting taste going on with it. I like it and would drink it again, but if I'm purchasing a winter ale I would probably choose something else. Grade 8 out of 10, B-
ReplyDeleteI like the aroma but I couldn't figure out what it was until I read the description. Mulled wine seems about right. The first swig was nasty, but after drinking more I quite like it. Not sure I'd select this on my own but I didn't mind finishing it.
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